Scouting for Love
In the picturesque setting of Maryculter House, overlooking a serene river, Courtney Pope and Ryan Johnstone exchanged vows, surrounded by rustic charm and a colour palette drenched in deep burgundy hues. Here, the bride tells all about the most exciting

In the picturesque setting of Maryculter House, overlooking a serene river, Courtney Pope and Ryan Johnstone exchanged vows, surrounded by rustic charm and a colour palette drenched in deep burgundy hues. Here, the bride tells all about the most exciting day of her life…
“Ryan and I crossed paths many moons ago at Scouts. Fast forward several years and he decided to pop the question on our doorstep, leaving me teary-eyed and thrilled. He surprised me with an engagement ring from Beaverbrooks, a stunning choice he’d handpicked all by himself.
Planning took us about two years (we wanted to escape any lingering lockdown restrictions) and I took the reins. One of the top priorities was making sure our furry companions Layla and Molly were part of our celebration!

Choosing Maryculter House was a decision made straight from the heart. The riverside setting is picturesque and holds sentimental value for us – a place we can revisit to relive our beautiful memories. Our vision was a relaxed, family-centric celebration, accentuated with DIY rustic décor - handcrafted by the Ryan's father - and a dominant burgundy theme. Even our car was in sync with the colour scheme!
Shopping for my bridal outfit was nerve-wracking but stumbling upon ‘The One’ at a sample sale was an absolute delight. The gown made me feel like a queen so I knew it had to come home with me then and there! I complimented it with sentimental accessories like a necklace Ryan had gifted me anda bracelet from my mum.. Alterations were a must, being a petite 5'2" lass who’d planned to wear Converse beneath my dress!

The evening before we enjoyed a wonderful meal as a family at Maryculter and the wedding morning was a mix of emotions. Ryan, ever the early bird, had been up crafting his speech since 4am while I savoured the quiet before the beautiful chaos of the day.

Our ceremony, officiated by a registrar, was simple yet profoundly meaningful. Afterwards we enjoyed drinks, canapés and wonderful entertainment, including a talented caricaturist and a delightful piper.
The evening celebrations were a whirlwind of laughter, heartfelt speeches and our first dance to You & Me by Lifehouse, a song that resonated deeply with us.
Following our blissful day, we escaped to a lodge in Pitlochry for a week, revelling in the beauty and the tranquillity with our furry faves.

Our advice to future couples is to cherish every moment, worry less about details and trust that everything will fall into place just as it should.

Little White Book
Band: The Heartland Band
Bridal outfit: Magnolia Lane Bridal
Bridal accessories: Etsy
Bridesmaids: ASOS
Best Man Outfits: Granite City Highlandwear
Cake: Pam Rennie Cake Design
Décor: The Special Occasions Planning & Hire
Entertainment: Picky Pencil Caricatures, Sillysnapz Photo Booth Hire
Flowers: Botanic Blue Handmade
Groom outfit: Granite City Highlandwear
Make-up: ElaineStablesMUA
Photographer: Annie Rees Photography
Piper: Thistle Piping
Venue: Maryculter House
Dog walker: AberK9
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