Misty and Brett’s chic and boutique real wedding in the Scottish wilds feels so magical. From the medieval castle setting on the stunning Argyll coast of Scotland, to the local spring flowers and the cosiness of the celebration which gathered just 15 of the couple’s nearest and dearest to this special part of the world. Magically captured by Amanda Roberts from Thistle & Pine Photography, this sweet elopement is a blend of vintage sophistication and Harry Potter inspired enchantment.
But before exploring the details of their real wedding celebration, let us introduce you to the couple! Misty and Brett are both from the United States – Misty from Ohio and Brett from Alabama and they are currently living in the state of Virginia. “We actually met on Hinge,” says Misty. “Brett sent me a message and three weeks later I finally responded (he never lets me forget I took almost a month to answer him). Brett was my first and only ever Hinge date! We had one date and hit it off immediately.”
Their proposal came out of the blue for Misty who had organised a family photo session for her Brett and their dog. Unknown to her, Brett had also been in touch with the same photographer via Instagram and told her he wanted to propose during the session. “I saw a Facebook post from a mutual friend that Mandie was going to be in South Carolina (where Brett and I were living at the time) and she had availability for some photos,” she says. “I wanted to get some family pictures of me, Brett, and our dog, so I reached out to the photographer and booked a 30 minute session. I didn’t know it at the time, but Brett also reached out to her via Instagram and told her he wanted to propose during our session and the two of them took it from there!”
In planning the wedding, Misty says she imagined a “whimsical and magical, but moody old castle vibe.” She says as Scotland was one of the most beautiful countries she had ever visited she wanted it to be there. ”I wanted a vibe that felt wild and romantic, like we were stepping back in time. When we stumbled upon Kilmartin Castle, we knew it was perfect. It’s beautiful, brooding, and historic, and gave the small and intimate vibes we wanted.”
In terms of what inspired the couple’s wedding aesthetic, Brett says their love of Scotland was at the heart of it, driven in part by the fact that Misty is a big fan of the epic Netflix TV series and book by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander. “We wanted mystical, romantic and old world.”
The bride wore a stunning full-length lace dress by Capetown designer Alena Leena from Cleveland based KR Bridal, with shoes by Steve Madden. The wedding accessories are from Untamed Petals, a bridal apparel brand based in California.
One of the most special things about the day, for the couple, was the gathering of their closest family and “just hanging out”. “There was no pressure, no stress, no timeline to strictly adhere to,” says Misty. “There was just love and a lot of laughing.”
No Scottish ceremony would be compete without traditional music and one of the favourite pieces of music on the day was provided by bagpiper Tom MacArthur (A.K.A. ‘Tam The Piper’) “He was amazing.” The groom’s suit is from custom clothing company Andre Julius.
Scottish law allows couples to marry anywhere – whether on a beach, mountain top, forest or historic site. Misty and Brett said their vows on the grounds of the castle and were married by Lorna Wilson, registrar for Lochgilphead from the Argyll and Bute Council.
“I grew up reading Harry Potter and am a huge history person,” says Misty. “When we decided to elope, I knew I wanted to get married in a castle. Kilmartin Castle was perfect. It’s beautiful, brooding, and historic, and gave the intimate vibes we wanted.”
The wild rose and thistle wedding flowers are by local florist in Ardrishaig, Morna Shaw. The couple’s wedding rings are from Polly’s Fine Jewellery in Charleston, South Carolina.
Misty’s hair and make-up is by German-Scot duo, Bonny and Martin at Bonny’s Wonderland.
“We wanted a very small and intimate wedding that felt more like a family gathering and less like a ‘wedding’,” says Misty. “We tried to keep it simple, but still super memorable.”
The 15 person wedding party sat for a twilight candlelit supper and enjoyed a sumptuous feast catered by Wild Kabn Kitchen. The cake was sourced locally from Lilac Sprinkles.
The sun shone on the day and not only could the couple enjoy their ceremony outside, they were also able to catch the evening ‘Golden Hour’ which is the perfect time for photography.
I’ll Be by Edwin McCain – a heartfelt love ballad – was the couple’s first dance song.
When asked if they have any advice to impart, Misty says, “Protect your energy. It’s your wedding, so do what makes you both happy – not what everyone else wants. Invest in what lasts (photos, film, rings). It goes by quickly, so keep the timeline simple. Don’t rush, take everything in, and remember to stop and take mental pictures throughout the day.”
Misty and Brett rounded off their Scottish wedding celebrations with a honeymoon in the British Isles. “We travelled around Scotland, Ireland, and England over the next two weeks – it was all amazing,” says Brett.
Huge congrats from all of us at One Fab Day. Thank you to our lovely couple and Amanda Roberts from Thistle & Pine Photography for letting us share today’s stunning wedding with our readers.
Planning your own castle-setting wedding or intimate nuptials? Get inspired with these stunning Real Weddings.
