It all began at a wedding ceilidh in 2016. Who knew that amidst the laughter and dancing I'd meet the man I'd marry? We still laugh about how none of us had a clue what we were doing on the dance floor that night! And it all ended with my future husband falling asleep on me on the bus home… A memory that always brings a smile to my face!

We gave ourselves three years to plan our own wedding, which felt like the perfect amount of time. It allowed us to save up comfortably and choose a date that landed on a Saturday. Honestly, the planning process was a breeze!

Our priority was a stress-free and personal celebration that truly felt like us, and our chosen venue perfectly captured our vision. The moment we met Sarah Sinclair/Neesham at Banff Springs Hotel, she completely sold us on it. We incorporated a cosy rustic theme with fairy lights twinkling everywhere and baby blue accents (a nod to my favourite colour). We even included our two furry best friends as our flower girls!

Dress shopping was an experience I wasn't sure I'd enjoy. After having my little one, I felt self-conscious and thought I'd gravitate towards a more forgiving ballgown style. However, the lovely ladies at Blush Bridal completely changed my mind. Ultimately, I fell in love with a fitted dress that wasn't quite a mermaid style. The cappuccino colour was unique and modern, just what I was looking for. I accessorised with simple heels from New Look (the only ones I could walk in!) and added pearls to match my veil.

We spent the night before the wedding at the hotel in a dog-friendly room. It was a relaxed evening, enjoying a meal with most of the bridal party and a few drinks before getting some rest for the big day.

The following morning was filled with contrasting emotions. For me, it was all about excitement with a mini-breakfast buffet delivered to the room and a chilled atmosphere while getting ready. For the guys, it was apparently a bit more hectic, wrangling the dogs and our little one!

We opted for a short and sweet humanist ceremony that reflected our personalities. We exchanged heartfelt vows, listened to a poem read by my grandfather (which brought tears to everyone's eyes) and shared stories about our life together. We even incorporated a playful twist with a ‘shot to tie the knot’ after saying ’I do’.

We exited to a shower of bubbles and headed straight to Duff House for photos. While we captured memories, our guests enjoyed drinks and left hilarious messages in our audio guestbook, providing endless entertainment when we listened to them back.

The meal and speeches were up next. The food was absolutely delicious, the best I've ever had! And the speeches were fantastic, especially the best man's toast, which had everyone in stitches.

The evening continued with fantastic entertainment provided by DJ Paul T Mobile Disco. He played a great mix of tunes, including a few ceilidh dances to pay homage to our meet-cute. He interacted with the crowd the entire night, making sure everyone had a blast. The overall feel of the celebration was exactly what I had envisioned – laughter, love and good company.

Looking back, one of my favourite moments was seeing our surprise wedding cake by Lana Lou Cake Studio for the first time. It was absolutely stunning and reaffirmed the importance of trusting your suppliers. Alanna did an incredible job capturing our vision without any input from us.

Our biggest piece of advice to future couples is to plan your wedding your way. Do it for yourselves and each other and don't worry about pleasing anyone else.

Jade's Little White Book

Bridal outfit: Blush Bridal

Bridal accessories: Blush Bridal

Bridesmaids outfit: Blush Bridal, Quiz

Beauty: Glitz & Glamour

Cake: Lana Lou Cake Studio

Décor: Seating Styles

DJ: Paul T Mobile Disco

Favours: Lana Lou Cake Studio

Flowers: Angel K Silk Weddings, Pink Petal Floral Design

Groom's outfit: Gavin Kilt Hire

Photographer: Dani Rose Photography

Rings: Warren James, Etsy

Second shooter: Louise Malcolm Photography

Stationery: Papeterie Stationery, KD Artistry

Venue: Banff Springs Hotel