Stephanie and Theo’s unique wedding venue

This happy couple chose a truly unique wedding venue in the heart of Edinburgh city centre…

Stephanie and Theo first met on Tinder in 2014. “Our first date was at La Petite Folie, a French restaurant in Edinburgh,” says Stephanie.

Theo later proposed during lockdown, after Stephanie had been very ill with Covid. "We took a picnic into Regent Terrace Gardens with my son, and sat on a bench completely enclosed by rose bushes,” says Stephanie. “Theo got down on one knee. I said yes and he popped open a bottle of bubbly!”

Shopping for the dress (and more)

Stephanie found wed2b while browsing online. “My experience at the Edinburgh store was nothing short of wonderful,” says Stephanie. “The staff were fantastic and so helpful. They made me feel great.”

“I chose Constantina from the Anna Sorrano collection because my dream was to have a mermaid gown,” says Stephanie. “I loved the lace and subtle sparkles. Plus, I was very worried about my stomach area but the dress gave me exactly the silhouette I wanted. It made me feel beautiful.”

“Also, I’d I always imagined having a ceremony dress and an evening dress,” says Stephanie. “However, I loved my dress so much I couldn't think of taking it off!  So, instead, I went back to wed2b to buy a lace, off-the-shoulder bolero. I had the Bardot neckline for the ceremony and then strapless for the evening. It really was the best of both worlds.”

A unique wedding venue

The couple married at a unique wedding venue, Mansfield Traquair, a striking converted church in Edinburgh. “It's such an incredibly stunning venue and right in the heart of the city centre,” says Stephanie. “It looks like a cathedral in Italy or something. It was the only venue we viewed and we immediately fell in love. We booked it for the 22nd May.”

The big day

“The morning of the wedding I got ready with my bridesmaids, mum, son and my dad at the Apex Waterloo Place Hotel,” says Stephanie. “The weather was beautiful and sunny. My guests walked in to a violin version of the Jurassic Park theme and my flower girl and bridesmaids walked down the aisle to violin version of 'I Can't Help Falling in Love with You' by Elvis. Lastly, my Dad and I walked in to a violin version of 'Tale As Old As Time’."

"We had a humanist ceremony and, during the ceremony, a reading written by a friend. Then my new husband and I walked back down the aisle to the Star Wars theme.”

Food, glorious food

After the ceremony there were photographs, drinks and canapés. "Our wedding breakfast was a choice between starters of haggis bonbon or goats' cheese, then a beef or sea bass main,” says Stephanie. “This was followed by a panna cotta or banoffee dessert."

"Our first dance song was 'Tightrope' from The Greatest Showman. The lyrics mean a lot to us, as Theo’s nature matches that of the song. We had our first dance choreographed and it included a 'death drop’, as my teacher named it. This was where Theo dropped me the length of his arms, so I was parallel with the floor!”

Romantic reds and a fun film theme

The wedding colour scheme was red roses, gold candelabras, whites and a splash of navy. “Every table was named after a fictional place (for example from Lord of the Rings, Disney, comics, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz etc). Each table design was illustrated by a local artist and we also piled books and roses as centrepieces, according to the theme."

"Our card box was a Tardis shape and we had other handmade items, like a Millennium Falcon guest book. My mum made our beautiful wedding cake. The front was traditional and the other side had more geeky logos. In the evening there was a DJ.”

The best bits…

“The most memorable moment of the whole day was our first dance, due to the drop!” says Stephanie.

My top tips…

“Relax,” says Stephanie. “Allow some things not to be perfect and remember that the most important part is marrying the love of your life. Everything else is a bonus!”

Stephanie and Theo’s Dream Team 

Photographer: Camerashy Photography

Unique wedding venue: Mansfield Traquair

Wedding dresses Edinburgh: wed2b

Florist: The Stockbridge Flower Company

Hair: Dean Jones Hair 

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