Breadcrumbs ![Me & My Wedding: A Scottish Affair At A Fairytale Castle ](https://media.sheerluxe.com/FcILVU5fElsWvEjnddJ0M0BxwLA=/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-hero.jpg) ![Me & My Wedding: A Scottish Affair At A Fairytale Castle ](https://media.sheerluxe.com/4MJVjRir-jCWLMuhezJ5uVYXBk0=/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-wedding-0826-site-assets-thumb-me-my-wedding.jpg) Breadcrumbs 09 August 2026 # Me & My Wedding: A Scottish Affair At A Fairytale Castle From the proposal to the cake, the flowers to the dress, we love hearing what goes into making someone's big day their own. If you're after some inspiration, look no further – this is where we shine a spotlight on some of the most stylish weddings out there. For Dalila and her husband Justin, a family affair in Scotland was the perfect way to celebrate… Photography: Anna Dunlop [ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/53546 "Add article to my favourites") [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/xcmXrXa9UGG6oiUd7qrFDYcChAc=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-1.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) ## The Love Story Justin and I met in 2021. He's from Glasgow, I’m from New York, but we both moved to the Lower East Side of Manhattan around the same time. He’d moved in with two other guys – one of which was my brother's best friend from college. We went to their housewarming party and ended up being friends for about a year before getting together in the spring of 2022. ## The Proposal Justin proposed in Rhode Island on 8th February 2025. His mum and several family members had travelled over from Scotland, while other family had driven four hours from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut just to be there. We went for a walk, had brunch, then headed back for a nap before dinner. He said he’d wanted to go for a drink beforehand but I remember him rushing me, saying, "Come on, we need to go." We made our way through the grounds of this beautiful hotel and before I knew it, he was down on one knee. A photographer also appeared to capture the moment and afterwards, we were told to head to the bar where our families were waiting. My family had driven four hours just to be there and some of Justin's friends had travelled all the way from Scotland. Seeing everyone together made the whole moment even more special. ## The Ring I'm actually quite relaxed when it comes to jewellery. I always said that whatever Justin chose, I'd love, because it would be from him. That said, we had tried on a few different diamond shapes together. I knew I loved oval and radiant cuts, and at one point I became convinced I wanted a cushion-cut diamond after sending him inspiration on Instagram. In the end, Justin took all of those ideas and designed the ring himself with [Ultimate Diamond](https://www.ultimatediamond.com/). He even had it engraved too, which made it incredibly personal. Our wedding bands later came from [Frank Darling](https://frankdarling.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=18736024509&utm_content=151396009837&utm_term=frank%20darling&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18736024509&gbraid=0AAAAAC-2QsjA3b7F75jf2dNuUTvTyOHDZ&gclid=CjwKCAjw4dDTBhAqEiwAkHYmSuHO2Tcd8XDRo2ctS8Ee-LLVZJ7hPo3BaIpjawq4CwdYdnpS4GS1OxoCBb4QAvD_BwE). ## The Venue I'm originally from Montenegro, so our initial plan was to get married there – that's actually how we first came across our wedding planner. But we soon realised it wasn't the easiest destination to get to. We got incredibly close to signing a contract in France when I turned to Justin and said, "This just doesn't feel right." He looked at me and said, "I feel exactly the same." But walking away meant starting the venue search all over again. The breakthrough came when my brother said, "Why don't you get married in Scotland?" Justin's mum owns a catering company, [Really Delicious](https://really-delicious.com/), in Glasgow and because she'd worked at so many venues over the years, she started sending us suggestions – including [Drummond Castle Gardens](https://drummondcastlegardens.co.uk/). The moment Justin and I saw it, we knew it was perfect. There was just one complication – Drummond Castle Gardens isn't a traditional wedding venue. It only hosts a handful of events, so securing it wasn't guaranteed. Fortunately, Justin's mum had recently catered the Dior event there and had built a good relationship with the team. She reached out on our behalf and about a week later, they came back saying they'd love to host our wedding. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/WjlijVaxLmFXv7tXymKUGUmOMaM=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-2.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that YOUR VENUE REALLY DOES INFLUENCE YOUR DRESS. Once we'd committed to Scotland, I had a much clearer vision of what I wanted. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/qq1mpZNkFhVxd4jckBUunngaFTE=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-3.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) ## The Marquee Because the venue was dry hire, there was no existing wedding set-up – no furniture, no catering infrastructure, so everything had to be brought in. One of the biggest decisions was choosing the marquee company. We worked with [Frame & Tailor](https://www.frameandtailor.co.uk/), who were incredible from start to finish. They were collaborative, calm and incredibly accommodating, making what could have been a stressful experience genuinely enjoyable. ## The Planning Process I'd originally discovered Kate from [Weds In May](https://wedsinmay.com/) while researching weddings in Montenegro and immediately loved her aesthetic. But when we changed our plans, everything shifted. Naturally, Scotland wasn't her specialist area and because Really Delicious already had such strong relationships with local suppliers, many of the logistical aspects were handled in-house. However, Kate had already invested so much time researching venues that the idea of parting ways felt wrong. Instead, Kate focused on the creative side of the wedding – photography, videography and helping shape the overall visual direction – while Really Delicious oversaw the logistics, supplier co-ordination and operational planning. It was the perfect balance. ## The Flowers The flowers were designed by [Ruby](https://rubyflowers.co.uk/), who Justin's mum had collaborated with countless times over the years. I wanted everything to feel natural, timeless and effortless. Soft white flowers, lots of greenery and loose, organic arrangements. While I'd seen plenty of colourful wedding florals, I kept coming back to a palette of white and green. It felt calmer, more elegant and perfectly suited to the setting. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/oz-v8nvN1hWgbnap2weoYS_UYns=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-4.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) ## The Dress One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that your venue really does influence your dress. Once we'd committed to Scotland, I had a much clearer vision of what I wanted. Like most brides, I started with TikTok, Instagram and lots of online research. In December of 2025, I had a full day of appointments in New York. The first stop was [Sarah Seven](https://sarahseven.com/). I tried on around six dresses and one immediately stood out. My sister was with me that morning but my mum was coming into the city later that day, so I asked if I could come back that afternoon to try it on again. During the day we visited other boutiques but nothing came close. When we returned to Sarah Seven, I put the dress on and my mum and my sister both cried. Working with Sarah Seven was very collaborative. We personalised several details – like extending the train, adding buttons all the way down the back and designing silk gloves using exactly the same fabric as the dress. We also customised the veil by adding a blusher and extending the length. ## The Groom & Bridal Party Justin wore a custom-made [Brooks Brothers](https://www.brooksbrothers.eu/en-gb/) tuxedo – as did my brothers. Originally, I thought I'd have bridesmaids but I knew how much responsibility comes with that role and I didn't want any of my closest friends to feel that pressure. Justin felt the same about groomsmen. The more we talked about it, we realised we didn't need a traditional bridal party. Instead, we gave meaningful roles to the people closest to us. My sister was my maid of honour, my brother officiated the ceremony and my youngest brother walked me down the aisle. ## The Hair & Make-Up Hair and make-up were handled by Stacey from [Triplow Beauty](https://www.instagram.com/triplowbeauty/), who had been recommended by our planner. Although she's based between California and the UK, we'd never actually met before the wedding weekend. We squeezed in a trial on the Friday afternoon before the welcome party and I'm so glad we did. It gave us the chance to make a few adjustments and it meant I loved my eventual look – timeless, soft, romantic… like the best version of myself. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/Dqek5RofnESYtwSEmOrP38Xgb7U=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-5.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) Our photographer and videographer COMPLEMENTED EACH OTHER SO NATURALLY – instead of competing for the same moment, they worked together to CAPTURE EVERY IMPORTANT MEMORY. ## The Photographer When our planner, Kate, sent over a shortlist of photographers, [Anna Dunlop's](https://www.instagram.com/annadunlopweddings/) portfolio immediately stood out. She shoots on film and there's something about film photography that already feels nostalgic. The colours are softer, the imperfections make it more human and it somehow captures emotion in a way that digital images often can't. I wanted photographs that would still feel beautiful 30 years from now. ## The Videographer For videography, we worked with Scott from [Mackenzie Wedding Films](https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieweddingfilms/). His work felt cinematic without being overly polished and he brought such great energy to the day – relaxed, creative and incredibly easy to work with. Anna and Scott complemented each other so naturally too. Instead of competing for the same moment, they worked around one another, making sure every important memory was captured. ## The Content Creator For a long time, I wasn't sure whether we needed a content creator but the closer we got to the wedding, the more I realised that kind of footage captures something entirely different. I wasn't interested in creating viral wedding content – I just wanted someone to quietly document everything happening behind the scenes. About six weeks before the wedding, I reached out to [Matt](https://www.instagram.com/content_by_matt_/). He was warm, enthusiastic and incredibly talented. Looking back, I'm so grateful we made that decision. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/_tUXi7yCF89NVAKxxmI-NQ3GneQ=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-6.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/d0320CPQWj44TC9gi3trFpJZHsg=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-7.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) ## The Ceremony Like every couple planning an outdoor wedding, I became obsessed with the weather in the days leading up to the main event. I'd imagined our ceremony in those gardens from the moment we'd booked the venue so I couldn't bear the thought of moving everything inside. While I was getting ready, Justin had gone ahead with his best friend to oversee the final preparations. I travelled separately with my dad and my sister in a vintage Jaguar. As we drove, Justin called and said, "I just want to prepare you, it's absolutely pouring. The planner thinks we should move the ceremony into the marquee." But as we got closer to the venue, the rain began to ease. Everyone was welcomed with a glass of champagne while our bagpiper [Craig](https://www.instagram.com/craigwardpiping/) greeted them as they entered the gardens. Meanwhile, I waited with my youngest brother. There were actually several reasons he walked me down the aisle. My dad has ongoing problems with his knee and was worried he wouldn't be comfortable making the walk but in Montenegrin tradition, brothers often accompany the bride and symbolically give her away. I'd chosen an instrumental version of Lana Del Rey's ‘Young and Beautiful’ for my entrance. As my brother and I started walking down the steps, the sky opened – not with rain but with sunshine. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life. My other brother then officiated the ceremony and we also chose to recite our own vows. ## The Reception Our cocktail reception had originally been planned around the fountain in the gardens but with the ground still wet, we decided to move everyone into the marquee instead. Once again, the bagpiper led the way. Meanwhile, Justin and I stayed behind for photographs. We deliberately kept the photo session short – around 30 minutes. Neither of us wanted to spend hours away from our guests. ## The Food & Drink A few weeks before the wedding, we went to Scotland for a tasting. Originally, we debated whether to offer guests a choice of main courses but in the end, we all came to the same conclusion: the salmon was exceptional. Afterwards, everyone came up to tell us it was the best salmon they'd ever eaten. My dad even went back for seconds! Rather than serving one large plated dessert, we also offered a selection of beautifully crafted miniature pastries – including baklava as a nod to my Montenegrin heritage. Originally, I'd imagined a traditional tiered wedding cake but I found myself drawn to a long, contemporary design instead. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/1tyk8ZhNcACfIsyezSU9tBWJWQ4=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-8.jpg) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) If there's one piece of advice I'd give to anyone, it's TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS – every time we listened to ourselves, we ended up MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. ## The Entertainment For the ceremony and cocktail hour, we'd arranged for a string quartet to perform, although the weather meant their role became slightly different from what we'd originally planned. Once the evening began, however, everything revolved around [our DJ](https://www.instagram.com/djstav/). I'd spent weeks putting together playlists but when I sent them over, George said I'd created enough music for several days' worth of celebrations! Luckily, he took everything we'd shared and crafted a perfect soundtrack. The dance floor stayed busy all night. Officially, we were meant to finish just after midnight but were able to extend things so that everyone could enjoy a little more time together before the coaches arrived. ## The Day Before & After Most of our guests stayed at [The Hoxton](https://thehoxton.com/edinburgh/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22393759667&gbraid=0AAAAAD577R9V6PAHI2umcvgAU9huqcc3H&gclid=CjwKCAjwyabTBhBFEiwAM3mNUCa0vwHv0puS8qvz2xJ76RaVqPsCNL0f_8lT4nMCaXSqWQN7mNeNTRoCyZ8QAvD_BwE) in Edinburgh for three nights. The evening before the wedding, we hosted a relaxed welcome party at the hotel so everyone could meet, have a drink and get to know one another before the celebrations began. The morning after the wedding, everyone gathered for breakfast at the hotel. Over coffee and breakfast, we replayed the highlights from the day before. Later that day, Justin and I headed off with my siblings and their partners for what we jokingly called our "sillymoon" in Ibiza. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/vUJ0w6nxSpq1WyNcbH32522IvJ8=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Fnewsl-editorial-wedding-ed-aug-me-my-wedding-9.png) ](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?hl=en) ## Advice For Other Couples If there's one piece of advice I'd give to anyone, it's trust your instincts. There were so many moments where Justin and I could have followed what we thought we *should* do instead of what felt right for us. We almost booked a venue in France because it seemed like the logical choice. We questioned whether we should have bridesmaids and groomsmen simply because it's traditional. Every time we ignored that pressure and listened to ourselves instead, we ended up making the right decision. Your wedding doesn't need to look like everyone else's. It should look like yours. *Follow* [@DALILARAD](https://www.instagram.com/dalilarad/?g=5) [ Sign in to comment with your SheerLuxe profile ](/user/login?destination=)Or continue to comment as a Guest below [View the discussion thread.](http://sheerluxe-dev.disqus.com/) DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at .