Louise and Mark's Portpatrick Wedding

On the first Saturday in July Louise and Mark got married in the tiny harbour village of Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway. The day started with a very wet round of golf at Portpatrick Golf Club during which the rain poured so heavily you could barely see through the lens. The truly miserable weather didn't seem to bother Mark and the other golfers one little bit and they seemed to be having a great time despite the fact it was a morning that most people would want to spend indoors, somewhere warm and dry.

We then moved onto Knockinaam Lodge, a beautiful and charming hotel hidden away in a stunning and remote corner of the Dumfries and Galloway coastline where Louise's family was staying and where the meal and celebrations would take place later that day. The rain was still pounding down as Louise, her mother and her bridesmaids got dressed in the cosy luxury of the hotel. We all laughed as Louise's father proclaimed that the rain would stop at 4pm, not realising that he was better informed that the rest of us. In our defense though, it was the kind of rain that didn't seem like it would ever stop, the kind of Scottish rain that leaves you wet to the core within mere seconds. Louise didn't care though, nothing could ruffle her calm serenity.

Mark on the other hand was nervously waiting at Portpatrick Church while the minutes ticked by. We were informed that Louise had never been on time for anything and Mark wouldn't expect today to be any different! When Louise and her bridesmaids arrived they were greeted by a very well prepared usher with a plethora of colourful umbrellas and everyone made their way into the church and out of the rain. After a lovely ceremony by Louise's family minister everyone tentatively emerged, brollies at the ready, to discover that the rain, miraculously, had stopped. And yes, it was 4pm. Instead of water, sunshine was pouring down and the atmosphere was truly joyful and family and friends congratulated Louise and Mark and posed for the obligatory family photographs.

Not believing that the weather could possibly hold out after the morning's downpour we headed down country lanes to Knockinaam Lodge where a marquee waited on the lawns for the party to begin. Guests drank Champagne on the grass, under the shadows of the cliffs and overlooking the Irish Sea long into the evening and as the sun set. It stayed dry all day!

Guests ate what was reported to be a delicious meal cooked by Knockinaam Lodge under the canvas of the tent which was decorated with the most beautiful of green and white flowers. Speeches were made as was money - wagers put on the length of the best man's speech were split between a lucky two who guessed the closest!

As the band set up guests took the opportunity to take in the last of the day's glorious light and the spectacular skies over the sea. Then they danced long into the night, celebrating in style after what was a genuinely lovely and joyous day...




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Photos by Lillian and Leonard Wedding Photography