Vaila & Alan
She married her best friend in their garden on the summer solstice — surrounded by family, friends and golden summer light.
It was intimate. It was joyful. It was pure magic.
How would you describe your Mirka Bridal Couture experience?
The experience was seamless from start to finish and felt exciting during a busy time in the lead up to the wedding. Mirka is so talented and a total joy to work with. She really listens to what you are looking for and takes great care to make sure the dress is absolutely perfect.
Can you tell us a bit about your dress?
I went for the Chloe dress with a few alterations to the skirt to fit my shape and height. It is a beautiful boho off the shoulder dress with long, floaty, sheer sleeves, stunning lace detail and a unique tiered skirt. It's also from Mirka's eco-friendly collection using recycled fabrics which was important to me.
When did you know you had found the dress for you?
A friend of mine works at the Scottish Wedding Show and she had shared a video on Instagram which featured the Chloe dress. I hadn't thought much about what style I was looking for but I immediately loved it. I didn't know if it would suit me and Mirka has so many beautiful dresses to choose from so I was open, but when I tried it on at my fitting I instantly knew it was the one.
How did you find the process of having a dress made to measure for you?
I knew I was in great hands so it was easy to trust the process. I've never had something custom made and it felt really special having it designed to fit my body perfectly.
Did you end up choosing a dress in the style you thought you were going to go for or was it something completely different?
I had an idea that I wanted something with longer sleeves and a square neckline to suit my body shape but thought I would go for something a bit plainer... I'm so glad I didn't! I also wanted something that was more eco-friendly and for it to fit the boho vibe of our garden wedding, which it more than did.
How did you feel in your dress on the day?
The dress fitted me perfectly without feeling too tight or constricting. It was really comfortable to wear all day and it made me feel beautiful. I had so many compliments from family and friends about how unique the dress was, from Celtic forest nymph to Stevie Nicks boho chic, and how much it felt like me. It was my dress of dreams!
Tell us more about your big day / What was your biggest wedding inspiration?
We got married in our garden on the summer solstice so we wanted it to have a whimsical, Celtic, festival-type feel that was also a celebration of nature and the outdoors. The cows in the field next to us even joined the ceremony to watch us get married!
We had a canvas stretch tent with rustic furniture and fairy lights, and did the rest of the decor ourselves with help from family and friends. We had cocktail bars, BBQ style food and a wee ceilidh before dancing the night away. It was relaxed, fun and the day flowed perfectly.
What is your favourite picture from your wedding day and why is this image so special to you?
There are so many photos I love and we haven't got all of them back yet, but this one is my favourite for showing off the dress, how good I felt wearing it and how happy I was on the day.
Finally, do you have any advice for future brides visiting Mirka Bridal Couture?
Go with an open mind, bring some friends/family and be ready to try on different styles (even ones you might not expect to like). Mirka has a great eye for dresses that will suit you and it's really fun trying them on. Embrace dressing up and enjoy every second!
If you like what you see, here are some of the incredible suppliers that brought this wedding to life:
Photography: @merylgashiphotography