‘I do’ diary – Nina and rich’s final wedding planning update

With a shared passion for capturing beautiful images, the couple behind Howden Photography were a perfect match from the start.

Photographing countless weddings over the years it’s no surprise Nina and Rich have taken inspiration for their own day from their happy couples.

They get married this September after meeting on Tinder in 2020.

“We had to cancel our first date as I had Covid and was admitted to hospital, but Rich waited for me to recover,” Nina explains.

“We both were delighted to see a camera in each other’s dating profile pics as we knew we shared a common passion.”

Rich started Howden Photography 15 years ago and the couple now shoot weddings mostly together.

“We went to visit Rich’s favourite venues and I instantly fell in love with Roulotte Retreat,” says Nina.

“It’s eco and chic and something very special.

I’m an outdoor girl, happiest in nature and with a passion for the quirky so Roulotte Retreat was the perfect fit.”

Nina and Rich are planning an intimate, hopefully outdoors, ceremony in front of the bowtop gypsy caravan, performed by their friend Julie, a registrar with the Scottish Borders Council.

They will then hold a larger celebration and meal with additional guests at The Woll Estate Golf Club.

“It’s a beautiful venue with a barn style room, and several trees lit up inside, as well as beautiful views of the Borders,” says Nina.

Keeping family at the heart of their wedding, the couple’s four children Jack, Katie, Harry, and Heidi will be bridesmaids and ushers, and their ceremony will include Scottish traditions such as drinking from the quaich.

For their handfasting, ribbons are going to be made from Rich’s kilt tartan and fabric from Nina’s dress.

The bride- to-be will also use her late mother’s white gold wedding ring.

“Some of the poetry we are using, we first heard at a wedding we photographed, and it was so meaningful my eyes were welling up, making it difficult to take photographs!” she remembers.

The couple’s cute cockapoo Skye will also make an appearance, adorned by a homegrown sunflower and collar accessories made by Nina from fabric from Rich’s kilt and the bridesmaid dresses.

There’s going to be a definite DIY element to this wedding.

Nina and Rich have painstakingly sanded and varnished a barrel to display their Cakes by Laura wedding cake, and they’ve also made table centrepieces inspired by The Woll’s indoor trees.

They’ve made or restored all the props; everything from the post box and easels to a vintage bike and bunting.

After the wedding all the props will be used to launch the couple’s latest venture – wedding hire company Howden Hires.

Party time

Despite the DIY, there’s also been downtime in the last few months of planning.

Rich’s cool stag do included Battlezone Airsoft in South Queensferry before he was dressed in a floral dress, stag horns and a sash when the group headed for drinks and a game of bowls.

“I looked lovely,” he laughs. More drinks and food followed before he rounded off the day in the hot tub with his brother Chris.

“I feel at my age I managed to get off lightly!”

At the time of writing, Nina was still looking forward to her hen party which was to include a silent disco tour of Edinburgh and a show at the festival.

Sounds so much fun!

rfect!”

Look out for Nina and Rich’s wedding in the January 2024 issue of Your Scottish Wedding magazine