A fantastic colourful twilight wedding at Queen’s Park Bowling Club, Glasgow
Lucy and Stuart
- ThePlus Audio
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At YSW we love a romantic backstory, and this one from Lucy and Stuart has all the Sliding Doors feels!
The pair originally met at university and didn’t hear of one another post-graduation.
Then, almost a decade later, they had a chance encounter at Buchanan Street subway station… “I was rushing for the inner circle train and Stuart was stepping off the outer,” explains Lucy.
“By sheer chance, we saw each other at the spot where the staircases for both platforms meet.
“We said hello then I quickly hopped over the divider to give him a hug and I passed him my number.
“At the time, I wasn’t even living in Glasgow, so the encounter felt like a remarkable coincidence.”
It was clearly meant to be because seven years later, Stuart proposed on their last day of walking the West Highland Way.
A hint at how their wedding plans would go (bringing together all the creative talent in their friendship circle), Stuart had worked closely with jewellery designer and pal Caitlin Hegney to create a truly special engagement ring.
And naturally, Caitlin worked on the wedding rings too.
Lucy describes them as “more than just jewellery” and adds, “They’re personal, meaningful, and a reflection of the love and care that went into making them.”
Getting organised
Most couples say their top priority is finding their dream venue but for Lucy and Stuart, they had something else on their minds – food!
With Paesano Pizza in the bag, they booked Queen’s Park Bowling Club (recommended by bridesmaid and florist Sarah) and got to work bringing their joyful, slightly 70s-themed wedding to life.
First up, Lucy shared her vision with Sarah who took her “scattered ideas and turned them into stunning floral designs.”
Everything, from the incredible watermelon and hydrangea ceremony flowers to the tablescape created with anthurium plants, fresh oranges and cut flowers, completely transformed the space and took the pressure off the couple when it came to décor.
They simply added DIY details that were mostly sourced from thrift shops and Vinted, and set up by their lovely bridal party.
Another member of the squad, Lucy, got involved by making the wedding cake with her four-year-old daughter – “They figured out how to create a tiered, 70s-style heart cake, spent weeks perfecting the design and absolutely nailed it!” – whilst fellow ‘maid Emma worked her magic on the make-up.
With the to do-list in progress, Lucy turned her attention to finding something “vaguely 70s themed” to wear and had a wonderful experience shopping with her gals.
In the end, though, she found ‘The One’ on Vinted for just £21!
“It was a vintage gem that felt like it was meant to be,” she remembers.
“After a few alterations, including removing the underskirt and reshaping it slightly, it was exactly what I’d envisioned.
“The soft cream colour, the long, puffed sleeves and the elegant high neck gave it a timeless charm. I couldn’t have been happier.”
Lucy finished off her look with stunning custom pearls and earrings, created by her brother’s partner, Maisie.
Stuart dug out the stylish kilt he got for his 21st birthday and when it came to dressing the massive wedding party – “I think we had twenty bridesmaids and groomsmen in total!” – the couple were super-relaxed.
They didn’t bother with a dress code and simply set them apart from the rest of the guests with a bunch of flowers or a corsage.
The big day
Describing your wedding ceremony as “a glorious disaster” probably doesn’t sound ideal to everyone but for Lucy and Stuart it felt just right.
From the handfasting that didn’t go to plan (their carefully tied knots promptly unravelled) to the surprise vows with no response (the couple had decided against vows but Stuart unexpectedly shared some, leaving his bride teary-eyed and speechless) to forgetting that Lucy’s step-dad was going to say a few words and essentially ending the ceremony before he got his moment, there was no grand, polished spectacle.
“It was a beautiful, hilarious mess,” admits Lucy.
“There was love, laughter and absolute mayhem. And honestly? We wouldn’t change a thing.”
A few much-needed glasses of wine followed before a full-on feast for 100 guests.
As well as the pizzas, Lucy had made loads of sides while Douglas from Space Dog Bakery prepared bread and focaccia.
“People are still raving about the food!
“Our friend Douglas truly outdid himself. His talent in the kitchen is unmatched.”
Having opted for a ‘twilight wedding’ starting at 5pm, the ceilidh got into full swing around 9pm – and it was then that Lucy felt like she could finally breathe.
She explains, “Suddenly, I truly appreciated everyone was there because they loved us.
“And I realised nobody minded that some parts of the day had been a hot mess.
“It was such a relief to let go and just enjoy the moment!”
On that note…
Now, Lucy has plenty of advice for brides- and grooms-to-be.
“Remember that not everyone is a natural event planner.
“If you’re trying to do everything yourselves, you’re bound to miss something.
“So don’t hesitate to reach out to friends or hire professionals to take the load off, like we did with the flowers.
“Asking for help doesn’t make you any less capable, it just makes the day more meaningful and stress-free.
“Plus, our wedding wouldn’t have been anywhere near as special without the support of our incredible friends and family.
“It was their love and hard work that made everything come together so beautifully.”
And if something goes wrong?
Lucy says to just embrace the mess!
“I promise, no matter what happens or how much things veer off course, you’ll be laughing about it in six months over a glass of wine.
“It’s those unexpected moments that end up becoming the best stories.
“So don’t sweat it, just enjoy the ride!”
Queen's Park Bowling Club
- 0141 423 0152
- Queen's Park Bowling Club, 381 Langside Road, Glasgow, G42 8DA
- secretaryqpbc@gmail.com
- www.queensparkbowlingclub.co.uk
Laura A. Tiliman Photography
“Photographing Lucy and Stuart’s DIY wedding was an absolute joy! Every detail was filled with love, from the books given as favours to the way their friends and family played such a big role in their day. Laughter echoed through every moment, the food was incredible, and the bright, colourful florals made everything feel so vibrant, unique and full of life. It was the perfect celebration of love, community, and creativity—an honour to capture!”
Laura
Here are the amazing suppliers that helped make our day so special
– I’d highly recommend them.
Band | DJ @outpost_sangoma
Bride’s dress | Vinted
Bride’s jewellery | ByMaisieDelf
Flowers | Rook Botanics
Food | Paesano Pizza, Space Dog Bakery
Rings | Caitlin Hegney Jewellery
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