Winter in Scotland
Katherine Amour & Niall Spowart
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A winter wedding in Scotland, where LOVE AND LIGHT cut through January frost.
They were engaged on 5 January 2023 and two years later, Katherine and Niall married one day shy of the anniversary.
Niall had planned to propose on the Isle of Skye but couldn’t wait once he had the ring. Instead, he recreated their first date and proposed outside St Giles’ Cathedral on their way for a dram. “He was far too excited to hold onto it,” Katherine smiles.
Niall chose a timeless oval diamond, after meticulously researching cut and clarity. After the engagement, Katherine gifted him a black zirconium band – later engraved in secret for extra meaning.
Four years together felt like the perfect time. They had navigated a global pandemic, built a home and were ready.
The DECISIONS
Winton Castle was the first priority – and first booking. Katherine grew up in Pencaitland and had worked weddings at the castle after university. She’d seen how effortlessly grand yet truly personal they felt. “Nowhere else felt like Winton,” she says.
The homely warmth of the rooms, the ability to move between the hall, library and fire pits, and having family stay across the estate made it feel less like a venue and more like a home for the weekend. “Having a beautiful breakfast with our nearest and dearest, complete with wedding bouquets as centrepieces, on the first day as a married couple was the perfect end.”
The vibe was clean, chic and Scottish with white linens, white florals, champagne-toned dresses and layered tartans. Personal touches appeared throughout – a quaich gifted by a friend and filled with sentimental whisky; tartan from Niall’s kilt tied with Katherine’s maternal family name; Essence of Harris candles that still scent their home now; handmade bridal bouquets and photographs remembering loved ones in the entrance hall.
The DAY
They married in the Drawing Room, which was intimate but grand. “The idea of the ceremony made us nervous,” Katherine admits. “It’s such a meaningful moment.”
What their celebrant, Andrea Taylor, crafted was personal – without “clichés or vague sentiments”. There was a handfasting, a poem written and read aloud by Katherine’s mum, and a real feeling that the room was full of love.
Dinner came first so everyone could gather properly afterwards – and “unreal food” had been a non-negotiable during the planning stages. As evening hit, the GeoGospel Choir filled the castle with joy and the energy shifted. Instead of dancing in the ballroom, Katherine and Niall chose the Drawing Room for their first dance (Take My Hand by Skerryvore) performed live. “It felt like dancing in our living room, surrounded by our favourite people,” she says. And, for the ultimate keepsake, the choir recorded the song for them.
The REFLECTIONS
When asked what surprised them most, it wasn’t a single detail but the feeling of it all coming together. “There’s so much debate about what type or size of wedding to have. But to feel that love in the room, whether it’s two or two hundred people, is truly special.”
Their advice is simple – pick two or three non-negotiables. “Once those are right, everything else feels smaller. And make decisions that make you both happy. Your guests will feel it.”
Winton Castle
- 01875 340222
- Pencaitland, Tranent EH34 5AT, UK
- enquiries@wintoncastle.co.uk
- wwww.wintoncastle.com
Siobhan Stewart Photography
“Such a fun winter day, full of Scottish touches that really reflected them. The chic, clean-cut styling kept everything feeling simple and elegant, and the atmosphere was relaxed yet full of energy, thanks to their brilliant friends and family.”
SIOBHAN
Here are the amazing suppliers that helped make my day so special
– I’d highly recommend them.
Venue: Winton Castle, near Edinburgh
Photographer: Siobhan Stewart Photography
Celebrant: Andrea Taylor
Catering: Saltire Hospitality
Fashion
– Dress: Wendy Makin from Kudos Bridal
– Kilt: Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers
– Bridesmaids: Six Stories, Billy J, Coast
– Alterations: Mira’s Tailoring
Beauty
– Hair: Hair by Kiara Morrice
– Make-up: Erin Stewart Makeup
Styling
– Décor: All Wrapped Up
– Décor: Cakes by Emma
Entertainment
– Musicians: The GeO Gospel Choir
– Bagpiper: The Pickled Piper
– Band: The Haggis Chasers Ceilidh Band
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