Now that’s a wedding blowout!
Couple fly to Skye for idyllic ceremony...and it goes down a storm
A YOUNG couple knew the Isle of Skye would be a rugged backdrop for their wedding.
But they weren’t expecting galeforce winds and a thunderstorm, which turned their post-marriage photo-shoot into something like scenes from a disaster movie.
“Boy were we in for a surprise. The wind was unreal,” said Lisa Mortier, 31, of her wedding to James in the September maelstrom.
She and James, 33, eloped 3,500 miles from Chicago to Skye for their wedding after considering locations around the globe.
Lisa said: “We anticipated cooler, misty, weather – similar to the Pacific North-west in the States.”
Luckily, photographer Andrew Rae was used to Scotland’s unpredictable conditions – and captured a series of dramatic scenes reminiscent of Wuthering Heights.
Bride Lisa is seen happily traipsing through muddy bogs in leather boots arm-in-arm with James – holding her stunning white dress as her bridal hair whips her face.
Elsewhere the couple are captured embracing in the misty landscape, soaked but contented amid the crags.
The couple, who have been together for four years, got in touch with Andrew on Instagram after viewing his gallery of past images.
Lisa said: “We wanted a unique wedding experience that was reflective of us.
“We were interested in a remote area overseas, the idea just seemed more romantic.
“Our first thought was France but the more I researched it the more difficult it seemed to be due to the language barrier.
“Scotland continually came up as an elopement destination and neither of us had been before, so we just kind of went with it.”
She added: “I searched for the perfect dress that could pack well and was lightweight for hiking.
“We wanted to end up in the fairy pools [crystal clear pools on the west of Skye] but due to the weather we never made it.”
The pair even had to move their wedding venue.
Lisa added: “We planned to marry at Loch Coruisk on Skye but cancelled due to bad weather. So we chose Honeycomb Rock.
“Andrew’s photography skills are truly an art form.
“I never imagined I would look at such a beautiful photograph and see myself in it.”
After the wild shoot, the couple found an inn for whiskies.
“Everyone was so warm and welcoming. The people really made the trip,” said Lisa.
“For those interested, expect the worst weather and embrace it.
“I’ve been dreaming of Skye every day since.”