Make sure ‘your wedding day reflects you and your partner’ is the advice from bride Ruth McPherson, who tied the knot with husband Tim Yarnall last summer at Aswanley, writes

When Ruth McPherson and Tim Yarnall were picking out a wedding venue, Aswanley stood out for its beautiful setting and the freedom it offered the couple to make the day their own.

Tim and Ruth live in Brixton, South London, and have been together for more than five years, after meeting when Ruth first moved to the capital. After the proposal during a surprise trip to Prague, the couple wanted to mix Tim’s English and Ruth’s Scottish backgrounds on the big day in an outdoor humanist ceremony. Aswanley, in Aberdeenshire, can host ceremonies of all denominations, either indoors in the Ballroom or Fireplace Room or outside in the garden. Their chosen venue provided Ruth and Tim with the rustic, laid-back atmosphere they desired, as well as the outdoor space which created stunning images to treasure forever.

The 1920s sapphire and diamond vintage engagement ring, found by Tim in an antique jeweller in Edinburgh, set the theme for the special day, which included a vintage-style wedding dress.

Bride Ruth said: “I found my dress at Avorio Bridal in Fochabers. It was the first bridal shop I went to and, despite visiting several boutiques in London, definitely the best.

“I fell in love with the Ettia the first time I tried it because of its vintage 1920s style – it made me feel like I had

Great Gatsby.

“I went back again with my mum to try it on with my veil, an heirloom hand-knitted Shetland lace shawl, and was delighted when I realised that the dress and the veil suited each other and that she loved the dress as much as I did.”

With friends travelling from England and overseas to join in the celebration, the couple wanted to combine English and Scottish traditions and symbols.

Ruth said: “As Tim is English and I am Scottish we tried to combine traditions and symbols, such as the rose and thistle on the invitations, Tim’s brogues, made in his hometown in Northamptonshire and the hand-knitted Shetland shawl I wore as a veil.

“We injected elements of our personalities into the day as much as possible, as well as enlisting creative friends and family to help us with the flowers, cake, invitations, catering, music and decorations.”

Ruth and Tim were able to organise and personalise the day just as they wished, with the help of Aswanley’s in-house wedding stepped out of The co-ordinators,

Sarah Lawrie.

“Aswanley’s wedding planner, Lauren, and her team were so helpful and made everything so easy for us – we couldn’t have asked for more,” said Ruth.

All types of ceremonies can be held at Aswanley, either in the steading or in the gardens, like Ruth and Tim’s day. While looking at photographs is a great way to see the extent of what a venue looks like, nothing can replace actually making a visit.

Lauren said: “We try to do as many viewings as possible when the venue is set up for a wedding so you can really get a sense of how it is on the day of a wedding. It also gives you a chance to ask lots of questions in a relaxed setting.

“What I love about Aswanley is the unique tranquil setting. As you come down the driveway there is a sense of anticipation before turning the last corner and arriving at the venue. You have exclusive use so only your friends and family will be here on the day of your wedding. The beauty of it being family owned is that they are very flexible so you really can Lauren Rodman and personalise your wedding day to make it your own and tailored to you.”

The in-house wedding co-ordination team know the venue inside out and are able to offer advice on what exactly will work based on past experiences. Lauren added: “We are there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly, too.”

After all the hard work of putting the day together, Ruth walked down the aisle in the garden of Aswanley on an August day to the sounds of a traditional Shetland fiddle tune. The sun came out and shone throughout the ceremony as the couple made their vows under the ash tree to the soundtrack of birdsong on a day that was completely their own. Aswanley has a stunning interior for your big day

Ruth and Tim on their wedding day at Aswanley