The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
US couple on cloud nine after wild Skye wedding
From the Windy City to the Misty Isle for a really wild Highland wedding
For most brides, rain on their wedding day would be a disaster – especially for one who had travelled across the Atlantic to tie the knot.
But for Lisa Mortier, 31, and her husband James, the wild Skye weather was just a great photo opportunity.
The new Mr and Mrs Mortier had flown from their home in Chicago to Skye for their nuptials after considering locations around the globe.
The photographs capture the bride traipsing through muddy bogs in her stunning white wedding dress and with her hair whipped up by gale-force winds.
“We both love the outdoors and are always up for an adventure”
The 33-year-old bridegroom’s neatlytailored wedding suit is soaked through by sheets of rain lashing the crags.
The couple, who have been together for four years, got in touch with photographer Andrew Rae and arranged their wedding for late September.
However, the pair were hit with strong winds and a barrage of mud as they posed for the set.
Lisa said: “We anticipated cooler, misty weather similar to that of the Pacific Northwest in the States.
“Boy, were we in for a surprise! The wind was unreal. The weather in Chicago fluctuates pretty regularly in spring and fall. We could have a week of 70F and have snow the next.
“We have a fair amount of wind that comes off of Lake Michigan, but nothing like the wind in Skye.
“I’m sure it was 65F and sunny back home on our wedding day.”
Lisa said the couple took a while to decide on their perfect destination to elope, but after spotting pictures of the island, their minds were made up.
Lisa added: “We wanted a unique wedding experience that was reflective of us.
“We both love the outdoors and are always up for an adventure.
“We were interested in a remote area overseas, the idea just seemed more romantic.
“Our first destination thought was French countryside, 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.
“Photographs of Skye really solidified it as the perfect place for us.”
The couple prepared for the weather conditions and Lisa said she didn’t mind getting her wedding dress covered in mud.
She added: “It was expected. I searched for the perfect dress that could pack well and was lightweight for hiking around for this purpose.
“We wanted to end up in the Fairy Pools, but due to the weather we never made it.
“I’ve been dreaming of Skye every day since,” she said.