For all booking enquires contact me via www.debbiethorntonphotography.co.uk

“Oh my goodness, your gorgeous photographs have made us all teary-eyed! We waited until everyone was able to look together…they are all so beautiful….We love our photos so much.. Thank you so much again for being our photographer and for all of the extra support on the day and for going above and beyond to capture all of these perfect little moments, we couldn’t be happier, Debbie!“

Rebecca and Austin are two of the sweetest souls I have ever met they are so in love and were a total joy to photograph!

They had a beautiful vintage style wedding at The Coach House at Gretna Green and here’s what they had to say about the day….

Planning

Rebecca: Wedding planning was difficult but it also felt like it went by so fast, I think maybe a lot of long-distance couples feel this way after immigration, because the first visa gives you just six months to prepare, but some parts were such a joy, I loved going with my mumma to get my wedding dress altered and I really loved choosing a dried flower bouquet from Etsy and of course, our pre-wedding shoot with you was so much fun.

Austin: I actually don’t remember a lot of it, between the visa and moving from one country to another, it was a whirlwind, the wedding just felt like an extension of finally having a life together with Rebecca!

Outfits

Rebecca: I chose a long sleeved lace dress because I have always had a fascination with lace, my little wedding daydream was to look as beautiful as my mumma did on her wedding day and I had a wonderful seamstress from a small business in Troon who made it fit like a dream; she also sewed a button from my dearly departed grandfather’s cardigan and a flower from my mumma’s wedding headband, so it felt extra special and like my grandfather was with me the whole day.

Austin went with braces because I told him that I thought they would add a touch of the ‘ol razzle dazzle! I like vintage things, and it just added a vintage element to the day.

Austin’s tie patch said: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

My dad’s tie patch said: 𝘋𝘢𝘥, 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬’𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦.

… and let me just say, it was my very favourite walk of my whole entire life.

A Favourite

Rebecca: We actually have two favourite photographs! Austin and I both love the one where we are all smiling together as it reflects that the day was such a special family day because my parents’ moved heaven and earth to reunite us and did so much to help before Austin arrived in Scotland, it also reminds us how wonderful it was that Clarkie flew so far just to be there.

Austin: Our other favourite photograph is this picture in The Coach House, Rebecca and I are holding hands and whilst I was at my most nervous and shakiest ready to marry the love of my life, the moment looks so peaceful, it’s just a perfect memory.

Memories

Austin: The most memorable moment for me was Rebecca standing in front of me with the veil on, and hoping not to stumble on my words as I got ready for our first kiss as husband and wife.

Rebecca: For me, the most memorable moment was walking down the aisle to Austin with my wonderful dad and then just seeing my mumma in the pew and my almost brother-in-law across from us and just at that moment feeling surrounded by love and holding the hands of my forever, it felt like we waited so long to be reunited, but suddenly the big day was here.

Ceremony

We decided on a religious ceremony at Gretna Green because it’s just a place filled with history, and walking down the aisle and being in that beautiful room felt like touching a piece of that history, touching the anvil felt like touching time.

We wanted a soft day, simple, but filled with love and happiness, we had a restaurant meal afterwards instead of a reception because we were going on honeymoon to Longtown the very next day. When we got home, our wonderful family planned us a surprise wedding reception with a beautiful cake and balloons and banners which just made it even more perfect.

Looking back

Rebecca: I would remind myself to worry less, it was such a beautiful day that it’s impossible to worry when it’s actually happening in the moment.

Austin: Leave your phone in the hotel room when you go to get married, you don’t actually need it, or your wallet, it’s all paid for. *laughing*

Advice

We would both say to save up a lot, no matter how small a wedding is, it’s a financial commitment and even small weddings end up with all sorts of last minute expenses, like when the trains get cancelled and you have to travel by taxi — in the words of the kind-hearted employee who measured Austin for his wedding trousers, “there’s no such thing as a cheap wedding!”

Rebecca: just stay calm, it will all come together, little things will go wrong, but enjoy your love, you’ve found the other half of your heart and everything will just go along like a river to the sea.

Beautiful day!

For all enquiries contact me via: www.debbiethorntonphotography.co.uk

Rebecca & Austin’s wedding suppliers were:

The Coach House – Gretna Hall

Minister Mark Smith – River of Life Church

Videography – R&D Photography

Hair by Jackie – Rainbow Room International

Flowers – HBotanicsWeddings

Bouquet Charm – Ami Webster Designs

Dress Alternations – Perfect Fit Alterations