How did you find out about Sophia Grace Couture?

I found out through a friend, who had also bought her wedding dress here. I also followed the Sophia Grace Instagram page to have a look at the different dress styles and I just had a feeling I would find my dream dress here.

How would you describe your experience at Sophia Grace Couture?

Sophia Grace was the second shop I visited and I had a rough idea of what didn’t suit me. I visited Sophia Grace with my gran and my mum and when we arrived we were greeted by the lovely Hannah. We were taken to our own private room and felt immediately comfortable and at ease despite Covid restrictions being in place. We were encouraged to look around the shop and pick out any dresses that I liked. The shop itself is stunning and Hannah was exceptionally helpful. Her attention to detail is second to none and she took the time to ask questions and listen to how I felt in each dress. She also gave her opinions and what she felt suited me too.

Tell us about your dress and why you choose your particular gown

When deciding on a theme we didn’t want anything flamboyant. Everyone who knows us knows that we like to keep things very simple, so we wanted our wedding to be the same. Our wedding coordinator told us we were the most laid back couple she had met, which says it all really. Andrew and the ushers were wearing the isle of Skye tartan, so we decided to go with the theme of sage green. Our table centre pieces were rustic boxes which Andrews sister made from hand which were filled with a mix of eucalyptus and pink roses which matched my bouquet .We also used beautifully covered to hire chair covers which had a simple sage green sash to tie in with our theme. Everything tied in nicely and was just how we wanted it.

Did Covid-19 Impact your wedding?

We are probably one of the lucky couples, who thankfully haven’t had to reschedule their wedding due to Covid 19. Thankfully by the time our wedding came around most restrictions were eased so we got to have the wedding we wished for. Unfortunately a few of our friends from Australia couldn’t make it due to the strict regulations in place there, however we are so grateful we got to spend it with our nearest and dearest.

What made you decide upon your chosen venue?

We got married at St Matthew’s Church in Rosewell, which is just a stunning church with beautiful grounds. We then had our reception at Orocco Pier, we had celebrated our engagement in South Queensferry and just loved the views you get of the Forth Road Bridges.

We went to view Orocco Pier and absolutely loved it from the moment we arrived, the location, the friendly staff and stunning views are just a few of the reasons we chose here.

Nothing ever seemed like a hassle and the communication we had with staff throughout made the process so easy. The staff seem so organised and they are obviously experts at organising weddings which makes things a lot easier as planning a wedding can be very stressful. We can’t thank them enough for making our special day run smoothly, it’s definitely a day we won’t forget!

Tell us about your wedding

We got married in St Matthew’s church with our family and closest friends. It was just how we wanted to spend our day, surrounded by those who mean the most to us and we wouldn’t change a single thing.

The morning of the wedding was very relaxed as it was only me, my mum and my two bridesmaids - my best friends Coleen and Amanda who were getting ready at my mums. Ash Soltani arrived around 8am to begin our make up, followed by Karla at platinum studio who arrived around 9am to do our hair. Both ladies were fantastic and we all felt amazing once we had our hair and make up done. Paul Govers our photographer also arrived around 10am to take some shots of us all getting ready. I have to give credit to Paul for making everyone feel so relaxed and at ease, I can’t wait to see the rest of our photos!

Once arriving at the church, my brother played us down the aisle to Here Comes The Sun - by the Beatles on the piano. It gave me goosebumps and my dad got very emotional walking down the aisle, he told me he was the proudest man alive. My old school teacher also sang for us during the service which was really special and she has such a beautiful voice.

Once the ceremony was over, we made our way to Orocco pier for our drinks reception. Andrew and I stayed behind to get some photographs in the church grounds and with our wedding cars. We can’t thank Edinburgh Classic Wedding Cars enough for their service throughout the day. The car we had chosen was the classic Beauford, which we were driven to Orocco Pier in by the lovely Raymond. On our drive Andrew & I got to soak up the buzz of being newly weds & we shared a glass or two of some bubbly, it was such a lovely moment to share together.

Once we arrived at Orocco Pier, we were reunited with our guests and shared some drinks and canapés before being called for dinner.

Our meal was held in the Fuschia room, which overlooked the water and the beautiful views of the Forth Rail Bridge. Our tables were named after cities around the world Andrew & I had travelled & our favours were miniatures of whisky and gin alongside little bags of tablet.

The day went so quickly and before we knew it our night guests had arrived and our band were set up ready to get the party started.

We spent the rest of the night on the dance floor and danced the night away. Our band Bleeker had Andrew and I up singing Wonderwall which was hilarious. So many of our guests were so surprised with our dancing and singing talents! It really was the best day which was over before we knew it…. If only we could do it all again!

What was the most memorable moment?

It’s hard to chose one specific moment as the day was just perfect. Travelling in the car from the church to Orocco was special, Andrew and I got a chance to take it all in and share a glass of bubbly as husband and wife. Although, I have to say our niece who was our flower girl stole the show! She was constantly photo bombing us and even tried to steal some cake while we were cutting it, which made everyone laugh.

Do you have any advice for future brides visiting Sophia Grace Couture?

Go in open minded and trust the lovely ladies. They go above and beyond to make sure you feel at ease and are comfortable. They do not pressure you into anything & will happily give you their kind but honest opinion. Having visited other shops I can honestly say my best experience was at Sophia Grace. A special mention to Hannah, thank you for helping me find my dream dress and veil. She really is fantastic and asks all the right questions to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout. The shop is stunning and since the renovations they have really added all the lovely details that make it that extra special! Don’t waste your time going elsewhere ladies, your dream dress awaits for you at Sophia Grace!