Atmospheric winter wedding at The Cow Shed Crail that came about after the brides won the venue in a competition

After Alex and Fi were engaged, the pair intended to plan their big day over a few years. But after Alex won a competition on Instagram for a dream wedding at The Cow Shed…years turned into months, and they were hitched just 10 months after Fi popped the question

two brides, one wearing a wedding dress, one wearing a suit, look into each others' eyes with Crail and harbour in the background

Alex and Fi Burn

17th February 2024

Venue | The Cow Shed Crail
Photography | Rachel & Tonie Photography

“In March last year, Fi arranged a trip for us to Glen Coe where she proposed in a cosy little cabin. We promised all our family that we’d be saving for at least two to three years before we’d be getting married.

The month after we got engaged, I entered a competition on Instagram to win a Valentine’s wedding at The Cow Shed Crail. They drew the winner’s name out of a hat on a live stream and I missed it, so I received a message to say we had won… I thought we had been scammed! But after talking to the lovely Jo at The Cow Shed, she had assured us it was true!

It was such a gorgeous place to take our friends and family and make a weekend of it.

We decided to do a first look with our photographers Rachel & Tonie Photography because we were both so anxious about it all. It was a perfect moment to enjoy just the two of us and take one another in. Rachel and Tonie were the perfect style for us and a very down to earth couple. We can’t stop looking at our wedding album.

The venue was styled beautifully by Vintage Gathering. We didn’t want a lot of decor as the rustic feel of the Cow Shed was already perfect for us. Vintage Gathering provided beautiful furniture and styled spots around the venue for us, as well as providing gorgeous flowers that were dotted around the space.

Draped canvas ceiling with rows of fairy lights illuminating a long wooden table wedding reception set up at Cow Shed Crail on left. A Tunnocks tea cake sits on an orange wedding menu and place name setting on a wooden table at a wedding.

a close up of a peach pink and orange bridal bouquet shown against a wedding dress that has pearl detail

a two tier wedding cake decorated with pressed dried flowers sitting on a wooden barrel on left. Two brides cutting the wedding cake on right.

Our celebrants Gerrie and Susan Douglas-Scott were a must for us, they were the first same sex couple to get legally married in Scotland! I had worked with them previously at West on the Green when I worked on weddings. They are the warmest, most thoughtful and amazing people ever. They delivered a beautiful, touching ceremony that was so personal to us.

We had Regis Banqueting as our caterers. We may be biased, but it was the best food we’ve had at a wedding! Their team were so on the ball and looked after much more than just the food. Our bar was provided by St Andrews Events Bar which was a dream. We got such a surprise when they started knocking up espresso martinis!

We were very much going for the natural/earth tone vibe and carried that through our bouquet and buttonhole – they were so dreamy. Amy Annand Flowers pulled our vision together so beautifully.

Lighting was an expense that you don’t really think about but we’re so glad we added the fairy lights and courtyard lighting. It brought a magical feel.

We got ready separately, but both had our hair and makeup done by the two Claires (Claire Nisbet on makeup and Claire Adamson on hair) who were both amazing. They brought such a calming energy which is definitely what you need for your wedding morning.

My wedding dress and the hired kilts were from The Wedding Planner Bridal Shop in Helensburgh and the whole experience start to finish was magical. It’s not the dress I thought I wanted but as soon as I tried it on, I knew it was the one.

Fi got her suit tailor-made by The Edinburgh Tailoring Company and it could not have been a smoother process. Chris was amazing and made the perfect suit. It fitted perfectly and turned out even better than imagined.

Ailsa Ritchie made our wedding bands using stones from our grandmothers’ rings which is so meaningful to us. It’s so special to have something of our grandmothers with us since neither of them are with us today.

Our cake was made by our best friend Nina, I think it was a real labour of love for her and it was delicious!

We had just nine months to plan the day, but it really was the wedding of our dreams.”