Spectacular flowers. A customised gown. Incredible entertainment. A gourmet menu. This elegant Ayrshire wedding had the dream big-ticket elements – but it was the littlest details and darling people that made it so special for the couple
Scott Leask and Laura Carr, now Mr and Mrs Leask
21st September 2024
Venue | Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire
Photography | Craig and Eva Sanders Photography
This luxurious early autumn Trump Turnberry wedding in Ayrshire had exquisite all-white flowers, styling and decor by Jordana Weddings and Events, a customised wedding dress from Opus Couture that changed the bride's look up from day to night and lots of little details that made it truly reflect the couple...
Don’t sweat the small stuff is a common piece of advice lobbed at couples in the midst of a planning meltdown. Sometimes, though, it’s the little details that actually mean the most. Just ask Laura Leask, née Carr, who married husband Scott at Trump Turnberry in September 2024. Her dearly departed grandparents couldn’t be there, but she commemorated them in a subtle yet poignant way.
A sweet way to commemorate a deceased loved one at a wedding
“Since my grandmother passed away, it has become a family tradition to have a dram of Dalwhinnie every so often (we call it a ‘Wee Celie’ in her honour), and we’ve done the same in memory of Papa with Talisker (and call it a ‘Bobby Joe’), since Skye was one of his favourite places,” the bride says.
“My grandparents meant so much to me, but I consciously decided not to mention them in our ceremony as I wasn’t sure how emotional I’d be. Instead, we had only those two whiskies on the menu during our reception as a sort of ‘if you know, you know’ nod to them.” How sweet.
Another small but significant detail that Laura treasured came courtesy of her mum.
“She presented me with an exquisite silk robe on the morning of the wedding – she’d had it made from her own wedding dress.”
When it came to finding her own gown, Ayrshire gal Laura made a beeline for West Kilbride wedding dress boutique Opus Couture, and fell in love with the very first dress she tried on. “Initially I had a detailed and glamorous Berta number in mind, but as soon as I tried a simple and elegant Woná Concept wildcard, I was bowled over.”
Discover more about wedding dress shopping at Opus Couture here
How to transition a wedding dress from ceremony to reception
The bride then worked with the “incredible” Opus Couture to customise the dress (“That’s when the fun really began,” she smiles) and had nine fittings to ensure it was exactly right. “By that point, Scott and I had been working with event stylist Jordana Events and Weddings and had decided that we wanted to change the vibe between ceremony and reception.
“I wanted my dress to reflect that transition and toyed with the idea of getting a second one. Instead, I decided to modify elements of the dress I’d fallen in love with. Adding beading to the overskirt and making beaded straps (for the evening) changed the look of it significantly.”
“I wanted my bridesmaids to look and feel amazing too. The ivory gowns that Carolyn Baxter designed and made for them were tailored specifically to complement my dress.”
The bride also altered her hair and makeup for the “afterparty”, which really had an impact. “Pam Doc Hair and makeup artist Stacey Toner both stayed on all day and were able to switch up my look in an incredible 13 minutes,” Laura recollects.
Those two suppliers, alongside photographers Craig and Eva Sanders, planner, stylist and florist Jordana, venue Trump Turnberry, filmmaker TLC Media and wedding band The Function Band, were Laura and Scott’s non-negotiables.
“We weren’t precious about the date, aside from not wanting too long an engagement,” says Laura.
“I was clear pretty quickly about which suppliers we wanted to book, so I sent an email round them all to find out which Saturdays they had free between July and September 2024, and thankfully we managed to find one that aligned, 21st September.”
The couple say they felt so lucky to work with their “incredible and talented” suppliers, and formed great relationships with them all.
Search for your own wedding suppliers on Tie the Knot Scotland's online directory
“Jordana became my rock. Not only is she outstanding at what she does, she was supportive and helped me navigate planning and keep things on track. I think we must’ve texted each other every other day for about a year,” laughs Laura.
From the outset the bride had a strong vision of how she wanted the day to look – “modern, timeless elegance” – and worked with Jordana to take the 160 guests on a journey that reflected the “magic and fairytale” of the relationship between herself and Scott.
“Even though we are chalk and cheese in many respects – he’s spontaneous, for instance and I’m a planner – things felt so easy between us from our very first date back in December 2021,” says Laura.
Surprise engagement idea
Their July 2023 engagement – with the Tailors Surprise Singers performing Laura’s favourite songs in a London park – was unexpected: “It was the complete opposite of what I imagined he might do were he to propose!”
Scott is a true romantic – he has bought Laura flowers every month since they got together (aw!), so she knew blooms would have a starring role in their wedding’s aesthetic.
“Jordana and I focused on enhancing the stunning ballroom at Trump Turnberry with white and cream florals (no greenery). We also used candlelight to add romance and opulence and to change the ambience at night.”
The “perfect” ceremony kicked off at 2pm and was led by humanist celebrant Tim Maguire. “Even though we kept the ceremony relatively short and fuss-free (no rituals or readings, as they didn’t resonate with us), it felt personal.”
Discover Scottish wedding traditions to help you personalise your own wedding ceremony
What are the wedding menus like at Trump Turnberry?
Dinner was a proper event, as you might expect when the bride is a foodie and the groom is a chef. “We’d honed the menu options (smoked salmon, beef wellington and chocolate fondant) in May during a chef’s table dinner with my parents at Trump Turnberry, which was a wonderful experience.
“The Function Band performed on podiums before dinner and between each course. It was a party from the get-go!”
“Scott and I agree our wedding was the best day of our lives and we loved being surrounded by our friends and family. We wanted our guests to have a magical time. A few months have since passed, but when I look back today, I wouldn’t change a single thing.”
What to avoid when wedding dress shopping
Top tip: “Don’t take any pictures of you wearing your chosen dress (or delete the images if you’ve already taken them) as it’s all too easy to fixate on it and almost talk yourself out of it. Once you’ve found the one, remove dress-related stuff from your social media too, so you don’t second-guess your choice.”
Venue Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire
Celebrant Tim Maguire Humanist Celebrant
Photography Craig and Eva Sanders Photography
Filmmaker TLC Media Wedding Films
Wedding dress and veil Customised Woná Concept from Opus Couture
Bride’s shoes Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaid dresses Carolyn Baxter
Bridal prep and dresser Don’t Stress the Dress
Hair Pam Doc Hair
Makeup Stacey Toner and Alexandria McNairn
Groomswear Forbes Tailoring
Mother of the bride’s outfit Catherines of Partick
Bride’s rings and jewellery Tom Coll Jewellery
Groom’s watch Cartier
Flowers and venue decor Jordana Weddings and Events
Cake Rosewood Cakes
Stationery My Eden Rose
Content creation Snaps and Soirees
Ceremony and drinks reception singers Maria and Jason, MJ Acoustic
Reception band The Function Band
Live artist Evie Stella Illustration
