Taylor Swift fan Eilidh kicked off her wedding morning 'shaking it off' to her favourite artist while getting ready and the good vibes only increased through the day as she celebrated marrying Kyle
Eilidh Lyall and Kyle Mackenzie, now Mr and Mrs Mackenzie
30th March 2024
Venue | Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
Photography | Mark Wild Photography
As Tay-Tay puts it so memorably in ‘Shake it Off’, “You could’ve been gettin’ down to this sick beat.” So of course mega-Swiftie bride Eilidh was dancing all night long after she opened the next chapter in her very own ‘Love Story’ with Kyle.
“I didn’t leave the dancefloor while our live band The Rockettes were playing – I was having the time of my life!” she laughs. “Kyle isn’t much of a dancer, so he spent a lot of time catching up with guests, only joining me when I hauled him up for some of our favourite songs.
That said, he did manage to successfully lift me up and spin me around during our first dance – it was so much fun and one of the day’s many highlights!”
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The newlyweds’ reception ended a fabulous day that had kicked off bright and early that morning at the bride’s parents’ house. “My girls and I drank prosecco and listened to Taylor Swift as we got our hair and makeup done. There was so much excitement and energy,” recalls Eilidh – a vibe that seeped into the rest of the day.
“Afterwards, our guests told us our wedding was filled with so much genuine joy, love and happiness, and were so complimentary about Dalmahoy and its amazing staff.”
Eilidh and Kyle had booked the four-star resort on the outskirts of Edinburgh after being bowled over by its lush scenery and spacious, beautifully kept grounds.
“We had fun on our wedding day travelling around the estate on ‘Wendy the Wedding Golf Buggy’ while getting our photos and video footage. If you marry there, I’d recommend heading to the lake at the end of the golf course as we did – the view back to the hotel is outstanding for photos,” says Eilidh.
“Another fantastic place to have pictures taken is round the back of the hotel at the beautiful outdoor staircase. We had a lot of our bridal party shots there.”
Photogenic good looks aside, Dalmahoy charmed the couple with its on-site ceremony chapel, St Mary’s, and its overall spaciousness. “If any of our 89 guests wanted to stay overnight, there was ample room,” notes Eilidh. “But for us the most important thing was that we could have our meal and reception inside the hotel, not in a marquee."
"We were also happy to book a package-based venue, so we wouldn’t incur any unexpected costs.
“The Dalmahoy team were incredibly flexible about us upgrading one or two of the options and changing selections within the package (we brought in our own decor, for example). We had excellent support from them.”
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Eilidh singles out coordinator Emma for praise: “She was a reassuring presence while we were planning our wedding and throughout the entire day itself; she was a lovely friendly face to see right before I walked down the aisle (which I unexpectedly found incredibly emotional!) and was there for all the big moments. She even made a special effort to ensure that my favourite drink, Aperol Spritz, would be available for our guests during our cocktail hour.”
We’ll drink to that!
Highlights video by LPR Wedding Films
Venue Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, Midlothian
Photography Mark Wild Photography
Filmmaker LPR Wedding Films (see above)
Minister Reverend Christine Downie
Wedding dress Frankie by Badgley Mischka, from Emma Roy of Edinburgh
Bridesmaid dresses Azazie
Hair James Hoffman, Chapter One Hair Spa
Makeup Toni Innes Makeup Artist & Beauty
Bride’s nails The Manicure Garden
Groomswear Own Mackenzie kilt outfit
Engagement and wedding rings Fraser Hart
Cake Cakes by Caits
Flowers Flower Study Weddings
Stationery Magenta Ink Calligraphy
Favours DIY sweetie bags
Venue decor Beautifully Covered and Make Believe Events
Neon sign Wildfire Neon
Ceremony music Thomas Leigh on piano
Piper Stevie Small (family member)
Drinks reception music Spotify playlist
Reception band The Rockettes
Transport Edinburgh Classic Wedding Cars
