NICE DAY FOR A
(NOT SO) WHITE WEDDING
Recently-wed Lauren Molyneux recollects her big day and discusses her alternative approach to tying the knot
The ‘big day’ is something that most girls start planning when they’re six, with an elegant white dress, a three-tiered wedding cake, a luxury bouquet of flowers and a magnificent location that all works together to make you feel like a princess.
I planned my wedding in just over two months! After getting engaged in a pub in Whitby – my now-husband didn’t even have a ring at the time, so we went shopping together the next day for the perfect Whitby Jet. We initially planned to marry in a couple of years in the local town hall, but when we were told that renovations were planned to continue into 2020, we had to come up with ‘Plan B’. Having already booked a holiday to the Isle of Mull, the place we had fallen in love with on our first holiday together, we set a date and began to plan a wedding in the Inner Hebrides.
August came around quickly, and we shared our excitement as we embarked upon our journey up the M6. We had discussed our wedding hypothetically not long after we met and had decided that it would involve just the two of us, in a location we both adored.
The night before the wedding we visited our friends in Carsaig, who were to be acting as our witnesses, and together we picked the wildflowers that were to form my bouquet and the buttonholes, before returning to our rented holiday cottage in Tobermory to decide on the music we should walk down the aisle to.
The day itself was intimate and perfect! Jake and I got ready together, both in co-ordinating outfits of black, before we were escorted to the registry office by our witnesses – and their adorable Labrador puppy, Ted, who features in many of our wedding photos! The ceremony was wonderful and emotional, with even the registrar shedding a tear or two as we exchanged our vows. Our photos were taken on top of a hill with the sea as a backdrop and the sun shining, and when it showered for a brief 30 seconds we got wet and laughed in the rain, champagne in hand.
That night we visited one of the few pubs on the island, The Mishnish, and were welcomed by locals and holidaymakers, who made toasts to our new marriage. On the last night of our ‘honeymoon’ Jake and I shared our favourite Chinese takeaway onthe beach at Tobermory, with a blue sky above us and gorgeous views overlooking the bay.
I wouldn’t change our wedding day for the world, and I know that it will always remain as one of my most cherished and happiest memories! We spent the whole day in each other’s company and were able to start out our married life as we plan to continue it – with intimacy, silliness, laughter and a lot of love!
