Sunday 7 June 2015

In the woods. In castle grounds. Something magical has rooted

There is a joy for me in witnessing an idea seed and grow; in watching craftsmen making the beautiful more so; in sensing how we can play a small part in 'making unique' the experience of those brides and grooms who will now become part of the growing fabric - the history - the story - of the place in which they marry and celebrate and begin their wedded lives together.

This sense of place is a significant thing. I have watched grown men cry when they step into where is right for them. I have seen a lady owner (Caroline - you know who you are!) shed tears as the final touches of a long time visioning and dreaming come together and the magic begins. 

I love the before as much as I love the happily ever after. I love that behind the doers and makers of beautiful places there is real heart and soul. Genuine care. An eye for beauty and detail. A sense of what will make special days especially so. 

We are so so so lucky to have here in Scotland the spaces of dreams. Myres Castle has a long history of its own and yet today has only just begun. With a barnquee and a rustic apple store and a little village green where feastivities could flower. 

My lovely stylist Kaisa got to play at the opening evening - designing a shabby chic dessert table and setting tables so that visitors would get a feel for how they  might use this lovely space. We brought along the BBQ train from which Tomasz  hot-smoked sides of salmon and slow slow cooked pulled Puddledub pork and Auchtertool beef brisket and stroganoff buffalo burgers. 

We invited balloon fairy Hayley from 1st for balloons to dress some of the barnquee and Cath from Blue Poppy Florists picked flowers from her growing garden and made lovely jars and bottles of flowers for us to scatter throughout. Zoe from Photos by Zoe and I planted apples in the apple store and dressed it up a little with larch and candles - little needs to be done here where less is more. 

So rest your eyes a little and enjoy!

The rustic apple store. Where you can get married. Or enjoy drinks and canapes. Or hide. photo by carole of Lazy Sunday
The Barnquee seats up to 180 guests and is a fabulously relaxed and flexible space. It overlooks the castle green and is at the bottom of the walled garden. 
The BBQ train enjoying some evening sun. photo by carole of Lazy Sunday

All dressed up! photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday

These 3 are clearly dangerous when they get together!  Photo by CArole of Lazy Sunday

A tin roof. Smoke. A setting sun. Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday

The apple store. Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday
Everyone should have a balloon fairy. They bring joy and make people smile. This one is called  Hayley from 1st for balloons and decorations. Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday
A little bit of shabby chic in the barnquee. The perfect place for a dessert table. Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday


Cake anyone? Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday



With the barnquee sides opened to the sun, you feel like you're sitting on the village green. Just lovely.


The sign of a good chef - empty dishes! Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday


Peeking through the window into the apple store. Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday

As the sun goes down.... Photo by Carole of Lazy Sunday