It's been a while since my very lovely wife Gaynor and I attended a Balbirnie House wedding, as guests. And Oh My Goodness Me we were in for such an amazing and joyful day.
Whenever one of our work colleagues entrusts us with looking after their own special day, it lends a further dimension to everything taking place. And to go even further, from a wedding planning perspective it's then on a further dimension still, if our work colleague is one of our wedding planning team.
Our congratulations to Christine and Jay. It was truly, a simply remarkable day.
Christine, as all know, has an ability to look at a camera! Here's the photo from the stage at the 2018 Haute Grandeur global awards. We'll get to Jay in a moment!
Fast forward a year, and for Christine's 2019 wedding, only days earlier, our brigade had received the award in Malaysia, for 'Best Destination Wedding Hotel', global winner via Haute Grandeur.
This was 'the Balbirnie six' setting off for Kuala Lumpur, first ever photo in our newly refurbished East Room. Image via Lifetime Photography.
On the morning after the awards night, the Balbirnie six had a memorable poolside conversation at the quite incredible 2019 award venue, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur, on what the new award would mean, in terms of heightened client perception, expectation, and our never-ending quest to deliver our best ever Scotland Hospitality.
Christine had especially been talking about our next phase of annual development with our wedding literature, which is now publishing 6 weeks earlier than usual, on 23rd December.
That's when the word 'sensory' started floating around in my mind. Sensory ... sensory. Each year we add new sections to our published suggestions, and it simply occurred that we should talk about the sensory aspects of a wedding. Thoughts originating perhaps, in the incredible sensory aspects of experiencing the vibrant sights, sounds, colours, scents, and tastes of the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
And on the previous night, we'd seen Balbirnie House and Scotland featuring during the awards dinner, on the world's first Ballroom ultra HDR built-in 360 degree wall-mounted film display. Sensory beyond belief, for Hospitality. 'State-of-the-art and first-of-its-kind in a hotel, the Grand Ballroom’s seamless projection LED acts as a digital canvas to realise any creativity in transforming the Grand Ballroom’s setting'.
Total Ballroom LED surround capability. WOW!
And little did I know, but on Christine's wedding day, we were to experience components of sensory, as never before. I think it was due to a combination of multiple aspects, a very cold but clear autumn day, bright sunshine, totally stunning flowers, the vision of the bride and groom of how they wanted their day to be, and a nip or two of Springbank whisky! And that's before I even saw the bride!
Here's the groom. Jay, before the wedding ceremony!
Well Oh My Goodness Me, the hotel manager knocked on our Pearl Suite door at the very second of the time for the wedding ceremony to begin, walked in (whilst asking as is the custom of our MC), 'Is anyone present wishing to perhaps get married today?', only to literally then be stunned by everything going on in the room. Sensory beyond belief. You'll see what I mean, when you see the photos of the father of the bride, and the reactions from bridesmaids.
Of course, making my way back downstairs a few moments later, I knew that those on duty and the assembled guests, were certainly going to have such a truly wonderful, happy, and absolutely epic day ahead. You see, such moments as this, this is why we work in Hospitality. Something we've come to appreciate over the years, the more relaxed and radiant the bride, the more relaxed and radiant the occasion!
'Oh My Oh My!'
The bride, father of the bride, and bridesmaids were now on their way.
We always have a few of our brigade in Balbirnie's front hall, awaiting the arrival of the bride. You can see what I mean from this photograph, when those on the left saw the bride for the very first time in the bridal gown, what a moment. And what a photograph.
A split second later, and Bars Manager Sean Jennings steps into view:
In a few seconds, I'll provide a link for you to visit Lifetime Photography's story of the day, from a photographers' perspective. Complete with all the official photos. A truly amazing collection of treasured Memories are Made of This.
It has been wonderful to have worked very closely recommending Lifetime over many years. On the day of Christine's wedding, both Rob Thomson and Rachel Gillies were Behind The Lens. Lifetime are previous winners of BIPP Scottish Wedding Photographer of the Year, and The VOWS Awards Scottish Wedding Photographer of the Year.
But firstly, I'd like to say how honoured I was, to be asked to announce the cutting of the wedding cake. All I could do, was say a few words from the heart. 'Ladies and Gentlemen!'
An opportunity to say how special it was that Christine, as a wedding planner, was able to join us on the two Haute Grandeur global award trips, and to thank Christine on behalf of the many couples she has already planned wedding days for at Balbirnie House. And of course, our congratulations to the happy couple. Wishing every Happiness for the future x
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I was also so very honoured to be asked to introduce the bride and groom into Balbirnie's Millennium Ballroom, deliver the raising of a toast with in-house piper Jimmy Banks, and to introduce the father of the bride's speech.
Memories Memories, of being Balbirnie's MC for the many years beginning in 1992.
Later in the day, the happy couple and assembled guests were treated to a surprise 'quiet fireworks' display, from fellow wedding guest Joe McManus, Balbirnie's in-house decorator.
Joe personally set off the fireworks. Me, I was just stood in absolute admiration, for such a heartfelt gesture. Kindness around Balbirnie weddings never ceases to amaze.
The happy couple, ...
And a low res screen shot from personal social media:
And so, from contemplating 'sensory' in Kuala Lumpur, to then by circumstance experiencing many elements of sensory, as never before at Balbirnie House.
The combined experiences ongoing, enable us to look to raise the Hospitality bar, with evolution of what's always intended as our caring and thoughtful suggestions to clients. Our absolutely unique client journey, is made as a result of our continued learning every day, and a very straightforward desire to provide truly world class Scotland Hospitality.
So, we've introduced a brand new section in our wedding planning literature, which is titled,
'THE CONTEMPLATION OF SOCIAL AND SENSORY', and to quote a few words:
Whilst you will certainly be seeing your future photographs, don’t forget to take your own photographs in your own mind, as these will be imprinted forever, as your very own treasured memories. And before you even arrive at your wedding day itself, also take time to really enjoy the planning aspects, and the consideration of the detail of the occasion.
Tracking the evolution of Scotland's most accomplished professional wedding photographers at Balbirnie House, has been so incredible to watch in my 3 decades at Balbirnie House. From film original, into digital and the evolution of photography copyrights, accelerating into such incredible modern era ways, to capture Memories of a Lifetime.
Speaking with Jay's mother, days after the wedding, I was informed, 'You can see it in every single photo, the joy, and the happiness on everyone's faces. Every part of the happiness was absolutely natural'.
Exactly!
And of course, the experience of all of this, simply makes us wish to endeavour to deliver the same and / or similar for all our future wedding clients. An entire future of remarkable Scotland world class Hospitality, it's all there to be experienced.
Enjoy the collection.
Here's the link to Lifetime Photography: Christine + Jay's wedding day
All best wishes,
Nicholas / MD Balbirnie House
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