Pitch perfect
The wedding of Jessica Wilson and Adam Puech, Auchen Castle, Beattock, December 2, 2023
PHOTOGRAPHY LEE HAGGARTY
Sound engineer Adam first heard Jessica before he set eyes on her, yet something about the way she was talking (about bourbon, as it happens) caught his attention and before the night was over, he knew she was the girl for him.
It was the day after Valentine’s Day 2019, and they were both in the Robert the Bruce pub in their hometown of Dumfries, each with their own groups of friends.
“Jess could be heard from the other side of the room talking about Jack Daniels. She certainly knew how to make an impression. Nothing has changed,” says Adam who admits he was “too chicken to make the first move”. Fortunately, they bumped into each other later that night, in The Venue nightclub: “We got to chatting and having a laugh and hit it off straight away.”
Love blossomed and three years later Adam, decided to ask Jess, who is a secretary, to marry him. He planned a romantic proposal in Paris, on February 2, and picked the perfect place to pop the question, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. But timing is everything, as Adam explains:
“I had found a quiet and peaceful spot down by the river and, being into my photography, I used the excuse that I wanted to head there to take some photos.
“At the time there was a man doing sprints back and forth on the stretch of path we had stopped on and Jess couldn’t figure out why. I said I wanted to wait until he had left so that I could take a picture of a bridge… I don’t know why I thought that would work but it managed to hold her off for a few more minutes before she started to get really impatient. As the runner disappeared round a corner, I took the opportunity then to pop the question.”
When it came to picking the perfect place for their nuptials, patience was not required - it was love at first sight: “From the minute we arrived at Auchen Castle , we knew it was the one and we were set on it straight away for our wedding, reception and evening do.”
Jess, 23, chose a white ballgown style dress with sweetheart neckline and detachable, off-the-shoulder sleeves from Brides in the City in Glasgow, and had Adam’s gran, Doreen, adjust it so it was perfect for the big day.
Her bridesmaids, Cara, Emma, and Victoria, wore dresses from ASOS, which Doreen also altered.
The bridal party hair was done by Slate in Dumfries on the morning of the wedding, and the bride and her bridesmaids did their own makeup.
Adam, 24, and his groom’s men wore kilts from Anderson Kilts, Dumfries, in weathered MacRae tartan. Adam and his best man Thomas wore brown jackets, with Adam wearing an over-the-shoulder plaid. The rest of the groomsmen wore charcoal jackets.
The ushers were Sam, Graeme and Connor.
Adam and Jess’s wedding rings were from Ernest Jones in Glasgow, the wedding flowers were by Morrisons Florist, and their stunning three-tier cake was by Cakes by Agnes. “She was super helpful and took care of the whole process for us,” says Adam.
He and Jess were also full of praise for their wedding photographer and videographer, Lee Haggarty and Tom Armstron – “they were fantastic” - and their humanist celebrant: “the amazing, laugh-a-minute, Lindsey Mason Ross. She did a fantastic job of putting everyone at ease although there wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the end of the ceremony!” they say.
Jess arrived in a wedding car from Ian Falls and was piped up the driveway to the hotel by piper Callum Watson. Snowy weather created a winter wonderland feel.
Family and friends travelled from far and wide for the wedding, including from Australia, Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, as well as Scotland.
More guests attended the evening party to celebrate with the newlyweds.
“We had the brilliant Ross Kennedy as our DJ; he is super at what he does. And we were taken by surprise during the evening as close friend Ben Clements, frontman of The Lutras, performed a rendition of Home by Michael Bublé to serenade us back onto the dance floor for another slow dance,” says Adam.
During their honeymoon, Jess and Adam experienced the “in sickness” part of the “in sickness and in health” vows quicker than either of them could have imagined, when they took ill on their second day in Barcelona.
“Incredibly ill for six days” and not allowed to travel, they had to book new accommodation and “spend a copious amount of money to sort ourselves out.” Fortunately, says Adam, they had travel insurance.
Jess and Adam say that when it comes to planning a wedding: “Don’t get caught up in trying to make the day suit everyone. It’s about you and your other half.
“Hire an audio guestbook, they’re fantastic. We had one. It’s so easy to set up and a little more personal, having voice notes from loved ones and friends who have enjoyed the day a little too much by the end of the night!”
And the best thing about being married? “At the end of the day, we know we’re coming home to each other.”
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Lee Haggarty/Swift Productions - swiftproductions.co.uk info@leehaggartyphotography.co.uk 01387 248176 or 07980477434
