Lauren-Jayne and Josh were teenage sweethearts, meeting a local skate spot when they were still at school. When they married in May 2023, they even revisited the same skate spot for some photos!
The couple were officially married the week before when they eloped in the Scottish Highlands. This gave them much more freedom with their ceremony on the wedding day itself, which involved as many people as they possibly could.
Lauren-Jayne explains, “It was personal and a rollercoaster of laughter, tears and cheers. Josh’s nan was one of my bridesmaids and I asked my brother to MC. He even had his own entrance song – Led Zepplin’s Whole Lotta Love which played after the bridal party entered. Our readings were Adam Sandler and Dolly Parton quotes, and my mum even got up to speak but hadn’t told anyone! It set the tone for the rest of the day and it meant guests skipped that whole awkward ‘and how do you know the couple?’ bit.”
The day was themed around their love of country music, California and the 1970s. Describing it as “old country love served with a side of disco and drum and base,” Lauren-Layne and Josh perfectly blended the ‘ranch lifestyle’ with a UK village fete style wedding.
“We wanted a country barn type feeling, you know like a village fete you went to as a kid?” the bride said. “There was no formal sit down meal and we had hay bales and a hog roast. The rodeo had queue all night and then the band were amazing. As night fell, we wanted a club like feeling going so we could rave into the wee hours with everyone. Our first dance was epic, it still brings tears to our eyes. We did it at 11pm to a Chase & Status song and when the first beat dropped glitter cannons shot into the air and we raved under downpour of confetti with everyone – it was magical.”
Their DIY efforts were a community affair, with friends and family contributing to decor, hair, makeup, painting pallets, making bouquets and even building the altar from fallen wood collected from the woods near their house. They added a cow skull brought back from their travels to the centre.
Their guests list of 270 people meant the catering was the most significant cost, however they still made savvy money saving choices where possible, such as having Colin the Caterpillar cakes instead of a traditional wedding cake. They also just served wine and beer and invited people to BYO anything else they wanted to drink.
“Keep it real, keep it you and keep it fun”, the bride concluded, “otherwise why are you even doing it!?”
