Michelle and Matt stick to tradition at Scottish vineyard wedding

Michelle and Matt brought a touch of Scotland to South Australian wine country at their Scottish vineyard wedding.

Michelle, 34, and Matt, 36, first met as backpackers in Brisbane, and after a few days of hanging out they both felt a connection.

Matt eventually returned to Scotland, and Michelle to South Australia, but over the next year the couple stayed in touch.

On Michelle’s 30th birthday Matt sent a dozen long-stem roses and a note.

“I knew then and there I had a choice to make: to move overseas or say goodbye forever. So three weeks later I packed up my life, quit my job and was on a plane to Edinburgh to be with Matt,” Michelle says.

Back in Australia Matt proposed at the Adelaide Oval after Michelle had completed a rooftop climb with her dad. “There was a picture of Matt on the screen with a t-shirt saying ‘Marry me Shell’. Matt was on bended knee with the ring of my dreams.”

The couple chose Woodstock Wine Estate in McLaren Vale for their Scottish vineyard wedding on February 17, 2018, celebrated with 43 guests.

Scottish style was evident throughout the big day, from the groom’s traditional dress, to a bagpiper, a hand-binding ceremony and plenty of tartan decor.

“Our day was exactly as we wanted, quirky, fun and full of Scottish traditions to carry on to our children,” Michelle says.

Photos courtesy of Panache Photography.

Michelle sourced her low-back gown with graceful train from Luv Bridal & Formal.

“Matt wore his traditional clan tartan with all the traditional accessories. We had it specially made from tartan from Scotland and get to pass it on to our children for generations to come,” Michelle says.

Michelle was full of praise for Kim of Panache Photography. “The BEST ever.”

“We used to catch black cabs in Edinburgh all the time and brings back a lot of memories for us! Plus all the guests loved it,” Michelle says of their wedding transport.

Michelle describes their two-layered Loch Ness Monster cake, created by Heidelberg Cakes, as “the best cake we’ve ever seen.”