Real Bride Story: Samantha wearing Galia Lahav Opera
Bride & Groom: Samantha Russell & Richard Rankin
Planning & Styling: My own planning and styling
Gown: Galia Lahav Opera from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Accessories: Veil from Helen Rodrigues with tiny pearls, pearl bobby pins, basque pearl earrings from local jeweller
Bridesmaids dresses: Rachel Gilbert
Venue: Hopetoun House, Scotland
Photography: Benjamin Wheeler
Videography: Zade films
Floral: Planet Flowers
Other suppliers: Red Hot Chili Pipers, Koda String Quartet, Killer City Sound, Maria Elizabeth Stationery, Red Bothy Ceilidh Band, The Wee Taqueria Taco Truck, Liggys Cakes, Pure Bartending, Heritage Portfolio catering
How did you and your husband meet?
My husband and I met online and had our first date in London during Covid, which was such a strange time to be dating. I remember London being so incredibly quiet. We spent hours wandering through the empty streets, chatting non-stop. It felt surreal having one of the busiest cities in the world almost entirely to ourselves, and it made for such a memorable first date.
How did he propose?
He proposed in Bali, and it was completely unexpected. He had organised a traditional Balinese photoshoot, which honestly didn't seem unusual because we always do fun and slightly silly things when we travel. We took photos beside a beautiful sacred waterfall, and when we made our way down to the bottom, he had arranged the most stunning floral installation and had the ring there. It was so romantic and such a magical surprise.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
I wanted the day to feel ethereal, romantic and incredibly personal. We had such a grand venue, but I still wanted it to feel intimate and full of warmth. My vision was layers of soft draping, gorgeous Scottish wild flowers and hundreds of candles everywhere. I even had the wonderful Nicola from Hopetoun spray Diptyque Baies throughout each room so the entire day had its own beautiful signature scent. As we were getting married in Scotland and I knew my husband would be wearing a kilt, I had always imagined myself wearing lace. It all felt timeless and romantic.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
Pinterest was definitely my biggest source of inspiration. I had separate boards for absolutely everything, including flowers, tablescapes, stationery, lighting and even how I wanted the atmosphere to change from day into evening. I loved planning all of those little details. We included personal touches throughout the day, like having our dogs featured on the side of our wedding cake and having personal photos placed throughout the venue. My amazing florist, Gemma from Planet Flowers, even managed to source Edelweiss for my bouquet alongside lily of the valley. My dad used to sing Edelweiss to me when I was little, so having that flower in my bouquet meant so much.
We also wanted to celebrate both our Scottish and Australian backgrounds. We included Scottish traditions like handfasting, drinking from the quaich and plenty of bagpipes, including the incredible Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Then we balanced that with Australian touches, including fine art prints of Australian landscapes as our table numbers.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
I had always known I wanted lace because we were getting married in Scotland and my husband was going to wear a kilt. The dress I chose was actually the first dress I tried on at Helen Rodrigues Bridal and only the third dress I had tried overall.
The day before, I'd gone dress shopping somewhere else with my mum and sister, but the experience wasn't what I'd imagined. None of us felt particularly excited, and I left feeling a little deflated.
The moment I walked into Helen Rodrigues Bridal, everything changed. I instantly knew this was how dress shopping was supposed to feel. As soon as I put the dress on, both my mum and sister burst into tears, and I knew I'd found the one. Then I tried on the veil, and it completely finished the look. I said yes straight away.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
I absolutely loved planning our wedding, although it really did become like a full-time job! With Nicola from Hopetoun helping bring everything together, I planned every little detail. I started planning well in advance so I had time to carefully consider every element and make sure it all reflected our vision.
I genuinely enjoyed the process. From flowers and candles to lighting and styling, every decision was intentional. I loved creating a day that felt completely unique to us and included meaningful personal touches wherever possible.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The biggest decision was choosing our venue. I knew I didn't want guests travelling between different locations for the ceremony and reception, but I still wanted each part of the day to feel distinct.
Choosing Hopetoun House gave us exactly that. We were married in The Stables, which I wanted to feel almost like a chapel with beautiful draping, candlelight and hanging greenery. Guests then moved into the drinks reception before heading into the Ballroom, and later we had cocktail hour in the Tapestry Room. It created a lovely flow while still making each space feel completely different.
Although, if you ask my husband, the biggest decision was probably convincing him to spend what we did on flowers! Thankfully, it was absolutely worth every penny.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
One of my favourite moments happened during dinner. My husband quietly grabbed my hand and took me over to the corner of the room. We stood there together for a minute, just taking everything in. Looking around at all our family and friends celebrating together was so special. The day goes by incredibly quickly, so having that quiet moment together is something I'll never forget.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Honestly, no. Of course there are always tiny things that don't go exactly to plan, but I truly wouldn't change anything. The day felt so personal and so full of love.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride's?
My biggest piece of advice would be to plan the wedding that feels right for you and your partner. It's so easy to be influenced by other people's opinions or what you think you should do, but at the end of the day it's your wedding. Stay true to your vision, include the details that mean something to you, and don't be afraid to make decisions that reflect your personalities. Those are the things you'll remember forever.
“From the moment I walked into Helen Rodrigues Bridal, I knew it was somewhere special. After feeling a little deflated from my first dress shopping experience elsewhere, Helen’s beautiful boutique completely changed everything. It was warm, welcoming and such a lovely atmosphere.
Helen and her entire team were so incredibly kind, patient and genuinely invested in helping me find my dress. I never felt rushed or pressured. They made the whole experience feel so personal and celebrated every moment with me. When I found my dress, my mum and sister both burst into tears, and the team were just as excited as we were. It was everything I had imagined dress shopping would be.
Every appointment after that was just as wonderful. The attention to detail, the care they showed and the genuine passion they have for what they do made me feel so supported throughout the entire journey.
I couldn’t have imagined finding my wedding dress anywhere else, and I’m so grateful to Helen and the whole team for making such a special part of my wedding journey so unforgettable.”
