Whitehaven News

Lords and ladies gather for elaborate society wedding

RNorris

Published at 01:00, Thursday, 04 October 2007

Asia Mackay and Andrew Trotter with families and friends on the steps of Langholm parish church after their wedding Photo: John Wilkinson, Colorworld Imaging

ONE of the biggest society weddings of the year has been held in Langholm.

There were 400 guests and former leader of the Liberal Democrat party Lord David Steel gave the address, while fireworks set to music delighted residents who gathered to watch on the surrounding hills.

The Hon Asia Mackay, daughter of Lord and Lady Tanlaw, married Cockermouth-born Andrew Trotter, a director of Global Lingo in London, at Langholm parish church on Saturday, September 22.

The bride wore a Vivienne Westwood dress and the ceremony, conducted by the Rev Bob Milne, was accompanied by an Edinburgh choir.

Guests were each given a mini bottle of champagne as they left the church to board buses bound for the reception at Tanlawhill, the family estate at Eskdalemuir.

Jamie Landale, the wedding planner, said: “There were also trumpets, violinists and pipers at the church.

“It was a big day and very family-oriented. It was high-specification but the little details were not overblown.”

It was one of the grandest weddings of the year in Scotland. The reception was held in a raised marquee with a balcony from which guests watched the fireworks.

A champagne and canapé reception was followed with a four-course meal and up-and-coming musician Gwyneth Herbert provided entertainment.

Hotels as far away as Carlisle were fully booked with wedding guests, among whom there was a generous smattering of lords and ladies.

Actor Charley Boorman and his wife were among the guests. Asia worked with him and Ewan McGregor on the television series Long Way Round, which charted his and Charley Boorman’s 15,000-mile trip from John O’Groats to Cape Town.

Other guests included were Tessa, Marchioness of Downshire, Countess of Euston, Martin and Lady Rosemary French, Lord Mark and Lady Fitzalan Howard, the Earl and Countess of Inchcape, Sir David and Lady Landale, Lord and Lady Steel of Aikwood, The Hon Tobias and Lady Emma Tennant as well as very many family and friends.

On Sunday guests were invited back to the estate for brunch. Afterwards, the bride and bridegroom set off for their honeymoon in Africa.

Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk