Belladrum music festival has once again lived up to its hype as an alternatively romantic wedding venue.
Malcolm and Caroline Cowie, of Rockview in Helmsdale, were engaged for 16 years until they tied the knot at the candlelit chapel there yesterday afternoon.
Incredibly the pair, who are both 36, only applied to hire the venue last month – and their families were not told about it until after the wedding.
And Mr Cowie, a joiner by trade and a DJ known as Mad dog, will in fact be playing in the Mother’s Ruin tent at Belladrum at 5pm today which, incidentally, was the only other time available for the pair to get hitched.
The now Mrs Cowie, whose maiden name is also Cowie, said that her friend Kelly had given her the idea to tie the knot at Bella, adding: “Our first thought was ‘oh no,’ but then we thought, ‘if we don’t do it now we will never do it.’”
And the newlyweds were all smiles yesterday as they left the chapel with close friends and their children, 10-year-old Danielle, seven-year-old Abbi and three-year-old Shay.
Mrs Cowie, a community nurse, added: “It’s a really happy feeling. It’s been lovely and very emotional as well.
“I was a bit unsure as I thought I’d stand out like a sore thumb, but it’s been really nice. You feel like you are in the festival but not, at the same time.”
Mr Cowie added: “It’s the first time we’ve both been to Belladrum and we’ve just absolutely loved it so far, especially with the kids being here as well. They were all delighted when we told them.”
Mr and Mrs Cowie were married yesterday at the Belladrum Temple and Estate at 4pm.
It is set on a secluded wooden knoll surrounded by trees and was designed and built in the 1930s and is B-listed by Historic Scotland.
