September & October 2006

This has been the busiest time of my life but not only with Miss Commonwealth Scotland commitments.

I have had some fantastic offers of work all over the world and sadly just because of other bookings I have had to decline.
From modelling at LA Fashion Week, modelling at press day at Birmingham Motorcycle Show, and judging two major International beauty pageants in Malaysia and the Bahamas; it has been disappointing to have to turn down. However I am aware that many invitations still stand for next year and I fully intend following these invitations up including New York Tartan Day’s Dressed to Kilt.

Dedicated 2 Weddings Magazine

I first got to know Linda Carrol of the magazine back in 2005 when I modelled for the front cover of the magazine. From then on in we became firm friends and I helped model at various wedding exhibitions as well as open them.
Linda and her company D2Marketing then sponsored me to go to Miss Commonwealth International 2006 where I won Miss Commonwealth Scotland for the 2nd year as well as the coveted Miss Commonwealth Charity International from over 100 women throughout the world.
Linda was aware I was engaged and introduced me to Sherida Bain of 20five8. She became my Wedding Organiser, although she is responsible for organising many events of other kinds throughout the area and beyond. She is an absolute marvel and through them both pulling out all the stops to make my wedding to Mark one most could only have dreamed of. www.20five8.co.uk 

In between all these plans of course I have Miss Commonwealth Scotland engagements.

VOX Aberdeen Magazine

This new magazine for Aberdeen came out a couple of months ago and I was asked to do an article for them about my successful International title wins at Miss Commonwealth International in London.
The article appeared in Issue 2 in September and very nice it was too, all thanks to Tom Jamieson.
Article can be seen on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/jules36

New Deer Tractor Pulling Contest

No event no matter how big or small is disregarded in my eyes most especially if for charity. I very rarely turn down such events unless I am already booked.
This event was in aid of a charity I have supported a lot this year, cancer charity UCAN.
Unfortunately the event was the week on the run up to my wedding, and although invited to officially open it, I had so much on, sadly I had to decline.
I know however it will have been a huge success. These events are always great fun and pull in the crowds and raise valuable funding for worthwhile causes.

LA Fashion Week

Dr Geoffrey Scott Carroll contacted me in September to ask if I would come over to Los Angeles to model at the LA Fashion Week in the Dressed to Kilt Fashion Show.
Naturally this was something I would have jumped at albeit for the fact I had something bigger on at the time…………………………….MY WEDDING!
The Dressed to Kilt events are in LA and New York and they are huge, screened worldwide. With chairpersons including Sir Sean Connery, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, Donald and Melania Trump and First Minister Jack McConnell, little wonder.
This event’s models included Rod’s daughter Kimberly Stewart, Paula Abdul, actor Brian Cox, presenters Tim Vincent and  Ross King and of course Darius, who I front alongside for Scottish Couture Company Thistle & Broom.
Naturally I was disappointed not to be able to attend but what can outshine your own wedding?
I have been assured that the invitation still stands for New York Tartan Day’s Dressed to Kilt next April which is even bigger, and look forward to putting Aberdeen on the map.

My Fairytale Wedding

I had a very special engagement on October 1st 2006; my wedding.
And what a day it turned out to be!

It was surprises and delights all round for Mark and me when Linda Carrol of Dedicated2Weddings and Wedding Organiser Sherida Bain of 20five8 got together to plan the North East of Scotland’s Wedding of the Year.

A modest wedding had been planned, but the event turned into a huge fairytale wedding which I could have only dreamed of thanks to many local community businesses who came together to provide surprises of all sizes as way of a thank you to me for all my charity work in the area.

From fantastic fireworks, a huge balloon exploding confetti, Scottish dancers Stacie and Briony, renowned soprano singer Lisa Moffat, classical guitar player David Braicegirdle, piper Neil John Robertson, ceilidh by Frank Thomson & Company and disco by DJ Neil Milne of Elite Promotions, the whole event wowed the guests and bride and groom alike.

My dress of course had to be fit for an International beauty queen. It was stunning I have to add with huge cathedral train and corseted bodice emblazed with diamantes and silver embroidery.
A huge tiara made for the special occasion by a world famous designer was festooned in huge heart shaped Swarovski crystals. My veil was made to match with heart shaped crystals all around the hem.
My five bridesmaids dressed in cerise brightened up the cloudy day and the pink was very befitting, me being Mattel’s Face of Barbie. I am also The Face of La’Orr Boutique, the wedding company who were responsible for my wonderful dress and the bridesmaids.
Frou frou even came on board to supply my wedding underwear.
Of course our hair was all important on the day and after several hair trials, bridesmaids, mum and I spent the morning at Anjools of Cults sipping champagne while Jools, Karen and Heather worked miracles on us all.
Nicole also came in on the day to do a superb job on our makeup.

Dad, mum, the bridesmaids and I all enjoyed a lavish trip to Garioch in a stretched limo supplied by Platinum Limo Company where dad and I then changed to a Beauford supplied by Elegant Beau.

Flowers by Wow of Westhill adorned the Chapel of Garioch Parish Church inside and out, as well as the hotel with the theme of sliver, pink and tartan. My bouquet consisted of cerise roses and thistles, the roses showered with diamantes in the centres.

The hotels ballroom ceiling festooned with fairy lights, chairs covered in white linen tied with big silver bows and enormous silver candelabras bedecked with lilies, thistles and roses, turned the stunning and secluded setting of Pittodrie House Hotel into an event befitting of any celebrity magazine. The five course meal was befitting of any Michelin star restaurant and the champagne and wine flowed all night. Lisa of Aperture was responsible for invitations, order of service, menus, table plans and place cards all beautifully hand designed on the Scottish theme of thistles, diamantes and cerise ribbons.

The cake provided by Kelly of Cults who did a wonderful job as they had 30 years ago for my mum and dad’s wedding.
Our three tiered cake was iced with glittery icing and festooned in cerise roses matching my bouquet and the bridesmaid’s dresses identically. Finished with cerise and silver ribbon, it was a spectacular sight and such a shame to have to cut.

Local businesses provided so many gifts and surprises that I really was a princess for the day.

With special messages from many including Sir Alex Ferguson and the Lord and Lady Provost John and Helen Reynolds the event was attended by many guests from major charitable concerns including CLAN, Children 1st and the Scottish Huntington’s Association. I wanted to include as many guests who have involved me in my role as Miss Commonwealth Scotland and Ambassador for the area.

Media guests from the press and PR companies alike danced into the wee small hours.

The out of this world display of fireworks by Fireworx Scotland saw the misty sky fill with massive rockets booming into heart shapes of every colour conceivable.

I ended the evening by singing Mariah Carey’s Hero as Mark stood in the middle of the ballroom, looking amazing in his kilt. I understand there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

I was totally amazed that so many were keen to make our wedding something so special. It was an amazing day and I cannot thank people enough. It was truely astounding and something we wish didn’t have to come to an end. But we have been left with wonderful memories thanks to Graham at Quartz photography and Rae of Simple Wedding Video.

After the event I also made sure the wonderful flowers were not wasted and they were delivered to charities I am concerned with including CLAN and Sue Ryder Centre. One of the beautiful cake tiers was delivered to Roxburghe House for the cancer patients to enjoy.

I placed the rest of the floral arrangements on the graves of  loved ones including  my nana who had died four years to the day of her wedding, my Granddad and Shomi Miah whose birthday it would have been the same week as our wedding. I have become firm friends of the Miah family since supporting their Meningitis events at their Aberdeen restaurant Cinnamon. Shomi died of meningitis following a 12 hour wait for G Docs.

Mark and I then flew off on a well deserved honeymoon to spend a very restful and romantic fortnight in Mauritius, before returning to take part in more local events.

I must also thank Ardoe House Hotel for a wonderful Spa day they provided for my mum and me which included facials, manicures, massages, the use of the gym, sauna and swimming pool as well as a lovely lunch.

Also Miami Beach and KMT at Tiger Tiger who gave me and all my girlfriends a Hen Night to remember. All dressed in raunchy Moulin Rouge costumes we certainly painted the town that night. Granite City Limos helped us travel in style supplying the stretched limo for the night.

Lochter activities also supplied my fiancé Mark and his bestman with a brilliant activities day. Activities there include archery, off-road driving, rally carting, clay pigeon shooting and much more, including a welcome lunch and swift pint. They had a great day!

My thanks have to go to all who made the run up to the wedding as well as our wedding day so special and I have to thank Graham of Quartz photography in particular for following us to all events in order to provide us with not only wonderful memories but photos for the up and coming magazine exclusive. I know it was also quite an experience for him, especially following scantily clad women around on a Hen Night.

Back down to Earth and more events and photo shoots including………………………..

Fitness and Fashion Show

Frances Richards approached me through my website to ask if I would be interested in taking part in the fashion show and singing at the event she and her daughter Andrea were organising along with Stonehaven Cancer Support Group.
The event took place only two days after the return from my honeymoon on October 21st.
However I couldn’t refuse as the proceeds were going to causes close to my heart, CLAN and Breast Cancer Care.
The event at Stonehaven Town Hall was professional from start to finish with former model Jan Livingstone training the volunteers. The support the village gave this event was immense.
I was asked to guest model eveningwear and sing at the finale. The clothing suppliers were Encore of Fettercairn, George at Asda, Topshop & Topman, Top to Toe, Stonehaven, Craigdon Mountain Sports and Alex Scott & Co, so a great selection for all ages.
Compare Doug Duthie kept the humour going from start to finish. From modelling, singing, workouts and Scottish dancing the evening was a huge success raising over £3000.

Birmingham Motorcycle Show

I was approached by a large PR Company in Warwick to attend the press day at The Motorcycle Show, Birmingham on behalf of their clients the DVLA Personalised Registrations Group.
They were looking for a celebrated Scottish model for the photo call to commemorate and herald the top 10 winners in the best Motorcycle Routes in the UK, which happened to be in Scotland.
Naturally I would have loved to have done this, especially with all my family links to motorcycling but sadly I was already booked.
Hopefully I might get asked again for something similar in the future.

Evening Express Champions of Achievement Awards

This is the second year I have been asked to attend these prestigious awards. It is a fantastic night which I was delighted to accept.
The awards recognise our local heroes from really courageous children who have battled with serious illness, to carers, sports champions and those who like myself have helped raise an immense amount of money for charity.
It is a very humbling and emotional night and this year I was able to bring my new husband along to partake in the evenings events.
This year First Minster Jack McConnell presented every nominee with their award and we all enjoyed a fabulous meal.
As ever we were sat with wonderful company including Commonwealth Gold medal winner Sheena Sharp and 5 year old twin Sophie Jamieson and family. Sophie will never walk and can only watch her twin Shannon when she runs, walks and jumps about. When Sophie was born Doctors discovered she had half a spine and her hips were dislocated. She has bowel and bladder problems too and was later diagnosed with caudal regression syndrome. She was a lovely girl and will always have a lot of ops ahead. As ever it is so humbling to meet such children. It never ceases to amaze me how strong they have to be and how they take everything in their stride.

Wedding Magazine

Dedicated 2 Weddings Magazine is finally out and it is amazing.

The magazine has done an incredible job doing the exclusive on our wedding as well as covering everything on the run up. From the Hen Night to my spa day with my mum, it has given us a wonderful keepsake to treasure always.
In the shops now, featuring me on the front cover and well worth a look.

The Wedding Show

Dedicated 2 Weddings took on a new wedding show in conjunction with the release of their magazine featuring the Miss Commonwealth Scotland Fairytale Wedding Exclusive.
The event at the Hilton Treetops, Aberdeen was a huge success. Every person was given a free copy of the magazine and the two fashion shows saw me not only model with Models Ltd Edinburgh {one of the agencies I am signed to} but also model my wedding dress at the fashion shows finale.
Supported by all who had come on board to support Mark and my wedding, it was a great opportunity to thank the ones I managed to get round including Sherida Bain, La’Orr Boutique, Wow, Miami Beach etc.,

Children 1st Touch of Tartan Ball

I was asked again this year to model the exclusive jewellery at the Touch of Tartan Ball. As ever there was the famous Malcolm Appleby Banchory Bangle and exclusive necklace for Jamieson & Carry.
Sadly this year I had other commitments and had to decline but I hear the event raised a staggering £110000………

Coming up………………………..

Casino Royale Night

Tuesday 12th December, Aberdeen hosts its very own Casino Royale Night at Dusk, Langstane Place.
I have been invited as Special guest ‘Bond Girl’ and I will be ‘dressed to kill’.
All in aid of Sue Ryder Care the evening of Blackjack and Roulette promises to be a night fit for James Bond himself.
Tickets cost £25 includes champagne cocktail, canapés and casino money. Prizes include an Aston Martin for a day.
Doors open at 19.00 until late.

Plenty more photo shoots for the Nationals and events on the run up to Christmas………………………………

As ever, WATCH THIS SPACE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember a huge selection of my photographs are available to view on Flickr  www.flickr.com/photos/jules36