Newlyweds' p-p-perfect visit to aquarium on dream wedding day
Staff at St Andrew's Aquarium in Fife were met with a rather unusual request one Saturday afternoon late last November, when a newlywed couple turned up at their reception desk in their wedding attire and asked if they could visit the resident penguins.
Graeme Mackenzie wanted to surprise his penguin-obsessed new wife Carrie-Anne with an impromptu trip to the popular seaside aquarium, right after getting hitched at St. Andrew's Holy Trinity Church and before the glittering reception at the famous Old Course Hotel. The childhood sweethearts, who met at school in Banff, Aberdeenshire at the age of 16, married on 21stNovember 2015.
Speaking about his whirlwind big day, Graeme commented:
"Carrie-Anne had no idea about the visit to the aquarium. I told her we were going to get some photos taken on the beach, which she didn't look too pleased about considering the freezing weather! When she realised that we were pulling up into the aquarium carpark, I saw that her eyes started to fill up with tears - luckily they were happy tears!
He continued:
"We turned up, me in my kilt and Carrie-Anne in her gigantic dress, and if I remember rightly, I said ‘I just got married, this is my new wife and she loves penguins, will you let us in to see them?' and luckily they let us straight through!"
The staff, who were just preparing for the daily penguin talk, were delighted to be able to give the couple some time to enjoy the special moment together.
John Mace, Owner of St Andrew's Aquarium commented:
"It was a lovely surprise to see Graeme and Carrie-Anne visit the aquarium just after getting married and we we're thrilled to be part of their very special day. We hope to see them back for one of our special penguin feeding sessions soon so they can meet the penguins properly!"
After moving to Glasgow in 2013, Graeme has had no choice but to embrace Carrie-Anne's love of penguins and has allowed penguin bed covers, cushions and ornaments into the house, along with more stuffed toys than he cares to count.
Recalling their joy and the excitement of other visitors at the aquarium, Graeme added:
"Seeing the penguins meant so much to us both and there were so many well-wishers at the aquarium, some of the little children thought Carrie-Anne was a princess! The staff were incredibly generous in letting us in and we're looking forward to going back and picking up a little souvenir to add to Carrie-Anne's large collection of penguins - perhaps in slightly more casual attire this time.
When asked why penguins are so special to them, Graeme continued:
"Carrie-Anne's love for penguins isn't something I think she could ever articulate. She just loves everything about them - you can imagine what happened when she saw the John Lewis advert last year! For me, every time I see a penguin I think of her and, more importantly, they mate for life so I think they're a great role model for us."
The beautiful moment was captured by photographer Emma Lawson.
To find out more about St Andrews Aquarium, visitwww.standrewsaquarium.co.uk