Runaway bride ties the knot at hidden gem in strath
A couple from Canada have thanked folk in the strath for making their elopement a runaway success.
Tamara Ashley Murphy and Philip DeVantier, from Toronto, recently tied the knot at their favourite place in the world – Loch Garten in the Abernethy Forest.
The couple met in 2012 at the city’s Donalda Golf Club while Phil was working as a chef and Tammy was bar-tending for the summer before going back to university.
Tamara said: “After a few years of dating, we sold everything we owned and moved to Australia which is Phil’s home country.
“We spent the four years living, working, volunteering, and travelling around the world and returned to Canada in 2019. Since then, we have built a cosy life in Toronto.
“We had moved to Pitlochry in 2016 and Scotland instantly became our happy place.
“When we weren’t working, we explored every beautiful corner of the country.
“On our journeys, we often stopped for coffee and cake at the Mountain Café in Aviemore and became familiar with the area.
“Loch Garten was and still is one of the most stunning places we have ever visited.”
The couple had one wish for their big wedding day – to share it with their family and friends from across the world in the same room.
But as the Covid pandemic raged on and their planned wedding date came and went, they were left with two choices.
Tamara explained: “We could either wade through what could be years of unpredictable and inaccessible mass international travel or runaway to Scotland and elope in our favourite place.”
They stayed at Mount Barker in Grantown and had special words for owners Karen and Alick Morrison.
Tamara said: “Staying with them was like staying with family and we felt at home in Grantown.
“We couldn’t have chosen a better place to elope."
