Hotel sent bride's 20-month-old daughter a brandy and coke as an apology

A couple are suing a hotel after a disastrous wedding that resulted in a catalogue of complaints. Garry and Lorraine McKay are demanding their money back, plus £10,000 each in damages, claiming that their big day was the "worst day of their lives", ruined by hotel staff who failed to live up to the standard promised in their brochures and letters.

An Edinburgh court heard that after the wedding, at the Hilton Coylumbridge, near Aviemore, several guests were struck down with food poisoning. It was claimed that during the reception, sparkling wine ordered for the wedding party was given to other hotel guests by mistake, that cleaners tried to eject the bride from her room while she was getting ready and that guests were unable to taste the cake because the chef took it away.



The McKays said that the wedding ceremony was delayed because there was no blotter on the table to sign the register, that the reception started late, there were only five waiting staff to serve 15 tables and that some of the meals were cold. They said that guests had been promised sticky toffee pudding but got spotted dick, there were no mints served with the coffee and there was a mix-up about whether drinks should be served inside or in the hotel grounds.

The court heard that when the bridal party complained about the service, a brandy and coke was sent up to the room for the bride's 20-month-old daughter as an apology. Mrs McKay, 46, said: "It was supposed to be the most important day of my life, but instead it turned out to be the worst. We saved up for ages to pay for it. This will haunt me forever."