‘It Was a Sh*tshow!’: Karen Gillan’s Bumpy Road to Castle Wedding Bliss
CASTLE CHAOS: KAREN GILLAN'S WEDDING DAY HELL
In a shocking revelation, actress Karen Gillan has spilled the beans on her lavish wedding at a Scottish castle, describing the run-up to the big day as a "s**tshow" that would put even the most seasoned drama enthusiast to shame. The Doctor Who star, who tied the knot with American actor Nick Kocher in May 2022 at Castle Toward near Dunoon, Argyll, has let rip about the disastrous preparations leading up to their special day.
According to Gillan, 37, her fairytale wedding was more like a horror movie. "It was a sh**show," she candidly confessed on the Comedy Bang Bang podcast. But despite the chaos, she insists that the actual ceremony itself was nothing short of "amazing."
However, things didn't quite go according to plan in the lead-up to the nuptials. Gillan revealed that when her wedding planner visited the castle just four days before the big day, she found a lone handyman named Keith struggling to get everything ready. It seemed like a nightmare scenario was unfolding.
"It was still a construction site," Gillan said, recounting how her wedding planner encountered Keith, who sheepishly apologized for not having sorted out the preparations. "I just thought, 'What's going to happen?'" The actress joked about the scene, but it's clear that she and her team were seriously worried.
Things only got worse when Gillan discovered that there was no hot water at the castle. Can you imagine getting ready for your wedding without a functioning shower? It's every bride's worst nightmare come true! But what's even more shocking is that the castle's owners, Denice Purdie and her husband Keith Punler, had paid a whopping £1.2 million for the venue in 2015 with plans to transform it into a five-star wedding and events paradise.
It seems like their dream turned into a living nightmare instead. Gillan described the scene as "like Fawlty Towers," with loose door handles, exposed wires, and general disorganization galore. But despite all the chaos, she's adamant that the day itself was nothing short of magical.
"It was genuinely the most incredible time," Gillan gushed about the ceremony. "Everyone said it was their favorite wedding they'd ever been to." However, it's clear that the drama didn't end there.
When the actress complimented her hosts' lovely relationship during a tour of the castle the previous year, she had no idea that they were actually in the midst of a bitter divorce. Talk about awkward! "It was like, 'We would just want to end up like you,'" Gillan joked about their doomed marriage.
The couple's daughter Clementine, born in January this year, may have been a sweet addition to the family, but it seems that the castle still has some unfinished business with its former owners. It's reported that the restoration of Castle Toward was delayed due to the pandemic and rising construction costs.
But Keith Punler has hit back at Gillan's comments, claiming that the chaos was due to unforeseen circumstances rather than any lack of effort from his team. "These are inevitable in any large-scale construction project," he explained on thescholarlynote.com. However, insiders reveal that things were indeed a bit rocky leading up to the big day.
"It would have been easier to celebrate the completion of the restoration with a smaller event," Punler added, hinting at the fact that maybe they got a bit overambitious with their plans. Despite all the drama, it's clear that Gillan and her husband are still enjoying their fairytale romance – but perhaps with a few more precautions next time around!
UPDATE
The owners of Castle Toward have invited Gillan and her family back to stay at the castle, suggesting that they're keen to put past differences behind them. A source close to the couple revealed: "They want to make sure everything is perfect for their guests next time."
We can't help but wonder if there's more to this story than meets the eye. Will we be seeing a repeat of Gillan's chaotic wedding at Castle Toward in the future? Only time will tell!