Grand Central Hotel Wedding - Donald & Fiona

Grand Central Hotel Wedding

Fiona and Donald's Grand Central Hotel wedding was a little bit nerve wracking for me but not for the most obvious of reasons. You see Fiona had worked at the Venture studios in Glasgow for a while and Fiona's brother, Kevin, is one of the best portrait photographers I know. His work is excellent. So I know I was going to have to be on top of my game to impress them.



We started off at Fiona's parents house to catch the finishing touches before making our way to St Peters in Partick for the ceremony and then onto the magnificent Grand Central Hotel. Once there we utilized all the grandeur and style that this wonderful venue provides. It really is an amazing building.

It was good to see a few friendly faces at Grand Central including function manager James who I know from his Cameron House days. I cannot wait to get back to this venue and see what else we can come up with.

I am delighted to report now that Donald & Fiona (and Kevin the photographer) have seen the pictures that everyone is delighted...... so am I !

St Andrews in the Square Wedding - Kathryn and Paddy

St Andrews in the Square Wedding

Remember all that snow in December? Travel chaos, roads blocked and temperatures of -10?

Well, thats when Kathryn and Paddy got married. They had their wedding at St Marys in Duntocher before making their way to St Andrews in the Square for their reception. We started the day with Kathryn and the girls at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow, we then made our way onto possibly the best example of a religious ceremony in Scotland I have seen for a long time.

Conducting the ceremony jointly were Rev Ian Miller and Father Joe Mills - a truly mixed marriage (for west central Scotland anyway!!) Not only were both faiths treated with great respect and due reverence but the personalities of the two clergy meant that the ceremony was light, humorous and welcoming to all.

Its at this point I need to doff my cap, especially to Kathryn, for donning the wellies and letting us shoot the fantastic pictures above in -6° temperatures just as the sun was setting at Glasgow Green. Then it was onto the Trongate for the now famous traffic shot. Again my grateful thanks to the couple as this is not actually the most glamorous areas of the city but they braved the traffic, 'colourful' passers by and weather to give me one of the outstanding pictures in my 2010 portfolio. Credit also to the lovely Sheila who assisted on this occasion by hiding behind the dress while I directed the couple via the mobile phone.

The coldest wedding I have ever shot with one of the warmest couples.

A truly memorable day......... 1500 Photography

Wedding at House for an Art Lover - Carrie Anne & Alan

Wedding at House for an Art Lover - Carrie Anne & Alan

The first thing that springs to mind when I think about Carrie Anne and Alans wedding at House for an Art Lover is Wow - what a dress!!

But it shouldn't be. There was so much more to enjoy from the day.

We started off at Mar Hall where Carrie Anne was putting her finishing touches together. It is as well we did,  as Carrie Annes Mum ripped her dress zip. Fortunately Gillian swung into action and helped mend the dress with the aid of the 1500 Photography sewing kit (who said that textiles degree was going to waste?!)

I havent been to HFAL for a few years so it was fantastic to see James still looking after the brides there and to see that the standards of the venue have been kept so high.  Sadly we were restricted to indoor photography only as the weather took a nasty turn during the ceremony but since the building is lovely inside we weren't short of options for pictures. However that didnt stop us from getting cracking shot after cracking shot with a brilliant couple in a great location.

Glasgow University Wedding - Heather & Adrian

After having such an excellent time on the beach with Colin and Gemma, below, I got my hands on another venue I had been itching to get to - a wedding at Glasgow University. In my previous life with another studio I had been at Glasgow uni shooting weddings regularly, however, since 1500 I haven't been back. A gap of about 5 years.  I must say Heather and Adrian made it a joy to be back at one of my old stomping grounds.

We started the day a Heathers parents house in Erskine before making our way up to Glasgow Uni. After a beautiful ceremony during which a Church of Scotland service was complimented with a Catholic blessing, we made our way into the University quadrant. The only downside to shooting a wedding in possibly one of the most picture-esque and specious areas of Glasgow is that the Uni is actually on a hilltop. A windy hilltop. However once again I have to pay tribute to Adrian and mostly Heather who braved the 'stiff breeze' to gift us some fantastic shots. We then ushered the couple to their car where, no sooner had we shut the door of the bridal car, the heavens opened!!Perfect timing.

Once again Glenskirlie were excellent with the bridal party once we arrived at the reception venue and we enjoyed some more excellent pictures in an around this stunning hotel. It is days like Heather and Adrian's - where you meet genuinely lovely people (fantastic bridesmaids), stunning venues and get to take wonderful pictures that - you remember that being a wedding photographer can be the best job in the world.

Glasgow Wedding Photography - Sam and Willie (Holy Cross & the Thistle Hotel)

My relationship with Samantha and Willie goes back quite far as these guys booked me just as 1500 Photography was starting up. In that time I have got to know Sam, Willie, Alyssa and Sam's mum Liz quite well, they are a really nice family and a great laugh.

We started the day at the Thislte Hotel in the city centre before heading to Holy Cross church. Not a huge distance to travel.......unless of course "Take That" are playing at Hampden at the same time. Our original plan of using parts of Queens Park was quickly dismissed and we simply used the beautiful grounds of Holy Cross which was perfect. After taking some pictures back inside the church (by very kind permission) we headed back to The Thistle.

On the day itself I had wonderful help from two brilliant wedding professionals -  Wendy the wedding planner from Utopia Scotland and Aiden Livingston, probably the best toastmaster in Scotland.  With their help and Sam and Willies planning we got some excellent shots on a beautiful wedding day and, despite a little spanner in the works, a great set of pictures too.  www.1500photography.co.uk

Bryan and Morven

The final wedding we shot in 2008 and what a smashing day it was too.

Things could have got off to a smoother start right enough..... both bride and groom committed the cardinal sin of arriving late at Park Circus. As you can see the only 'before' shots of the bride and groom are slightly rushed !! After the ceremony however the rest of the day was excellent with the wedding party heading to One Devonshire Gardens for the reception. I have to say I am always impressed with the service and attention you get from this venue - simply outstanding. Less outstanding was the photographers request to get everyone outside for a mass group photo - this went down like a lead balloon as everyone knew how cold it was. But fair play to the guests, they all made the effort to get the shot for Bryan and Morven.

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All in all with the excellent venue, great crowd of people and just a lovely couple - it was the ideal way to top off 2008 for 1500 Photography !!

David and Alix ~ (repost)

The origonal post here disappeared, mysteriously...... so  here it is again.

We had a great day with Alix and Dave at the Barony Hall in Glasgow. After catching both parties getting ready at the Millenium Hotel, it was on to the stunning setting of the Barony. Alix looked absolutely beautiful, the hall looked amazing and David looked great in his morning suit (a very refreshing change for a Scottish groom)

    

There was a real connection the day, and I think it shows in the pictures. I am hughly grateful to Dave and Alix, not only for choosing me, but for all the effort they put into getting the pictures and their enthusiasm for the photography too. Thank you both.

*UPDATE* Every year I advertise in the Real Life Weddings magazine.I make up about 4/5 dummy adverts then show them to prospective bride and grooms, take votes and print the favourite. Dave and Alix's advert was by far the favourite from this years selection.

I always knew Alix would be a stunning bride, but who knew Dave would be model material too !!

Josephine and John at St Andrews in the Square

Josephine and John recently had their wedding at St Andrews in the Square. A cracking venue for a cracking couple. These guys were amongst the first couples to book 1500 Photography and we hit it off right from the get go. I have never laughed so much at a pre wedding meeting than with these two and the laughter carried through onto the day and into the pictures.

  

Im really proud of the pictures that John and Josephine helped me achieve. As you can see we stayed on a little later and got an brilliant shot of St Andrews in the Square floodlit (eventually ! - the sun refused to go down !!!) Thank you both for being such good sports.