Dalhousie Castle Wedding - Birgit and Leif

Dalhousie Castle Wedding - Birgit and Leif

One of the absolute joys of my job is meeting so many lovely people for all over the world. Over the last few years we have struck up a terrific relationship with many German clients who love the romance of coming to Scotland to get married. Birgit and Leif had chosen the fantastic Dalhousie Castle for their wedding. An intimate wedding with a sensational owl, ring delivery mid service (the first time I've seen this work smoothly!)





Allowing some time for the rest of the wedding party to mingle and relax with a drink Birgit, Leif and I toured the grounds of Dalhousie, enjoying some spectacular scenery and cracking shots at the same time. I love these intimate weddings and for some reason, the Germans really have a knack for them.

A fantastic couple who were terrific in front of the camera and brilliant to be around. See some more of our destination weddings on this page

 

VOWS Awards Nomination 2015

I am overwhelmed and delighted to annouce that we have been nominated for a VOWS Award for the 3rd year running. A huge thank you to our brides and grooms who have voted for us. It just spurs us on to be the very best decision you make for your wedding photography. Thank you all very much indeed !!!

Valerie and Colin at Buchanan Arms Drymen

Valerie and Colin - Buchanan Arms, Drymen

(A hat-trick!)

I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of this picture.

This is Gillian and I with Stuart & Jo, Valerie & Colin and Lyndsay and Andrew. The three girls are sisters and we shot Lyndsays wedding back in 2010, Jo in 2012 and Valerie this weekend.

The fact that all 3 (very different) sisters choose us to shoot their wedding is a remarkable testimonial in itself. We are so grateful to the Rankin family for supporting our business over the years and so glad to have met them. We have made some firm friends for life. It was another wonderful day on Saturday tinged with a wee bit of sadness as I knew this was the last wedding in the family.


Congratulations to Valerie and Colin and thank you (all) for trusting us to shoot your weddings. Its been an honor and a privilege

 



 

Loch Lomond Waterfront Wedding - Nicola and David

Loch Lomond Waterfront Wedding

A complete change of scene for our next wedding, David and Nicola's Loch Lomond Waterfront Wedding, took us over to Balmaha. We dont get over to the east side of Loch Lomond as often as we'd like so any opportunity shoot there is grabbed. It helps if you have a terrific couple to work with too. I have to say that the walk from the lodges where the bride and groom get prepared - down to the loch side, is probably one of the most dramatic walks 'down the aisle' you could ever ask for. I love it.







I was also really impressed with the marquee set up at The Waterfront, giving us an outdoor wedding, yet keeping us sheltered for the typical Scottish summer weather. The Rev Ian Miller officiated the wedding and was in typical great form keeping the guests laughing and conducting the ceremony with his usual mixture of respect and humour. However top plaudits must go to Nicola and Dave who, despite a little inclement weather, braved the conditions and gave us some truly memorable pictures by the lochside. We thought that Nicola looked absolutely terrific as did the whole wedding party. The attention to detail in co ordinating the groomsmen and bridesmaids was great to see. Dave absolutely nailed it with his all grey kilt and the ladies looked sensational in ....... dark pink? cerese? fuchsia? I don't know what the colour is called - I just know that girls looked incredible !!

 

St Mirins Paisley Wedding - Mairead and Andrew

Just the facts....... on Mariead and Andrews wonderful sunny wedding in Paisley going from St Mirins Cathedral to the Paisley Town Hall (via Barshaw Park)




CEREMONY SETTING : St Mirin's Cathedral

RECEPTION VENUE : Paisley Town Hall

PHOTOGRAPHER : Stuart from 1500 Photography

FLORIST : Enid Reid

HAIRDRESSER : Tim Tin's Paisley

MAKE-UP ARTIST : Craig Alexander Wilson

WEDDING DRESS : Essence of Australia at Diane Honeyman, Ayr

GROOM’S OUTFIT SUPPLIER : Houston Kiltmakers Paisley

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES : Halo, Partick

CAKE : Creative Cakes

BAND : Tir Conaill, Donegal

WEDDING TRANSPORT : West of Scotland Chauffeur

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT OR GRADUAL ATTRACTION? : First sight in the Castlebay Bar, Isle of Barra

WE WERE INSPIRED BY… Our parents' happy marriages!

HOW DID YOU PERSONALISE YOUR WEDDING DAY? : We had a personal video message from Daniel O'Donnell!

FIRST DANCE - CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINE OR SEDATE SHUFFLE? : Sedate shuffle!

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR brides? : Remember 'eyes and teeth'n!

HONEYMOON OR MINI-MOON? : Honeymoon - Mauritius!

WHAT WAS THE ONE THING YOU’LL NEVER FORGET ABOUT YOUR BIG DAY?
The young couple who were 'getting frisky' next to us whilst we got our photographs taken in Barshaw Park!
It was a very warm day- the heat must have got to them!

WHY SCOTLAND? : It's the best place on earth! It's home.

A wonderfully warm sunny day with a fab couple. Our favorite shot is the fully group of everyone outside the Town Hall. Check out the cool kids hanging over the balcony with their drinks. That'll be the priests ! .........\

Boturich Castle Wedding - Laura and Stuart

Boturich Castle Wedding

2014 felt like a year that we shot weddings for our friends rather than clients, and Laura and Stuarts Boturich Castle Wedding was no exception. Laura runs her own fashion boutique in Helensburgh, Laura Kate so I knew her wedding was going to be a stylish affair. When we arrived at her parents house for the bridal prep shots we were not disappointed. She looked absolutely stunning.
It was also one of the many occasions that we had an outdoor ceremony in 2014. This time at the fabulous Boturich Castle overlooking Loch Lomond. Just to add to all the great things that were happening on the day the wedding was conducted by Linda Britton, our favourite celebrant.





 

During the ceremony there was lots of laughter (based on Stuart the grooms cheek) and tears (courtesy of Laura's sister, who cracked during the readings). We then had a fantastic relaxed time as Laura and Stuart had sensibly set aside an adequate amount of time for the photography. This allowed us to shoot the required and requested groups, some wonderful shots of Laura and Stuart and still have lots of mingling and informal time for the couple to greet their guests. As you can see it was the perfect weather for a Scottish wedding. Dry, bright, slightly overcast then, in the evening, beautifully clear allowing us one of those famous Boturich sunsets.



A fantastic couple who are going to have one amazing album to look back on. It was one of those perfect wedding days where just everything clicked into place. It obviously helps that we have such a great relationship with the couple but I cannot begin to explain how rewarding it is when the couple afford a bit of time and respect for the actual photography itself. Given just that little bit of relaxed time allows you to capture images as beautiful as those above.

 

Wedding at Cameron House

Wedding at Cameron House - Katie and Alex

Another Wedding at Cameron House another brilliant couple. Katie and Alex had a blistering day for their wedding on the shores of Loch Lomond. By contrast to Ryan and Shelly's wedding this was a much larger day, starting at Cameron House then heading up to Luss Church before returning back down to Cameron House again. But a very strange quirk the couple had a family friend officiate the wedding, Tina. This is I remember Tina from my very first job as a YTS at the newspaper where Tina was the Editor over 20 years ago. Small world indeed !
 





What really stood out at this wedding was Alex's wicked sense of humour. His grooms speech was absolutely fantastic and one of the funniest I've ever heard. I actually felt sorry for the best man (Alex's brother) having to follow him. The other real stand out on the day (apart from the weather) was how utterly lovely Katie looked. The top centre shot of this collection is a real show stopper - I love it. And it proves that you don't need to smile in every picture !

I was also fortunate that after dinner we had a really dramatic sky overhead and I asked Alex and Katie back out onto the Cameron House lawn for a few dusk pictures. It was a lovely way to finish off the day and a wedding that I really enjoyed. When you are dealing with these kinds of couples it really is the best job in the world.