Glenskirlie Castle – Emily and Stewart’s Wedding
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton
Back in the Summer of ’69
Do you remember when you were young and carefree and going out meant grabbing a group of friends and going for a drive somewhere. Having a carry on when you got there and then driving home? Those were the days, eh? It was also how Emily and Stewart met via friends a wee drive down to South Queensferry. Back in September of 2014. Not quite as catchy as back in the summer of ‘69 for any of you Boss fans, but I digress!
Fast forward to October 2020 and Emily had booked a log cabin in Oban for them both as a holiday. She confessed that as they drove up to Oban she thought it was really weird that Stewart wouldn’t take his jacket off for the entire journey. Stewart wouldn’t take his jacket off because inside the pocket was a sparkly engagement ring! All became clear though when inside the log cabin he popped the question. Once Emily stopped crying she said yes!
Rain, WTF?
Pretty much all of June had been a heatwave in Scotland. Right up until the end of the month. As I drove up to the gorgeous wedding venue, Glenskirlie Castle I could see dark clouds massing in the sky. What the actual…? I checked my trusty weather app, the weather was due to go sunny again early evening. Right in time for that golden hour light that we photographers love so much. We could still get fab pictures around the grounds. Armed with the good news I went up to meet my bride. She was getting ready in the stunning bridal suite with her mum and sister and they were having a lovely time.
The groom and his men arrived right as the heavens opened. I was determined to get some images of them in the door archway safely out of the rain. I meanwhile got absolutely drenched for my art! Lucky my professional camera gear is all waterproof.
I on the other hand had to ask the bridesmaid for a towel to dry myself off. Not to worry, they do all look jolly dapper don’t they?
Emily her sister and all her wee flower girls were ready and looking beautiful. It was also time for Emily’s dad to get a first look at his little girl in her wedding dress.
I don’t know about you, but I always get a little misty-eyed at these moments.
Call Security!
Stewart’s nephew was in charge of ring security and took his job very seriously complete with earpiece and shades. The rings couldn’t have been in better hands.
Emily started crying almost as soon as she walked down the aisle. But they were happy tears and they soon turned to laughter as Martin Turner conducted a touching but humorous ceremony.
The star of the ceremony was the youngest flower girl, Emily’s niece. She suddenly forgot her nerves and used the aisle as her own personal race track, stopping only for a snack break and a few whoops of delight!
Formal and not so formal
The ceremony complete and the weather still moist we took the decision to have the group portraits inside the ceremony room.
However once I got to the Bridal Party images I knew they were up for a bit of fun so we staged a library shoot and got a bit relaxed with our posing!
There are so many beautiful locations inside the castle it was lovely to have the excuse to take Emily and Stewart off to some of them for some wedding portraits.
The weather also gave me the opportunity to get some great shots of the flower girls playing with umbrellas. Before everyone was called in for the wedding breakfast.
I’m Appy
My trusty weather app didn’t let me down. Early evening just before the evening guests started arriving en masse. The sky was blue, the temperature balmy and the gardens looked even more lush and green for their recent showering. Not to mention that dreamy golden hour sunlight that makes this old photographer very, very happy.
Chip Chip Hurray
This was my first wedding with my new favourite wedding item. A crisp wall!!
Oh yes, not just any old crisps either all the good ones we all loved as kids like Monster Munch and Space Raiders. Judging by the amount of guests wandering around with packets it went down very well with all the guests as well.
Dancing the Night Away
Time for the first dance.
And as the dance floor started filling it was time for me to head home happy with my memory cards full of beautiful images. I reflected that sometimes a bit of rain is a good thing as it forced me to get inventive and create images inside that I might have other wise missed.
After all as Dolly says if you want those rainbows you’ve gotta put up with the rain.
Congratulations again Mr and Mrs Fraser xXx
