An intimate lakeside wedding filled with Scottish traditions, dramatic scenery... and an Overwatch love story.
"The best love stories don't always begin with 'Once upon a time'. Sometimes they begin with 'I think I shot you in the head...'"
Wedding at a Glance
Venue
Karma Lake of Menteith Hotel
Photographer
JB Moments Photography
Ceremony
Celebrant-led indoor ceremony
Guests
Intimate family wedding
Season
Summer
Favourite Moment
The candle lighting ceremony
It’s normally me who shoots first…
…but on this occasion Greg beat me to it.
Not with a camera.
With a virtual sniper rifle.
Greg was happily playing Overwatch when he kept coming across an incredibly talented healer on the opposing team. Naturally, he did what any sensible gamer would do and repeatedly eliminate them.
Eventually, after being shot one too many times, the healer sent Greg a message asking if he’d like to join their team.
That healer was Naomi.
Fast forward ten years, a home together and a retired greyhound later, and they decided it was finally time to make things official.
Or, as the ever-romantic Greg put it:
“We ran out of things to do, so decided to get married.”
Honestly, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house after that declaration…
A lakeside wedding at Karma Lake of Menteith
Yes, you read that right.
Not a loch.
Scotland’s only natural lake.
Nestled on the shores of the beautiful Lake of Menteith, Karma Lake of Menteith Hotel is one of those venues that makes you stop for a second when you arrive.
This was my first time photographing a wedding here, and I genuinely hope it won’t be my last.
Although the Scottish weather decided to keep everyone indoors for the ceremony, the stunning conservatory was flooded with beautiful natural light. Even beneath grey skies it felt bright, relaxed and incredibly welcoming.
With panoramic views across the lake and the hills beyond, there were photographic opportunities everywhere you looked.
A ceremony full of Scottish tradition
Guests were welcomed by the unmistakable sound of the pipes as everyone gathered for the ceremony.
Waiting inside were Greg and his best man…
…who also happened to be called Greg.
From that point onwards they became “Greg” and “Greg 2.”
It made life considerably easier.
Walking proudly on her dad’s arm, Naomi looked absolutely stunning.
Her vintage-inspired dress suited the relaxed atmosphere perfectly.
And then there were the white Dr Martens.
Honestly…
I loved them.
Scottish traditions that never go out of style
One of the things I love most about celebrant-led weddings in Scotland is just how personal they can be.
Every ceremony tells a different story, and Naomi and Greg chose two traditions that are among my favourites.
Candle Lighting
At the beginning of the ceremony, they each lit a candle, representing the lives they had lived individually.
As the ceremony came to a close, they lit a third candle together using those original flames.
A simple but beautiful symbol of two lives becoming one.
Handfasting
Then came the handfasting.
Often referred to as the origin of the phrase “tying the knot”, handfasting is one of Scotland’s oldest wedding traditions.
Watching Gordon, their celebrant, carefully wrap the tartan around their hands before creating the final knot was such a lovely moment.
Dramatic Scottish skies
Let’s be honest.
The weather wasn’t exactly postcard perfect.
But who needs blazing sunshine when Scotland gives you skies like these?
The clouds rolling across the hills created incredible drama over the lake, and Naomi had mentioned beforehand that she hoped we could capture that atmosphere.
Mission accomplished.
The mist drifting over the hills behind them created photographs that simply wouldn’t exist on a sunny day.
Sometimes Scottish weather really does know best.
I absolutely love how moody and cinematic these photographs became.
A hidden gem inside the hotel
One of my favourite surprises was discovering the hotel’s whisky vault.
The owners kindly let us nip inside for a few portraits.
They even handed Greg one of their most valuable bottles to pose with.
Apparently it was worth somewhere around £850 a nip.
No pressure then…
Thankfully it survived the photoshoot.
Family made this wedding even more special
One of the nicest things about intimate weddings is discovering just how much love family have poured into the day.
Greg’s mum created all of the beautiful bouquets.
His sister was not only one of the bridesmaids…
…she also made every single wedding favour.
The homemade tablet was absolutely delicious.
(I may have accidentally left with rather a large bag of it. Occupational hazard.)
And if that wasn’t enough…
She also baked all three wedding cakes.
Talk about talented.
Why I loved photographing Karma Lake of Menteith
If you’re considering getting married here, these were the things that really stood out to me:
✓ Gorgeous natural light inside the conservatory
✓ Incredible lake views in every direction
✓ Dramatic scenery whatever the weather
✓ Plenty of indoor portrait locations if Scotland decides to be… well… Scotland
✓ A wonderfully relaxed atmosphere for smaller weddings
Thinking about getting married at Karma Lake of Menteith?
If you’re planning your own wedding here and you’re looking for relaxed, natural photography with plenty of genuine moments (and absolutely no awkward posing), I’d love to hear all about your plans.
Final Thoughts
As I left with my carefully protected stash of homemade tablet (one of the many perks of the job!), I couldn’t help smiling.
I love photographing big celebrations, but there is something incredibly special about intimate weddings like this one.
When everyone knows everyone, every guest has played a part in the story, and so much of the day has been created by family and friends, it creates an atmosphere that’s impossible to fake.
It was relaxed.
It was emotional.
It was funny.
And most importantly…
It was completely Naomi and Greg.
Congratulations again, Mr & Mrs Mitchell.
Thank you for trusting me to tell your story.
