Wedding Photography Cornhill Castle Scotland – Sophie & Jake
The Beginning….
I arrived at Cornhill Castle bright & early at 8am, welcomed by a beautiful cloud sprinkled blue sky. It’s always exciting to shoot a new venue, so arriving this early allows me time to soak up the venue and grounds, and hunt out any places that I think might allow me to create something a little different. It’s one of my favourite parts of the day, and I think it reduces that photographers anxiety when you know exactly what you’re going to ask of your couple when the time comes!
The next few hours were spent capturing the venue, indoor and out (It’s nice for the couple to look back at the empty ceremony room!), the girls getting ready, plus all those little details shots, like the vows notebook and Jake’s Cowboy hat, these little touches are important memories and an important part of Sophie & Jake’s Story.
If you’ve ever been in the ‘getting ready’ room, you’ll know it’s a riot of dresses, makeup, hats and people! Quite often my time will be spent moving furniture (I always put it back!), or tidying things into a different corner so there’s nothing in my photographs that you don’t want to see. Even after that, you’ll find me editing out plug sockets because they annoy my eye!!
I always have a ‘photography timeline’ which I run past my couple before the day – this way, I know how long I have to photograph the different parts, and my couple know that I’m covering everything they want. I never wing someones wedding day, I know exactly where i should be and when, and it’s important that Sophie & Jake knew this too!
The Boys….
On this occasion, the Groomsmen were getting ready at the venue, which is always a win for me! I was particularly looking forward this part of the day, because it was all Kilts & Cowboys hats! Half the wedding party were from Texas, so there was a little education from the Scot’s on Ye Olde Sporran Wearing and Sgian Dubh Placement, which is always fun to photograph!
Jake’s new Father-in-law was in charge of placing the fly plaid brooch on and making sure it all sat perfectly, while his dad was charged with putting on the Kilt pin which featured family no longer with us. These little moments are so important to capture.
I knew from the beginning that I wanted a shot with all the cowboy boots and the flowers, and I was touched to know that Jake’s boots had belonged to his Grandad (who features on the kilt pin) so I made sure the get that too. Sophie had also planned that the only Scot/Texan (who didn’t have a cowboy hat or boots) would have a ‘See You Jimmy’ Hat & wellies for the cowboy hat shot. which properly tickled Jake!
The Groom’s part of the story is equally as important, so I aim to capture that part if it’s at all possible – if not (I’m good, but I can’t be in 2 places at once!) we often use a second shooter!
Once I’d got some shots of the boys, it was back to the girls for those fabulous photos where they’re getting into their dresses, final make-up touches and that all important first look with dad 🥹
The Middle…
It was finally time for the ceremony, I knew I wanted to capture Sophie walking down that stairway with her dad, so I stayed for that and then ran ahead of them to get into position in the ceremony room.
Because I arrived to early, I’d already been down to the room and was prepared for the lighting, and had spoken to the minister who was marrying them. It was simply a case of getting in the right place and capturing those lovely pre-wedding faces!
It’s obviously important to capture the really important parts of the ceremony, but I always try to capture the little moments that they’ll miss because, well, they’re getting married! The little moments of the Groom (or bride!) waiting, the reactions of their guests, and the wedding party filing in before the main star of the show appeared!
The ceremony was full of laughter and joy, and again, this is the part where I can get a sneaky little shot of the pride in a fathers’s eyes, or the best friend dabbing her eyes, and I love those little moments so much!
The Cat Herding & Bridal shots….
Yes, The Cat Herding! It’s that short window of opportunity after the ceremony when we can get a full guest shot (not always possible but this time it was!) any group shots (this is normally family & extended family at this point) and of course, bridal shots! This window is short and group shots are like a military operation, but always fun! As with every wedding I have a shot list of all the group shots which is created prior to the wedding, we we never miss one. I normally enlist a bridesmaid or groomsman to yell some names for me, but there’s always someone at the bar or having a pee!! I never take my couple away for any longer than 30 minutes because they want to be with their guests, and rightly so!
Once we have a few bridal shots and the bridal party, I know that any shots after this are usually candid, and there is always the chance later in the day to get more relaxed shots with friends. I will often split the bridal shots, and do more later on after the meal, before the dancing starts! Sophie & Jake were really up for this idea, and every idea that I had thankfully!
The Speeches….
Once we’re done with posed shots, the bride and groom get to chill with their guests for a while before everyone is called to dinner! It’s important to me that this happens, they’ll want to see everyone and vice-versa!
The speeches is one of my favourite parts of the day, you never know what you’re going to get, but it usually involves laughter and tears! Its genuinely such a honour to be a spectator at this point of someones wedding – the beautiful words, personal stories and sentiments. The reactions are so sweet and real, and everyone is totally themselves.
The bit in between…
In between dinner and the dancing, I got a little time to capture a few more shots of Sophie & Jake that I had planned out. Earlier on, I had seen a few places that I wanted to try something new, namely the shot that looked like they were in a library, the reflection in the mirror with Sophie on the stairs and Jake in the bar….and obviously, that dress needed a shot of the back!
I was also gifted a look around the Honeymoon Suite (wow!) and ran back down 3 flights of stairs to get my lights when I saw that turret room!
These bonus shots were so exciting to me and Sophie & Jake were up for anything, so I was in my absolute element!
The cake, the 1st dance & the party…
Wow! What a party this was! Sophie & Jake’s wedding party all made quite the entrance, followed by this gorgeous couple making their way to the dance floor for the first dance to rapturous applause! This part of the day is so much fun, everyone is fully relaxed and it’s party time! Not only was there a First Dance, but we had a Father-Daughter Dance AND a Mother-Son -Dance – so wholesome!
This party also brought a moment that made me cry (and let me tell you, that never happens!) Sophie’s Grandma uses a wheelchair, and had spectated throughout the day, which must be hard because we all still think we’re 30! But at one point, her daughter and granddaughter danced her right onto the dancefloor in that wheelchair, sat on her lap, and grandma’s face just LIT UP like she was 30 again, and it’s one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever witnessed, and the photos cemented to me why photography is so important!
The bonus shots
I knew from the very first moment, that I wanted to capture these shots to finish the story of Sophie & Jake, hence why is was so long, I was not leaving without them!
I LOVED this wedding! My couple allowed me play with any ideas I had, they were so accommodating, their families were just gorgeous and I got some of my favorite shots ever!
And Kilts & Cowboy Hats….what’s not to love!
