A romantic proposal with a Scottish Wild Picnic

I’m delighted to have partnered up with Scottish Wild Picnics to offer photography for their proposal picnics.

That’s a hell of a lot in just one sentence, so let me showcase exactly what it means to propose, have a lovely picnic and some fabulous photos to remember it by.

Danay and Claudia visited Scotland all the way from Spain, a lovely trip thought Claudia. But Danay had other plans and wanted to propose to Claudia. And so in secret, we hatched a plan. Danay booked a picnic with Jean from Scottish Wild Picnics who also suggested Finlaystone as the location. Danay was adamant she wanted to get down on one knee and to have me photograph the amazing moment. Under the guise of the Scottish Wild Picnics team, I helped set up the fabulous spread of food and drink, pretending to photograph the food as Danay and Claudia approached. We then told Claudia we were going to get some quick photos of them both in the gardens. And there, Danay plucked up the courage to remove the ring from her pocket whilst Claudia began shaking, asking what was happening! And down on one knee Danay went, asking Claudia to marry her. It was the most beautiful moment to observe, I was so happy for them both. She said yes by the way!

We left them to enjoy their fabulous picnic for an hour or so before I returned to take them around the grounds for half an hour for some lovely photos. Below is their story in pictures…

Oh and if you’re interested in planning a proposal finished off with a delicious rustic picnic, you can find all the details right here.

scottishwildpicnics.co.uk

Keeping it local at the Tontine Hotel in Greenock

I’m very lucky to be just a 10 minute walk from the Tontine Hotel in Greenock. I’ve photographed many weddings here over the years and it ticks many boxes:

• It has a very large function room called the Ardgowan Room for large weddings as well as smaller rooms such as the Adam Room and Garden Room for smaller weddings

• It has an incredibly ornate staircase with a beautiful skylight that’s fun to use in photos

• If you get lucky with the weather, there’s a huge outside area for guests to enjoy their drinks and also doubles up as a good area for large group photos

• It’s the most amazing building and stands proud when looking at it from the front

• It’s just a 5 minute drive to either the Esplanade or Lyle Hill where you can get amazing views across the River Clyde to the mountains. If you get lucky, you’ll get the most spectacular sunset

• Across the road from Ardgowan Square, it’s surrounded by picturesque west end streets, perfect for exploring for your couple photos

I’ve photographed a huge variety of weddings at the Tontine Hotel, everything from tiny weddings in the garden room, small weddings in the Adam room, large weddings in the Ardgowan Room and sometimes ceremonies that take place elsewhere with the reception at the Tontine.

Below you’ll find a selection of images from weddings that have taken place at the Tontine Hotel with a couple of images taken a short drive away.

I’m offering £200 off your wedding photography
when you book the Tontine Hotel!

This is a permanent all year round offer for weddings that take place at the Tontine Hotel in Greenock. For ceremonies that take place elsewhere, they must take place within Inverclyde to qualify for this offer. The offer applies to full day coverage only. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

A Christmas wedding at Bowfield Hotel

A Low winter sun & Christmas lights for a wedding at Bowfield Hotel, Howwood, Scotland.

Bowfield Hotel sits just on the outskirts of a little Scottish town called Howwood, close to Lochwinnoch and Castle Semple. Surrounded by fields and a nearby reservoir, it was the perfect setting for Louise and Giles’ fabulous wedding.

The way to do a wedding is to sit back and let everything you’ve spent months planning, just happen. Louise and Giles’, if they were nervous, they certainly didn’t show it. They seemed to take their wedding day completely in their stride and they both oozed that laid back style that resulted in a classic look. As the sun began to set we ventured outdoors where we experienced some dramatic light before more drinks, Christmas lights and some dancing.

Get £250 off your wedding photography at Bowfield Hotel for 2023 and 2024. Applies to full day weddings only.

Louise & Giles’ awesome wedding team:

Band: Reel Easy // Flowers: Marlene’s Flowers // Makeup: Geo Kane

Alex & Shaun's Summer Wedding at Ardgowan House, Inverkip

Alex and Shaun had the most amazing wedding at the beautiful Ardgowan House in Inverkip.

Their eye (Alex’) for detail was incredible. Together with their friends and family, they spent the entire weekend at Ardgowan House where they were wined and dined. The party would begin on the Friday evening where I joined them for a couple of hours capturing the fun and laughter whilst they enjoyed some BBQ food.

I returned the next day where I joined the girls in the Bow Room for bridal preparations. The guys all shared a cigar in the library before moving on to the ceremony in the Sculpture Room. I’ve never seen so many tears, even I was crying!

Alex & Shaun’s dog George was there as was their gorgeous new (ish) baby daughter Holly.

I absolutely love Ardgowan House as a wedding venue, it’s on my top 5 list! There is just so much to explore and I’ve been here many times.

Shaun’s dad brought along his MK1 Ford Escort! My goodness, what a car. It was absolutely immaculate and Shaun drove Alex down the drive complete with tin cans dragging along behind.

Anyway, what a weekend! One I’ll never forget.

Their amazing wedding team: Cake by For Cakes Sake (Alex’ own biz) // Band - The Socials (best wedding band I’ve heard in ages) // Hair & Makeup by Salon Above // Filmed by Tall Tale Films (so so good) // Venue: Ardgowan House // Celebrant - Rachel Middleton

Here’s some photos from the day for you all to enjoy.

A beautiful and romantic Scotland elopement at Crear in a barn and on the beach

Victoria and Dominic decided to remove the stress of planning their wedding and opted to escape to Crear and have an elopement.

They both met online during the Covid pandemic and quickly fell in love. It was meant to be. But as their wedding grew arms and legs they decided they just wanted it to be the two of them. And so it was that they would escape to Crear, near Kilberry in Scotland.

Victoria had the most amazing wedding dress, fit for a princess, maybe not for walking along a beach, not that that stopped her! As she descended the famous Crear staircase, Dominic was patiently waiting for her at the bottom, it was all just so magical!

Together with just Iain the piper and myself for company, they entered the barn where they were married by David the Minister. Beautiful light shone on them from a window whilst overhead they were surrounded by lights and beside them lit candles. It was, for want of a better word, perfect.

An enormous privilege to sign the paperwork as one of the witnesses of this awesome wee wedding.

We then just spent time together as I photographed them truly in love and in gorgeous light. We then jumped in the car and headed to the amazing beach where we walked and explored to the sound of Iain playing the bagpipes.

Their amazing wedding team: Bouquet: Blooming Wild Crear Flowers // Makeup: Leanne Fraser // Venue: Crear Weddings / Wee Weddings

Here’s some photos from the day for you all to enjoy.