Ardgowan Estate, Scottish Wedding Venue

Ardgowan Estate is one of the most magical and fascinating places I've ever visited. And it's a stones throw away from where I live! A few months ago I was invited to meet Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart who gave me a quick tour of the place. It would make the most amazing wedding venue with so much to explore, more details about that right here.

I recently returned with my camera where I was given the freedom to explore. I walked into many of the grand rooms that looked out on to the estate. I was completely in awe of the place as I unearthed many of its hidden treasures that revealed some of its history. I ventured outside and stood at the door to the ruined chapel, imagining the people who once walked in and out of its grand entrance. Through the gardens, across the lawn and through the woodland. Ardgowan Estate has a heartbeat that's ready to come to life again and is about to begin another exciting journey. But right now, explore with me through the collection of images I captured. (oh and if you scroll to the bottom, you can see some aerial footage shot with a drone of the estate, amazing stuff!)

Ardgowan Estate from Ardgowan Estate on Vimeo.

Aerial film by Quantum Altitude Vision

Three Sisters Bake Wedding Showcase, Killearn Village Hall

For couples planning their wedding, there was only one place to go this weekend, a wedding showcase hosted by Three Sisters Bake at Killearn Village Hall.

Situated in stunning surroundings and overlooking the hills and Loch Lomond in the distance, Killearn is Three Sister’s Bakes’ second cafe. But it’s so much more than that. Adjoining the cafe is the village hall, a blank canvas for you to style however you like for your wedding. And more recently, the newly renovated garden room located directly beneath the cafe allows your guests to mingle and gain access to the lawn.

The wedding showcase was no ordinary wedding show/fair/fayre (delete as appropriate!). It brought together suppliers with a passion for what they do. The result was a relaxed atmosphere with an incredible vibe for people to explore and experience.

Lemonbox Studios came together with Kendrick Blooms and between them they created a little magic which you can see in the images below. It was incredible seeing the ideas they came up with to make a warm and inviting room. 

So take a look through the selection below and imagine your own wedding and what it could look like.

Lemonbox Studios

All the lighting, signage and styling was lovingly created by Laura and Natalie at Lemonbox Studios.

Endrick Blooms

All floral displays by Endrick Blooms and combined with the styling of Lemonbox Studios.

Three Sisters Bake

The most beautiful cake selection lovingly baked by Three Sisters Bake. 

One Big Picture Photography

My bespoke wedding display with hand painted fruit crates and vintage photo stand.

I Love Letters

As well as having every letter in the alphabet, I Love Letters can produce bespoke signs too. 

Three Sisters Bake

Lovely little touches added by Three Sisters Bake to their gin bar.

Go 2 Event Hire

As well as I Love Letters, Go 2 Event Hire also hire vintage games to keep your guests highly entertained on your wedding day.

Three Sisters Bake

This is Three Sister's Bakes' stunning new garden room complete with moveable bar for your guests to mingle.

We all worked really hard to make this event a success. Please go and take a look at everyone who was involved to see more of their work:

Lemonbox Studios - styling, signage and lighting

Endrick Blooms - all floral displays on tables, around lighting and on the entrance stairs

Three Sisters Bake - wedding catering, cakes and venue hire

RPL Weddings - wedding films (they have even filmed aerial footage of Killearn)

Snapdragon - creators of lovely bespoke wedding favours and other interesting things

I Love Letters/Go 2 Event Hire - bringing a room to life and providing entertainment for your guests

Brollybucket - everything you could possibly imagine in an umbrella

Chris Whitehouse Jazz Quartet - create some lovely background ambience

Ruth & John's Wedding, Duck Bay Marina, Loch Lomond

I was so pleased when John got in touch asking me if I could photograph his wedding. I'd played football with John a couple of times many moons ago and I regularly play football with his brother James. His sister Anne Marie is best friends with my sister in law. So one of those weddings where everybody knows somebody and we're somehow connected. I don't know why, but that made me even more nervous than I already was (I get nervous before every wedding!).

Ruth, John and their children Francesca, Charlie and Ethan live and work in Dubai. A far cry from the damp day we had in Scotland for their wedding day. Because of their location, there was no time to do an engagement shoot but I was still keen to meet them all a couple of days before the wedding as I'd not met Ruth and the kids.

Their wedding day arrived and so off I went over the Clyde in the general direction of Loch Lomond. I spent a couple of hours with Ruth and her bridesmaids, capturing them getting ready along with details of her dress etc. It was very grey and drizzly and I was hoping for a little break in the weather by the time their reception arrived. Then back over to Port Glasgow for the wedding at St John's for the ceremony, a little damp but nothing too bad. We then all went back over to Duck Bay Marina for everybody arriving to drinks and canapés. It was wet outside. And cold. And in my head I was saying to myself "give me a break please" to the weather gods. When in this part of the world, with Loch Lomond and a jetty, you want a spell of dry weather for the couple, it's really not much to ask is it?!

Low and behold, we got a break in the weather just as I finished the family group photos indoors. Right bridesmaids, it was time to man up (or woman up), we were going outside! On to the jetty we went, with gaps between the planks and high heels, it was an experience. Then from somewhere, brighter weather arrived and we got some lovely shots, hurray!

This wedding finished on a high as the wedding band The Jiggers struck up a Ceilidh. Always a laugh as you get those who haven't a clue what's going on and those who get right stuck in to it. So many laughs, funny faces and hilarity ensued which just made me want to stop what I was doing and join in! 

Here is a selection of what I captured for Ruth and John's amazing day for you all to enjoy.

Eryn & David's Wedding, Largs & Piersland House, Troon

Well what an utterly lovely sunny day we had on Eryn and David's wedding day, which let's be honest, was absolutely perfect given they were married in their home seaside town of Largs, it just has to be sunny, right?

I take my own family to Largs very frequently and I've always wanted to photograph a wedding in 'that' big red church on the seafront as it's such a lovely building (St Columbas to be exact). And it didn't disappoint. What's more, David is part of the RNLI Lifeboat crew stationed in Largs and we had planned to pop over to photograph them both together with the lifeboat and on-call crew members so that they didn't miss out. If we had more time I'd have had Eryn and David on the lifeboat in the water!

When we arrived at the Piersland Hotel in Troon, we were met with clear blue skies and could easily have been somewhere more exotic. The good weather meant that everybody was extremely relaxed and the kids made full use of the huge lawn to run about and play on. It's one of the best parts of photographing a wedding for me, floating about capturing everybody enjoying their day.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking Eryn and David away for a short while where we found some fantastic colours of purples and yellows amongst the flowers.

Eryn and David, thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding day. Here is a small selection of what I captured for you all to enjoy.

Karen & David's Wedding, Carnbooth House Hotel, Glasgow

Nothing do I love more than waking up on the morning of a wedding I'm about to photograph and seeing bright skies with the odd bit of sunshine (not too much sun mind). And today was just that. Another good reason for the weather being great is that it creates even more excitement among the bride and her family and they're ever so slightly more relaxed. This was the case when I arrived at the house where Karen was getting ready, together with her bridesmaids and parents.

Of course there's always that awkward 'where do I look' when I point the camera at people getting ready. My immediate task though was to find some nice textures in the garden and the odd colourful flower to use as a surround to photograph the wedding dress and the shoes. Karen's mum and dad were adamant I wouldn't find anything, but I think I surprised them.

It wasn't long before I set off to St Mary's Church in Kirkintilloch to see David, his son Liam and of course David's best man Kieran. After a few photos I let them gather their nerves and greet their guests. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Mark Johnston who has to be the most down to earth, funniest and most accommodating person I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I spent half the ceremony wondering what on earth two Domino's pizza boxes were doing sitting beneath the big table, until finally Mark produced them to make a joke about how David had interviewed Karen and subsequently given her the job at the local Domino's Pizza! It's fair to say also that Mark rocked the Ceilidh later that evening!

Earlier in the year I had visited Carnbooth House with Karen and David and back then there was still snow on the ground. It was hard to imagine what a bright June day would look like, but we weren't disappointed. Lots of lovely colours and greenery and textures to work with when we went off to explore for some photos.

The beauty of having such a lovely bright day meant that the wedding guests mingled both indoors and out on the decking. With so much laughter and many emotions going on, it was a delight to float around and capture it all taking place.

So Karen and David, thank you so much for having me share your fabulous wedding day with you and to all your family and friends who made me very welcome. Here is a small selection of what I captured for everybody to enjoy.