Rory & Fiona

The preparations had a bit of everything. Laughter with the bridesmaids, the boys getting ready, and some quieter, emotional moments along the way. Those wee moments are every bit as much a part of the story as the ceremony.

Fiona’s dress came from Wild & White Bridal in New Zealand, with hair and make-up by Laura Gray Hair Beauty Bridal. Before everyone headed to the ceremony, we made the most of the window light for a few portraits inside the castle.

The Orangery was a beautiful place for Rory and Fiona to say their vows. All that daylight, the flowers and their closest people gathered around them made it feel warm and personal.

There were lovely reactions throughout: Rory waiting for Fiona, the smiles around the room, hands held and rings exchanged. Then the first kiss, and the celebrations could properly begin.

Out through the castle doors and straight into the confetti. There was so much happiness in those congratulations and hugs.

With a smaller daytime gathering, it was lovely to bring everyone together for a photograph in front of the castle. A picture of the whole gang, with that unmistakable Carlowrie backdrop behind them.

We kept the couple photographs relaxed, making a little time to wander along the drive and around the castle steps. The building gives you a striking backdrop, but I still want the photographs to feel like the people in them.

There was a beautiful moment with Fiona’s veil floating out beside them, along with closer portraits, a laugh together and the little details of their rings. A mix of the big setting and the two of them enjoying it.

Back in the Orangery, the speeches brought another round of laughs and a few faces that said it all. Rory on the microphone, Fiona laughing beside him, and guests getting right into the stories.

I always keep an eye on the tables as well as the person speaking. A shared look, someone trying to stop laughing, or the reaction across the room can tell you so much about the feeling of the day.

Later, we slipped outside again for a few more portraits. There were spring flowers in the grounds, a turn on the garden swing and Rory carrying Fiona with the castle behind them.

The glasshouse gave us another lovely setting for a quieter black-and-white photograph. It’s a good example of how a short second portrait session can give you a different feel without taking over your wedding day.

As more friends and family arrived, the evening became a proper celebration. After the first dance, The Jacobites Ceilidh Band had everyone joining hands and getting stuck into the dancing.

This was exactly the other half of Rory and Fiona’s day: the people, the movement, the laughter and a dance floor full of life. A brilliant finish after such a lovely, intimate start.

Before putting the cameras away, we made a couple of final portraits outside. The lights and the illuminated castle gave us a completely different view of the place where it had all happened.

Rory and Fiona, thank you for having me along. From New Zealand to Carlowrie, what a day to share with your favourite people.