Elle & Adam · Dalmeny Park House Hotel, Barrhead

Dalmeny Park Wedding Photographer

A joyful wedding at Dalmeny Park House Hotel in Barrhead, just south of Glasgow, with family moments, garden portraits and plenty of laughter.

Elle and Adam's wedding at Dalmeny Park House Hotel in Barrhead was a fabulous day with a gorgeous couple and their lovely wee family. Elle looked absolutely stunning, and there was so much laughter and energy around them. These are the moments I love photographing: people enjoying themselves and a wedding that feels completely their own.

Ask about your wedding date

Words and photographs by John Clark

Elle laughing during the speeches with Adam seated beside her

Elle's wedding morning

From the morning drinks to the reactions when Elle was ready, there was plenty happening around her. She was laughing and joking with everyone, with a few quieter moments for beautiful bridal portraits too.

The little moments between the planned photographs matter just as much to me. A hug before the ceremony, the girls seeing the dress and Elle smiling at someone across the room all tell you something about how the day felt.

Dalmeny Park House Hotel framed by trees beneath a blue sky
Elle and Adam's wedding stationery with white shoes, flowers and jewellery
Elle smiling with a champagne flute during her bridal preparations
Elle laughing as she opens a wedding morning gift
Adam adjusting his tie in the mirror before the wedding
A groomsman laughing while getting ready
Black-and-white photograph of Elle raising her arms in her bridal robe
A woman laughing with children during the wedding morning
Black-and-white portrait of Elle lifting the hem of her wedding dress beside a window
Elle smiling during the finishing touches to her makeup
Elle smiling in her wedding dress and veil
Elle embracing a loved one before the ceremony
Bridesmaids reacting emotionally to Elle in her wedding dress
Black-and-white portrait of Elle smiling beneath her veil
Elle checking her earrings in a mirror

A personal ceremony and a room full of smiles

Gary Thomson led a lovely ceremony with so many personal touches. Elle and Adam held hands, their guests smiled and laughed along with them, and there were brilliant reactions all around the room.

I always look beyond the couple during a ceremony. The guests who are laughing, the bridesmaids watching closely and the hands coming together to applaud are part of the story too. Those natural photographs bring back the people as well as the moment.

Elle and Adam holding hands during their ceremony at Dalmeny Park
A wedding guest in an orange and lilac dress laughing during the ceremony
Two guests smiling together during the wedding ceremony
A guest in a red dress smiling towards the person beside her
A brunette bridesmaid smiling as she watches the ceremony
Wedding guests applauding during Elle and Adam's ceremony
Elle and Adam holding shot glasses during their wedding ceremony
A guest in a lime dress laughing with her hand against her chest

Confetti and their lovely wee family

After the ceremony came the confetti and some time outside with the people closest to them. The photographs of Elle and Adam with their daughter are some of my favourites from this part of the day. There is so much happiness in those little family moments.

The wedding party were great fun as well. I love photographing a Falkirk crowd, and these guests brought exactly that warmth and energy. We made the group photographs, then let the laughter carry on around us.

Elle and Adam smiling as guests shower them with confetti
Elle and Adam kissing beneath falling confetti
Elle and Adam swinging a little girl between them outside Dalmeny Park
Elle and Adam smiling together with their daughter
The wedding party cheering around Elle and Adam beside the gazebo
Bridesmaids laughing together outdoors
Elle embracing a young wedding guest
Groomsmen laughing together during the drinks reception
Elle laughing with a bridesmaid
Two male wedding guests laughing together

Portraits with plenty of laughter

Dalmeny Park is a lovely venue to photograph. The house, gardens, trees and gazebo gave us a few different places to make portraits without taking Elle and Adam away for ages.

Elle was laughing and joking throughout, so I wanted the portraits to keep that feeling. We used the veil, had a wander together and made room for a few playful photographs as well as the close, quieter ones. Adam carrying Elle with her bouquet in the air summed up their energy perfectly.

Elle and Adam walking together, smiling back beneath Elle's flowing veil
Black-and-white portrait of Elle and Adam laughing beneath a tree
Elle and Adam cuddling and laughing in the gardens
Elle and Adam beside Dalmeny Park House Hotel with her veil flowing behind them
A close black-and-white portrait of Elle and Adam smiling beneath her veil
Elle laughing as Adam holds her close
Adam carrying Elle as she raises her bouquet
Elle and Adam standing together in a stone arched doorway

Every table had a reaction

The speeches were full of the expressions I am always watching for. Elle looking up at Adam, the two of them laughing together and guests reacting across the room gave us such a good set of candid photographs.

The party atmosphere was already building over dinner. Callum Gallacher from Tartan Entertainment delivered an incredible meal-to-midnight set, and there was no shortage of napkins in the air. This crowd did not need much encouragement.

Elle and Adam laughing while a wedding speech is read at the top table
Elle looking up and laughing as Adam gives his wedding speech
A bridesmaid laughing while holding drinks at the reception
A guest in green laughing during the wedding reception
A male guest in a waistcoat laughing at the table
A blonde bridesmaid smiling during the reception
A wedding guest laughing while holding a miniature bottle
A guest wearing glasses and a black fascinator laughing at the table
A guest in an orange and lilac dress making a peace sign
A laughing wedding guest waving a black napkin above his head
A young guest in a white dress laughing during the reception
A guest in a red dress clapping and smiling
A guest in a patterned waistcoat laughing with his hands clasped
A guest in a brown dress laughing and applauding
A guest in a blue spotted dress clapping above her head
A guest in a lime dress smiling across the reception table
A wedding guest raising a napkin during the celebrations

Sunglasses, sax and champagne

The party never stopped, and Elliot G Sax added even more to the celebrations. The heart-shaped sunglasses came out, guests were dancing between the tables and Elle and Adam were right in the middle of it all.

We also stepped outside after dark for some fun photographs together. Sunglasses, wedding rings, huge smiles and a champagne spray made a brilliant finish. I wanted these photographs to feel as lively as the people in them.

Elle dancing in front of Adam while holding heart-shaped sunglasses
Wedding guests in heart-shaped sunglasses dancing in a conga line
Elle and Adam smiling at each other in heart-shaped sunglasses, in black and white
Elle and Adam laughing and showing their wedding rings to the camera
Elle holding Adam's arm as they laugh together outside after dark
Elle cheering beside Adam as champagne sprays into the night

Planning your photographs at Dalmeny Park

The staff at Dalmeny Park are lovely, and I really appreciate how smoothly the day runs. Keeping things on time gives the couple space to enjoy their guests and still have a few relaxed moments for photographs.

There are several spots we can use around the house and gardens, plus options if rain arrives. We can work with the weather and your timetable to keep the photographs enjoyable. Elle and Adam's day was a lovely example of how much variety you can have while keeping the people and the atmosphere at the centre of it all.

The house, gardens and gazebo give us a choice of backgrounds without needing to leave the venue. A short walk together can fit naturally between the family photographs and the meal, with time left to enjoy the drinks reception.

I would keep a second small window in mind later in the day if the light improves. If it rains, we can use the indoor spaces and wait for a break; your photographs can follow the day rather than forcing the day to follow a rigid shot list.

The wedding team