A cosy Achnagairn Castle wedding
G+E’s destination wedding at Achnagairn Castle as Mexico met Scotland
Venue: Achnagairn Castle
Since my first ever Achnagairn Castle Wedding (Katie + Rog way back in 2014) I’ve made no secret of my love for this wedding venue. It’s one of the special ones for sure. It has a great team behind it and running it, and it just has soul. It’s no coincidence that it’s in the Scottish Highlands too – the home of soul. I love all my trips to Achnagairn Castle weddings because it takes me back to the highlands, and that’s my soul food up there.
G+E’s wedding was a cool love story – he’s from the Scottish Highlands and she’s from Mexico, G works on ships and was forced to moor in E’s town due to… you know… 2020… and they met, fell in love, did the long distance thing for a while and after a whirlwind romance are here getting married at Achnagairn Castle, and settling down to live together in the highest of the highlands.
Their Achnagairn Castle wedding was the meeting of two cultures, and as E’s parents don’t speak much English my favourite moment is below when E’s dad has delivered her to the top of the aisle, shakes G’s hand and gives him the international symbol for “I’m always watching” before the ceremony began. It was a gorgeous moment and I was so happy I captured it so well because it really was so fleeting. But I’m sure E will love having that photo of her dad protecting her in that moment. So good.
After a handfasting ceremony in the great hall (that always reminds me of Hogwarts), the weather which had been particularly brutal let up for a while so we could have confetti, drinks, group photos and some portraits in the Achnagairn Castle garden.
This was a day of pure love in one of my favourite places for an amazing couple and their families and friends.
Here are some of my favourites from this Achnagairn Castle wedding!
Questions for the Photographer about this Achnagairn Castle wedding…
Do you have a favourite photo from this Achnagairn Castle wedding?
Yes absolutely I do! I love this photo of G+E entering the great hall at Achnagairn Castle from the balcony which is the tradition at this venue. I think it captures the moment exactly as I'd want them to remember it, having the time of their lives with all their loved ones looking up and enjoying the moment just as much - I love this take on the entrance into the wedding dinner.
We are currently planning our Achnagairn Castle wedding, any tips?
The team at Achnagairn Castle are amazing and will guide you through everything perfectly. From a wedding photography perspective I'd say find a way to keep people outside together during the drinks reception after your confetti - I love to capture your guests enjoying themselves during this time and if half are inside and half outside that makes it more difficult and also loses the atmosphere a bit. So maybe get some outside entertainment, or activities to make sure your guests all stay outside with you!
How do you capture both of us getting ready at Achnagairn Castle?
Easy! The great thing about Achnagairn Castle weddings is you'd both usually get ready in the main house, so I can just bounce between both your rooms. I've always worked this way and it works perfectly - we just need to talk logistics so I can make sure I'm in the right place at the right time as usual, for example if you're opening gifts or something like that.
We have the option of festoon lights in the Achnagairn Great Hall, what do you think?
Honestly I think no - that room is incredible and one of the best things is the height of the vaulted ceiling and the atmosphere - the festoon lights get in the way of that and don't add much light either so I'd leave them because they do look quite obvious in the photos. I don't mind them though - it's a 51/49 kinda thing - so if you want them, get them!
Do you cover multi day weddings at Achnagairn Castle?
Yes I LOVE multi-day weddings and you can see for Steph and Ewan's wedding at Achnagairn I covered both days for them - they had highland games the day before and it was a joy to capture that for them - their wedding was also a destination wedding with half the guests from Mexico and half from Scotland.
We'd love some night shots at Achnagairn, do you do those?
Not only do I do them, I'm a bit of a specialist if I do say so myself! The great thing about Achnagairn is a total lack of light pollution so if it's a clear sky the stars are so visible, and if it's something you're up for I love to capture a few night portraits - but these days lots of people would rather stay on the dance floor drinking whiskey and wine and I'm ok with that too - whatever suits you guys best!
