When should I book newborn photography

Most parents book during pregnancy to secure a date within the first two weeks after birth.

Do you bring your studio to us

Yes. I bring my full mobile newborn studio with wraps, blankets and lighting to your home so everything is relaxed and easy.

How far in advance should we book wedding photography

Many couples book twelve months ahead but weekday and smaller weddings can be available sooner.

Do you photograph small weddings or destination weddings

Yes. I photograph small weddings, civil ceremonies and destination weddings across Europe and beyond.

Misty Lochs and Late Night Dancing and A Very Good Dog: A Scottish Highlands Wedding

Gill Flett
Dec 2
7 min read

Emma and David’s story started in an unexpected place - they first met while they were both working as prison officers, though they’ve since moved on to new paths. During his speech, the Groom mentioned meeting his Bride in prison which was responded with gasps and huge laughs from those who knew.

Bride and groom standing on a wooden jetty at Loch Tay, with the groom leaning in as the bride smiles at the camera, wrapped in a red and green tartan shawl.

TLDR: A Highlands Wedding at Loch Tay

A fabulous Scottish Highlands wedding beside Loch Tay, complete with a piper led church ceremony, a magical reception in a fairy lit barn style hall, fizz from a mobile bar, a hog roast, and dancing that had every generation on the floor. A relaxed Day Two portrait shoot gave us space to use the gorgeous landscape without taking time away from the big day.

The Proposal

David shared how he proposed in the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. He was so nervous Emma thought he might be about to break up with her. Instead, it turned out to be the start of a fabulous Highlands wedding adventure. Instead, it turned out to be the start of a fabulous Highlands wedding adventure.

Arriving The Day Before

I arrived the day before the wedding to recce the area, and the moment I stood by the misty waters of Loch Tay I knew the weekend was going to be something special. I am originally from Scotland and any time I am back in the Highlands there is a familiar pull. Aberdeen was home of course, but the whole of Scotland still feels like it belongs to me in some way. It made the days ahead feel even more meaningful.

Details from around the Loch Tay area including a red phone box, historic yew tree inscription, riverside views, and the wedding venue framed by spring blooms and Highland light.

A Proper Highlands Welcome

Right from the start, the Highlands gave us its usual blend of calm and drama. The weather kept shifting in that way only Scotland can manage, and everything had this relaxed, easy rhythm. It all felt completely right for the couple and their wedding weekend.

Sheep and lambs wandering a quiet Highlands road near Loch Tay, alongside wide open hills and soft, shifting skies.

The area around Loch Tay is extraordinary. Quiet, winding roads, sheep not that far away and those huge open views that seem to change every few minutes as the clouds move across the hills. One moment soft and muted. The next warm and glowing. It is the kind of place where you can breathe deeply and settle into the day without even thinking about it.

Getting Ready - With Hendrix - the very good boy!

While Emma was getting ready with her family, David was with the boys and their adorable black lab cross rescue pup, Hendrix, was every bit the character you'd expect. He was a very good boy and wore a tartan bow tie and looked like he knew exactly how important the day was.

The groom’s Highland attire, buttonholes with thistles, and their black Labrador in a bow tie all ready for the big day.

The Groom and his Best Men had a good laugh together, helping each other with ties, kilts, and sporrans. It was all really relaxed and full of those brilliant pre-ceremony nerves.

Groom and his groomsmen sharing relaxed moments while getting into their kilts before the ceremony.

The Bridal Prep

The morning had such a gorgeous energy. Emma got ready with her family around her and it felt calm and happy from the very beginning. I always love this part of the day - there is no rush until suddenly it's time to go. There is something very grounding about seeing everyone ease into the morning while I focus on the wedding photography that sets the tone for the rest of the celebration. It also allows me to blend in perfectly. People forget I am there which is exactly what I want. It means I can notice those little moments as they happen rather than steering anything.

Wedding morning energy with makeup, pink robes, thoughtful details, and the flower girl tucked into a window seat.

Emma had given her bridesmaids denim jackets to match their dresses - a very cool idea and perfect for the Scottish weather. Emma’s niece, the flower girl, especially enjoyed the morning. She moved around the cottage full of excitement which brought a lovely lift to the morning. The mix of family, stories and small personal touches gave the bridal prep such a warm atmosphere and relaxed everyone for the day.

Bride’s dress, bouquet, jewellery, and accessories laid out on a calm wedding morning in the Highlands.

Emma’s mum had died when she was young, and her family have always kept her memory close. Emma chose a delicate necklace for the wedding day with two simple engravings. One read "when feathers appear angels are near "with their wedding date, and the other said Mum with tiny angel wings. It felt like a gentle blessing for Emma and David rather than something sad. A really lovely way of bringing her mum into the day.

The bride surrounded by her bridesmaids in soft tones and denim jackets as they help her into her dress.

Quiet bridal portraits by the window just before the ceremony, with the flower girl close by.

The First Look

Emma wanted her grandfather to walk her up the aisle, and the moment he saw her in her dress was incredibly moving. He paused for a second as if he needed a breath to take her in, then his whole expression softened. It was one of those gorgeous moments that stay with you long after the wedding ceremony has finished.

A tender first look between the bride and her grandfather, filled with emotion and love before she leaves for the church.

A Piper, a Church, and a 5000 Year Old Yew Tree

The ceremony was held in the village church beside a remarkable 5000 year old Yew tree, only a short walk from where everyone had been getting ready. Hendrix was waiting outside with plenty of excitement to greet his human mum, I mean - I love this wedding so much! Scotland and a gorgeous doggie?!

The wedding morning begins with their Labrador Hendrix in a tartan bow tie, bridesmaids walking to the church in misty drizzle, and the bride arriving by car with a huge smile.

The bridesmaids gathered their dresses against the Scottish weather as they walked up to the church from the nearby cottage. It was only a short stroll but it gave them a few quiet minutes together before everything began. Emma arrived with her grandfather and future father in law, in a white BMV. Smiling at her Bridesmaids walking up to meet her.

A Piper welcomed the Bridal Party at the gates to church. The sound of the pipes gave their entrance a very Scottish feel and tied the whole moment to the setting.

A piper leads the bridal party through the churchyard, kilts and bouquets moving through the soft Highland drizzle as the bride joins them on foot for the final approach

Emma entered the church with her grandfather at her side. It was a quiet, steady walk and you could see how much it meant to both of them. He gave her the smallest reassuring nod before they stepped fully inside.

Emma and David lit up the moment they saw each other. The smiles were instant and set the mood for the whole ceremony. Everything felt easy between them.

During the exchange of rings there was a lovely mix of nerves and happiness, the kind of moment that makes everyone soften a little. Their first kiss as a married couple was met with warm smiles from the guests and felt like the perfect finish to a very personal ceremony.

The bride enters the church with her grandfather, followed by vows, laughter, and a joyful first kiss as light streams in through the chapel windows.

A Barn Style Celebration With Gorgeous Details

After the ceremony, Emma and David's Piper was there to lead the entire wedding party to the reception with a real sense of tradition -

The newlyweds and their wedding party walk back from the church led by the piper, wrapped in laughter and flowers along the village road.

Family walking together down the lane swinging the flower girl between them, perfectly capturing the relaxed and joyful spirit of the day.

and so many giggles.

Just-married portraits near the church and village roads, with soft hills behind them and that quiet glow that follows the ceremony.

We did take a few portraits of David and Emma on their wedding day but we'd decided ahead of the big day, to do a portrait session the day after, leaving my Bride and Groom to spend their day with their guests and not miss a single moment.

Personal details from the reception including vintage decor, a fizz van, fairy lights, and a photo of Emma’s late mum placed tenderly among the tables.

The atmosphere was genuinely relaxed. The details felt thoughtful, including a lovely tribute to Emma’s mum. The colour palette was a mix of orange, cream and foliage, and the tables were styled with glass jars, vintage mirror table plan and those gorgeous fairy light festooning the hall.

Their shared love of Star Wars appeared in the best possible way with a brilliant cake topper that read, “We found the droids we were looking for.” It made everyone smile.

Hog Roast, Speeches, and Lots of Emotions

Guests gathering around the fizz van with drinks and laughter as the bride and groom mingle, Highland views and low clouds in the distance.

The couple cutting the cake and being showered in confetti by children, with a little help from the smallest guests for the final slice.

Emma and David walked into their wedding breakfast in the village hall to another burst of confetti and straight to cutting their fabulous cake which was to double as dessert.

They had an amazing hog roast which was utterly delicious and easily fed all the guests and a photographer.... After the meal it was time for the speeches. They had everyone laughing and crying. Emma and David sat smiling, crying and laughing through it all. Emma’s grandfather gave the first beautiful speech - full of pride and love for his gorgeous granddaughter. It set the tone for everything that followed.

Heartfelt and hilarious speeches begin, with the bride glowing, guests in stitches, and the bride’s grandfather delivering his toast with pride.

Speeches and a very good boy Hendrix the dog by David's side

The groom delivers his speech as Hendrix the dog sneaks a peek from under the table, followed by laughter, cheers, and a few emotional moments from family and friends.

Then it was the turn for the Groom's speech - David stood up to speak. There was so much laughter around the memory of how he had met his wife in the prison they both worked at. Then onto the emotional tributes to his new wife and also to his lovely Mum. I caught tears rolling down his Mum's cheek.

Guests laugh and tear up during the speeches, a stunning floral seating chart glows under fairy lights, and the bride and groom share a quiet giggle behind the centrepieces.

The Groomsmen speeches were hilarious!

A sparkler tunnel lit with laughter and cheers as the couple walk through, wrapped in each other and surrounded by everyone who loves them.

It doesn't gets really dark in summer until really late in Scotland during the summer, but that didn’t David and Emma having a sparkler walk. It was more about the atmosphere than the light.

First Dance and a Fabulous Night

The couple share their first dance under a canopy of golden lights, wrapped in each other’s arms as their guests look on with joy.

It was time for their first dance - they had chosen Yazoo’s "Only You." It was one of those lovely moments, with their niece still having her best day in the backgroud! Then their band, The Watershed, kicked off - they were incredible and played way beyond what was expected keeping the energy high all night.

The dance floor fills with hugs, spinning dresses, live music, and wild moves – from kids to grandparents, everyone’s dancing like nobody’s watching.

There was a bit of ceilidh dancing, but mostly just proper dance floor joy. Everyone was on the dance floor - a proper generational mix. It was that kind of night. Full on dancing, an amazing mix of tunes, arms in the air, shoes kicked off and wedding dresses being tossed around! A real celebration.

Day Two: Portraits By The Loch And Up In The Hills

We’d planned the Day Two shoot ahead of time, and it really shaped the flow of the wedding. Emma and David could be with their guests on the day. Then on Day Two, we had the freedom to go off up into the hills and loch nearby. It did not disappoint.

Romantic highland portraits across the hills and through the woods, with the bride hiking in boots and blanket, the groom in full tartan, and their dog never far behind.

Emma put the dress back on, adding sensible walking boot and a tartan wrap and off we went - in my freshly valeted car! David looked perfect in his kilt. Hendrix, their doggie came along too, I mean obviously, he is family after all.

Peaceful portraits on the lochside jetty as the couple wrap up warm in tartan, take in the stillness of the Scottish hills, and cuddle up with their dog Hendrix by the water.

We photographed around the loch then we drove up into the hills nearby. The landscape was misty, soft, and stunning.

at the end of the session - back to the warm car

The extra time gave us a relaxed space to explore the landscape without rushing. It would have been mad not to take advantage of the scenery. No pressure. I did work as quick as possible - it was a bit chilly and Emma wasn't dressed for the Highland summer!

Romantic highland portraits across the hills and through the woods, with the bride hiking in boots and blanket, the groom in full tartan

If you’re dreaming of a Scottish Highlands wedding with fabulous views, gorgeous touches, and a party to remember I’d love to hear from you.

Gill x

Bride and Groom Favourite Memory

They told me their favourite memory from the day was stepping outside in the evening rain, just the two of them, having a quiet moment together away from the buzz. That stayed with me - I am a hopeless romantic - even after 20 years of being around love.

Looking for a wedding photographer

Based in Surrey but Scottish by birth - I am very happy to travel for love stories. From Highlands weddings to elopements and in between. I bring 20 years of wedding experience to you day. Let's chat.

See more at: gillflett.com