Stuart Craig Photography

I had met Lesley and Liam just a few weeks before at the beautiful surroundings of the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. With a winter wedding in the offering, a bit of careful planning was required to take advantage of the limited daylight. So we went for a wander together and soon discovered a nice spot on the banks of the Union canal. It seemed the perfect place to do some post ceremony photographs, that is if the weather played along. Thankfully the sun was threatening to shine as I arrived at Lesley’s mums house clutching a camera bag.

It was organised chaos inside the house. Two bridesmaids, two flower girls, one bride and the bride’s mum all conspired to get ready at the same time. By the time Lesley’s dad joined the party, it was standing room only as we dodged hairspray and tried to get out of the way. The sense of hustle and bustle soon gave way to excitement as the bridal car pulled up outside. Surprisingly, Lesley looked the most calm and took centre stage in the middle of the living room, seemingly rooted to the spot. She looked positively radiant!

I followed the bridal car for the short trip into Edinburgh, while Agent Claire caught all the guests arriving at the other end. Lesley was put into a holding pattern as I parked up and greeted Amy who was managing the big day. The boys were in place inside, occasionally cranking their necks round to check on progress as the final guests took their seats. The silver mercedes eventually pulled up, prompting Lesley to grin straight down the barrel of the lens as the door opened. That look said the show was about to begin!

Lesley walked down the aisle in her father’s arms and turned to face a delighted looking Liam. The humanist ceremony got underway with some readings, before we were all treated to some humorous stories about the happy couple. I always enjoy humanist ceremonies, not least because each one is different and very personal to the couple. With the rings exchanged, the happy couple were invited to kiss before sitting down to sign the register and pose for the cameras. They walked back down the aisle to a huge round of applause.

We piled into the bridal car and were whisked around the corner to a set of steps leading up to a section of the Union canal. The happy couple said thank you in their own special way before getting down to business with a mixture of romantic snaps by the riverside. Some graffiti added a splash of colour to the plain white sky as they embraced for some precious time alone. Lesley proved to be tickle proof at one point (I don’t often see that!) as poor Liam attempted to tease a reaction. Just as well being smile proof was a different matter!

The white brolly eventually made an appearance as they strolled along the riverside, occasionally being interrupted by well wishers who were keen to congratulate them. The happy couple walked straight up to the camera and dropped the brolly for a private kiss away from the public gaze. The silver mercedes was waiting for us down below, so we headed back into the warmth of the Corn Exchange where they relaxed with a few celebratory drinks. The room was beautifully setup for their wedding breakfast, complete with wedding cake.

Lesley and Liam were piped into the room, completing a lap of honour with a grin. The speeches kicked off with purpose and soon had people laughing with some well placed jokes. Agent Claire’s mobile lighting went unnoticed as the best man upped the ante by turning on a projector. A collection of embarrassing and amusing photographs graced the big screen, offering plenty of reactions as I caught the action from the sidelines. It just seemed to get funnier and funnier and was one of the most amusing speeches I’ve heard in a while.

With the groom throughly embarrassed and food being served, we said our goodbye’s and headed outdoors. I stopped to look at the illuminated sign above the pillars, wishing the parked cars were gone so I could shoot the scene. Then I remembered my fisheye lens nestling away in the camera bag, and before you knew it was being setup on a tripod. It’s wide 180 degree view took in the whole scene at close range and looked grand. It was just crying out for a bride and groom to complete the scene for a surprise cover shot…

A fresh smattering of snow was a bit of a surprise, but Winton House seemed to embrace it and were busy building a couple of snowmen when we arrived. But more on that later. I greeted Laura in the bridal suite and warmed up with a few shots of her dress. It looked sleek and slender just like Laura. Before long, I was mixing with the boys downstairs and introduced them to the camera. Kevin seemed in fine form and presented me with a few bits and pieces to record for the album. I spotted Agent Claire hovering outside, trying to keep warm.

With half an hour remaining, Laura appeared in her dress looking utterly stunning. She gazed down the barrel of the lens, eyes sparkling as the focus locked at close range. Despite the risk of running into the boys downstairs, Laura opted for a stroll and stopped to gaze out the window of this spiral staircase. I loved the curved lines and soft light on show, so quickly changed to an ultra wide angle lens, catching the moment as she posed in her beautiful dress. There was just enough light to shoot naturally with a handheld camera.

The ceremony room was bathed in sunlight as Laura was walked down the aisle and presented to Kevin, who by now was positively beaming. The ceremony was punctuated by moments of genuine warmth and humour, something that was entirely in keeping with the setting. The happy couple turned to face each other, saying their their vows and exchanging rings in front of a captive audience.

Laura and Kevin sealed the deal with a kiss before walking back down the aisle together, grinning from ear to ear. It was time a weather check, so myself and Agent Claire popped outside and spotted the fast sinking sun. We re-emerged with a plan and invited the happy couple outside for some pictures alone, making use what was left of natural daylight. The champagne glasses chinked as they got down to business in each others arms. The floral bouquet was cast aside, resting on the soft snow as they cuddled.

The two snowman built by the owners were soon getting into the act with perhaps the ‘coolest’ looking group shot of the year. I knew these two were going to be trouble! The entire wedding party were then persuaded to brave the cold for a mass group shot at the front entrance, despite the heavy snow under foot. Laura and Kevin headed inside as the sun set, prompting us to seek suitable rooms to do family photographs. Not surprisingly, the warmth and comfort offered indoors seemed the more attractive option as folk enjoyed a drink.

The reception room at Winton House had a certain wow factor to it, and must surely rank as one of the nicest I have seen. The poor cake sat quivering as the enormous sword made it’s presence known. The speeches soon got underway with some amusing tales about the happy couple. Kevin in particular was getting a bit of a pasting, although to be fair that was almost exclusively down the best man who brought the show to a fitting climax with some fantastic jokes. It was easy to listen to and all in good taste.

As more evening guests arrived, I invited Laura and Kevin down to the cellar for a signature long exposure. The remote flash setup gave them time to prepare a kiss before Agent Claire flicked the lights and the image was recorded in total darkness. The subtle burst of flash the only clue to the deed being complete. A more difficult version followed on the sofa upstairs, this time requiring them to hold still for half a second. A lot more difficult that you might imagine, but they managed it (in front of an audience) with a few attempts.

Folk gathered around as Laura and Kevin took to the dance floor for the first dance. The band sprung into life as the happy couple joined hands and entertained the crowd with some faced paced moves. Once again, the smiles were present as Agent Claire provided some mobile lighting for me to take advantage of. It was easy pickings on such a happy day. What a cracking couple and a spectacular choice of venue. When we left the snow men were still standing alone in the darkness. I could swear they were smiling too.