Jenna looked ultra relaxed, with little sign of any pre-wedding nerves. The spacious lower ground floor flat was a hive of activity as the hair and make-up started being applied. Two little flowers girls competed well with the power ballads pumping out of an iPhone. I was sensing some fun as the girls jumped into the bath for a clean shot with champagne glasses. The rain had already started as I took a short stroll across to Ghillie Dhu to meet Brian. He was faring less well, and hoping that some fresh air would help his nerves.

The boys promptly returned indoors, joining the growing number of guests who were gathering in the dimly lit bar. When everyone moved upstairs to take their seats, I hovered outside to wait for Jenna to appear in the cobbled street. A small crowd gathered as mum arrived first, followed by the 2 flower girls who literally ran all the way. By the time Jenna and her dad came into focus, I was perfectly placed behind the piper to frame her arrival before dashing upstairs ahead of the bridal party. It was showtime.

With everyone looking suitably nervous, the ceremony began with an introduction and some amusing readings. Time seemed to speed up as the happy couple turned to face each other, sprinting through their vows perfectly before exchanging rings. They kissed to a huge round of applause and listened to some live music after signing the register. By the time Jenna and Brian walked back down the aisle, they were grinning from ear to ear. I left them to mingle and went to check on the weather. Plan B might require a plan C.

The rain held off long enough to do some family photographs at the front steps, before we huddled together to agree the plan. A mass group shot of everyone was the only casualty as Jenna and Brian opted for a few creative shots indoors which they tackled with impressive skill. They required little instruction throughout and seemed to instinctively know what to do. Jenna was showing good judgement and was clearly still game for going outdoors armed with brollies. We headed into Princes Street in the lashing rain.

Agent Claire tried to keep me (and the cameras!) dry as the wind drove the rain in from all directions. It is only when the going gets tough that the tough gets going. After a much faffing about with lenses and camera bodies, I snatched my favourite portrait lens and invited the newly weds against a wall. They gazed into each others eyes, smiling and laughing in the rain, no doubt slightly shocked at no longer being under a brolly. To my amazement, they turned it on and courted the camera with confidence.

A walk through the leafy cemetery grounds felt strangely rock ‘n roll and must have looked quite a sight to the onlookers above on Lothian Road. Agent Claire stuck to me like glue, still battling with the brollies. We headed back up to Princes Street and came face to face with two grinning strangers at the traffic lights. They were far more appropriately dressed than us it seemed, and were quick to get in the shot before offering their congratulations. The moment summed up their day really well. It was wet, wild and full of warm smiles.

Many congratulations to you Jenna and Brian! You were great sports on the day and I am looking forward to seeing you again when you trash that dress. And thanks for a memorable outdoor experience! Logistically, that might be the hardest wedding I’ve shot this year, and yet it felt so easy to enjoy. We were totally impressed with your performance in front of the camera, and particularly admire the way you seize the moment. I can only wonder what lies in store for part two. I hope you had a great day!

Sneaking around the large room proved easy. The girls seemed pre-occupied with champagne, mirrors and making sure the jukebox was to their taste. By the time sandwiches arrived, I could see a change beginning to take place. They were scrubbing up well. Julie was extremely relaxed and calm, occasionally cracking jokes and inviting me to take pictures freely. She looked beautiful in her dress and was soon attracting plenty of attention from competing camera phones. It was time to go seek out some top hats.

By contrast, the boys were already looking prim and proper. Mike was clearly enjoying himself, and was quick to accept my invite to take the hats for a mini photoshoot. Guests were arriving by now, some stopping to watch the hats being lifted with a huge smile on their face. The sun broke out to add a touch of sparkle, making me wonder if it would win the battle with some showers we had seen earlier that morning. Everyone began making their way into the Orangery and took their seats in anticipation of Julie making her grand entrance.

Julie walked down the aisle in her fathers arms, and received the warmest of smiles from Mike who was looking on with predicable interest. The hats were cast aside for the main event which saw them enjoy some readings before turning to face each other to say their vows. The rings were exchanged in full view of everyone before the registrar finally announced them as husband and wife. The happy couple kissed and savoured the moment, only to be invited to do it again in case the photographer missed it! A nice trick which they seemed to like.

After a mass group shot of everyone on the front steps, we gathered folk around for some family photographs. The weather was holding up, offering some weak sunlight to compliment the bright red carpet. After some uplifting group combinations, I arranged to meet the happy couple in the gardens for some photographs alone. After ten minutes I was still clutching a camera wondering where they had got to. A little investigation showed the happy couple were imprisoned inside chatting to guests, and quite popular inmates they were too.

With my favourite portrait lens attached to the camera, the leafy surroundings played host to a flurry of natural looking shots with and without props. Some ceramic love hearts made an appearance (for the second week in a row!) as a thank you before I made a rare attempt at a photo merge. The final square image above was created with 9 exposures, the first being of the couple before locking the focus and shooting the space around them separately. It creates a subtle 3 dimensional look which many find so appealing.

The ballroom was immaculately setup, star of the show being a pair of Yoshis cake toppers who were watching on from a lofty position. They witnessed the speeches and wedding breakfast, before I picked my moment to invite Julie and Mike upstairs for a planned signature shot on the staircase. They had practiced it a few weeks before during a pre-wedding shoot, but for the real thing we opted to keep it simple. As they gazed into each others eyes, the moment was captured using only natural daylight.

Love hearts lit up the pink ceiling as the sparkling floor lights kicked into life. The dance floor beckoned for Julie and Mike, something they seemed to carry off without any first dance nerves. As the DJ pumped up the volume, folk followed the lead and kicked off their heels with some hugely entertaining dancing. It looked fantastic but came as little surprise. Almost everything about this wedding day looked good. I guess when your happy and enjoying yourself with family and friends, it is easy to produce eye candy!

The boys were huddled together inside the abbey when I arrived, laughing and joking at anything which moved. The friendly banter continued as I prompted them outside for a few photos with the rings. The piper looked on, shifting some air to great effect. Guests would be under no illusions as to where to go, a homemade sign and the sound of bagpipes showing the way. Two coaches suddenly arrived to offload guests on mass, and instantly changed the scene with a splash of colour. It was time for the show to begin.

The bridesmaids arrived first, stopping to show off their smiles before making way for the Rolls Royce to take center stage. Mhairi was helped out as everyone rushed ahead into the abbey. Dad took her arm and walked to the entrance as Murray looked over his shoulder nervously. When Mhairi reached the bottom of the aisle, Rev Colin Sands took control and promptly began the service with a hymn to break the ice. I could detect that Murray was quite pleased with himself as he glanced across at his stunning looking bride.

The ceremony concluded with the signing of the register and a song from Mhairi’s Grampa, before everyone headed outside for some family photographs. A mass group shot in the front of the abbey had me climbing (again!) up the steps with gusto, keen to let folk get away to enjoy their drinks reception. Mhairi and Murray remained behind with the best man, who was armed with more homemade signs for us to use. We began with a few portraits, the cool breeze soon making friends with Mhairi’s veil to create a flurry of random shapes.

The homemade signs were leading the way as Mhairi and Murray sat on a bench for a kiss. I thought they were never going to come up for air, but we managed to break them apart and bundled the happy couple in the Rolls Royce for the short trip down the cobbled streets. It was there we encountered a group of photography students who kindly let us use their vintage triumph for a brief cameo. Murray was protesting at not being in the shot, but I’m sure he agreed it was a girly moment when Mhairi graced the front seat.

Our planned ‘thank you’ shot saw the love hearts getting their big moment, before we turned out attention towards some equally cool props. A pair of cheap sunglasses (apparently not that cheap!) provided a lighter moment as they posed with the bridal car for a wicked clash of class. As the sun broke out, it seemed a perfect moment to pause and soak up the scene. We headed over to Keavil House where I immediately started branding the reception room, only to be distracted by a rather spectacular looking cake.

The speeches began in the brightly lit room and soon had folk laughing at the various stories being told. Colourful hats remained on throughout, as Murray confidently set the scene for the best man to take centre stage. His merseyside accent only added to the mixture of flavours as he delivered a torrent of jokes, many of which were directed at Murray’s well known fondness for the game of golf.

With coffee being served, I invited Mhairi and Murray outdoors for some extra shots in the late evening sunshine. A new lens made it’s debut in the raking light, offering some subtle background blur and pronounced vignetting. The unique look it offered was a bit like their wedding day. As the happy couple took to the dance floor for their brief shoe shuffle, the visual experience just left you wanting more. It signalled the end of my shooting duties on this cracking day which, as Murray might say, scored well above par.

Meanwhile at the at St James the Less Church in Penicuik, the boys were hovering around greeting guests as they arrived. The familiar sight of the pickled piper (website here) provided the soundtrack and was proving popular with guests who seemed eager to pose for a photograph. I headed indoors to arrange for a shooting spot before turning my attention to the boys and the all important rings. Chris was quick to show off his cuff links which made me smile. It wasn’t very long before I spotted mum and the bridesmaids arriving.

Jane arrived in a black taxi, decorated with a white ribbon to tell the world of it’s destination. Her expression as she spotted the rest of the girls was priceless, and was instantly captured through the narrow opening in the door. It was no accident that I happened to be standing just there in anticipation. With a guest missing, Jane was asked to hold for a couple of minutes before getting out and joining the rest of the bridal party. Dad took her arm and walked towards the church entrance whilst I enjoyed the pipers eye view.

Chris welcomed the procession with a warm smile, climaxing with Jane’s arrival as you might expect. They stood there giggling as the ceremony got underway, punctuated with some readings, hymns and the occasional joke thrown in for entertainment. It seemed to go by very quickly, and before I knew it the happy couple were exchanging rings. You could hear a pin drop in the church as they repeated their vows with care. A kiss, a flash and a round of applause told you what you wanted to know. It was time to head outdoors.

The newly weds stood grinning at the front door as folk made there way outside from a side entrance to gather around. Some crowd control was required as the various cameras flashed away, signalling it was time for formal photographs. The soft light and bright colours on show made it refreshingly easy to capture, the sun only occasionally threatening to spoil the game. Champagne and confetti followed as people congratulated them, while I considered how best to catch a departure reflection on the taxi window.

Jane and Chris arrived at Barony Castle in the same taxi cab, and I soon had them all to myself to create some of the images we had planned a few weeks before on a recce. My favourite portrait lens tracked them walking into the woods hand in hand, no doubt looking forward to being alone as husband and wife for the first time. When we got to our rendezvous, I immediately went into the undergrowth to explore. The shot below shows their celebration, completely unaware that I was shooting through the branches.

The soft light in the woods was criminally easy to work with, albeit only just enough to handhold a heavy camera effectively. The various trees and diced wooden logs offered plenty of cover, and some creative framing by shooting through the gaps! Jane and Chris looked so cute together it seemed rude to interrupt them, so I kept any instructions to a minimum and let the camera roll. By the time we headed over to the gazebo they were looking pretty confident and seemed pleased with their handy work.

The height difference between Jane and Chris provided some amusement as they posed together, although Jane was quick to seek revenge by climbing up on the ledge. I think she just wanted to look down on Chris for once! But what goes up must come down, and poor Jane was forced to jump as Chris gathered his prize. As they sun broke through the clouds, we unravelled the veil and I invited them into a bubble of their own making. They were free-styling with a smile, once again doing things naturally in their own sweet way.

Jane and Christopher will be heading to Paris with me later in the summer for an international Trash The Dress. I’ve promised them something a bit different, and will be looking forward to seeing how they work the cameras in the french capital. I feel a bit of innocent, magazine-styled story telling coming on! Many congratulations to you both and thanks for being such great sports!

The dress, shoes and bouquet all got some camera attention before I settled down to watch Angela getting her make-up done. She seemed very relaxed and was enjoying the banter in the room, occasionally cracking jokes and giggling with her bridesmaids. Suitably scrubbed up, I left the girls and headed over to The Vu expecting to be greeted by a familiar gale force wind. But there was no sign of it today, only crisp sunshine and a roasting hot ceremony room. The boys were coping with the heat very well, solving the problem with a cold beer.

We killed time waiting for Dave’s brother to appear and took the rings for a spin outside the Water Lilly. Guests had been arriving in one’s and two’s, but it quickly became a whole lot busier when a coach drew up to let loose the masses. Dave was soon busy greeting everyone in the sparkling sunshine. His brother eventually arrived to complete the foursome, inviting me to gather them together for a few shots together. They were quickly ushered away as news came through that Angela was about to arrive in the bridal car.

Angela and her bridesmaids walked down the aisle one by one, each being watched closely by the boys. With the Rev James Liddle carrying out their ceremony, it wasn’t too long before everyone was grinning from ear to ear in the brightly lit Water Lilly. Dave certainly got into the spirit during the vows, adding the words ‘execptionally’ in front of his beautiful wife line. It went down a storm and stopped the minister in his tracks. The happy couple exchanged rings and kissed as a huge round of applause rang out.

Angela and Dave walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, stopping only to receive a glass of champagne before heading outside into the sunshine for some photographs with the bridal party. The sunlight was far too strong for my taste, but nobody seemed to be complaining as folk mingled about and grabbed shots of the happy couple. The tight timescales had us heading over to the pier for some time alone, leaving their family and friend to be seated for the wedding reception inside.

Two powerful flashguns (capable of lighting up the moon) were my best friend to combat the strong sunlight as they strolled down the pier. They seemed to be enjoying being alone for the first time as husband and wife. It provided some romantic drama before they were ushered away into a private room ahead of being announced to the top table. I followed and was delighted to catch them doing what happy people do in the mirror. The reception room beckoned with it’s brightly lit tables and classic black and white branding.

The speeches provided some great entertainment when topical cards were passed to the bride seeking her opinion. Angela had to pass them up or down the table depending on whether some of Dave’s more peculiar interests were deemed cool or otherwise. Sadly, Angela’s mum Rose had passed away last year and could not be present. Her candle sat at the table, providing a poignant moment as everyone stopped to remember. The best man went on to steal the show with his character assignation which had the crowd laughing out loud.

Straight after the wedding breakfast, we decided to head back out for some extra photographs in the soft evening light. They had the opportunity to recreate some of the practice pics we had tried a few weeks before, this time in much warmer and less windy conditions. The extra confidence of a wedding day was immediately evident as they let their hair down and teased the camera with a lovely sense of romance.

The wedding cake was cut (slaughtered actually!) with a huge sword before Angela and Dave took to the dance floor for their first dance. Family and friends were quick to join in, moving around at speed and giving me a challenge to try keep up. Much of their wedding day had been fast paced and full of adrenaline. With the evenings entertainment in full swing, I spotted Angela and Dave’s cocktails on a table as I left. And next to it was a special candle watching on from a distance. It was still burning brightly.

Ron Marshall joined me to video the preparations, and we immediately joined forces to delay the opening of champagne. At least not until the dress and shoes had enjoyed their big moment. The girls seemed calm, but the sense of anticipation was growing as the sun briefly appeared outside. The sunshine break was surely only temporary, so we invited the girls out onto the pier for a dressing gown shot with their champagne. It was soon time to head over to Dumbarton to meet and greet the boys at the Chapel.

Tom and his best man were inside the chapel greeting guests as their ushers stood outside to offer a welcome. With a bit of gentle persuasion, they all gathered at the main entrance and grinned their way through some shots with the rings. It remained dry as everyone took their seats, prompting me to hover outside clutching the camera. I suspected Orla and the bridal party might arrive fashionably late.

Orla drew up in the bridal car, and grinned straight at the camera as the door opened. She looked utterly beautiful and bounced out the car to join the rest of the bridal party. They quite literally swept into the front entrance as I made my way down the long aisle to pick up a position at the other end. Orla began the walk down the aisle in her fathers arms as the priest suddenly appeared from a side enterance. Tom could not resist looking over his shoulder at the beautiful sight as flashguns fired away like fireworks.

With restrictions curtailing my movement, I spent much of the ceremony watching proceedings and listening to the readings from the sidelines. The happy couple said their vows perfectly before making their way to the alter to sign the register. A nod from the priest signalled it was time for a formal memento, and a clear line of sight of the newly weds. Their candles burned brightly as they kissed for the first time and drew a huge round of applause which echoed around the chapel walls. It clearly went down well with everyone.

By the time we got back to The Cruin, the sun had broken through to reveal a quite spectacular afternoon on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. Everyone looked on in disbelief as we began their formal photographs in the sun, no doubt wondering how lucky the couple were to have such unexpected good fortune. I made hay, battling with shadows and lots of blinking eyes as the sun got to work. But it added a certain sparkle to everything and kept their guests in good spirits as we gathered around for a mass group shot.

The photo-shoot finished with Orla and Tom going for a stroll down the picturesque pier. Folk watched on from the banks above as I tracked their movement with a long lens, occasionally offering instructions. They seemed particularly good at the kissing scene, but who can blame them! The backdrop complimented their look perfectly as the gentle breeze threatened to lift Orla’s veil and provided us with some entertaining outtakes. Speedboats and water based traffic looked with interest on at the memorable sight on the pier.

The reception room at The Cruin was particularly easy to photograph, thanks largely to the natural skylight above and bright sunshine outside. It was a beautiful setting for a gathering and entirely fit for a special day. With time on my side, I took the opportunity of using the late afternoon sunshine for some extra shots of the bridesmaids. Their Abba pose soon had folk laughing and looked quite fantastic in the striking light. It was still light as Orla and Tom kissed in the hallway before making their entrance to begin the evening reception.

The cake seemed to quiver as the huge knife was picked up and put to good use to seal it’s fate.  It was time to eat and enjoy the background entertainment provided by a live musician who encouraged a few impromptu sing songs. With everyone fed and watered, the speeches began with Orla’s father setting the scene and warming the crowd up with some great jokes. By the time the best man stood up it was easy pickings for my long lens as the top table laughed it up. It was tears and laughter in equal measure.

Tom led Orla onto the dance floor to kick off the evening party, soon to be joined by their family and friends. The happy couple looked every bit as fresh as they were at the start of the day, and seemed to be in the mood for more celebration. I was soon forced to shuffle my feet amongst the crowd in a bid to catch all the action without getting hit. The fast pace and bright lights seemed to sum up their wedding day perfectly. I had long since forgotten that it was Easter Monday, but I doubt I will forget such a bonny day like this.