Tarlair Swimming Pool | Open Air Pool in Scotland | Travel Photographer
Tarlair Swimming Pool | Open Air Pool in Scotland | Travel Photographer
I love visiting new places. They don’t need to be the most epic mountains or popular locations in the country, just a place that is new to me. I will always find a way to connect to the atmosphere wherever I find myself, by strolling around the area and taking it all in.
For this trip, my birthday weekend to be exact, we ventured to the north east of Scotland in Aberdeenshire. We stayed in the Aberdeen countryside in a remote hut with a wood-burning hot tub. It was simple and all we needed for a simple and sweet getaway. We stopped at so many abandoned castles, structures and quiet coastlines along the road up north. But one of my favorite places I laid my eyes on was the Tarlair Outdoor Swimming Pool. It was commissioned in 1929 and opened in 1931. Between Tarlair’s Art Deco architecture and the history it has during the war times has made this a Grade A building by Historic Scotland. It’s truly a beautiful sight. Even with all of the buildings and pools clearly unmaintained, there is a bit of happiness that you can still see when imagining all of the times that were had there when it first opened. The designers were so thoughtful with the structure and the location could not be more perfect. It is perfectly placed just below a cliff, right on the beach front. The architects had designed pumps to bring in the ocean water to the multiple layers of pools. The steps into the pool were so thoughtful and well designed. Overall, the Art Deco architecture design had me over the moon.
And as a side note, as there may be others who will visit this beautiful piece of Art Deco architecture in the future, just to remember to be mindful of where you’re walking, because depending on the water and tide, this particular area can be extremely wet and slippery around the pool edges. Locals are there usually walking their dogs and it is a really peaceful place for a mindful stroll, reading a book or taking a few images, but not a place for masses to gather, play loud music or disturb locals in this peaceful little area (as well as any area in The Highlands, truly).
This location was just a dream for me, as someone who loves architecture and the stillness and quietness of a historic, desolate structure. This was such a great place to think. In fact, shortly after Ross and I arrived, we both parted ways to stroll around the area and look at the details of the area, as it felt more like a sacred sanctuary, unlike the usual natural scenery locations in Scotland that we visit. I love visiting places with Ross and love how these road trip experiences bring us closer together with the many memories made. From the music we listen to in the car, to our conversations about how these abandoned structures used to be thriving, to the snacks we choose at local markets, to the crazy weather and random ways we end up spending our evenings (like figuring out how to get the best temperature from a wood-burning hot tub in the rain). We always have so much fun together and make the most of any situation, and I’m so excited to continue to experience new places and making beautiful memories with Ross for the rest of my days. x
Edinburgh Wedding | Ruth + Mark | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Edinburgh Wedding | Ruth + Mark | Scottish Bride | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Scotland Wedding
Edinburgh Weddings are some of my favorite! The architecture in this city is like no other. But truly, my favorite part of this wedding day is that Ruth and Mark are some of our best friends in Scotland and we were honored that they wanted Ross and I to capture their wedding day! Ruth and I actually were introduced by a mutual friend on Instagram telling us to meet at Cairngorm for coffee simply because he “thought we would get along well.” Well, he was completely right, because now she is one of my best friends here in Scotland!
Ruth started her wedding day at The Place Hotel with a morning of drinking mimosas and having a stunning view of the rooftops of Edinburgh. Mark spent his morning with his groomsmen at his home overlooking The Fourth Bridge in South Queensferry. His guys were doing cartwheels in kilts (good thing Ross was there to capture that craziness in person, because of course I couldn’t post all of those) and drinking coffee from The Manna House, their favorite local cafe. Both Ruth and Mark are such laid back individuals and both just wanted relaxing mornings with their best friends. Those are my favorite kind of mornings.
The Place Hotel is right next door to their ceremony location at P’s & G’s Church, so she was able to easily walk down the street and straight down the aisle for her ceremony. Ruth had the entire sanctuary of P’s & G’s transformed into a whimsical space full of nature and the outdoors. I even spent a day walking along the beaches of Scotland collecting sea glass to use as decor with Ruth. If you are looking for endless beautiful sea glass, the shores of the Dalmeny Estate have a lot that get washed up along the shore. In the end, they were able to gather enough blue and green sea glass to hang on all of the branches that they foraged from a local estate. After their ceremony, everyone caravanned down to the cobblestoned waterway of Quay Commons, in Leith, for an afternoon cocktail garden party in the sun! We then strolled through Custom Lane for their bridal portraits. They played a bit a ping pong in front of Williams and Johnson and just relaxed for a while, just the two of them, before greeting a couple hundred of their closest friends and family back at P’s & G’s for a night of Scottish wedding traditions and wedding party!
The guests (just a few, 400ish of them) were all greeted with a custom drink and handmade wedding favours, a bar of soap from the Isle of Skye company, Skye Soap. There were dances, speeches, a live band the whole evening and some solid ceilidh dancing! It was just the perfect evening and there is nothing better than walking away from a wedding and not wanting it to end. I’m so happy to have celebrated this wedding day with Ruth and Mark. With every unique wedding I capture, I’m left with memories that I’ll cherish forever and I couldn’t be more grateful for beautiful wedding days like this one.
Just in case you wanted to see Ross and I in action, these above photos show us in our happy place, dancing alongside everyone while capturing the fun happening all the way until the final dance, which is my favorite one! I truly love my job and celebrating the couples I’m documenting!
The images below are from the day-after shoot! We started at Fortitude Coffee and had flat whites before we headed off to roam the streets of the city where these two fell in love.
Edinburgh Wedding Photographer - Melody Joy Co. | Edinburgh Wedding Venues - Ps & Gs Church (ceremony + reception), Cafe Tartine (starter), Papillion (main) + Quay Commons (dessert) | Edinburgh Celebrant - Rev. Michael Mair | Edinburgh Wedding Videographer - Sandy Butler Videography | Edinburgh Wedding Dress - House of Mooshki (bespoke) at Edinburgh Bridal Boutique - Pretty Woman | Jewellery + accessories - Róis Scottish Sea Glass Designs | Bridesmaid outfits - Coast | Scotland Groomswear and kilts - The Kilt Store, Edinburgh | Edinburgh Wedding Florist - Narcissus | Edinburgh Wedding Band Entertainment - Corra | Edinburgh Bridal Make-up - Alicia Avenzzano | Custom Scottish Wedding Favours - Isle of Skye Soap Co. | Edinburgh Set design - Big House Productions
South Queensferry Elopement | Those Were The Days Bridal | Scotland Elopement Photographer
South Queensferry Elopement | Those Were The Days Bridal | Scotland Elopement Photographer
I can never get enough of brides who wear vintage. Vintage will always hold a special place in my heart, as I love how you use your imagination of the stories that the piece previously experienced. It really is a beautiful thing. This is another example of how beautiful the vintage wedding dresses from Those Were The Days Bridal can be styled for your elopement. If you from or ever get the chance to visit Scotland, you need to make your way over to South Queensferry. They are a beautiful waterfront town with cobblestoned streets, beautiful bridges, quaint cafes and endless historic architecture that is protected by the Scottish Government. Our friends Ruth and Mark live out there, and we are constantly having sleepovers at their home with delicious meals and endless chats into the night. All this to say, we love South Queensferry and would highly recommend it for your elopement or even just a place to visit for a Saturday stroll.
If you do decide to make it out to South Queensferry, definitely check out The Manna House. It’s the cafe we frequent often when we are there. They have excellent honey lattes, delicious pastries and their French Toast platter is definitely an American portion… which I unashamedly love. Ross also enjoys their fresh baked loafs of bread and salads, you know, the healthier options. Also, if you enjoy walking, the Dalmeny estate has beautiful walkways with gorgeous pathways along the coastline, and we’ve definitely enjoyed some beautiful evenings of S’mores with our friends on the sand. It’s truly a lovely area of Scotland to visit!
Vintage Wedding Dresses - Those Were The Days Bridal | Vintage Menswear - Those Were The Days Vintage | Models - Maggie & Ben
If you’d like me to capture your elopement, wedding, brand, or would simply like a mentor session with me,
reach out on my contact page through the link below! I can’t wait to chat with you!
Best Vintage Wedding Dress Shop in Edinburgh | Those Were The Days Bridal | Scotland Elopement Photographer
Vintage Wedding Dress Shop | Those Were The Days Bridal | Scotland Elopement Photographer
There are so many talented wedding dress designers that I love to recommend to brides, because I love the creativity and uniqueness that the gowns give to each individual. With that said, you know what else is unique and custom? VINTAGE. I have always been a huge fan of vintage clothing. In college, going to the huge thrift stores with friends, I would find the best gems of vintage dresses, denim and purses (that I still have to this day!). It’s always the best feeling knowing that you have a one of a kind piece, or at least for all you know, it’s the very last garment in tact of that vintage piece, in that size, potentially in the world! You just never know. It’s exciting when you find a vintage wedding dress that you love, because the sizes do tend to vary based on the decade the designer lived in.
If you are looking for a vintage wedding dress and are eloping or having a wedding in Scotland, you have to visit Those Were the Days Bridal! Those Were the Days Bridal is a vintage boutique that specializes in hand curated vintage wedding dresses from all around the world. Claire is the owner and I’ve been shooting her beautifully selected vintage gowns for the last few years now. We’ve done so many lookbook editorials for her shop, that I’ve first hand seen how much knowledge Claire has about the dresses. She knows the designers, the decades, the materials and how best to take care of the gowns. She uses gloves and has anyone sifting through the gowns wear them, to protect their quality for their final owner. I respect Claire and her passion for vintage so much. She is the most true to herself person I know and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to work with her beautiful self and her vintage shop for all of these years.
If you are eloping to Scotland, and don’t want to transport a dress, definitely book an appointment to visit Those Were the Days Bridal when you arrive in Edinburgh. I’m sure you’ll find something beautiful! She has vintage gowns that are short and sassy, perfect for a courthouse elopement, all the way to boho and flowing gowns, that are perfect for those Scottish elopements in the outdoors of the Highlands. Also, next door, there is Those Were the Days Vintage next door, that has both vintage women’s and menswear! Sometimes a funky, sparkly or colorful party or evening gown may be the coolest wedding dress for those really looking to stand out from the crowds! Either way, you won’t be disappointed by visiting Those Were the Days Bridal and Vintage boutiques!
Enjoy these gorgeous vintage gowns from Those Were the Days Bridal,
on the serene and majestic shores of Scotland.
Vintage Wedding Dresses - Those Were The Days Bridal | Models - Maggie & Ben
If you’d like me to capture your elopement, wedding, brand, or would simply like a mentor session with me,
reach out on my contact page through the link below! I can’t wait to chat with you!
Wedding Dress Designer | Carolyn Baxter | Edinburgh, Scotland
Wedding Dress Designer | Carolyn Baxter | Edinburgh, Scotland | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Since I’ve been here in Edinburgh for half of the year for the last few years, until I start living here full time soon, I am always making new friends in the wedding industry! The reason I love genuinely getting to know individuals in the Scotland wedding world, is because when I know who they are as a person, I can confidently refer them to all of my future Edinburgh or Scotland brides here. You can only see suppliers work online, but when you get to know wedding suppliers in person, you will be able to refer them with more confidence and match them to future brides that share the same passions and personalities as them. For example, I’ve been said to be more soft spoken, quirky and silly in person than anticipated. Many say my personality is different than what they expected from my images (in a good way it seems!) when you know me in person, and I think that it’s so important to meet people face to face and have that personality connection, as well as loving their beautiful work online. So if you can meet local suppliers in your community, then I would highly encourage you to spend time with them, not only for shoots (which is a great way to help each other and create beautiful work for fun!), but grab coffee, keep up with them online, be genuinely invested in their life behind the scenes and not just in repeated comments for others to see.
Carolyn Baxter is a dress designer, based in the heart of Scotland. She not only designs, but hand sews all of her gowns in her Edinburgh studio. Carolyn not only designs wedding dresses, but also bridesmaid dresses and event gowns! Her work amazes me because it’s so custom. I love the creativity and admire the craftsmanship that goes into the process of making all of her own gowns. Each dress has it’s own unique details and gives the person wearing it endless confidence. Carolyn’s gowns are a combination of femininity and elegance, while still having an edge to them. If you’re searching for a place to have a locally designed wedding dress from Scotland for your wedding or elopement, you should definitely reach out to set up an appointment to visit Carolyn’s Baxter’s boutique in Edinburgh.
For this editorial shoot, I captured the “Julianna” and “Glimmer” gowns. We wandered the streets of Edinburgh and the harsh Scottish winds really showed all of the texture and movement of these beautiful dresses very well. These gowns are listed under her Event Dresses page on her website, but this shoot is a prime example of how any dress can be styled for your wedding day. You don’t have to just look in the bridal section for your wedding dress. I’ve even seen brides wear dresses meant for bridesmaids and they looks stunning! There are no rules when looking for your wedding dress, if you like a dress, whether it’s labeled for events, prom, balls or bridesmaids, if you want to wear it as your wedding dress, you do it proudly and I promise no one will even tell it’s purposed intention because the only definition of a wedding dress is the dress you end up wearing on the day you get married to your best friend… and that will always be your wedding dress.
Dress Designer - Carolyn Baxter | Makeup - Roo Bell | Models - Sofia + Alishba |
Edinburgh Wedding Photographer - Melody Joy Co.
Aikwood Tower | Scottish Borders Wedding | Scotland Wedding Photographer
Aikwood Tower Wedding | Scotland Wedding Photographer
Bexx + Ben, I just love these two together. I’m so glad they asked me to shoot their wedding in the Scottish Borders! We first met when they came to Edinburgh for me to capture their engagement session. We spent most our time together after that session at a local pub drinking milkshakes and just truly having the best time chatting! I was already looking forward to their wedding day just because of how fun their personalities were, but I had no idea that all of their friends and family were going to be so lovely as well. And I was not expecting, from what I had seen online, to see the beauty that was Aikwood Tower. Their venue was located in the remote countryside of the Scottish Borders and is a newly restored 16th century tower house. The day was just so full of so many Scottish traditions, her ‘mum’ was the officiant, there were loads of family styled food dishes (all Christmas Dinner themed) catered by The Pantry, and nonstop dancing into the night with a full-on group karaoke of Disco music. I couldn’t have thought of pairing all of these favorite things of mine in one wedding if I tried. The fact that Bexx and I are just so similar just made me adore this day that much more! In the end, this wedding, full of the beauty of Scotland as well as their unique and quirky taste, made this a gem of a wedding, and I’m just so glad I was able to celebrate with these two into the ‘wee’ small hours of the morning!
If you’d like to Inquire about me capturing your wedding day or see if your date is available for 2020 or 2021?
Fill out the form below and I would love to help you create something beautiful together!
Venue - Aikwood Tower | Planner + Florist - Get Knotted | Dress - Rory Andrew | Hair + Makeup - City Brides Edinburgh | Jewelry - Katie Lee’s Fine Jewelry | Cocktail Hour, Reception, Late Night Snacks, Desserts, Tuk Tuk Truck - The Pantry Edinburgh | Cake - Big Bear Bakery | Humanist Celebrant - Sandra Mclaren | DJ - Oliver Melling | Wedding Filmmaker - Shoot It Yourself |
Aikwood Tower is such a beautiful wedding venue in Scotland. Aikwood Tower is a scottish owned and operated historical wedding venue tucked away in the Scottish Borders. The great thing about a Scottish borders wedding venue, is that they will be close enough for your guests to stay the night in larger cities, such as Edinburgh or Glasgow. There are also so many beautiful, quaint little towns nearby Aikwood Tower, such as Selkirk, Melrose and St. Boswells. Aikwood Tower has a rich history as well. With this wedding venue starting out as part of the Scott family clan dating back to 1517. On their website they have a more detailed history, but one of my favorite stories was one that is a tale that Aikwood Tower was used during the Jacobite rebellion as an escape from the government after the Battle of Culloden. And the main reason I’m intrigued by this, is because I just recently started watching Outlander, and the Jacobite Rebellion and the Battle of Culloden are both very essential players in the storyline of this intriguing historical drama series. Either way, this venue has since been restored and has won many architecture awards for how lovely they have restored this historical farm and tower. When you rent this Scottish wedding venue, you are not only renting Aikwood tower for the day, but you will have the entire weekend for lodging of five bedrooms to spend time with your family visiting from out of town. Aikwood Tower is perfect for intimate weddings in Scotland. Not only is Aikwood tower a beautiful wedding venue, but it’s also very historic. A historical wedding venue is one that most couples traveling to Scotland to elope will be looking for. You have lodging on site, you have scottish history all around you, and you have the lovely team at Aikwood Tower to assist you with anything you may possibly need. I absolutely loved working with the Aikwood Tower wedding team. Aikwood tower has not only the beautiful garden surround the wedding venue, but also the scottish charm that you want in a wedding venue when you’re in Scotland. There is something to be said about new and modern wedding venues, but when you are searching for a historic Scotland wedding venue, Aikwood Tower is one of the best wedding venues in Scotland. I already can’t wait to capture another Aikwood Tower wedding! If you are still searching for a romantic and intimate wedding venue in Scoltland, Aikwood Tower is your place. I can’t say enough nice things about Aikwood Tower and the magic of Scotland that you feel when you’re on the grounds.
Dunnottar Castle at Dusk | Raw Love
Dunnottar Castle Wedding | Scotland Wedding Photographer
These two are precious humans, whom I adore.
Their love is raw and their sweet joy can be felt by anyone who is in their presence.
The first time I met these newlyweds was literally in the Highlands of Scotland for a shoot when my friends were visiting from LA, Sheri and Nicole, and invited me to join them for a day trip! My main contribution was to suggest that we go to Dunnottar at dusk because of the cliffside views and the skies tones are some of my favorites in the country. It couldn’t have been a better setting to end a day in Scotland with friends visiting and to witness all of them seeing Dunnottar for the first time, under such beautiful dusk light. I honestly couldn’t have even told you their names before I captured these images of them on this day (I’m also just bad with names, it takes me a while, ha). Matt and Tamar are also a talented husband & wife photo/video duo I came to find out later! But there is something so lovely about simply meeting someone in person first before seeing their online presence or scrolling through their life before meeting them. I really love meeting with people in person, in passing. Face to face will always be the truest form of connection and authenticity, and these two’s love for each other was just that, deep and genuine. It was so apparent from the first day I met their bubbly selves cuddling on the mountainside. I just love their perseverance, their joy, their hope and their sweet and kind spirits. I’m so grateful to have met them in the Highlands on this day and for all of our hangouts since! So cheers to meeting people in person, developing genuine friendships and to couples endlessly in love and pursuing their dreams together!
Are you looking for an epic place to elope in Scotland? The outdoors in the Highlands of Scotland is the best Wedding Venue. Dunnottar Castle is the perfect backdrop for a wedding of elopement in Scotland. Dunnottar Castle is perfectly placed on the coast of Scotland and is perfect for couples traveling into Scotland to have an elopement in the Highlands of Scotland. If you are searching for a beautiful outdoor location for your elopement or wedding day in Scotland, Dunnottar Castle is lovely! I remember the first time I went to Dunnottar Castle. It was just to explore the beautiful Scottish coastline and was on a personal road trip to photograph this beautiful country. Dunnottar Castle stood beautifully in the distance as we pulled into the parking lot and I instantly fell in love with its majestic and stoic stance perfectly settled into the cliffside of the Scottish coast. I always love exploring new places in Scotland and those end up being the backdrop for many sessions in the future. Dunnottar Castle, I instantly knew would be a beautiful and romantic setting in Scotland for an engagement session or couples portrait session. I’ve seen many weddings and elopements captured at Dunnottar Castle and they are all so whimsical and lovely. If you are ever wanting any opinions on places to elope or have a wedding in Scotland, just let me know! I have so many outdoor wedding venue ideas in the highlands of Scotland that I stumbled upon, if you want a unique and remote Scottish wedding day or elopement. All in all, Dunnottar Castle will continue to be a beautiful location for an elopement or engagement, and if you need a photographer for your special day, please feel free to reach out. I would be honored to make something beautiful with you and your loved one in Scotland!
Scotland Elopement | Lamb's Pavilion | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
The Pavilion at Lamb’s House | Leith | Scotland Elopement | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
We were together.
I forget the rest.
-Walt Whitman
The beautiful wedding vendors involved in this day are listed at the bottom and I personally believe they offer some of the best options for eloping in Scotland. I’m also so thankful for Tamar + Matt’s genuine love for each other, that always comes through every time they are captured. If anyone is eloping or getting married in Scotland, I would love to help plan the day if you are unfamiliar with the area. I hope everyone enjoys these images and would like to thank the Lamb’s Pavilion, Narcissus Flowers, and Those were the Days Vintage Bridal for being a part of this simply elegant + naturally textured elopement shoot!
Getting Ready + Lodging The Lamb’s Pavilion | Vintage Wedding Dress Those Were the Days Bridal | Wedding Bouquet + Florals Narcissus | Groom’s Jacket + Vintage Burberry Coat Those Were the Days Vintage | Portrait Locations Private Historic Home + Holyrood Park, Edinburgh | Lovely Couple Tamar + Matt
Eloping in Edinburgh, Scotland is something I always encourage! If you are wanting something more intimate and looking for a beautiful country and city to spend those precious memories together, this is the place! I would love to help you plan your elopement in Edinburgh or anywhere else in Scotland! There is nothing I love more than to make your wedding day all about you both and any recommendations or suggestions that you may need, I’m here for you! I also can refer Edinburgh wedding planners, florists and wedding dress shops and designers. Just know that eloping doesn’t mean you are on your own and need to feel overwhelmed! Even the smallest Scottish elopement deserves all of the attention to detail as a wedding day does! I assume if you are reading this that you are contemplating eloping to Scotland, so again I just have to say, do it! You won’t regret spending the start of your life with your best friend in the stunning countryside of Scotland.
Scotland Elopement | A Highland Wedding
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
( These are the kinds of individuals, artists, brides and humans I want to work with, and just live life with. )
You can't beat pure joy, even when it's so cold out!
I can't get enough of shooting the unique details of a wedding day.
If you’d like to Inquire about me capturing your wedding day or see if your date is available for 2020 or 2021?
Fill out the form below and I would love to help you create something beautiful together!
Location // It's a secret says the building owner, but I'll give you a hint...it's in Arrochar.
Planner + Stylist Fin Flükra (Catrina Duthie) // Website Facebook Instagram Pinterest
Wedding Photography Melody Joy Co. // Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
Floristry Posies & Pots // Website Facebook Twitter Instagram
Headpieces + Jewellery Susan Dick Jewellery // Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
Hair + Makeup Bonnie Brides // Facebook Instagram
Model // Natalie Leask
Featured on - Mrs. P & P Wedding Blog
If you are looking for an elopement photographer in Scotland, I would absolutely love to capture your love in the Scottish Highlands! I have traveled all over Scotland, and not only have shot real weddings, but have done so many trips to explore the land for leisure as well as to scout for future brides who are flying into Scotland. It’s so fun to do styled shoots in new areas of Scotland because you get to find the best areas and scout for unique landscapes that haven’t been shot before by other photographers. It’s so nice to try and find different places for every bride that is traveling to Scotland. The main Scottish landscapes are of course excellent venues to elope, but I really love finding places to elope in Scotland that are more off the beaten path and less traveled to. I just really love going on hikes in Scotland. Just being in the fresh air, experiencing new places and being so far away from the rest of the population is one of my favorite places to be. Capturing weddings started as a way to document people in love and I’ve thankfully with the help of trusting couples, have made a create a career out of it, but now I have started the nature aspect of it just as much. There is something about photographing a couple and their raw love amongst the elements of the mountains and sea coastlines, that truly makes their wedding photos have a raw and authentic feel to them. Scottish elopements are such a beautiful thing to capture, and if you choose to elope somewhere with your best friend, I would love suggest traveling to Scotland and finding an elopement photographer to document your love. And if you need any suggestions for places to elope in Scotland, please reach out and ask! I love to help couples plan their elopement anywhere, but especially in all of the beauty that is the Scottish Highlands.