Temple of Minerva bath Wedding Ceremony | Francis Gallery | Bath Elopement Photographer | Bath Wedding Photography
Temple of Minerva bath Wedding Ceremony | Francis Gallery | Bath Elopement Photographer | Bath Wedding Photography
Sarah and Chris had the loveliest intimate wedding ceremony at the temple of Minerva and Botanic Gardens in the lovely city of Bath, England. They were surrounded by only their immediate families and loved ones, as they were planning to have a larger wedding party later in the year.
The Bath & North East Somerset Registration Service is such a helpful team of individuals that are happy to help you with not only your official paperwork for marriage and civil partnerships, but will also help you find the best wedding venue in Bath for your small or large wedding day. There are so many lovely historic and Unesco world heritage spaces to have your wedding ceremony all over the city of bath, and thankfully there is a website and team that can help you find the best place for your wedding day.
The Temple of Minerva wedding venue is a Roman-style temple in the heart of the bath botanical gardens. There are endless places for your wedding party to take photos throughout the garden, as well as have welcome or after drinks served before or after your wedding ceremony. Parking is fairly easy to find, but it’s also so central that you can easily walk there for a nice stroll or take a very short taxi to arrive to the bath botanical gardens from any hotel or lodging in the city center.
The bath registration office was so easy to work with as they officiated and took care of all of the legal paperwork for Sarah and Chris’ wedding day at The Temple of Minerva. The venue itself can host up to 35 people inside, which is what sarah and chris did for their wedding ceremony, or you can host up to 70 people for your seated wedding ceremony if you have the chairs just outside of the Temple of Minerva historic building, while your guests are surrounded by the bath botanical garden.
”The `temple of Minerva is a beautiful historic wedding
venue in the Bath botanical gardens.”
Photographing an Elopement day in Bath is honestly so lovely, as every single street we walked down to take wedding photos there was some sort of beautiful historic significance. We strolled by the historic Bath Assembly Rooms, which is now a part of the national trust and have local exhibitions as well. We then strolled in the rain under umbrellas, which is always a romantic situation on a wedding day and some even say it’s “good Luck”, and walked all of the way to Hay Hill street in bath, which is home to the historic Hay Hill Dairy. The cobble stoned street is so lovely for wedding photography or any couple portraits in the center of bath.
Finally, we strolled by the iconic Francis Gallery. this excerpt from their website describes the heart of the museum beautifully, “Francis presents exhibitions that span multiple media and genres, with a special interest in process, materiality, and Korean arts and crafts, drawing on founder and gallery director Rosa Park’s heritage. Alongside its programme, the gallery hosts workshops and events for the local community, from children’s drawing classes and artists talks, to tea ceremonies and book launches. Francis's mission is to create an inviting cultural space, and deliver a programme that engages both a specialist audience and a wider, new public.”
If you ever visit Bath, The Francis Gallery is definitely worth a visit, and they also have another gallery in Los angeles, California as well. All in all, if you’re still up in the air whether to have your wedding day or elopement day in the city of Bath, England,
“A wedding day at the Temple of Minerva in bath, ENgland Is so lovely for wedding photos.”
Wedding Ceremony - The Temple of Minerva and Botanic Gardens | Legal Documents - marriage and Civil Partnerships in Bath | Historic Bath Wedding Venue - UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath | Art Gallery in Bath - Francis Gallery | Bath Wedding Photographer - Melody Joy Co. | Social Media for Bath Weddings - Weddings in Bath
Royal College of Physicians Wedding in Edinburgh | Edinburgh wedding Photographer
The Royal College of Physicians wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland | Jessica & Lewis | St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral | Edinburgh
wedding Photographer
Jessica and Lewis chose to have their wedding day in their lovely hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland at the royal college of Physicians, A historic wedding venue located in the heart of Edinburgh on Queen Street. Lewis got ready ready in his childhood home with his best friends and they ended up walking to a local pub for pints just before heading to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church to start greeting everyone for the wedding ceremony. Jessica started her day by getting ready in the main bridal suite of the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel with all of her best friends and family members. the talented Rae Mathieson did an amazing job on Jessica’s makeup and MElanie Herriot did a beautiful job on her long wavy hairstyle.
A vintage car drove Jessica and her dad over to ST. Mary’s Episcopal Church in the west end, for their beautiful wedding ceremony. Then after the vows, the edinburgh string ensemble playing, then being led out of the ceremony by a bagpiper, they had a long sparkler exit all of the way back to their blue vintage car and drove over to The ROyal College of Physicians of Edinburgh for their cocktail hour and wedding reception. The cullen suite is where they had their portraits taken and the late night buffet desert table and the new library was where the guests congregated for drinks during the cocktail hour and room change before and after the dinner in the great hall. All of the rooms were such lovely and unique spaces for the guests to wakl around and mingle.
One of my favorite parts of the wedding day was during the cocktail hour in The New Library room of The Royal College of physicians, because they had a brass band, called Top tier Brass, playing covers of a lot of dance songs from the second level of the library while everyone below with their drinks created a dance floor as soon as the tunes started. It was such a great atmosphere for everyone and it was one of those weddings where everyone danced and was in high spirits the entire evening. they switched up the music again for the main dance floor in the great hall, where they had jonny ross music dj’ing and had two guys on a saxophone and bongos walking around and working the crowd. IT was such a fun evening full of limbos, laughter and learning on the dance floor about guests going “true scotsman in a kilt.” look it up, if you don’t know what that means.
It was also my first time working with Ollie & Ivy on a wedding day, and they did such a beautiful job with the floral arrangements, from the wedding bouquet, to the ceremony, to the floral installations to the dinner table centerpieces. Overall, I would easily recommend them again as a wedding florist in Edinburgh.
In the end, this was such a beautiful wedding day in the center of edinburgh. ALso, Jessica did such an amazing job planning this entire wedding day by herself. Honestly, I’m sure the staff at the royal college of physicians helped a lot, but I was so impressed at Jessica’s eye for detail, understanding of timelines and overall taste and style for the vendors she selected and the vision she had. All in all, this was another lovely wedding day at the royal college of physicians in edinburgh and it’s a bit of “win, win” that I live within walking distance of this wedding venue and could just stroll a few blocks home at the end of the night. x
bridal suite in Edinburgh - Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel // Edinburgh Wedding Florist - Ollie & Ivy // Scotland Make-up Artist - Rae Mathieson // Edinburgh Hair Stylist - Melanie Herriot (MHM Styling) // Wedding Dress - Stella McCartney from Net a Porter and HOM Bridal for alterations and bespoke cape // Groom jacket and waistcoat - 21st Century Kilt // rental jackets for ushers - McCalls Edinburgh Kilt Hire // Bride + Groom Rings - Cara Jewellers, Dubai // Ceremony + Reception Venue - St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral // Edinburgh Wedding Venue - Royal College of Physicians The New Library // Cocktail Hour + Reception Caterer (Including desserts!) - Saltire Hospitality // Ceremony/Reception edinburgh music - Edinburgh String Ensemble - Top Tier Brass - Jonny Ross Music (DJ, Sax and Bongos) // Wedding Filmmaker - Simon Hird // Wedding car supplier - Edinburgh Classic Wedding Cars
“The Royal College of Physicians is one of the loveliest and historic library wedding venues in Edinburgh, Scotland.”
Villa Piaggia Wedding in Montaione, Italy | A Luxury Villa Wedding in Tuscany | Destination Italian Wedding Photographer
Villa Piaggia Wedding in Montaione, Italy | A Luxury Villa Wedding in Tuscany | Alex + Jacob | Intimate Tuscan Italian Wedding Venue | Destination Italian Wedding Photographer
Alex and Jacob traveled with their families from chicago all of the way to the tuscany countryside of Italy to have their wedding ceremony at the stunning Villa Piaggia. Villa PIaggia is located in the center of tuscan wine country and not only do they have their own olive vineyard but they have a beautiful historic villa that can comfortably sleep up to seventeen of your closest friends and family members.
My husband and I were also so kindly invited to stay at the villa for a few days with everyone and it was honestly such a beautiful time getting to know their family and spending time at their gorgeous wedding venue. Alex got ready with her sister and mom, after everyone had their breakfast in various areas around the villa PIaggia Garden. Ross and I were even able to enjoy some pool time wtih everyone the morning of their wedding day. It really could not have been a more relaxed and lovely setting and really set the mood for a serene and romantic italian wedding day.
Alex’s wedding dress was by Jenny Yoo, who honestly just does the loveliest cuts of a satin slip dress and really elevates them. Her shoes were also another favorite of mine, purple heels by sam edelman. Her earrings were also from one of the best jewelry designers, A.B. Ellie. A local florist, Exo-Usia Events, designed a beautiful and minimal floral arrangement for both the ceremony and outdoor dinner table scape. The ceremony was in the front garden of the villa with the tuscan vineyards in the backdrop of alex and jacob saying I do.
After the ceremony, we strolled through the villa piaggia property for their wedding portraits. villa piaggia has a beautiful orchard of olive trees that we were able to walk to and then they had their original farm buildings that truly were lovely pieces of history and a stunning flower garden in front of the property. After taking couple portraits around the villa we strolled back to where their loved ones were, which was drinking cocktails by the pooL. The poolside cocktail hour was filled with everyone enjoying the sunset and everyone watching them have their first dance by the reflection of the water.
Villa Piaggia has a private chef, Alessio Bagnoli, who really made the evening special for everyone. His courses were another level. He used local ingredients and made everything from scratch, right from the lovely kitchen in Villa Piaggia. The entire staff at the villa were lovely as well. truly the whole experience, from the perspective of both a guest and the photographer, really could not have been a more seamless and lovely wedding day at villa piaggia. I can’t recommend this villa in tuscany enough for anyone who wants a wedding day in the italian countryside.
Tuscan Villa Wedding // @villapiaggia Wedding Dress // @jennyyoonyc Wedding Shoes // @sam_edelman Earrings // @a.b.ellie Fragrance // @maisonmargiela Veil // @etsy Florist // @exo_usia_events Tux // @suitsupply Live Music // @florencestringquartet Bride’s Engagement Ring + Groom Wedding Band // @annasheffield Bride Wedding Band // @lindsaylewis.fine Villa’s Private Chef // @alessiobagnolichefdianella
“Villa Piaggia is truly a romantic Tuscany Wedding venue in montaione, Italy, surrounded
by vineyards in the italian countryside.”
Cheval the Edinburgh Grand Wedding | The Directors’ Suite Edinburgh | The Register Club | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
An intimate wedding at Cheval the Edinburgh Grand Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland | Amy & Marc | The Directors’ Suite Apartment in Edinburgh | The Register Club | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Amy and Marc flew all of the way from Melbourne, Australia to be married in Edinburgh, Scotland. They decided to have Cheval The Edinburgh Grand be their intimate and stylish wedding venue. Cheval the Edinburgh Grand is a design led hotel located in the heart of Edinburgh on Saint Andrew Square. Amy had the loveliest apartment of the hotel, the directors suite, for her morning of getting ready with her sister and best friend. Amy’s wedding dress was The beautiful Salacea gown from chosen by Kyha, an australian bridal studio that balances between fashion and bridal. Amy’s gown was satin, had a corset as well as removable sleeves. I always love when a bride is excited about her outfit, and Amy could not have been more excited. Her gown also allowed a little room for her baby, as she was a few months pregnant on her wedding day. and with that in mind, it was so sweet to capture a bit of maternity photos throughout her wedding day. Also, The lovely Kirsty MacPherson-Blyth also was the lovely hair and makeup artist for Amy’s look for both the wedding day and the following evenings drinks reception.
Amy and marc had a first look just outside of the main entrance of cheval the Edinburgh Grand and then we strolled in the rain over to the Scottish national portrait gallery over on queen street. after spending some time around the art in the museum, we headed back outside for more couple portraits around saint andrew square after the rain stopped before heading back inside for their ceremony to begin. They had reserved the entire Director’s suite Apartment in the cheval at edinburgh grand for their wedding ceremony. IT was so intimate, with only around twenty of their closest family members and friends as thier witnesses. The director’s suite was fully decorated with floral arrangements by The Stockbridge Flower Company. after the ceremony there were cocktails in the rotunda for all of the guests before being seated for a formal dinner reception at one long table in a private dining room by the register club.
After speeches, a beautiful meal and surprise video calls from their australian friends from overseas, the next evening even more guests were invited to celebrate a drinks reception at the register club on the fourth floor of cheval the edinburgh grand. a lot of guests were from australia, and it was so lovely to hear them talk about what they had planned for the next week in and around scotland. I love when I hear other foreigners, like myself, remind me of all of the uniqueness and beauty of this lovely and historic part of the world. Overall, this wedding day was such a sweet and intimate celebration of love in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, Scotland.
“Cheval The Edinburgh Grand is one of the best hotels in Edinburgh to have an intimate wedding day with your closest loved ones.”
Elmore Court Wedding | Gloucestershire wedding venue | Cotswolds Wedding Venue | Clio Peppiatt Wedding Dress | Estela + Aidan
Elmore Court Wedding | Gloucestershire wedding venue | COTSWOLDS WEDDING VENUE | Country House wedding Venue | Clio Peppiatt | Estela + Aidan | Melody Joy Co.
Estela and Aidan had the most beautiful wedding day in the english countryside at Elmore COurt. amidst the picturesque landscapes of Gloucestershire, Elmore Court set the stage for a celebration that transcended beauty and romance. Estela and Adian’s union was nothing short of a fairytale, adorned with bespoke details and surrounded by the warmth of loved ones. From the delicate blooms to the heartfelt melodies that filled the air, every element spoke of a love story woven in perfection. The stunning countryside estate of Elmore Court provided a beautiful backdrop for Estela and Adian's vows. Its timeless charm and breathtaking views offered an idyllic setting for their union. The melding of history and modern elegance created an ambiance that resonated with the couple’s love story, making it an unforgettable location for their special day.
Flavia Studio, the creative artists behind the floral arrangements, crafted an ethereal red and deep toned garden within Elmore Court. Their artistry with flowers turned the venue into a blooming haven, weaving in colors and scents that mirrored the couple's personalities – sassy, edgy, yet endlessly beautiful.
Estela graced the occasion by wearing a designer masterpiece from head to toe, in Clio Peppiatt – with a bespoke corset, skirt, veil, and bag that encapsulated her grace and individuality. Each stitch whispered elegance, telling a story of timeless beauty that perfectly complemented the love radiating from the bride. The bride’s natural beauty was amplified by Jay Doan Hair and Molly Jane Makeup, who brought out her beauty in an edgy way. Their artistry enhanced Estela's features, reflecting the joy and love she felt on this stunning wedding day. Estela’s shoes by Mach and Mach were also more than mere accessories; they were an embodiment of elegance and sophistication, reflecting her impeccable taste and style. Literally, her whole look was straight out of a magazine, and just shows the taste that Estela has. seriously obsessed with everything about her wedding day outfit(s).
As Estela glided down the aisle to a piano solo of the black parade by my chemical romance, the enchanting notes played by Piano Cole accompanied her, adding an extra layer of emotion and tenderness to the air. The melodies created an unforgettable soundtrack to their love story, touching every heart present. And for sure, mine, as I literally play that song on the way to every wedding.
The wedding and engagement rings, crafted by DG Bespoke Jewellery, and the groom’s rings and bride’s necklace from The Great Frog London, symbolized the eternal bond shared by Estela and Adian, encapsulating their commitment and love in shimmering beauty. Also, guess who else gets their rings from The Great Frog in London? Yes, ozzy osborne. So random yet so cool. From the wedding fan by Dior to the custom nail art by Wild Child x Nails, every detail was meticulously chosen, adding an extra layer of refinement and personal touch to the celebrations.
after the cocktail hour in the garden of Elmore Court, the guests were escorted inside for a multi course meal accompanied by The Oxford Wine Company, that provided the finest wines, adding a touch of sophistication to the celebrations. Their selection elevated toasts and shared moments, creating an atmosphere of refined jubilation. After the dancing, everyone was able to hang out by the bar and bonfire, while other the Guests had the time of their lives at the Silver Trailer Photobooth, capturing candid memories that will forever be cherished. Laughter echoed through the vintage-inspired booth, leaving behind snapshots of love and wild amounts of fun. The couple was able to use the groom’s vintage car, adding a touch of nostalgia and a personal touch of home to their wedding day. Aidan is literally building Estela a house right now, so of course, he also has a vintage car to take care of as well. I love it.
Estela and Adian's wedding at Elmore Court was a beautiful and edgy celebration that truly highlighted their love and individuality. It was a day filled with heartfelt moments, surrounded by the beauty of the english countryside and cherished by everyone present. Cheers to estela and aidan’s everlasting happiness and love forever! x
“ELmore Court is a stunning estate that can be adapted to any style of bride. Estela definitely brought her london edge to this historic wedding venue in the english countryside.”
Venue - elmore court // Florist - flavia studio // Wedding Dress Corset, Skirt, Veil, Bag (Corset & Bag were bespoke) - clio peppiatt // Pianist - piano cole // Hair - jay doan hair // MUA - molly jane makeup // Photobooth - silver trailer photobooth // Wine - the oxford wine company // Shoes - mach and mach // Wedding & Engagement Rings - dg bespoke jewellery // Groom's Rings/Brides' Necklace - the great frog london // WEDDING Fan - dior // Custom Nail art - wild child x nails // Groom's Suit - giorgio armani // Groom's Shoes - toga archives // Car - groom's own vintage car
An Intimate Wedding at Dunskey Estate in Portpatrick, Scotland | Scottish Castle Wedding venue
aN INTIMATE WEDDING DAY AT Dunskey Estate in Portpatrick, Scotland | SCOTTISH CASTLE WEDDING WEDDING VENUE
Laura and Blake flew all of the way to Dunskey Estate from america to say i do in this beautiful scottish castle. Dunskey Estate is located in the south west of Scotland, in a little remote village called Portpatrick. dunskey has 25 bedrooms for all of the wedding guests to stay on the property if you’re having an intimate wedding day, which laura and blake had for their wedding weekend.
The morning of the wedding day, everyone woke up at Dunskey estate together and were able to enjoy breakfast, a stroll and a relaxing morning before everyone started getting ready. Whenever I photograph wedding details, like the florals, heels or clutch, I try to find lovely light or textures to represent the venue, and of course, there were endless options all around the estate. From antique wallpaper, furniture and fabrics, it made for such a beautiful backdrop for all of the details. The castle also has a lot of lovely artwork and large windows for naturally lit portraits of the couple.
The estate property has lots of outdoor and indoor places for a wedding ceremony, from cliffs, to the gardens in front of the estate. Laura and Blake chose a beautiful intimate space within dunskey estate’s many room’s, called The drawing room, that had ornate pillars and a custom floral installation in front of a grand fireplace for their wedding ceremony. they had a harpist playing them in and out of the ceremony and the sweetest little flower boy dressed in a kid’s kilt. children in kilts are always the cutest, as it’s such a sweet tradition to have all of the guests chose to fully commit to the scottish wedding experience.
After the wedding ceremony, we roamed aroung the property. We drove to the front entrance gates of Dunskey, then strolled through back garden, went inside the back door by the ivy wall, and headed to the east wing upstairs loft, to take bridal portraits and couple portraits before they joined their guests on the front lawn of the castle for some croquet and champagne. while the couple enjoyed their guests and relaxed before everyone was seated, I went into the Great hall to capture all of the beautiful floral arrangements and decor on the long tables for their reception. all of the florals were done by the castle and they are truly so beautifully done.
after all of the wedding guests came into the castle from the cocktail hour on the front lawn, every was led into the stunning great hall for their formal intimate wedding dinner in the castle. The Great Hall has a stunning stone fireplace, historic wooden paneling, vaulted ceilings, with tons of artwork and antlers decorating the walls. The dinner was immaculate, and all of the courses were done by Dunskey Estate’s incredibly talented chef, david alexander. The entire team at dunskey estate are honestly all gems, and since they can do everything in house, they all know each other and know how to flow together to make everyone’s stay and experience the very best. I can’t say enough about how lovely their staff was. All in all, I would highly recommend anyone wanting to get married in a scottish castle by the sea, to get married at the beautiful Dunskey Estate in scotland.
“Dunskey Estate is truly a stunning scottish castle, located in the
scenic area of Portpatrick, Scotland. It is the perfect
scotland castle wedding venue to get married in.”
if you would like me to photograph your wedding day in scotland, please reach out to me about your wedding day on my contact form here.
Gleneagles Townhouse Hotel Wedding | Edinburgh City Chambers | The Spence | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
An Intimate Wedding Reception at the Gleneagles Townhouse in edinburgh, Scotland | Laura & Francis | Edinburgh City Chambers Ceremony | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Laura and Francis were married in the beautiful and romantic city of Edinburgh, Scotland. They started their wedding day with a lovely wedding ceremony at Edinburgh City Chambers and ended it with an intimate wedding reception at The Spence in The Gleneagles Townhouse.
They were married in one of my favorite rooms, The European Room, which is located a few floors up in the City Chambers building. It is only available for ceremonies on the weekends, as it is a room used for Edinburgh City Chambers meetings during the week.
Francis arrived early to stand at the front and see Laura for the first time as she walked down the aisle in her stunning wedding dress. The ceremony was a beautiful one and afterwards we took a few portraits by the large windows that naturally lit them both before we headed downstairs to the Edinburgh City Chambers front courtyard entrance, where all of their family members and closest friends were waiting to greet and celebrate them!
After Laura and Francis hugged their loved ones we strolled around Edinburgh together while I captured their wedding portraits. I really enjoy capturing candids from a distance, so that they can chat to each other for a bit with some privacy and just hold hands and stroll together as husband and wife. We strolled from The Royal Mile all of the way to The Gleneagles Townhouse Hotel, where the last half of their wedding day took place.
Once we arrived at The Gleneagles Townhouse, we went straight upstairs to the members only lamplighters rooftop bar and then to the downstairs bar at The Spence for Laura and Francis to have their first drinks together as husband and wife. Slowly guests started making their way to The Spence bar to enjoy a few drinks before being seated in the private garden room for speeches, a cake cutting and a lovely multiple course dinner from The Spence Restaurant. Honestly, if you're still looking for a place to host your intimate wedding, reaching out to local restaurants is always a good place to start. In this case, The Gleneagles Townhouse was the perfect venue for Laura and Francis' intimate wedding reception with their loved ones in the heart of Edinburgh.
“The Spence at The Gleneagles Townhouse is one of the loveliest settings for an intimate private dinner reception with your loved ones.”
Hauser & Wirth Somerset Wedding | A Modern Garden Ceremony and Design Led Reception in an Art Museum Courtyard
Hauser & Wirth Somerset Wedding | A Modern Garden Ceremony and Design Led Reception in an art museum courtyard in the south of england
Sarah and Chris had the most beautifully designed and modernist wedding day. Their ceremony was held in the Garden, designed by Laplace, on the grounds of the Hauser and Wirth Museum in Somerset, England. The Garden does not only have award winning landscape designer as it's creator, Piet Oudolf, but in the backdrop of the ceremony was the lovely Radić Pavilion. Radić Pavilion is a modern piece of architecture designed by Smiljan Radić. It reminds me of something from another planet, in the best possible way, like a designer spaceship.
Sarah and Chris both got ready with their closest friends and had their guests stay at "At The Chapel" hotel nearby in the quaint town of Bruton. It was the perfect hotel as it is one of the most modern, renovated and historic hotels nearby. It was also close enough for all of the guests to walk back at the end of a beautiful evening of celebrating.
After the Ceremony, we strolled around the garden while I gave them time to chat amongst themselves while I captured bridal portraits of them. Even if I direct a few of the portraits, most of the formal "bridal portrait" session time I try to shoot from a distance to let the couple talk amongst themselves and walk hand in hand while living in those exciting first few moments together as husband and wife. We were able to take photos with the lovely Smiljan Radić in the background, as well as a few inside the beautifully designed pavilion as well.
I never like the portraits to take too long, as I am all for each couple getting back to their friends and family for drinks during their cocktail hour. So we headed back to the part of the garden where the guests were drinking and mingling, so Sarah and Chris could hug everyone and catch up with everyone before being seated in the main dinner reception area.
This was one of the sunniest days I've had the pleasure of photographing for an English wedding, and I have to say, I loved the color images. I am known to have a bit of moodiness overall in my work, but I loved capturing the brightness of this vibrant wedding day. The crisp blue sky and the stunning landscape of a lush shade of green, really captures the essence of the carefree happiness and joy that filled this wedding day.
For the dinner, the guests were escorted to another lovely area of the Hauser and Wirth Museum, where the Roth Restaurant courtyard sits. The tables were in long rows and beautifully decorated with uniquely designed floral arrangements from Forest and The Flowers. Roth restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide and they serve a local and seasonal menu in a relaxed setting.
The evening was full of speeches, laughter, dinner beneath sunny to sunset skies and then dancing the night away with their loved ones. I couldn't be more grateful for another beautiful wedding day in the beautiful English countryside, especially for such a kind, joyous and sweet couple. x
Wedding Venue // Hauser and Wirth Museum Somerset @hauserwirth - Ceremony // @hauserwirthsomerset - Landscape Designer // @pietoudolf - Radić Pavilion // Smiljan Radić - Wedding Dress designer // Bon Bride @bonbride - Florist // forest and the flowers @forestandtheflowers - Catering // Roth restarurant @rothbarandgrill - Roth Architectural Designer // Laplace
BRITISH VOGUE MAGAZINE FEATURE
Melody Joy Co. was featured in print three times in British Vogue Magazine in the Summer of 2022.
Melody Joy was asked to feature her wedding Photography in three ad’s for “Vogue Unveiled”, “Married in Vogue”, and “vogue says I do”, a selection of wedding suppliers that are all curated and shown in one place for bride’s who come across this page while wedding planning, for weddings in British vogue Magazine in print for june, july and august in the summer of 2022.
A West Loop Wedding at Nobu Hotel and Swift & Sons | Yuliya and Matt | Chicago Wedding Photographer
A West Loop Wedding at Nobu Hotel and Swift & Sons | Yuliya and Matt | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
Yuliya and Matt spent the morning of their wedding day getting ready at Nobu Hotel with all of their closest loved ones. They both had matching corner room suites that overlooking the Chicago city skyline. Yuliya wore a dress that was customized by Ellen Veli Atelier and a pair of stunning Manolo Blahnik heels. They both had a cheers with their families separately and then Yuliya had a moment alone with her father for a first look. After the embracing and a sweet quiet moment with her dad, Yuliya waited for Matt to come down to her suite for their first look together. When he came around the corner, his face was in awe of the beauty that is Yuliya in her stunning bridal look. After everyone gathered their things we all headed down to the lobby of the Nobu Hotel where a stretch hummer limo was waiting for all of the family members to ride together to the ceremony.
The ceremony took place in the center of downtown Chicago on the Chicago River. There is a Chicago river walk that runs all along the river and the has so many lovely view points with the skyscrapers, trains and bridges in the backdrop. Yuliya and Matt chose a beautiful location that incorporated all of those things behind them while they said their vows to each other and said “I Do” to spending the rest of their life together as husband and wife. It really was such a picturesque backdrop of the city that they met and fell in love in all around them. Everyone then took family photos on the river and then in front of The Wrigley Building with the river behind them.
After the ceremony and family photos, the limo dropped us off over to Chicago-Kent College of Law, to take photos where Yuliya and Matt met and went to Law School together, while it took the rest of the guests over to Swift and Sons for their intimate dinner wedding reception in Fulton Market. Yuliya and Matt went all over Chicago-Kent College of Law to take couples portraits in all of the areas where they spent time together. They even took photos in the exact elevator where they literally saw each other for the first time, which I thought was the sweetest thing. There is also a library area where they picked up books related to their law studies, and they even switched books based on the topics. Honestly, I couldn’t get enough of these two and their movie romance love story from their time in University. It was so endearing seeing them light up about memories within the campus.
After we finished with couples portraits we headed over to Nobu Hotel, where their family and friends were waiting for them and we all rode over to Swift and Sons in Fulton Market together. They had a private room and bar area rented out in Swift and Sons and their guests were able to enjoy canapés, drinks and a beautiful slideshow of film photos of them growing up as children until now. It was really sweet to watch their parents faces light up with joy at seeing how these two have grown into such the beautiful and loving pair that they are now. It was a truly beautiful and intimate wedding day in downtown Chicago and I’m so honored that they asked me document these sweet memories for them to remember forever. x
Wedding Hotel - Nobu Hotel Chicago | Wedding Reception - Swift and Sons Fulton Market | Wedding Shoes - Manolo Blahnik | Wedding Dress - Ellen Veli Atelier | Groom Tux - Ted Baker | Wedding Ceremony - Chicago River Walk | Chicago Wedding Portraits - Chicago-Kent College of Law | Destination Wedding Photographer - Melody Joy Co.
Edinburgh City Chambers Wedding | Edinburgh, Scotland Elopement Photographer | Virgin Hotels Edinburgh Cocktail Hour | Bonham Hotel Wedding Reception | Duygu + Chris
Edinburgh City Chambers Wedding | Edinburgh, Scotland ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | Virgin Hotels Edinburgh Cocktail Hour | Bonham Hotel Wedding Reception
Edinburgh City Chambers weddings are some of my favorite weddings to photograph in Edinburgh, Scotland. Nestled in the heart of historic Edinburgh lies a gem of elegance and heritage: the Edinburgh City Chambers. This enchanting venue provided the perfect backdrop for duygu and chris’ intimate wedding ceremony that seamlessly blended tradition with modern flair. The couple exchanged vows amidst the grandeur of this historic building, surrounded by close family and friends. The picturesque setting lent itself beautifully to capturing timeless portraits. After taking all of the family wedding photos in the courtyard of Edinburgh city chambers, we headed over to Calton Hill and the iconic Royal Mile serving as stunning historic backdrops for couple portraits to create memories frozen in time.
Following the heartfelt ceremony at Edinburgh City Chambers, the celebration continued at the stylish and modern commons club at the Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh, where a delightful cocktail hour awaited the guests. The lively atmosphere and chic ambiance set the stage for laughter and heartfelt conversations, creating unforgettable memories. But the excitement didn't stop there—the couple surprised their guests with a whimsical twist by arranging a double-decker bus ride to the Bonham Hotel. As they traveled through the streets of Edinburgh, an acoustic guitarist serenaded the group, setting the mood for an evening of enchantment.
Arriving at the Bonham Hotel, all of duygu and chris’ wedding guests were greeted with the melodic tunes of the guitarist continuing over drinks. The intimate gathering exuded an aura of warmth and closeness as guests mingled and shared stories. The night crescendoed into a formal dinner reception, where the couple, alongside their loved ones, had a beautiful multi course dinner around one large table with their loved ones. The ambiance was elevated by the elegant setting and the heartfelt speeches that echoed through the halls, celebrating the union of two souls amidst the beauty of Edinburgh's rich cultural tapestry.
This unforgettable celebration wove together the timeless charm of Edinburgh's landmarks with the couple's unique vision, creating an intimate wedding experience that will forever linger in the hearts of all who attended. From the historic City Chambers to the scenic Calton Hill and the lively streets of the Royal Mile, every moment was a testament to love, heritage, and the magic of creating cherished memories in a city steeped in history and romance.
Wedding Ceremony - Edinburgh City Chambers European room // Wedding Cocktail Hour - Virgin Hotels Edinburgh // Wedding Reception - Bonham Hotel // Wedding Portraits - The Royal Mile and Calton Hill
the Edinburgh City Chambers European Room on The Royal Mile is a dreamy spot for couples to tie the knot. It's like stepping into a fairy tale—beautiful ceilings, fancy lights, and old-style buildings make it feel like you’re a part of history.
Getting married here isn't just about the ceremony. It's about being part of something bigger. The room has seen so much history, and now it gets to be a part of a new love story. The Royal Mile's streets add to the magic. They're charming and make the whole day feel special. Saying "I do" here means connecting your love story to Edinburgh's past—it's pretty SWEET.
After the vows, the newlyweds are surrounded by a place that's seen a ton of stories. It's a reminder that their love is now a part of something really timeless and awesome. Basically, getting married in a historic wedding venue like the European Room in city Chambers isn't just romantic—it's like adding your love story to an endless list of other amazing stories from the past.
After a beautiful ceremony at the Edinburgh City Chambers, this wedding couple went for a super cool move. They chose the Virgin Hotels in the old town on Victoria Street for their guests' hangout—the Commons Club bar—for a post-ceremony cocktail hour. Now, this place isn't just any bar. It's like stepping into a trendy spot with a vibe that screams fun and chic. The couple decided to treat their guests to something special, turning the usual after-ceremony gathering into an unforgettable experience.
The Commons Club is like a hidden gem in the heart of Edinburgh's old town. It's not just a bar; it's a place filled with Solid drinks, clinking glasses, and good times. The atmosphere is electric, with its cool décor and cozy corners—it's the perfect spot for guests to unwind and celebrate the newlyweds' big moment. The choice of this spot wasn't just about a fancy venue—it was about creating an extension of the joy from the ceremony. By picking a spot like the Commons Club, the couple gave their guests a chance to keep the celebration going in a place that's all about good vibes and making memories. Imagine the happiness in the air as friends and family toast to the newlyweds, surrounded by the historic charm of Victoria Street. It's not just a bar; it's an extension of the love and joy that started at the City Chambers.
In a nutshell, this couple didn't just plan a wedding; they orchestrated a whole experience. Choosing a spot like the Commons Club wasn't just about drinks—it was about giving their guests a piece of their happiness in a place that's stylish, lively, and oh-so-memorable.
aS newlyweds, duygu and chris stood on top of Calton Hill in Edinburgh, the rain adding a touch of charm as they pose with umbrellas overlooking the majestic Edinburgh Castle. Despite the rain, the scene feels straight out of a romantic movie. The couple's love shines through the mist, embraced by the beauty of Edinburgh’s city skyline. The rain becomes part of the story, adding a poetic allure to their portraits against the backdrop of the ancient castle. It's not just about taking pictures—it's about turning challenges into beautiful, unforgettable memories. Calton Hill never disappoints on a wedding day, even in the rain it’s worth the drive or walk up.
Finally, Duygu and Chris had their wedding bus drop off all of their guests after a tour of edinburgh’s new town, to an intimate wedding reception tucked away in the charming Bonham Hotel, nestled in Edinburgh's picturesque West End. The setting exudes an elegant and cozy atmosphere, creating the perfect ambiance for a heartfelt celebration.
The Bonham Hotel is like a hidden gem, offering a blend of sophistication and warmth. The intimate reception feels like a private gathering among dear friends and family. The soft glow of lights, the tasteful décor, and the welcoming ambiance made for a beautiful evening. The couple, surrounded by their closest loved ones, shares laughter, heartfelt toasts, and cherished moments. The beauty of an intimate reception lies in the ability to truly connect, to have conversations that linger and memories that feel deeply personal.
As the evening unfolds, the culinary delights crafted by the bonham hotel's chefs add to the magic. Each dish is not just a meal but a work of art, served with care and attention to detail. The flavors dance on the palate, enhancing the joy of the occasion. The Bonham Hotel's West End location adds a touch of sophistication to the celebration. The quiet elegance of the surroundings becomes a backdrop to the love and happiness shared within. It's a perfect blend of intimacy and casual dinner party, creating an evening that feels both lavish yet personal.
And amidst it all, the newlyweds steal glances, their eyes reflecting the sheer joy of starting this new chapter together. The Bonham Hotel, with its intimate charm, becomes a starting place where their love and celebration intertwine, creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime with all of their closest family members. x
A Beautiful Wedding at the Houdini Estate in Hollywood, California | Brandon + Anaisa | Destination Wedding Photographer
A Beautiful Wedding at the Houdini Estate in Hollywood, California | Brandon + Anaisa | Hollywood Wedding PHotographer | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer | DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
This beautiful wedding day started with the sunniest skies over Hollywood, California. My sweet and talented husband, Ross, second shot this wedding day with me. He started the wedding day with Brandon and his family, who were getting ready in Beverly Hills, while I went straight to The Houdini Estate to capture Anaisa and her bridal party getting ready. The Houdini Estate is tucked away in a beautiful neighborhood within the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California. The estate was frequented by Houdini and is now a shrine to his illusionist works. They carried on that theme by having a cocktail bar set up with a company called “Magic and Cocktails”, which was more an experience for guests as there was a lot of smoke and theatrics used when the drinks were being made.
After Anaisa’s hair and makeup was finished and she had an intimate first look with her dad, she headed out into The Houdini Estate garden to have a private first look with Brandon. He was waiting for her beneath a beautiful palm tree on a terrace that wrapped around the hilly estate. After they spent a few moments together alone, we took photos with their immediate family members by the estate. They had a vintage Packard car drive them to and from their stunning ceremony, at the lovely Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, California, where they both attend regularly. I truly love the architecture of old cathedrals, and this particular one had plenty of unique period details within the church and also had a Californian flare at the same time. After their ceremony, Brandon and Anaisa had their driver do a quick stop by Mad Lab Hollywood for a hot and iced coffee before heading back to The Houdini Estate (a couple after my own heart). This coffee shop was also on “my list” for cafes I wanted to visit, so that could not have been more serendipitous. I loved it!
When Brandon and Anaisa arrived back at The Houdini Estate, they were greeted with an excellent mariachi band playing and a champagne wall of shrubs, that had floating hands giving everyone who “rang the bell” glasses of champagne. This also subtly went with the Houdini illusionist theme, which I really appreciated. They were able to enjoy the cocktail hour with their guests before moving up to the reception floor. The Houdini Estate has so many stairwells and little passage ways throughout the entire garden that covers a beautiful cliffside of the estate. It was so unique to see that a bar was set up on one of the mid garden levels, between wrapping tree trunks, so the guests could have a drink before they reached the formal reception table area. Following the first dances and beautiful speeches, Brandon and Anaisa paid tribute to his Cambodian culture by dressing in traditional Cambodian outfits to get the dance floor started! The rest of the evening was filled with a delicious food buffet, a photo booth, cake cutting, a pastry table, endless dancing and my personal favorite… a local street taco truck, Eat Lupitas Tacos. All in all, this beautiful wedding day, that started and ended at The lovely Houdini Estate, was the epitome of a romantic love story told in the hills of Hollywood, California. x
Private Estate Wedding Venue in Hollywood, California - The Houdini Estate | Hollywood Wedding Planner and Coordinator - 3 Little Birds Event Planning | Hollywood Wedding Ceremony - Blessed Sacrament Church | Makeup Artist - Dennesse Rodriguez | Hair Stylist - Jessica Rodriguez of Jess Hair Design | Wedding Caterers - Bites and Bashes | Wedding Bar - Magic and Cocktails | Wedding Florist - Mineral Springs Floral | Wedding Desserts - Rossmore Pastries | Hollywood Wedding DJ - Matt Nasby of Bouquet Sound | Valet - Genesis Valet | Cocktail Hand Wall - Unifier Entertainment | Mariachi Band - Mariachi Los Reyes | Vintage Specialty Car - Eagle Limousine by Sergio Rocha | Dinner Trio - Yayennings | Late Night Tacos - Eat Lupitas Tacos | Cambodian Outfits - Kim and Channa | Wedding Shoes - Jimmy Choo and Badgley Mischka | Wedding Dress - Pronovias | Second Wedding Dress - Grace Loves Lace Zsa Zsa Dress | Wedding Veil - Panache Bridals Pasadena
A Chic Wedding Reception at Chez Wedding Venue | Dominique + Anthony | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
A Chic Wedding Reception at chez wedding venue | Dominique + Anthony | Revel Decor | Champagne Tower | OSCAR DE La Renta Dress | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
Dominique and Anthony decided to do a pre-wedding day celebration with their friends and family in Chicago by renting out Chez Wedding Venue in the heart of downtown Chicago and created a stunning atmosphere for their wedding cocktail party! They had the amazing team at Revel Decor design the decor and floral installations, which speak for themselves in the images below. Then Limelight Catering created custom cocktails (again, just browse the images below) that were truly unique and matched the decor as well! The candy floss, cloud shaped Cocktails were my favorite aesthetically! Chez Wedding Venue is a blank slate, with a grand staircase and loft looking over a high ceiling room with pillars and tall windows. It is all white, so any color palette you want to create will be able to happen seamlessly in Chez. I particularly loved this monochromatic palette that Revel Decor created in the space, and I honestly assume my clients book me because we’re already on the same page with our palette preferences, thankfully, because each and every wedding day I shoot, they seem to have my same taste, which I am extremely grateful for.
I always get excited when couples do things their way. Dominique and Anthony decided to get married in a more intimate way with just a few close family members and friends in Italy, so this wedding cocktail party was meant to include everyone they knew and loved in the Chicago area! They even had the talented DJ Matt Roan set the tempo all night and he never misses a beat, both literally and figuratively. The team at Limelight Catering, under the Revel Group, always presents their food so well. There is a full kitchen hidden in Chez, and they had their staff walking around with long clear trays filled with plates with full courses on them, from the apps, to a main meat dish, to the desserts. There were tables on the sides for the more chill guests, but those in the middle at the bar and on the dance floor were able to pick up a plate as they passed by. The whole evening felt like a mix of an epic dance party reception at a club, but also had the chicness of a fancy cocktail party! Everyone was also dressed to the nines, as Dominique was in a stunning Oscar de la Renta Gown and Anthony was in a full on look from Wool & Linen. And of course there was no one better to do her hair, then the lovely Alex Brown Hair. Truly, I’m obsessed with all of the beautiful hair styles she creates for her clients. The bride and groom’s personal style is one of my favorite aesthetic parts of a wedding day, so the fact that this cocktail party checked all of those boxes, really made this a memorable wedding event for me. They also did the Champagne tower justice as well! Such a fun way to start off the evening and the toasts from their loved ones! All in all, Chez Wedding Venue was an incredibly perfect space for Revel Decor, alongside Dominique and Anthony’s vision, to create a chic atmosphere that was perfect for their stylish wedding celebration in Chicago! x
Wedding Planning + Design - Revel Decor | Florist - Revel Decor | Hair Stylist - Alex Brown Hair | Wedding Reception Dress - Oscar de la Renta | Wedding Shoes - Gianvito Rossi | Groom Tailored Suit - Wool & Linen | Bride + Groom Rings - Ancona Jewelers | Chicago Modern Wedding Reception Venue - Chez Wedding Venue | Cocktail Hour + Wedding Reception Caterers - Limelight Catering from Revel Global Events | Reception DJ - DJ Matt Roan | Photobooth - Snapbooth Chicago |
A Winter Wedding in Scotland | Neidpath Castle Wedding Venue | Natalie + Jack | Scotland Wedding Photographer | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
A Winter Wedding in Scotland | Neidpath Castle Wedding Venue | Natalie + Jack | Scotland Wedding Photographer | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Neidpath Castle was the perfect setting for the most snowy wedding weekend in Scotland that I’ve ever seen. Natalie and Jack started their wedding day by getting ready with their loved ones in two different parts of the castle. Natalie had the highest bridal suite in the tower of Neidpath Castle. Jack spent his morning in the cottage to the side of Neidpath while greeting guests as they arrived to the castle and making the bouquets and button holes for all of the men in the bridal party. Natalie had her hair done by the talented Simon Hill from Sesh Hair Dressing and her makeup was done by Jenny Ross, and both were so lovely to work with! Natalie’s wedding dress and veil were from Jessica Bennett Bridal. The oversized bow in the back of dress and the tiny ruffles on the shoulders were my favorite details. Her shoes were also lovely, by the modern designer Camilla Elphick. Natalie read her letter (read how hilarious their personalities are in the photo of the card below) from Jack in private, had a glass of champagne, had a first look with her dad and bridesmaids in her dress and then made her way down to the main hall for the ceremony with her dad by her side.
The wedding ceremony at Neidpath Castle was held in a beautiful hall that was all candlelit and their was a beautiful Christmas Tree at the alter, where Jack was giving all of the sweet adorning looks at Natalie as she walked down the aisle. They exchanged rings, took part in a lot of historic Scottish wedding traditions and then roamed out of the front door as the bagpiper, Rex Benson, led them through a line of confetti to celebrate them becoming newlyweds! After the confetti line the couple took family portraits at the front door of Neidpath Castle and then Natalie and Jack roamed around the castle grounds for a bit, for a mix of alone time as well as couple portraits together before heading back into the reception with all of their guests. Neidpath Castle has a balcony that guests could walk all of the way up to, and they were cheering Natalie and Jack on as they made their way back into the castle! I think that is a very unique feature of this castle, as the cocktail hour is held in a hall at the very top of the castle, up a long and narrow spiral staircase, where the bagpiper could play in the rafters and the balcony was open to the guests, and that made it feel like it was right out of a storybook.
Neidpath Castle is such a beautiful setting for a romantic wedding day in the heart of scotland.
The floral arrangements in the dining hall and cocktail area were all done by the Neidpath Castle staff and the amazing dinner was catered by Cooks and Co, who were so thoughtful to us as vendors (and they went above and beyond in my book), as well as their whole staff just having the best manners I’ve ever seen. Truly, it’s something I notice and note for everyone that I work with, and only refer kind, genuine and considerate individuals. And the vendor team for this whole wedding day felt like that! After dinner, the evening then moved to another beautiful hall with beautiful tapestries for more drinks and desserts, with a beautiful cake cutting, coffee with shots and a delicious cheese board spread. Once the main hall was flipped to a dance floor, everyone then headed back downstairs to dance the night away to the DJ duo, Bangers & Brass. I was amazed at how atmospheric a live trumpet can make every song, I loved it! Towards the end of the evening we decided to go outside one more time for a few minutes of flash portraits in front of the castle, and in the short 5 minutes we were outside a magical snowfall began and it was seriously a fairytale ending to their wedding day. Neidpath Castle was honestly was such a beautiful castle to house Natalie and Jack’s romantic winter wedding day in Scotland. x
Scotland Castle Wedding Venue - Neidpath Castle (a beautiful castle in Peebles near the Scottish Borders) | Wedding Florist - Neidpath Castle Florist Team and the Groom made the bouquets and button holes! | Scotland Make-up Artist - Jenny Ross MUA | Scotland Wedding Hair Stylist - Simon Hill Hair from Sesh Hair Dressing | Wedding Dress and Veil - Jessica Bennett Bridal | Wedding Shoes - Camilla Elphick | Bridal Jewellry - All borrowed from the Bride’s mother and grandmother, besides the earrings from Monica Vinader | Grooms Entire Outfit - MacGregor & MacDuff | Bride + Groom Rings - Vintage Rings from R T Jewellery Monmouth, Bride's ring is from the 1930s and Groom's ring is from 1890s | Wedding Day Caterers - Cooks and Co. | Reception DJ - Bangers & Brass | Scottish Wedding Piper - Rex Benson |
Winton Castle Wedding | Carla + James | Scotland Wedding Photographer | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Winton Castle Wedding | Carla + James | Scotland Wedding Photographer | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Carla and James decided to get married near where James grew up in Scotland, which brought them to having their romantic wedding day at the stunning Winton Castle, located just outside of Edinburgh. The grounds are magical. When we arrived in the morning, we were greeted with an epic gate house that was surrounded by the misty fog. We decided to put the drone up to see the castle from overhead and I love the calm and quiet presence that fog makes you feel. It was a beautiful start to Carla and James’ wedding day. Once I photographed a bit of the lovely landscaping, I went straight upstairs inside of Winton Castle to the bridal suite, where Carla was having her makeup done by the talented Lyn Mckenzie Makeup. Truly, it’s always so nice to meet lovely wedding vendors on wedding days. I spent the morning documenting the bride, her sweet child, the family, the bridal party and all of the wedding details, like the florals by Save the Date Collective, in the natural window light of Winton Castle. Truly was a lovely morning of all of the bridesmaids toasting champagne, laughing together and loving on Carla as she was about to become a wife!
Winton Castle has many beautifully designed rooms with historic featured, vibrant interiors and vintage furniture. So it’s easy for any bride to choose a room within Winton Castle to vow to spend the rest of their lives together in. The ceremony was full of many scottish tradtions from the hand tying to drinking whisky out of their monogrammed Quaich. The ceremony was followed by a bit of alone time for the couple, then a few family photos by the fireplace while everyone was well into the appetizers and drinks floating around. After the family photos we did a confetti and group shot out front of Winton Castle. The Castle manager had a ladder ready to go, which I think was very thoughtful and the kind of organization mindset that I love on a wedding day. Then the three of us went for a more quiet stroll through the gardens surrounding Winton Castle. I like to let the couple walk either ahead or behind me for a while and I capture them from a distance, so they have some more alone time to chat and just be with each other before heading back inside to spend the evening with their loved ones.
Once we got back inside, the lovely main dining hall in Winton Castle, was all set up for a beautiful dinner reception. The wine and catering was all from Winton Castle, and everything was incredible, from the actual taste to the artistic plating of the food, which I really appreciated. After dinner there were many speeches, toasts, sparklers, cigars and everyone was able to lounge in all of the rooms of the castle with their teas and coffee. Eventually, the main dining hall was cleared of the reception tables and the set up by DJ Edinburgh was ready to go, as he went room to room inviting everyone to the dance floor! The night was endless dancing, partying and a really memorable time! Truly, Winton Castle was the perfect wedding venue for this lovely wedding day. x
Scotland Castle Wedding Venue - Winton Castle (a romantic castle venue near Edinburgh, Scotland) | Wedding Florist - Save the Date Collective | Scotland Wedding Makeup Artist - Lyn Mckenzie Makeup | Wedding Dress - Cotswold Frock Shop Bridal Gallery | Scotland Wedding DJ - DJ Edinburgh, Jim Henderson | Scotland Wedding Filmmaker - Amarone Wedding Films
Chicago City Hall Elopement | Samantha + Joe | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
Chicago City Hall Elopement | Samantha + Joe | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Vivienne Westwood | Alex Brown Hair | Miranda
Cary MUA | Raulph LAUREN
RL RESTAURANT
Sam (the stylish, hilarious and “worth following along online” bride) and her endearing partner Joe decided to have an intimate wedding ceremony before their larger celebration with friends in Mexico. So they decided to have a Chicago City Hall Elopement with their closest family members. We met at City Hall, where they had gotten their marriage certificate and then we strolled around the historic building to take their bridal portraits. Sam was wearing a chic all white shoulder padded suit with a stunning choker from Vivienne Westwood. Her makeup was done by the talented Miranda Cary and her hair was done by the amazing Alex Brown Hair. Both ladies are some of the best hair and makeup artists in Chicago. We also did a bit of strolling around La Salle, because that street has some of the loveliest building architecture and textures for portrait backdrops.
After the bridal portraits downtown we left the Chicago City Hall area and headed towards the Chicago River. The Chicago River is the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony, as it creates an open space amidst the skyscrapers in downtown Chicago. They decided to pick a space that was near somewhere meaningful to them, so we settled in a beautiful inlet of the sidewalk in the center of the city. There family was all waiting for them to arrive as they walked up. They had the lovely Rev Beth of Rev Beth Weddings officiate the wedding ceremony and she is one of my favorite officiants in Chicago. The way she words things so personably, is open to any kind of couple (no matter the background or religion) and is flexible to meet you anywhere to perform your wedding ceremony, she is simply the sweetest. They exchanged wedding rings and said ‘I do’ in front of all of their loved ones in the city center. After the ceremony there were many family hugs, kisses, selfies and heart warming smiles.
Joe helped Samantha get into a luxury SUV where they had their vintage bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne and cuddles before heading to meet their family members at the Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant. At the RL Restaurant the two of them stopped off for a drink and private cheers in the bar area and then joined the rest of their family at the dinner table. They did things the best way possible, cake first. A delicious cake was brought to them straight after being seated and they didn’t just cut it, but ate it and I love that about Same and Joe! They had a family toast and then enjoyed the rest of their evening together making memories around the dinner table with the ones they love. I really appreciate being able to capture such personal and intimate memories in couples lives. Sam and Joe, the stylish newlyweds that you are, I absolutely adore you both and your sweet and spicy personalities! x
Downtown Chicago Wedding Venue - Chicago City Hall | Wedding Outfit - White Blazer Shoulder Padded Suit | Choker Necklace - Vivienne Westwood Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker | Chicago Hair Stylist - Alex Brown Hair | Chicago Wedding Makeup Artist - Miranda Cary MUA | Chicago Wedding Officiant - Rev Beth Weddings | Intimate Wedding Dinner Reception - Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant
A Romantic Country House Wedding in Scotland | Lunga House | Diana + Scott | Scottish Wedding Venue | Scotland Wedding Photographer
A Romantic Country House Wedding in Scotland | Lunga House | Diana + Scott | Scottish WEdding Venue | Scotland Wedding Photographer
Overlooking the water, on the west coast of Scotland, you will find the lovely Lunga House. This incredibly beautiful country house is located on Lunga Estate, just a short drive from Craobh Haven in the heart of Argyll. With Diana being from North America and Scott from Scotland, it was the perfect wedding venue to house both travelers visiting from abroad as well as the locals who maybe haven’t ventured to every inch of Scotland yet. Even my husband, who was born and raised in Scotland, this wedding day was his first time visiting this area specifically, even though he’s driven on the nearest main road and never stopped off to explore. The Scottish nature scenes are stunning in this area (as are most in Scotland), but all of this to say, definitely worth looking into this historic venue if you’re still searching for a coastal, country house wedding venue in Scotland.
Diana started her day with her bridesmaids getting ready in the upstairs bridal suite of the Lunga House, with beautiful views of the ocean from the three large windows in the room. I started my day as I usually do, by getting there a bit early, roaming around the venue to search for the perfect corners and patches of light. I would then head to find beautiful textures of the venue to photograph any details laid out for me, after going to say good morning to the bride to be and her bridal party.
The Lunga House is perfect for any kinds of scottish weather, as you can get married outside in the garden or have your ceremony in one of their lovely, historical rooms for an intimate ceremony. The country house also has many rooms for a cocktail hour, tea hour, cake cutting space and lounge rooms with seating to break up the standing around. The Lunga House Estate has one large hall on the end of the home and that is where the reception dinner, speeches, toasts and dancing takes place. It feels intimate enough for long tables for dinner, but it’s also large enough to have live band play and have a formal ceilidh dance, like Diana and Scott had for their wedding evening. As I was walking away to the car at the end of the night, I caught a glimpse of the two of them dancing together through a window and the way they were looking at each other says it all about how they feel about one another. I truly loved how romantic this scottish wedding day was, and the Lunga House Estate truly made the perfect backdrop for these two to start the next chapter of their lives together. x
Scotland Wedding Venue - Lunga house Country Estate | Scotland Wedding Florist - The Thistle and the Rose Oban | Scotland Hair Stylist - Hair my Yasmin | Bride and Groom Rings - Molome London
Dovecot Studios Wedding | Sara + Gus | Duddingston Kirk Wedding | Halfpenny London Dress | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Dovecot Studios Wedding |
Sara + Gus | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Halfpenny London DRESS | Kinloch anderson | Ochre botanical Studios | DudDingston Kirk
Sara and Gus are such a beautiful couple, inside and out. They started their day with a beautiful view over Duddingston Loch at the lovely historic church hall of Duddingston Kirk, in Holyrood Park. Their wedding guests, local Edinburgh family members to friends who traveled up from London, were all greeted with beautiful music by a local bagpiper and the entire scene was straight out of out an international romance film. The Duddingston Kirk church hall had a loft overlooking the entire ceremony and one large beautiful window, that was perfectly lit with natural light for them to sign their marriage certificate. Sara was wearing a gorgeous wedding dress and blouse from Halfpenny London that also matched the timelessness of the venue. After their sweet ceremony, where one of Sara’s best friends sang a lovely opera piece (one of the loveliest I’ve heard in a long time, as my dad had us listening to opera a lot growing up), and her voice filled the hall. Honestly, the acoustics were perfect in there for opera music. As they exited the front doors of Duddingston Kirk, everyone was waiting outside for them in two rows of sparklers throughout the Duddingston Kirk grounds, all of the way until the entrance gate to the Old Church Lane, where a beautiful vintage Daimler wedding car was waiting to take them to the Old Town of Edinburgh for their wedding portraits.
We strolled around the Edinburgh University Old College, which was perfectly placed down the street from their wedding reception venue at Dovecot Studios. Now Dovecot Studios is one of the loveliest halls I’ve been to in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Dovecot used to be a swimming pool for locals and has now been restored and converted into thriving artist studios as well as an art museum to display the local artists works. Dovecot also have art exhibits as well. The main space in the Dovecot Studios is a large hall with a viewing balcony overlooking a stunning center hall with an immaculately crafted high ceiling. It’s the perfect wedding venue for having a cocktail hour on the balcony before dinner, and then going up to the balcony for coffee and dessert while they clear the main floor for dancing and a live band, like The Jets, who did a lovely job at this wedding. I appreciate ceilidh dances so much. Not only are they a fun time, but ceilidh’s help everyone loosen up and help everyone meet other friends and relatives they hadn’t been close to before. All in all, Sara and Gus had such a beautiful day with their loved ones and Dovecot Studios was the perfect venue to house those unforgettable memories for them! x
Florist Company Name - Julie at Ochre Botanical Studios | Edinburgh Make-up Artist - Sophie Alexis Make-Up | Edinburgh Hair Stylist - Marnie 7 West | Wedding Dress + Sheer Blouse - Halfpenny London | Shoes - Loeffler Randall Shoes | Earrings - Completed Works | Groom's Jacket - Kinloch Anderson | Bride + Groom Rings - Natalie Landale Jewellery | Church Wedding Ceremony - Duddingston Kirk | Edinburgh Reception Venue Hall - Dovecot Studios | Wedding Reception Caterer - Pinkerton's Catering | Edinburgh Wedding Live Band - The Jets
A Beautiful Edinburgh Wedding | The Scotsman Hotel | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
A Beautiful Edinburgh Wedding | The Scotsman Hotel | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Ochre BotanicaL Studios | GRAND CAFE EDINBURGH RESTAURANT
Alana and Les are local to Edinburgh and chose to have their wedding day start and end in the heart of their city, at The Scotsman Hotel. Alana spent her morning in the bridal suite that overlooked the Edinburgh skyline and spent the morning with her daughter and closest family members. She wore a stunning vintage wedding gown and her wedding bouquet was done by the talented Ochre Botanical Studios with silk from Heirloom Silk Ribbons. A cream vintage VW van picked up Alana and her bridal party and took them to the wedding ceremony, at City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, a beautiful church located in a stunning historic hall in the Old Town of Edinburgh. After the ceremony we strolled around one of their favorite gardens in Edinburgh and then headed back to The Scotsman Hotel for the wedding dinner and had speeches overlooking the guests from the balcony of The Grand Cafe. One of the reasons I love the The Grand Cafe is because, since being located within The Scotsman Hotel, it has a stunning view of Edinburgh, as it overlooks The Balmoral, Waverly Station and the New Town skyline. And since Alana and Les had friends from all over the world at their wedding day, and myself still feeling like a tourist after living here for a few years now, the city view from The Grand Cafe really does have such a romantic and magical feeling about it, especially as the skyline lights up as the sun fades into the night. x
Edinburgh Hotel - The Scotsman Hotel | Wedding Dress - Bliss Studio Edinburgh | Wedding Bouquet - Beige Blommer of Ochre Botanical Studios | Floral Designer - Beige Blommer | Floral Company - Root and Branch Flowers | Floral Silk - Heirloom Silk Ribbons | Wedding Reception Dinner - Grand Cafe Edinburgh | Church Wedding Ceremony - City of Edinburgh Methodist Church | Edinburgh Hair - Stefan Hampton of Hamptons Hairdressing Salon | Edinburgh Makeup Artist - Nikki Marshall World | Bridal Headband - Etsy, Design by Hummingbird
A Modern Wedding at Elske Restaurant | Jen + James | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
A Modern Wedding at Elske REStaurant | Jen + James | Destination Wedding Photographer| Chicago Wedding Photographer | The EMILY HOTEL | Markarian Bride | TAXA FLORA
Jen and James started their day at The Emily Hotel, where they spent the morning with their closest family members while prepping for one of the most special days of their lives. They had their first look just outside of The Emily Hotel and then we strolled around the West Loop for their bridal portraits. When they arrived to Elske Restaurant, located in the heart of the West Loop, they spent time together with their families and just relaxing a bit before their ceremony started. At Elske, there is a lovely upstairs loft where they could watch all of their guests slowly come in before the ceremony that takes places in the downstairs courtyard. Rev Beth officiated their ceremony, and if you’re ever in the search of an officiant that can marry you and your partner anywhere in any venue and with the most thoughtful words, she is your girl.
It’s always important to have a venue that you love aesthetically and feels like you, and Elske was just the place for a beautiful outdoor ceremony, Michelin Star dinner and a solid dance party overflowing into the coutyard. Also, if you haven’t been to Elske yet or if you ever plan to visit Chicago, it’s an amazing Michelin star, James Beard finalist, Jean Banchet award winning restaurant in one of the loveliest food lover neighborhoods of Chicago, the West Loop. When you have your wedding reception at Elske, they of course do one of the best dinners from their custom seasonal menu by their kitchen.
To end the evening, Jen changed into her second party dress by Lurelly, cut their lovely cake and danced the night away to DJ Major Taylor alongside their favorite people! I just love days like this one, relaxed, chill and simply beautiful all around! x
Wedding Venue - Elske Restaurant | Bridal Suite - The Emily Hotel | Wedding Dress - Markarian Bride | Second Wedding Dress - Lurelly | Wedding Bouquet, Table Decor and Ceremony Floral Installations - Taxa Flora | Engagement Ring and Wedding Band - Cities In Dust | Hair - Beauty By Ann Krause | Makeup - Emma Kopty | Groom Tux - Blvdier | Groom Shoes - Carmina Shoemaker | Reception DJ - DJ Major Taylor | Wedding Filmmaker - Braxton Wallis | Officiant - Rev Beth |