Boturich Castle Wedding

Boturich Castle Wedding in December

This wasn’t my first Boturich Castle Wedding. But it was my first visit since the completion of their brand new Pavilion venue – and what a fantastic space it is. The Castle sits in a spectacular position with a backdrop featuring Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond – it really doesn’t get much more scenic than that.

Huge expanses of glass framing that incredible view, a contemporary feel yet also a barn-like rustic vibe, with a timber-beamed ceiling and very cool, natural interior. So I was absolutely delighted when Poppy and Michael asked me to photograph their wedding at the Pavilion last December 2022.

The Build up – bridal preparations

In the smart surroundings of one of nearby Cameron House’s lodges, I photographed the bride and her entourage – assorted bridesmaids and her mum – as they got ready. This is such a fun part of any wedding shoot. I caught some lovely off-guard moments as the hair and make up was in full flow and then finishing touches. I generally use this pre-wedding time to also shoot the little details, from shoes to jewellery, a bouquet close up or The Dress hanging up in all its glory.

Wedding Ceremony photography

Poppy and Michael were especially lucky with the weather conditions for their wedding. December in Scotland is always going to be a gamble, but the day was perfect. Cold but dry, bright and still, and the ceremony took place in front of the full height wall of glass that is the genius feature of The Boturich Pavilion.

The mountain peaks and loch behind were truly majestic. Best of all, there were shafts of sunlight and beautiful patches of late sun on Ben Lomond itself. Christmassy shades of dark green and scarlet in the flowers and dresses against the white of the bride’s gown gave the formal photographs a pleasing tonal contrast. It worked especially well in black and white.

I managed to get all the guests outside for a group shot, despite the cold – full marks to the guests in party dresses. The big group photo is always one of the highlights of a wedding album.

Dancing the night away

Photographing in the midst of a dancefloor can be something of a challenge but often the source of great spontaneous shots. I was delighted with some of the images I captured at this wedding, where I have to say the standard of dancing was particularly high. Congratulations Poppy and Michael for making it look so easy! When the dancing starts, everybody lets their hair down and throws away their inhibitions. It makes it much easier to capture the energy and joy of people at their ease, whether they’re leaping about in a chaotic ceilidh or just losing themselves to a floor-filling disco classic.

A Castle Wedding venue for every season

The design of Boturich Castle wedding Pavilion, which sits just behind the castle itself, has focused on the breathtaking views to the west and north. I was looking forward to integrating these into the wedding shots at every opportunity. Cleverly, the architect has also created a big covered outdoor terrace for drinks which provides a fantastic opportunity for candid photography with the loch and the Ben spread out behind. While inside curtains divide the space as the day progresses.