I have known Zoe for a few years now and was thrilled to find out that she was getting married. Her and Donalds’ whole day was at the Friars Carse which I have photographed at a few times now and I love the grounds there. When I heard that they were planning to get married by the river, my ears instantly pricked up. I know the place exactly as it is in a break in the massive trees and looks out over a bend in the river, which some mistake for a lake at first as the bend is so severe.

The wedding was in the fluke warm week that we had three weeks ago on a wednesday and I was bowled over to be driving up there in the warm sunshine. The next few days it poured down. I do photograph one or two weddings up in Dumfries in the year, mainly at Easterbrook Hall or Comlongan Castle, so to be going back to Friars Carse was a real treat.

Oliver was chosen as best man and did a great job of winding up Donald all morning and when I arrived we had a great time photographing them getting ready and I loved the pattern on the kilts from Andersons in Dumfries. After the Station Hotel, I shot up to Friars Carse to catch Laura from Blusha Starting on Zoe’s makeup. Laura is an amazing makeup artist and I have a back catalogue of weddings that I have worked on with her and all of the brides look amazing.

Zoe was nice and relaxed when I got there with some nice calming music on and her sisters and parents dotting in and out amongst other well wishers. I love this as it allows me to blend in a little more and I got some great shots in the room.

With it being spring, the shadows were nice and long, so where the marriage was taking place was in the shade, this allowed me to move a bit further away than normal and it pretty much gives me free reign outdoors. Just had to get one or two of Donald before the service started in the awesome snooker room.

This was a wedding all about the details and it was obvious that in preparation for the day, a lot of time had been spent on the little things that tie it all in. Future brides will probably see more than one idea in this next image.

After the meal I took Zoe out and about for a wander around the hotel. There are stacks of locations at Friars Carse but I decided to go to some that I had not seen used before.