Elaine and Martin

I have been dying to get a chance to post some images from Elaine and Martin's wedding at Glenskirlie Castle a couple of weeks ago! Glenskirlie Castle is a new venue in Scotland although Glenskirlie House is a well known venue and has been there for years. The owners bought the land next door and designed a purpose-built castle for weddings! Its brilliant and only opened in July of this year. The Castle itself looks rather unusual from the road - a real mix of old and new but inside it really works! Wow - the reception is amazing and the rooms are to die for! I have been dropping hints to Jason that a wee night there would be in order!!!

Anyway, the whole day was brilliant and Elaine and Martin are such a lovely and happy couple who wanted a very relaxed and informal day! The girls made their final preparations in the honeymoon suite so I got a sneak preview and the ceremony itself was held in the Castle. Afterwards guests mingled in the garden at the back and the sun stayed out! After some champagne had been downed...I took Elaine and Martin up to their room for a pillow fight! It was hilarious and although not my usual style, the room was too amazing to not feature! I thought a pillow fight would be perfect for them as they are always laughing with each other and just generally having fun.

Elaine's hair was flying everywhere and they didn't hold back or be gentle with each other! There were big feathery cushions on the bed and the feathers were flying about! Don't tell Glenskirlie!

I have posted some of my favourite images for you to see - I think you'll agree that Elaine and Martin both look amazing!

SECC wedding enquiries

I thought I would do a quick post to the lovely couples we met at the show and are awaiting a brochure, price list and information pack. The packs are all ready and will be posted first thing tomorrow morning so that they arrive on Saturday morning. The information pack is normally larger than most people's letter box so I always post them to arrive at the weekend so it avoids a trip to the post office.

If anyone wishes to get in touch before then, please call the studio on 0141 885 2229 or email me on info@fionamacneill.com

Fxxx

useful info for brides to be!

I have been thinking about the wedding show and all the lovely people we met over the course of the weekend and there was a very apparent pattern emerging...couples were feeling more and more overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of wedding planning. I heard the same things said time after time...'we don't know where to begin', 'can you recommend such and such?', 'the venue we wanted is booked', 'we've heard horror stories about this cake maker or stationer or photographer' and so it went on and I really began to wonder if anyone out there actually enjoys and relishes the challenge of planning a wedding in a world where there are hundreds of suppliers all wanting your business! I was lucky when I planned my own wedding, firstly, it was very small and intimate and secondly, I knew exactly where and who I wanted to use for the venue, flowers, stationery, photography etc as I had first hand experience of their work and knew I wouldn't have any worries. I have a page of recommended suppliers on my website called 'friends' and it really is a valuable source when starting out. A recommendation is worth a million glossy ads or a fancy stand at a wedding show.

However, it also got me thinking about my friend Wendy who is a wedding planner and runs a very successful company called Utopia Scotland. Wendy has helped many couples over the years plan and then have their dream wedding. She sources a handful of venues to match your requirements and once you are happy with the venue she has a shortlist of suppliers that she has worked with on numerous occasions and deemed to be 'professional, punctual and nice!'

Not only that, Wendy is the point of contact with these suppliers and does all the hard work in contacting them, paying them on your behalf and coordinating the whole day for you, while you sit back and watch it all come together. Finally, the day itself, and again I am very fortunate because I am at the wedding all day and get to see what goes on! At about 75% of the weddings I shoot, something doesn't go to plan. The flowers are the wrong shade or the wrong style, the wedding car breaks down or some other major decision has to be taken there and then. Its always the bride who is left to sort these things out and I always feel so sorry for them. While she's trying to have her hair and make up done, the mobile is ringing and turning the poor girl into a nervous wreck! So, what could be better than having Wendy there to take the calls and deal with the little hiccups leaving you to relax and enjoy the day!

If you haven't already visited Wendy's website you can do so at www.utopia-scotland.com/

Go on - it makes sense!!!

Fxxx

Pre-wedding Shoot

All my clients get a complimentary pre-wedding shoot included in their package which is in fact a practise session so that the couple feel relaxed and comfortable with me on the day. They get a chance to see how I work and any nerves they have about getting their picture taken or indeed having a bit of a smooch in public will have gone by the end of the session! Not only that but they then get a large print from the session to keep! I get it mounted with a big broad ivory mount and take it to the wedding. all the guests on the day then sign round the picture! It's such a fabulous keepsake and is much more practical and usable than a guest book.

So, last week I met up with Karen and Christopher who are getting married this Saturday at Seamill Hydro. They seemed OK about getting their picture taken but weren't really sure what to expect. We started off with some individual shots to get them warmed up and then I put them through their paces together and by the end of the session, they were naturals! I tend to use the same venue as it works so well for the backdrop. Its an old industrial estate in Glasgow which is really grotty but looks amazing in the pictures. It's private so we can have lots of time and room to mess about and get the pictures right!

The pre-wedding shoot is available to be booked as a separate session for couples who have already secured a wedding photographer and it's also popular for anniversary sessions of just for couples who fancy some nice relaxed shots of themselves.

Here are some of Karen and Chris's best shots!

Karen & Andy

So, Karen and Andy were married a couple of weeks ago and the whole day started in Karen's parents house with all the girls getting ready in a lovely big bedroom which was so light and airy and perfect for lots of gorgeous 'getting ready' shots! I love doing these shots because its a part of the day that the groom doesn't get to see and its always a time of ever increasing anticipation and excitement as the clock ticks by! It sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it!

The church ceremony was at Aberfoyle Kirk which is a beautiful wee church in such a stunningly beautiful part of Scotland. After the ceremony, we all headed back to Karen's parent's house which overlooks Loch Ard. the weather was great and everyone mingled on the terrace drinking bubbly and eating fab canapes. Karen had particularly wanted shots taken of her and Andy on their jetty at the loch side so we did a short session down there and some other lovely shots in the fabulous grounds.

Karen's dress was magnificent with a jewelled bodice and full, cascading skirt. She felt the dress was enough and just wore her hair simple with no veil or tiara. It was a good call and she really did look perfect! Andy was very smart in his dark kilt and gold cravat.

After the speeches and cake cutting the reception was underway and the first dance was really lovely in the huge marquee. The ceiling of the marquee had a dark blue star cloth which twinkled away with hundreds of white and blue fairy lights! It really was a brilliant day and I know Karen and Andy will love their pictures! I am seeing them next Thursday for a viewing session when I'll help them choose the best images for their album!

Here are some of my favourites!

yeeeha!

So...it's been a mental weekend which has marked the end of a mental few weeks! We had the Scottish Wedding Show this weekend (a month earlier than usual) and it was truly exhausting!

To let you understand, the wedding show doesn't just mean rocking up with some nice pictures and some flyers to hand out - it's a labour of love which consumes you and turns you into a maniac craving and striving for the most creative and mind boggling stand imaginable! Anyway, it was 'alright on the night' and the stand looked gorgeous! We had numerous visitors admiring our work and enquiring about all sorts of dates and venues from this October in a zoo to October 2010 in Eilean Donan Castle!! It was a fabulous show and I want to thank everyone who took the time to visit the stand and appreciate our work! I say 'our' because it is very much a joint effort! I couldn't do what I do without the support of Jason so although I'm the one taking the pictures, the brand would be non-existent without Jason!

It was also our 2 year wedding anniversary on Saturday but we are postponing celebrations until October when things have quietened down a bit!

And, besides all this excitement, I shot a beautiful wedding on Saturday in Dirleton and North Berwick. Sarah and Neil are a lovely couple and I was very exited about a wedding at the Marine in North Berwick as its the first time I'd been there since their refurb! The hotel is incredible. So stylish but retaining so many lovely authentic features. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and can't wait to post some images in the next week of Sarah and Neil's wedding!

Finally, I have so many other things that I want to blog about; I will try and get round to them all in the next few weeks!

F xxx

Alison & George

I've been busy getting the images ready to show Alison and George who are honeymooning in Italy right now and want to post a few here as they are so beautiful! This was the wedding at Wedderburn Castle near the small village of Duns in the Scottish Borders. It started off quite dull and grey but as the afternoon went on, the clouds cleared and it was a glorious evening! The wedding ceremony was in Edrom at 5pm so I spent the whole afternoon at the castle taking pictures of everyone getting ready. There was clay pigeon shooting at midday and then traditional afternoon tea for all the guests! Alison was stunning and looked so beautiful as she emerged from the castle in the late afternoon sun! The groomsmen were all in grey morning suits and looked extremely dapper! It was a very small and intimate wedding as all the guests and wedding party had flown in from The States a few days before. I love small weddings - they have such a happy, cosy vibe to them.

After a quintessentially British dinner cooked by the marvellous chef Jules, Alison and George had a private first dance in one of the magnificent rooms in the castle. There was just the three of us there and it was all very emotional - it was one of those 'never forget' moments!!!

I must stop as I'm welling up again! Here are some of the best images from the day...enjoy!

Last post - for today anyway!

Right - here's my exciting news! Well, its exciting for me anyway!

One of my weddings (from April) has been chosen to be featured in the Real Life Weddings magazine which is the sister title of the popular Scottish Wedding Directory. It will be in the shops in October and I am very excited as you can imagine. The couple are Katy & Graeme and they got married at The Church of the Holy Rude and then afterwards at Stirling Castle. They have been interviewed for the feature and I don't know any details of what they said so it will be a real surprise for me to read the article!

My second piece of exciting news is that the Scottish Wedding Show is on this weekend (15th-16th September) at the SECC. I am exhibiting as always on stand 413a which is in the top right hand corner of the hall. Please come and say hello if you get the chance. I always have a selection of my favourite prints on display as well as a slideshow on a screen and for those with weary legs - a nice comfy couch to sit on! I won't be there on the Saturday as I am shooting a wedding in North Berwick but Jason will be holding the fort and I'll be there on Sunday!!

The third piece of news is that my hair colour has had a dramatic change from blonde to red! Not really sure why but it seemed a good idea last week! Nobody has recognised me since - its really quite funny! Sorry - no pictures will be posted of said hair colour!

Michelle & David

Silly me - I knew there were some images waiting to be posted! I shot a lovely wedding at the end of August for a gorgeous couple called Michelle & David. They had booked me years ago - or so it seems so it was great that their day had finally come!

Michelle had planned the whole day with perfect precision and judging by the amount of smiling she did, I'd say it all went to plan!

They got married in Dowanvale Free Church in the West End of Glasgow and Michelle's Dad (who is a minister) took the sermon. It was really lovely and one of the hymns was sung in Gaelic. It was so haunting as there was no music in the church. After that, everyone went downstairs for a sumptuous finger buffet! I love buffets but opted not to dive in and demolish a plate of very delicious looking sausage rolls! Instead, I just took some rather delicious photos!!! Here are some of my favourites!!! Oh and the reception was at Seamill Hydro so we had lots of fun on the beach! I'm back at Seamill on the 22nd of this month and can't wait!!!

F xxx

p.s I didn't ask the usher to jump in the air!!

oops!

I did it again! I have been so busy that I haven't had time to draw breath, never mind update my blog! Don't worry - during the quieter winter months I won't be able to stop blogging!!!

So, the reason I am so busy is this - I have shot 2 weddings during both of the last two weekends! I am shattered but it's been fun! I made a decision last year not to take any double weekend bookings but two weddings crept in as the people were just too nice to turn down! On the 1st of September, Karen and Andy tied the knot in Aberfoyle Church and then had an amazing reception in Karen's parents magnificent house on the banks of Loch Ard! They had the biggest marquee I had ever seen with a fabulous star light ceiling!!! Wow! The day after I whizzed down to Wedderburn Castle in the Borders to photograph Alison and George's Wedding. Alison and George are from Chicago and had brought their close friends and family with them to help them celebrate! It was a gorgeous wedding and the sun shone all evening for them.

Last weekend on the Friday, I shot Elaine and Martyn's wedding at Glenskirlie Castle which was fab. Elaine looked amazing and Martyn wore a traditional Welsh kilt which was really different. It was a very relaxed and happy day! We managed to squeeze in a pillow fight in The Honeymoon Suite and the pictures are brilliant! The day after it was Marianne and Steve's day with the most beautiful ceremony at Glasgow Cathedral and then a big party afterwards at St Andrews in the Square. The locations of the cathedral and the reception venue are both very urban with little or no greenery or parkland nearby so we had agreed that the pictures I would take would reflect this and not disguise it! It worked a treat and I can't wait to post some of their gorgeous pictures! You'll need to wait a little while longer to see shots form these weddings as I am taking my time working through them all!

Phew! I'm exhausted just talking about those weddings but what amazes me is the diversity and uniqueness of the weddings I am part of. Every week I attend a happy celebration but each one is so different from the one before. All my clients have such great taste and ideas to make their day so special. From intimate weddings on islands in the wilds of Scotland to the most amazing Castles or Stately Homes to stylish house parties...what other job combines such diverse locations with the rewarding task of working with people who are blissfully happy?!!! I love it!!

I have to sign off now but will be back with some exciting news later!

F x

Viva la France

I know I haven't even touched on our amazing holiday in France so thought I'd blog, just a little about how marvellous it all was!

We had opted to visit a part of France that we hadn't visted before and had read about the regions called Poitou Charente and Charente Maritime, in the western side about half way down! We also decided to drive this year so that I could shop for bits and pieces for the house and the new office we have built. I love the French style and everything is so much cheaper. Jason thinks we could have done with a trailer to cart everything back but we managed to squash it all in!

Anyway, we had rented a farmhouse with our friends in a tiny hamlet called La Roche. The nearest towns to us were Saintes www.ot-saintes.fr/gbsainteshistorique.htm, St Jean d'Angely www.angely.net and Cognac www.westernfrancetouristboard.com/cognac.html all of which were so interesting and very different from eachother. My favourite was Cognac and we went there a couple of times. To think it houses all the Cognac producers, it is in fact a very small town. I found it all fascinating and we visited Le Domaine Rémy Martin which was just amazing. The whole place is massive with cellars and huge warehouses filled with barrels of Cognac. You can smell it in the air and just feel that something special is being created there! I could go on and on about it but won't! Just visit the website www.remy.com/ and read about this fascinating drink and brand for yourself.

Back at the farmhouse, we had a pool which was great and despite many trips to neighbouring towns, we managed lots of sun drenched days relaxing at the pool. The boy loved it!

I don't want to blog forever about the holiday, suffice to say, it is a gorgeous area of France for a holiday with so much to see and do but it's peaceful and very very pretty! We will definitely be back!

I haven't even mentioned the wine...better not, so here are some of my favourite holiday pics!