“I’m so sorry, it’s not my poncho,” were the first words I said to Best Man Peter as he opened the door of Sycamore Cottage on the Arniston House estate.

On the drive over from Edinburgh, the rain had held off, giving me false hope that the summer deluge that had soaked so many of my July weddings was finally over. It wasn’t. By the time I reached the groom’s cottage, the rain was hammering on my car, and after getting half-drenched dashing to photograph the ceremony space, I wasn’t keen to repeat the experience. That’s when I spotted it: my partner’s poncho on the back seat, a garment I’d mocked for the best part of five years.

Ann & Jamie’s wedding at Arniston House turned out to be one of the rainiest I’ve ever photographed. Yet with careful planning, quick decisions and a little luck, the rain became the least memorable part of their day.

Groom Preparations

Arniston House sits just south of Edinburgh, near Gorebridge, surrounded by woodland and rolling fields. A long driveway leads up to the main house, past a handful of estate cottages, and it was in one of these that Jamie was getting ready.

 

The atmosphere was relaxed, with the boys teasing each other about their bowtie-tying skills, a certain plastic sgian dubh and the oathing stone Ann & Jamie had brought back from a recent holiday. When the rain eased for a few minutes, we headed out to the driveway for some relaxed photos together. The plan was to gather all the groomsmen for photos later, before the ceremony. Groomsman Steven, however, didn’t get the memo (or, more accurately, the bus).

Bridal Preparations

Ann was getting ready with her bridesmaids and mum in the Gardener’s Cottage, on the other side of the estate. Inside, hair and makeup were in full swing, music was playing and everyone had gathered in the kitchen, chatting over a table covered in brushes and palettes.

Ann wore a beautiful dress from Whistles, paired with a stunning cape-veil and statement jewellery. Each bridesmaid had a job in helping her get ready: Lindsey on dress duty, Katie on shoes and Kelly on the cape. It meant each of them had a small moment of their own to treasure, and it’s something I’d suggest to any couple.

First Look with Mum and Dad

When the rain stopped, we slipped out to the walled garden behind the cottage for some solo bridal portraits. In the rush of getting ready, especially if you need to travel to your ceremony, it’s easy to miss out on photos of just you in your outfit, so I always build in time for them.

Then came the first looks. We’d planned two: one with Ann’s dad and one with her mum. With me, first looks are set up carefully but captured as they really happen, with no repeats and no second takes. So I talked Ann’s dad, KY, through the plan. He closed his eyes and trusted me to guide him by the hands through the gate, across the grass and into position. The look on his face when he opened his eyes and saw his daughter as a bride for the first time made it all worth it.

Ann’s mum, Mindy, was overflowing with emotion when she turned around for her first look, and I’m not sure there was a dry eye between the three of us. Mums often see the dress before the wedding, so it’s easy to skip a first look with mum. Take it from me, though: you won’t regret it.

The Ceremony in the Orangery

The ceremony took place in Arniston’s Orangery, decorated by The Daisy Chain with a floral arch and bright, colourful flowers lining the long aisle. Tall windows filled the room with natural light, so it felt bright and airy despite the weather outside.

Jamie’s nerves were building, and I got a few laughs from the guests when I straightened his bowtie not once but twice while he waited. The Orangery’s long aisle is wonderful for photos, if slightly less so for nervous bridesmaids in heels. When Ann finally made her entrance, Jamie turned and they met each other with huge smiles and laughter.

Celebrant Chris Lerpiniere opened with the story of how they met, including, to Jamie’s utter embarrassment, how he first introduced himself: “Loan, Jamie Loan. As in bank loan.”

Ann & Jamie sat facing their guests while their story was told and while Ann’s dad and Jamie’s mum gave readings. I love this approach, because couples so often spend the whole ceremony facing each other or the celebrant and never see their families’ reactions. They then exchanged personal vows over their oathing stone, inside a circle blessed by their celebrant.

Plan B: indoor confetti

During the ceremony the rain got heavier, ruling out outdoor confetti. Luckily, Plan B was already in place, and we did the confetti inside the Orangery instead. It worked perfectly, arguably even better than outdoors, thanks to that gorgeous interior.

The rain also ruled out an outdoor photo of all the guests, so we got creative with the space and a wee step ladder. I know a whole-guest photo isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, so I keep it light as I line people up and gently call out the ones hiding behind taller friends. I always take a formal version and a fun one with everyone’s arms in the air.

Drinks reception and a little time travel

As guests made their way across the lawn to the marquee for fizz and canapés, the sun broke through. After hours of heavy rain, we grabbed the moment and got the family group photos done outside.

We also did a little time travel. Steven had arrived so late that we’d missed the planned photo of Jamie and his groomsmen, so we all pretended it was an hour earlier and lined up the shot, ready to slot into the morning part of the gallery.

With the rain still holding off, we went straight into the couple portraits. I don’t usually do this straight after the group photos, because I want couples to have proper time with their guests first. On a day like this, though, you take the light when you get it.

As a Scottish photographer, I honestly don’t mind rain. The soft, even light after a shower is some of the most flattering light there is, and it’s far kinder than harsh midday sun. Arniston is a dream for portraits, with woodland, open fields and the house itself all within a short walk. It also offers something a little different from the castles and rustic barns found at many Edinburgh-area venues.

Capturing Ann & Jamie together was effortless. The romantic looks, the laughter and the quiet moments came naturally, and portraits are also a chance for couples to have a few precious minutes alone in an otherwise busy day.

Speeches and the evening

The pre-dinner speeches were an emotional rollercoaster, with speeches from Ann, Jamie, both dads and the best man. There was raucous laughter, a few tears and some heckling from a certain relative. When KY stood up, Ann couldn’t hold back the tears. His speech was a beautiful tribute to his daughter, whose determination and ambition had brought her to Scotland from her home in Malaysia.

After dinner, Ann changed into a glittering champagne dress for the evening and the couple kicked off the party with their first dance. Beforehand, Jamie told me they were planning “just a wee shuffle”, while bridesmaid Katie said the guests had been told to join in after 30 seconds. I’ve learned that “wee shuffles” often hit their first twirl at around the 30-second mark, so I asked Katie to hold everyone back for at least 45 seconds.

Thank goodness I did, because Jamie turned out to be an absolute liar. The “wee shuffle” was a fully choreographed routine, complete with twirls and dips.

Bass Rock Ceilidh then took over, with modern rock twists on the traditional ceilidh dances. It was brilliant to watch the Malaysian side of the family learning the steps and throwing themselves into the joyful chaos of a Scottish wedding. The rain had returned during dinner, heavier than ever, ruling out golden hour photos. However, the stormy skies outside made a wonderful contrast with the warm, cosy marquee.

I didn’t want Ann & Jamie to miss out on evening portraits, especially with that new dress. So once the rain cleared, I set up some creative backlit shots outside. The air felt like a late summer night in Europe after a thunderstorm, with fog rolling across the fields and a last glow in the sky. I always like to end a gallery with a great photo of the couple, and these were the perfect finish.

The rain that barely showed

When I edited their gallery, I noticed how little the rain appeared in it. It shaped the whole day, from the indoor confetti to the shuffled morning photos (and my desperate need for a poncho), yet you’d barely know from the photos. Maybe that’s down to Arniston House, or to how stunning Ann & Jamie are together, or how good the party was. More likely, it’s because the best memories are made surrounded by the people you love.

“The weather was temperamental on our wedding day... but Stephanie was prepared and adaptable and knew what to do to still get us those wonderful wedding shots.”
Ann & Jamie

Tips for an Arniston House wedding

• Plan your Plan B. The Orangery works beautifully for indoor confetti and the ceremony, so agree a wet-weather plan with the venue team in advance.
• Allow travel time between cottages. The getting-ready cottages are on opposite sides of the estate, so build in a few minutes for your photographer to move between them.
• Use the walled garden. The garden behind the Gardener’s Cottage is perfect for first looks and solo portraits before the ceremony.
• Keep portraits flexible. With woodland, fields and the house all close by, it’s easy to grab portraits whenever the weather gives you a window.
• Stay out late. On a summer evening, the fields around the marquee are stunning for backlit portraits after dark.

Suppliers

Wedding Venue: Arniston House

Wedding Dress: Whistles

Flowers:The Daisy Chain

Hair & Makeup: Circles Bridal Hair

Celebrant: Chris Lerpiniere (Sonder Celebrant

Kilts: MacGregor & MacDuff

Wedding Band: Bass Rock Ceilidh

Catering:The Pantry (Food) & Majestic Wines (Drinks)

Getting married at Arniston House?

I’d love to hear about your plans. See what your wedding day with me looks like → or tell me about the two of you and your date below.