Rona and Mark booked me as their photographer for their beautiful Culzean Castle wedding, to capture their day on 35mm analogue film and digital. The wedding was split between Culzean Castle and Western House Hotel in Ayrshire. Morning prep took place at Western House Hotel, while the wedding ceremony was in the Orangery at Culzean Castle. After photos, we then headed to Western House Hotel for the reception, meal and partying. This full-day wedding photography package included a half-day second photographer to maximise an amazing selection of photographs from Culzean Castle in Scotland on 35mm film and digital.
Getting Ready: Wedding Prep at Western House Hotel, Ayr
The day started with wedding prep at Western House Hotel, in Ayr. Mark and Rona both had their own suite to get ready in. My second photographer, Audrey, was on hand to capture the groom and his wedding party in the morning.
Meanwhile, I headed to Rona’s suite to photograph all the fun that goes on behind the scenes of bridal prep. I think that the film stock I used here really worked well in the setting. One of my favourite photographs is of Rona putting on her dress in her dressing room.
Wedding Ceremony at Culzean Castle, Ayrshire
Rona arrived in a vintage car at her wedding ceremony at the Orangery at Culzean Castle. Culzean Castle is about half an hour from Western House Hotel in Ayr, and the guests were able to take a coach which stopped close to the entrance. Staff collected wedding guests in a buggy and took them the rest of the way to the front of Culzean Castle.
The Orangery is a lovely space for a wedding ceremony. It’s really light and airy, so from a photography perspective, it’s ideal in terms of lighting. Despite the amount of glass, it wasn’t excessively hot either. Culzean Castle remained open to the public. However, the Orangery works really well for the ceremony. It’s tucked away, making it an intimate wedding ceremony location.
The Orangery can be found down a flight of stairs next to the lawn, so it offers a bit of privacy for wedding ceremonies. Culzean Castle allows biodegradable confetti outside by the entrance to the Orangery.
Wedding Photos at Culzean Castle
The team at Culzean Castle were amazing in accommodating us for wedding photography. We were granted access to the Castle, and given the opportunity to use several of the rooms for portraits. Among the spaces were the Oval Staircase and Round Drawing Room. The gun collection in the entrance also offered an amazing backdrop for portrait too. We were given a brief opportunity for exclusive access to these spaces.
Flash is not permitted inside Culzean Castle, so I worked with the ambient window light, shooting on both digital and 35mm film.
We also took wedding photographs outside in the grounds of Culzean Castle. The viewing platform made a brilliant spot for a group portrait of all the guests. The staff chauffeured me, my second photographer and Rona and Mark in a buggy for us to explore the grounds. This gave us so much access to the estate to find hidden gems like the walled garden that I loved a lot.
The Tea House (or Summer House) sits within the walled garden, originally built in 1886 for the castle’s owners to relax. It looks like a cute woodland hut and gave a pretty and intimate space for us to use for some wedding portraits.
Western House Hotel Wedding Reception
Western House Hotel in Ayr was the location for the wedding reception, where more guests joined the party. Rona and Mark had a sweetheart table for two, instead of a traditional top table. This is proving popular with more couples looking for a modern take on their wedding table settings. They also had a bar cake, or single-storey cakes for their wedding at Western House Hotel. This is becoming a more fashionable take on the traditional wedding cake, and offers a different perspective to the usual round tiered wedding cake. I loved the detail on this contemporary cake design from Liggy’s Cakes.
Rona and Mark also hired the brilliant Tarnach Ceilidh Band, who kept the wedding dance floor full all night long with their mix of ceilidh and pop songs.
Culzean Castle and Western House Hotel Wedding FAQ
Culzean Castle in Ayrshire is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is situated on a clifftop overlooking Arran. It can host anything from an elopement to a 250-guest wedding. The Orangery, which was used for this wedding, can accommodate up to 50 guests for a ceremony or reception.
Western House Hotel is located in Ayr and has a range of wedding packages, including twilight and winter options, as well as reception-only.
Flash is not permitted inside the castle. You can, however, use it in the Orangery (if required), where wedding ceremonies are sometimes held. I work with the natural light inside the castle, which suits its rooms beautifully.
Biodegradable confetti is allowed outside Culzean Castle.
Staff at Culzean Castle can collect wedding guests and drive them via buggy to the main entrance. This is ideal for those with young children or people with mobility needs. Or people with high heels!
To make the most of the grounds and the castle, I would recommend setting aside a minimum of 45 minutes for wedding couple portraits. This should be in addition to the time spent on wedding family portraits. Both the castle and the grounds are expansive to explore. The best spots, like the Oval Staircase, the Round Drawing Room and the walled garden, are spread out. When you’ve invested in a venue like Culzean, it’s worth giving yourselves the time to enjoy it!
Yes. Western House Hotel has the Ascot Suite, which is ideal for getting ready before your ceremony. You can stay in the hotel overnight, and there is space for hair and make-up with good lighting, as well as a dressing room. The four-poster bed and chaise longue make lovely backdrops for getting-ready photos, and the suite has a beautiful private bathroom. You can use the suite even if you are having your ceremony elsewhere.
Yes, Western House Hotel is excellent for a ceilidh. The band can access the Cathedral Ballroom through the patio doors at the back of the room, without disturbing guests as they mingle in the lounge area. The Cathedral Ballroom has a bar too. Guests who prefer to chat away from the music can do so in the lounge, which is comfortable and snug and also has its own bar.
Culzean Castle is 13.5 miles south of Western House Hotel, approximately a 30-minute drive. Both venues have plenty of space if you want to book a coach to take your wedding guests between them. If you’re using both venues, build plenty of time into your day for travel. That way you can enjoy both venues at a relaxed, easy pace without feeling rushed, and still come away with beautiful photos.
For a full-day wedding across both venues, I’d recommend it. A second photographer means the primary photographer can concentrate on your wedding couple portraits, while the second travels ahead to photograph guests arriving and the details at the next venue. It minimises the photography time lost to travel. For this wedding, I booked a half-day second photographer to cover exactly that. For an elopement or very small wedding, a solo photographer should be able to capture all the key moments.
Culzean Castle and Western House Hotel Ayr Wedding Photographer
Are you looking for a photographer for your wedding at Culzean Castle or Western House Hotel in Ayr? Get in touch with me today. I can photograph your wedding at Culzean Castle or Western House Hotel on 35mm analogue film and digital, and I have a range of packages to suit your coverage needs. I would love to hear from you!
Still choosing your venue? Have a look at my guide to luxury wedding venues in Scotland.
Culzean Castle and Western House Hotel Wedding Suppliers
- Wedding Ceremony: Culzean Castle
- Wedding Reception: Western House Hotel
- Make-up: https://www.instagram.com/aylayildirim_hmua
- Hair: https://www.facebook.com/people/HairbyNatalie/
- Menswear: https://www.slaters.co.uk
- Transport: https://www.ayrshireweddingcars.co.uk and https://www.ember.to/hire
- Celebrant: https://www.daniellegrahamcelebrant.co.uk
- Wedding Cake: https://www.liggyscakes.co.uk
- Dog Chaperone: https://www.facebook.com/p/SausageSmall-Dog-Nanny
- Pipers: https://www.facebook.com/robinhaypiper and https://www.cwhpiping.co.uk
- Band: https://tarnachceilidhband.com
- Second Photographer: https://tandemphoto.co.uk
