Laura and Sean fell in love with Carrick Castle Estate when they realised they could customise it for their wedding and make it truly their own. I have loved being a wedding photographer at Carrick Castle Estate, so I was thrilled when they asked me to capture their day for them.

I love returning to this stunning venue, it’s such a laid back and relaxed place to host a wedding. It’s a long drive, but I’ve gotten so used to traveling there now it feels easy. The journey helps add to the build up of the day. I love hidden away gems like this. The ones you have to explore to find. You travel to the Rest and Be Thankful, then head down a single track road with passing places. It feels like the start of an adventure. I always imagine that’s how it feels for wedding guests too, wondering where this winding road will lead them.

One of the joys of Carrick Castle Estate, is you feel like you’re in a secret little bubble. You feel isolated from the usual pace of life. It’s wonderfully liberating to have that sense of being in a world of your own. It’s that change that makes you embrace the here and now, and live in the moment. As a wedding photographer, I love photographing people as they lean into this sense of escape at Carrick Castle Estate— fully present, fully themselves. I think it feels like a holiday in the space of a day.

Why Choose Carrick Castle Estate?

I asked Laura and Sean why they chose Carrick Castle Estate for their wedding. They responded “We just loved that it was outdoorsy with beautiful scenery. Also we liked that we could customise it so much so it really felt like ‘us’.“

Wedding Prep Photos at Carrick Castle Estate

It was a glorious morning at Carrick Castle Estate when Sean and Laura had booked their wedding. I love the interior of the lodge for morning prep. The upstairs space is perfect and has an abundance of light, making it ideal for make up and hair stylists. The layout is open plan as well, so you have this lovely sense of flow in the upper area. There’s a private secluded balcony too, and a little dressing room to give some privacy when it comes to getting dressed.

The lodge has accommodation for 16 people, and there’s an adjoining annex that has two double and a twin room as well. It’s ideal for accommodating all your immediate wedding party, The benefit of this was that i was able to capture both Sean and Laura in the morning of their wedding, giving each a unique insight to what happened before the ceremony.

First Look at Carrick Castle Estate Lodge

i’m such a sucker for this part of the morning! I love photographing the first look just before it’s time to tie the knot. It’s a real VIP behind the scenes experience. After getting dressed with some help from her sister, Laura had her big reveal to her bridesmaids. Then it was time for her dad to see his daughter in her wedding gown for the first time. Safe to say, there were beautiful happy tears, it was a very special moment for them all.

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Carrick Castle Estate

Laura and Sean decided to have an outdoor wedding ceremony at Carrick Castle Estate. In my experience, I’ve only photographed one indoor wedding ceremony at this beautiful venue in Scotland. The rest have taken place outdoors. The warm sunshine and clear skies gave guests the most stunning view across the loch and mountains while Laura and Sean exchanged vows. I loved photographing this outdoor wedding ceremony at Carrick Castle estate as it felt relaxed and laid back. It also offered the best opportunity to capture the wedding from multiple angles. It’s great to be able to move around freely and photograph without drawing attention to myself at weddings and an outdoor ceremony at Carrick Castle Estate is the perfect opportunity to do this.

I asked Laura and Sean what they were looking forward to most about their wedding. Laura said “Seeing Sean’s face as I walk down the aisle, I will be so excited to see him.” while Sean responded “Everyone being all together and celebrating us. Quiet moments when it’s just the two of us.”

Scottish Outdoor Wedding Reception

With the sun shining, guests were able to enjoy a wonderful summer day wedding reception experience. The lawn is lovely and flat, which means it’s comfortable for people to walk around. There is also a paved area and a courtyard next to the Lodge, ideal for setting up tables with drinks. There are benches outside too for guests to rest. Carrick Castle estate has a mix of space to allow for soaking the Scottish sunshine, or relaxing in open shade if people prefer. The open space allows for people to flow and move around, making the wedding guest art of mingling so much easier.

This layout allows people to comfortably socialise, without feeling hemmed in or claustrophobic. You could also set up summer lawn games here, if you wanted, or have musicians or a drinks table or any other form of entertainment. When you have space, such as at Carrick Castle Estate, you reduce the chances of people getting lost in their phones instead. I love being able to photograph candid natural photographs at weddings at Carrick Castle Estate. I can move around comfortably and find lots of new interesting angles to work from.

Bride and Groom Couples Photography at Carrick Castle Estate

There are three spots I love to photograph couples during their wedding at Carrick Castle Estate. I love using the summer house, which offers some shade on a summer day. I enjoyed photographing Sean and Laura just a short walk from their guests. It meant we weren’t away for an excessive amount of time, and could incorporate the beautiful scenery into their wedding photographs. This is an ideal location if you are a little short on time. The other locations are up in the mountains, which you reach by a drive up a road (you’ll be accompanied by the owner). Alternatively, they can also take you to the side of the loch.

Wedding Breakfast in the Barn

The barn is where you will enjoy your wedding breakfast at Carrick Castle Estate. It’s a lovely spacious area, that has a bar, and seating. There’s also breakout areas for guests to relax, ideal on a cool day or for those seeking some respite from the heat. It’s a real blank canvas as well, so you can decorate it in whatever way works for you. It’s also not a space that feels like you’re rattling around.

Evening Couple Portraits at Loch Goil

After the meal, we got a lift in the back of the white land rover, from the owner. We headed to the loch to enjoy a relaxed photo session. by the waters edge. This is where you’ll find the original Carrick Castle, and it’s an idyllic spot for romantic and intimate photographs. I love taking photographs here and using the scenery to frame the photos. Evening time is a perfect opportunity to slip out from your wedding and reconnect with one another. When you spend so much of your wedding chatting to guests, sometimes you don’t spend as much time as you’d expect with the person you married! So I’m always happy to be used as an excuse, to go and take some beautiful photographs while you catch up with your new spouse .

Dancing and Party Time at Carrick Castle Estate

There’s something brilliant about the space in the barn when it comes to hosting a party! As the evening light fades, the barn lights u p and becomes a brilliant party venue for weddings. Sean kicked off the dancing and fun by playing some songs to his guests, which was thoroughly enjoyed. Then it was time for the wedding band to start up, and the guests were in full on party mode! This was what Sean and Laura wanted from their wedding. They told me when I asked what they wanted from their day “A bit of a party atmosphere which is relaxed and laidback- we want everyone to have fun!”.

Carrick Castle Estate Wedding Photographer

If you’re looking for a Scottish wedding photographer to capture your wedding at this beautiful venue in Scotland, I would love to hear from you! I’ve photographed several weddings at Carrick Castle Estate before, and really enjoy working there. Get in touch to find out how we can work together.

Carrick Castle Estate Wedding Suppliers

• Venue: Carrick Castle Estate
• Cake: Liggy’s Cake
• Florist: Helensburgh Flowers
• Videographer: Vivid Weddings
• Hair and Make Up: One Love Bridal
• Outfits and accessories: Gwenne Weddings