• Ailsa and Chris
• The Glen Clova Hotel, Angus
• Valentine’s Day 2017

Have you ever dreamt about eloping to a beautiful countryside hotel in the heart of the Angus Glens to marry your best friend with just a handful of your closest friends by your side? And for an extra dose of romance you choose to do it on what’s considered to be the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day? Read on as I’ll share with you the first in my series of Real Weddings, the story of Ailsa and Chris.

Ailsa and Chris decided to get married at the Glen Clova Hotel & Luxury Lodges as it was a special place for them both. They could get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life, stay for a week in one of the gorgeous lodges and make the most of the beautiful scenery around them. The Glen Clova Hotel underwent a transformation in early 2016 and is the perfect setting for an elopement.

I’d known Ailsa for years as she’s my best friend Paul’s Auntie and when she got in touch to book me as their wedding photographer I welled up when she said I was their first and only choice. It’s so important to me that my clients can trust me and I still giggle at Paul’s reaction when he found out a week after the wedding that I was their photographer. You see, some things in life you have to even keep secret from your best friend haha! He called me “sneaky”. I call it trust.

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When I arrived Sandra Cormack was making the girls look even more beautiful with her hair and makeup skills and the boys got to work putting their kilts on. Everyone was very relaxed with an hour to go. Chris headed over to the hotel to wait for his beautiful bride and when Ailsa arrived looking stunning in her Phase Eight Amelie wedding dress and Pink by Paradox London shoes and clutching her beautiful bouquet of flowers you could feel the love in the room.

Ailsa and Chris truly made the wedding their own with an exchange of a ring and binoculars. I can honestly say in all the weddings I’ve photographed I’ve never before heard the phrase “With these binoculars I thee wed”. It made for a good laugh when they were cutting the cake for sure! The ceremony was made even more touching with a beautiful reading of The One by Ailsa’s bridesmaid and a quaich for everyone to drink from to celebrate their marriage.

After the ceremony and a few drinks and nibbles we all went outside to take some photos by the bridge near the hotel and the legendary red phone box before they returned to the hotel to continue the party.

Here are some of the details that made Ailsa and Chris’ day so special:

• Venue: Glen Clova Hotel & Luxury Lodges
• Hair and makeup: Sandra Cormack Professional Hair & Makeup Artist
• Flowers: Robbie and Nicoll
• Wedding dress: Phase Eight Amelie wedding dress
• Bridal shoes: Pink by Paradox London Cosmos
• Assistant Registrar: Tracy Sparey

Congratulations once again to Ailsa and Chris. I wish you all the very best for your future and I’m pleased to share some of your favourite moments from your special day below. Click on any of the images to view them in more detail or tap any image on a mobile device.