An Intimate LGBTQ+ Celebration || Friends, Family, and Rain-Soaked Darkness
Some weddings radiate warmth from the inside out. Caroline and Jessie’s day was one of them. It wasn’t just about two people marrying each other, it was about bringing together the people who shaped them, loved them, and celebrated with them. For this couple, the wedding was as much about their guests as it was about themselves. That shared focus shaped every part of the day and it showed in the laughter, the stories, and the moments that kept unfolding.
A Quick Ceremony and a Perfect Escape from the Rain
The walled garden was alive with colour and sound. Guests found their seats under the gentle shade of the trees, surrounded by flowers in full bloom. Jessie’s aunt, Deborah, led the non-religious ceremony with warmth and ease, keeping it light, personal, and full of meaning.
Fifteen minutes was all it took for the entire ceremony , entrances, vows, rings, and a kiss, yet it never felt rushed. Instead, it had that rare quality of being exactly the right length for the moment. Just as the applause began to fade, the skies turned and the softest drizzle began to fall. Everyone stayed dry, the mood stayed bright, and the timing could not have been better. It was one of those quiet wins you appreciate in a Scottish wedding.
Friends, Family, and the Joy of Children
If there’s one thing that defined the atmosphere, it was the mix of people. The guest list was filled with friends from every chapter of their lives and family from near and far. The children, in particular, brought a kind of joy that can’t be planned for, racing across the lawn, giggling during canapés, and filling the spaces between formalities with their own little adventures. Caroline and Jessie wanted their guests to feel just as much a part of the weekend as they were, and it worked. The day felt less like a performance and more like a shared celebration.
A First Look in the Glass House
Earlier in the day, before the ceremony began, Caroline and Jessie shared a private first look in the glass house. It was a still, quiet space, framed by the greenery outside and the soft filtered light inside. The moment gave them a chance to see each other without the eyes of seventy guests watching, just the two of them, surrounded by glass and light, taking in the reality of what was about to happen.
Rain, Falconry, and Finding the Fun
The drinks reception brought something entirely new for us, falconry in the rain. Guests huddled under umbrellas, laughing and leaning in to get a closer look at the birds as the rain fell in soft sheets. It was one of those moments that felt purely Scottish, a little bit wild, a little bit unpredictable, and all the more memorable for it.
Working with Melissa Beattie
This was our first time working alongside photographer Melissa Beattie, and it was a pleasure from start to finish. We’d heard of her long before meeting her, and learning she runs ultramarathons made us think we might need to pace ourselves to keep up. Creatively, though, we were perfectly aligned.
Evening fell, the rain stayed, and instead of retreating indoors, we went with Melissa to the forest. It was misty, moody, and cinematic, the kind of weather that makes every colour richer and every breath feel alive. The images and footage from that moment have a texture you can’t fake.
Melissa had travelled a long way to be there, and although timings meant she had to leave before the dancing was fully underway, we made sure nothing was missed. We grabbed our stills camera, joined the dance floor, and captured the energy so she had them to add if she wished. That spirit of collaboration made the day even better, and it’s always a joy to work with other creatives who value teamwork.
The Dance Floor and Late-Night Energy
There wasn’t a formal first dance, but the WooHoo Band didn’t let the floor stay empty for long. Guests filled the space with movement and laughter. Between filming, sharing conversations with guests, and joking with Caroline and Jessie about whisky and their resting faces, it felt like we were part of the celebration rather than observers. The rain outside might have been steady, but inside, the room was full of heat, music, and connection.
Why This Wedding Mattered
Caroline and Jessie’s wedding was more than a beautiful day, it was a celebration of love in all its forms. As an LGBTQ+ couple, their day carried the joy of being able to marry freely, surrounded by people who fully embraced and supported them. The focus wasn’t on tradition for tradition’s sake. It was about creating a space where everyone felt included, valued, and able to let their hair down. The love between them was matched only by the love they extended to the people around them, and that’s the kind of story we are always proud to tell.
The Creative Team
Every supplier brought their very best to this day, and the care in every detail was impossible to miss. We’re grateful to have been part of it, and here’s the team who helped make it all happen.
Photographer: melissabeattiephotography
Music: woohooband
Venue and Coordination: Dunskey Estate
