Love Across the Pond | Amanda + James’ Romantic Wedding at Cairns Farm Estate | Heather McKay Photography

Heather McKay
Apr 11
3 min read

Updated: Apr 17

Summer is just around the corner, and it has me reminiscing on Amanda + James’ gorgeous wedding at Cairns Farm Estate, just outside Edinburgh, Scotland.

We first met at their engagement shoot in Holyrood Park, so seeing Amanda and her girls on the early on their wedding morning was like seeing an old friend. This is one reason why I always recommend engagement shoots - your wedding day is emotional and you may feel a little vulnerable, but it makes it so much easier having a photographer you know and trust.

Amanda’s bridal villa had the most stunning energy and was buzzing with love and support. It’s important to consider who you have around you on your wedding morning – I knew when I got married I needed my mum, sister and best friend and that any more people would have made me stressed, but Amanda was surrounded by her sisters, mum and best friends and this could not have been better for her. Everyone needs something different at this time when your emotions are running wild, so make sure to do what feels right for you.

While I documented the fun in the girls’ house, my second photographer, Brittany, was with James and his groomsmen, documenting their getting ready moments. It’s such a special time to have with your best friends and having a second photographer is the best way to make sure we capture your moments together too, for an immersive gallery from both perspectives.

Their first look in the gardens eased their nervous anticipation, and their ceremony was the perfect blend of light hearted stories and intimate emotion. With Amanda from the US and James from England, it was the perfect day for everyone seeing their long-distance love story come together.

While US guests had fun meeting the Highland cows, we slipped away for their portraits. I always tailor my approach to suit you as a couple and Amanda + James were all about romance. While they explored the gardens and soaked up some quiet time together, I took a cinematic, storytelling approach to set the scene as well as document the details and intimate moments between them. Prompting instead of posing, I give you guidance to help you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, while also giving you the space to be yourselves and connect with one another. Tailoring my approach in this way ensures your portraits feel fun and effortless, and helps to curate a gallery that feels editorial yet authentic to you.

After emotive speeches and dining, it was time for the evening party. Seeing your loved ones having the best time is one of the things that makes your wedding gallery so immersive, so I love to take a step back and capture all of the authentic, soulful connections during the drinks reception before getting right in the middle of the chaos of the party. To end the night in a true tribute to Scotland, they celebrated with a ceilidh—not one single guest was from Scotland, so watching everyone try to learn the steps is a highlight moment for me!

Focusing on the people, authentic emotions, and your perfectly planned details allows me to curate a gallery that feels effortless, immersive and true to you. It’s editorial, but most importantly, it’s yours.