Natalie & Jamie’s Festival-Style Garden Wedding | A Celebration At Home In Scotland

Natalie and Jamie got married on the 25th of May in the comfort of their own home, in their garden, for their Scottish festival-style wedding. While many people think weddings at home have to be small, cosy celebrations, the couple proved that your personalities can shine through even if you’re not having a wedding at a traditional venue.

Their special day can be described as a music festival mixed with a wedding, and it was magical. I’ve been photographing weddings for years now, and I can confidently say that it was one of the most memorable weddings ever. It was so fitting for them as a couple.

The day started with Natalie getting ready in the house with the girls in the morning, which was lovely. The bridesmaids wore matching striped pyjamas, which always makes for cute photos. We got some fun photos outside in the hammock, which started the day off right. As for Jamie and his boys, they got ready in their workshop, which was a wooden structure that Jamie built by himself. Not many people can say they’ve done that — it was really cool.

Before the ceremony, Natalie and Jamie had a first look. This is quite typical in America, but it’s not done as often in the UK. It was a sweet moment that allowed them to have a quiet moment together before the party really started!

The bridesmaids picked their own dresses. They were all different — all so pretty. You could see their personalities shine in the dresses, which I think is an easy way to make your bridal party feel confident on your big day. Some were short and solid-coloured, while others were long and covered in flowers. They paired them with statement earrings and headbands, another fun way to express themselves and get in the festival vibe.

I also have to take a moment and talk about Natalie’s veil. It was covered in embroidered vines, flowers, and birds. It paired beautifully with her boho lace a-line gown. Not to mention, the color palette perfectly matched the reds, teals, and yellows of Jamie’s kilt which he paired with his everyday footwear – his wellies!

Their ceremony took place in the woods next door to their house. When guests arrived, they were given wristbands like you would when you show up at a festival, and the drinks were flowing from the very beginning. A lot of the decor was also something out of a festival. There was a program of events and posters up everywhere, telling you what was happening throughout the day, bunting and festoon lights.

There were some wooden benches, but most people stood and watched. Natalie’s brother played the guitar during the ceremony, and one of the bridesmaids sang a song. But the true highlight that was very unique was the fact that they exchanged gifts, not rings. Jamie gifted Natalie a tree, and Natalie gifted Jamie a stag head.

After the ceremony, we did a huge confetti line down the driveway of the house. There were food trucks all day, so as soon as Jamie and Natalie tied the knot , there was food available. There were pizzas from a wood-fired pizza truck. There was Greek food, and guests could get freshly made gryos. There was also a cocktail bar in a drinks tent. There was a canoe that was full of ice and drinks as well.

The first band started after the ceremony. It was a local Scottish band. They played a mixture of ceilidh songs and old pop songs. Guests danced on the grass all afternoon. Natalie and Jamie did an amazing job prepping for this. Some really nice, big rugs were laid out, which people kind of used as the dance floor.

Jamie and Natalie had their first dance at 5 p.m., which was really nice. It’s not usually done as early in the afternoon, but I think it was a sentimental yet sweet way to start the night. This is also proof that weddings should always be just what you want, not what is expected or necessarily traditional. After the first dance, there was a dessert table and there were speeches – the night then ramped up. The bridesmaids then came out with sparklers in champagne bottles and shots for the guests. I just loved seeing people chilling out on the grass on the sofas, chairs, and other furniture. Everyone was enjoying the music and the nice weather, which was a blessing because it had been raining all week leading up to the big day.

Later on in the evening, a super cool band came on. They were a six-piece band from Manchester that played a mix of funk, soul, ska, and reggae. The dance floor was always full, and I was asked to stay until the very end. I was there until midnight, watching everyone party the night away, and it made for a lot of fun dancing photos!

Natalie and Jamie said it was a help-yourself kind of wedding. So, if you wanted to make a cup of tea in the house, you went in and made yourself a cup of tea in the house. If you wanted a drink, you helped yourself at the bar. Some people even brought their own. It was a very relaxed and laid back kind of wedding–a lot less formal than other weddings I’ve photographed and probably one of the coolest ever. Seeing couples do what they really want is so refreshing!

If you love these photos and the idea that you want to feel like a natural in front of the camera, I might be the one for you. I’m not just a Scotland wedding photographer. I also double as your bonus bridesmaid and new best friend. I’ll help carry your dress and flowers and make sure your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible. I will probably join you on the dancefloor too!

Here’s what it would be like to have me as your wedding photographer.

Celebrant: Aberdeenshire Registrars
Dress Designer: Rue De Seine
Hair Stylist: Rachael Stronach
Live Music: Anne Dickson Band
Make Up Artist: Diane Anderson
Photographer: By Rhea
Videographer: Tvp
Marquee: Below Canvas
Caterer: Feta
Caterer: By Platter
Caterer: Pizza Box Scotland
Caterer: The Big Orange Food Truck
Band: Yubaba