Should I Plan an Indoor or Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in North East Scotland? Here are The Honest Pros and Cons of Both

If you’re getting married in Aberdeenshire, you’ve probably had this back and forth already:

“I’d love an outdoor ceremony…but what if the weather is awful?”

I’ve photographed a lot of weddings in the north east of Scotland, in all sorts of weather, and I’ve seen outdoor ceremonies absolutely nail it… and I’ve also seen couples very relieved they chose to stay indoors.

So as your wedding photographer, here are the honest pros and cons of booking an indoor and outdoor wedding ceremony in an area where the weather can get very temperamental! This isn’t about saying one is better than the other. It’s just a realistic look at both, so you can decide what will actually suit the both of you.

There’s a reason so many couples are drawn to getting married outside. When the weather plays ball (even if it’s just dry and calm), it’s hard to beat! Everything feels so relaxed, a bit more open and you really don’t need to do much extra to make it look good.

You’ve already got the backdrop with your chosen venue, whether that’s hills, gardens or a gorgeous castle lawn. From my side as your wedding photographer, people tend to settle a lot quicker as well. It doesn’t feel as formal, which usually means less nerves and more natural interactions.

But – and this is the bit that matters – you have to go into it knowing you’re not in control of the conditions.

I’ve seen beautiful outdoor ceremonies with a bit of wind that nobody initially cared about. But I’ve also seen ones where the wind is strong enough that no one can hear properly, dresses are going everywhere, and everyone’s distracted. Rain is one thing, but wind is definitely a big issue on it’s own.

So if you’re set on being outside, the key thing is this: have a backup plan you actually like!

Not one you’re settling for. One you’d be happy with if that’s what you end up using. Because on the day, decisions sometimes get made quickly and you don’t want that to feel like a compromise for the ceremony you’ve dreamed about for so long.

Indoor ceremonies sometimes don’t get the same attention when people are planning and don’t seem as ‘exciting’ as an outdoor one, but they do solve a lot of problems without you even realising.

First off, you’re not thinking about the weather. At all. Which, of course, is a big deal in Scotland. There’s no last-minute stress, no watching the forecast, no decision-making on the already stressful morning of your wedding.

And from a guest point of view, it’s just easier. Everyone’s comfortable, everyone can hear, no one’s worrying about being cold or soaked before the day’s even properly started.

Some of the best ceremonies I’ve photographed have been indoors. And venue-wise, there are some absolutely stunning indoor spaces in Aberdeenshire. Big windows, loads of natural light and gorgeous layouts that can be organised how you want.

The only thing I’d say is indoor ceremonies can feel a bit more ‘structured’. But that’s certainly not a bad thing, and a lot of that comes down to how you use the space and plan ahead.

If an outdoor ceremony is the number 1 option, I always suggest to couples to create a plan for both.

This is usually the best approach, as you get the excitement of hoping for good weather, but none of the stress if it doesn’t happen.

I’ve seen plenty of weddings where the plan changed on the morning, everything moved inside and the day was still brilliant. No one cared and it didn’t take anything away from it!

A few things worth thinking about (that people don’t always consider):

If you’re leaning outdoors, think about your guests as much as yourselves. It might feel fine standing outside for 20 minutes, but if it’s cold or windy, it hits differently when you’re sitting still. Also think about sound, especially when it comes to your celebrant leading the ceremony. Wind can make things harder to hear than you’d expect!

And in general – make sure to build a lot of flexibility into your timings throughout the day as a rule of thumb.

This is usually the point where couples are hoping for a clear answer, but it really does come down to what matters most to you and how you want the day to feel. If you’re drawn to the idea of being outside, love the setting, and don’t mind a bit of unpredictability, then it can be such a good choice. Especially if you’ve got a backup plan you feel genuinely happy with, it takes away that pressure of everything depending on the weather.

On the other hand, if you know that uncertainty is going to sit in the back of your mind, or you’d rather just wake up on the morning of your wedding and not have to think about making a call, then an indoor ceremony can feel like a bit of a relief.

From my experience photographing weddings across the North East of Scotland, the setting itself rarely ends up being the thing that defines the ceremony.

What makes the biggest difference is how it feels for you both. If you’re comfortable and not distracted by what’s going on around you, that’s what allows you to properly take it in. I’ve seen indoor and outdoor ceremonies that both work really well for completely different reasons. It’s less about choosing the “better” option, and more about choosing the one that feels right for you and how you want the day to run.

If you feel confident in that decision beforehand, I can assure you that everything else tends to fall into place.

Still weighing up an indoor or outdoor ceremony? If you’re not quite sure which way to go, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to talk it through with you.