As highland wedding photographers we get to meet amazing couples who travel from distances far and wide to come to this stunning location for their elopement weddings. Anna & Colin drove all the way from South Wales to have their elopement wedding at Eilean Donan Castle not just because it is a iconic symbol of the highlands and the most photographed castle in the highlands but also because Anna is a huge fan of the film Highlander which was filmed at this location.
Anna & Colin decided to stay and the newly refurbished Eilean Donan Apartments, with views of Eilean Donan Castle from their window, so we met up with them the day before their elopement wedding to explore the local area and capture some romantic shots of them. As wedding photographers in the west highlands of Scotland we are never short of stunning locations for wedding portraits of the bride and groom. Anna, who is a dress designer, decided to wear a classic white gown for the location shots which really popped against the beautifully sunlight countryside. We were blessed with not only sunshine but also a light breeze as we explored the area around Loch Long stopping here and there to capture this romantic couple as they began a new chapter in their lives. Just before we finished the shoot we gave Colin and Anna a choice about going to one more location just beyond the village of Dornie, which is walking distance from where they are staying, to get a few shots from a wonderfully high viewpoint overlooking Loch Duich and they were happy to oblige. After a wonderful few hours of photographing the wedding couple we left them to relax for the rest of the evening before their wedding.
[ess_grid alias=”Colin and Anna”][/ess_grid]
The following day we joined them at the Eilean Donan Apartments where I stayed with Anna as she was getting ready and James headed of to get set up at Eilean Donna Castle where the wedding ceremony would be held. For the elopement wedding ceremony Anna had chosen to wear an exquisite period dress of her own design and creation which had a tartan pattern in greens and purples and featured handmade thistle corsage and embroidered words that are close to her heart. While Anna was having her makeup and hair done by Bee Bonnie Beauty I photographed the details of her fabulous dress, jewellery and flowers by Loch Duich Plants.
The elopement wedding began with Anna being lead by bagpipe from Dornie across the famous bridge to Eilean Donna Castle. Yesterday’s sunshine had been replaced by moody skies and a little rain sprinkled us as we walked over. The elopement ceremony was conducted by the celebrant Sonja Eckl-Riel and took place in the main hall which has a wonderful sense of grandeur and history. After exchanging loving words, handfasting, sharing from the homemade quaich cup, exchanging rings and kisses the couple were now newlywed and both grinning from ear to ear. While they signed the wedding register and sipped champagne we noticed that the rain had stopped so we all went outside to get a few more photographs around the castle while the weather favoured us. We had a great time with Anna & Colin and it was so beautiful to see this fairytale wedding unfold in such a stunning setting, we wish them the best on their new adventure.