I recently photographed a lovely wedding at Rufflets Hotel in St Andrews. The bride and groom, Heather and Peter, were just wonderful to work with and we spent time beforehand discussing the photographs that were most important to them along with the timescales so that I knew how to plan their photography. It all went without a hitch and even the weather stayed fair for us!
Peter and Heather stayed in separate lodges in the grounds of Rufflets on the eve of their wedding so I arrived early in the day to photograph them getting ready and with their respective families. I always think it’s so important to capture all the small details on the day too as after wards it’s the photographs that preserve the memories. 
Aren’t her shoes just great! 
Once they were ready I took some individual photos of them making sure neither could see the other and then photographed them with their families. Sometimes I think I have the best job in the world, photographing people in their finest and happy and excited to be part of a wedding. 
I left Rufflets and journeyed down to Holy Trinity Church in St Andrews, in time to photograph Peter and his groomsmen and Heather’s arrival. Holy Trinity is a truly beautiful church set in lovely grounds so it is a joy to photograph there too. 
After the ceremony was over Peter, Heather and I went back inside to take a few more photos. My favourite is this one of Heather, the ambient light was just perfect.
After photographing the happy couple with friends and family we headed off to the West Sands which is such a popular location for wedding photography in St Andrews and no wonder – it’s a beautiful beach and I walk it almost everyday with my dog!
We left there in plenty of time (good planning you see) to get back for a drinks reception and I photographed Heather and Pete and all their guests in the formal gardens of Rufflets, then shot some more photos with them and friends and family. The gardens are so extensive and beautiful there, I am really spoiled for choice but at every wedding I try to move around to lend more interest by changing the backdrop. 
Once the guest had all been called in to be seated for the wedding breakfast I had the opportunity to get some more lovely couple shots around the gardens.
We headed up to the reception and I photographed the speeches. I always think that photos of the speeches make such wonderful candid shots – very natural - and they always compliment the more formal photos in an album perfectly.
I guess the great advantage of photographing a wedding in St Andrews, for me, is that I can leave at the wedding breakfast and head home for a bite to eat before coming back to photograph the first three dances. It’s usually such a hectic schedule that there is never any time to grab a drink or a light bite to eat so I'm always in need of a drink especially by the evening. Heather and Peter’s first dance was beautifully choreographed and executed, they had obviously spent a lot of time practising but it paid off as their guest were enthralled.
After the first two dances the ceilidh began and what fun the guests had trying to follow all the steps, they had a ball………..
Next week I’ll let you see a wedding at Fingask Castle, by Dundee and not too far from St Andrews.
We headed up to the reception and I photographed the speeches. I always think that photos of the speeches make such wonderful candid shots – very natural - and they always compliment the more formal photos in an album perfectly. 
