Charles and Jo are sheep farmers and successful show judges, and recently bought a shiny new farm...

So, for their July wedding, they decided to host a Big Ol' Orcadian knees up before they filled their wonderfully empty new barn with lambs!

And what an incredible day it was, full of fun and love and so many personal touches - no mean feat for a bride with 2 jobs and a farm to tend...but it just goes to show what a team of talented helpers and a lot of hard work can do.


Jo - with her bridesmaids, family and adoptive 'Orkney family' - got ready in a beautiful property owned by a family friend (I love getting to explore these hidden architectural gems!) before we all battered across the island for their service at the stunning St Magnus Cathedral. And despite the grand surroundings, Minister Kerr led a personal and relaxed ceremony with plenty of laughter and beautiful music from soloist Hannah Firth and Charles' beloved church organ.

A series of black and white photos showing the final touches and preparations of a bride in her wedding gown.
A bride in a white lace wedding dress sits on a bed, smiling warmly in a sunlit bedroom.
Wedding ceremony inside a historic cathedral with stained glass windows and gathered congregation.

The Orkney Young Farmers formed an honour guard as C&J left the Cathedral - something I hadn’t expected - and everyone enjoyed some down time, catch ups and congratulations until we headed back across the island.

Wedding party poses in front of ornate red stone church with Gothic arched doorways and architectural details.
A couple shares a tender moment during their wedding ceremony inside a beautiful gothic church with stained glass windows.
Wedding party poses in front of ornate red stone church archway in formal attire.

The gorgeous bridesmaids and hilarious groomsmen met us at Kirbister Museum for some wonderfully daft group photos and lots of laughs before C&J’s lovely pal Stephen chauffeured us down to Skiall beach.

A joyful wedding party poses with raised arms and celebratory gestures in front of a rustic stone wall.
Wedding party in blush pink dresses holding pink and white floral bouquets stand together outdoors.
A couple shares a romantic moment in front of a rustic stone wall in the countryside during their wedding celebration.

Now, I’ve known plenty of grooms to be a bit camera shy…or known to sneak away before their couple’s shoot. However, Charles may take the biscuit 😆 After setting up their first photo - a wee silhouette as they approached the beach - he turned and said “Great! Is that us then?” To which I probably replied “Eh? Bloody hell man, no!” and booted them down to the beach for a wander at one of Jo’s favourite spots on the island. Thankfully, he soon relaxed when it became clear that this wasn’t going to be a posey-posey photo-shoot

Two people walk along a rocky beach while a white wedding dress flows in the coastal breeze.
A couple shares a romantic moment together during their wedding photoshoot against a rustic stone wall backdrop.
Couple sharing an intimate moment during their wedding photoshoot in black and white.
Overcast coastal beach landscape with stormy clouds and figures walking along the sandy shoreline.

C&J live nearby to the beach and were humming and hawing about going up for a quick photo at the farm with their sheep. They were worried about time but knew from our previous chats that it was something they wanted, so I made the call for them! And thankfully we did, as the first thing Charles noticed as we approached the farm, was a sheep struggling on its back. He quickly jumped out of the jeep and into the field to save the beastie, before nipping up the road for some animal feed.

And so ensured one of the strangest couple shoots I’ve had to date, with Jo & Charles in their wedding finery…in a field…surrounded by sheep…as we all tried to avoid the sheep sh*t and for the critters took it in turns to come over and wonder who the hell I was 😆

A couple in wedding attire sits in a green field surrounded by grazing sheep on their special day.

I’d popped up to the barn the night before for a scout about and it was still a hive of bustling activity. But the finished reception space was an incredible testament to Jo’s vision and a LOT of hard work from their friends & family - many of whom came North a week before the wedding to muck in.


And the night itself was a belter, with heart-warming (and very cheeky) speeches, lovely dinner, a glow-stick lit first dance/rave, group photos of hilarious farmers among the hay-bales and my first colour cannon session. Which has set the bar VERY high! The evening sun came out perfectly, everyone was hilariously hyper after their dinner-wine, while I heckled them all into place and we had such a laugh - even inviting the kids out for photos running around J&C like little mad things for good measure 😆


What a brilliant day! Thank you J&C for having me capture it for you!

Wedding party members dance and celebrate with colorful smoke bombs in an open green field at sunset.
Large wedding party gathered outside rustic farm buildings on a sunny day with blue skies.
Wedding guests dance and celebrate on a crowded dance floor inside a rustic brick venue with string lights overhead.

Suppliers:


Dress: Shropshire Country Brides 

Kilts: McCalls, Elgin 

Hair: Gemma Leslie

Make Up: Blendwithlaura 

Flowers: Jo's Mum Christine

Minister: Rev Kerr Wintersgill

Soloist (singer) at ceremony: Hannah Firth

Organist at ceremony - Steven Flett

Wedding coordinator: Cormac Grogan at Orkney Events

Décor: Orkney Events 

Cake: Angie Dickinson 

Music: Douglas Montgomery and the Clapshot Ceilidh band.

Close-up of a romantic floral arrangement with peach garden roses, pink roses, and white flowers against a blurred background.
A bride in a white wedding dress sits elegantly on a bed with striped pillows in a brightly lit room.
A bride in a flowing white wedding gown stands in a sunlit room preparing for her special day.
Wedding party gathered in an elegant room with soft beige walls and patterned carpet wearing sage green and blush attire.
Wedding party in formal attire gathered by rustic stone wall outdoors.
A happy couple shares a joyful laugh together on their wedding day in a garden setting with stone wall and greenery.
A wedding party poses in front of a stone wall with pink and peach floral bouquets.
Wedding party members in traditional Scottish kilts and formal attire pose together outside rustic stone buildings.
A happy couple shares a joyful moment during their wedding ceremony on a scenic green hillside with a cow in the background.
A romantic wedding couple shares intimate kisses against a cloudy sky in a sequence of four similar photos.
A group of dogs resting together in a lush green field on a cloudy day.
A person in a dark jacket works with sheep in a grassy field on an overcast day.
Wedding guests shower newlyweds with colorful confetti outside a rustic venue during a joyful celebration.
A panoramic sequence showing wedding guests gathered outside a rustic stone barn venue on a sunny day.
A group of people sit casually on a stone wall by the beach, laughing and enjoying themselves on an overcast day.