Intimate Marischal College and Chester Hotel wedding

Wedding Photographer Aberdeen: Black and white photo of a white m/f couple in smart attire and sunglasses smiling at each other. They are shot from a low angle with a glowing sky and dark buildings behind them.
One Cool Couple
Meet Kathryn and Dick - I love them! Honestly, what a great pair. They've been together for absolute years, but finally tied the knot with an intimate ceremony and reception at the height of Aberdeen's heatwave.
Wedding Photography in Old Aberdeen: A white m/f couple stand with their arms around each other, smiling at each other. She wears a white dress with blue floral pattern and holds a colourful bouquet of flowers. He wears blue and green wedding attire and has long hair tied back. The background is a sandstone wall and masses of pink hydrangeas.
Couple Photos In Old Aberdeen
With Kathryn and Dick living abroad, they didn't think a pre-wedding photo shoot was an option... but they also weren't keen to be rushing around in the small window of time between their ceremony and reception.
But, you know what? When you're getting ready together and you're not scared of anyone seeing "the dress", the whole day is yours to play with. 
We met in Old Aberdeen, an hour before their ceremony, to take some couple photos around the University where they first met.
Black and white wedding photograph taken at King's College in Aberdeen. A groom in kilt raises his arm for his bride in white and blue floral dress to twirl under. She is laughing. They are framed by the arched entrance to the ancient Quad.
Wedding photograph taken at King's College in Aberdeen. A groom in kilt raises his arm for his bride in white and blue floral dress to twirl under. She is laughing. They are framed by the arched entrance to the ancient Quad.
Wedding Photography in Old Aberdeen: An m/f couple walk down a narrow cobbled lane between old stone walls, green trees arching above them. She is in a blue and white wedding dress and carries a colourful bouquet and he is in a traditional Scottish kilt.
Standing by a stone wall under a huge shrub of white flowers, a white m/f couple stand face to face and embrace. She is in a blue and white wedding dress and he is in a traditional Scottish kilt. Her colourful bouquet is held to one side.
Detail shot of a colourful wedding bouquet - a mix of blues and pinks and yellows and whites. The bouquet is tied with a blue ribbon and has a keepsake charm attached with an old photo of the bride's grandparents in it. The bride's hands are shown holding the bouquet. She has deep red nails and her blue and white floral dress is visible behind the flowers.
Wedding Photography on Old Aberdeen's High Street. A groom in traditional Scottish kilt reaches up to brush hair out of his bride's face. They are small in the shot, at the bottom right. Tall cream minarets (the Powis Gateway) which look straight out a fairytale are behind them, and the sky has a hazy glow.
Isn't that keepsake charm beautiful?
Aberdeen Wedding Photography: A white m/f couple lean over a railing whilst smiling at each other. They are unconsciously mirroring each other's arm placement as they lean. He is in a blue and green kilt; she is wearing a white and blue floral dress and dangles a colourful bouquet over the railing. In the background, two blue doors with stained glass windows frame them.
An Intimate Marischal College Wedding Ceremony
Then we hopped in a taxi to Marischal College for an intimate wedding ceremony. 
The ceremony took place in the gorgeous Grant Room and was conducted by an Aberdeen City registrar. 
Kathryn and Dick had a small guest list of firm friends and beloved family members - and it was perfect.
Kathryn was walked down the aisle by her dad. 
Wedding ceremony in the Grant Room at Marischal College. A bride in blue and white dress is walked down the aisle by her dad in traditional kilt. Her groom stands at the front of the room, with guest smiling all down the aisle. The background is large stained glass windows.
Wedding ceremony in the Grant Room at Marischal College: Father of the bride embraces the groom at the end of the aisle while the bride and guests look on.
The couple read their own vows.
Close up shot of groom's hands holding a sheet of lined paper with his vows written on it in blue. The words are not legible in the photograph.
A bride in blue and white floral dress reaches out to touch her groom's arm as he reads his vows; she is beaming at him.
There was a very special ring bearer: Ringo, a raccoon who Kathryn had crocheted (you bet I roared with delighted laughter when she WhatsApped me a photo of him a few weeks before the wedding!).
A crocheted raccoon with small crocheted basket sits atop a blue velvet cushion.
And they even had a quaich toast.
Time for Some Photos at Marischal College
After the ceremony, we had fifteen minutes for photos within the Grant Room, so we grabbed a few pictures of the full group, along with photos with each of the couple's grandmothers. Then the guests moved outside while we took a few pictures of just the newlyweds.
Wedding ceremony in the Grant Room at Marischal College: Black and white group shot of laughing couple and all guests.
Wedding ceremony in the Grant Room at Marischal College: Black and white photo of a bride in floral dress with her arms around her grandmother in smart dress and jacket; their heads are close as they share a quiet moment.
Black and white close up of couple's hands with simple wedding bands shining on their ring fingers.
Wedding ceremony in the Grant Room at Marischal College: Newlywed m/f couple stands holding hands, face to face, silhouetted against the stained glass windows.
Black and white photo: Wedding ceremony in the Grant Room at Marischal College: Newlywed m/f couple stands holding hands, face to face, silhouetted against the stained glass windows.
A beaming newlywed couple, lit from the side by a large window. His arms are wrapped around her from behind and she is reaching up to touch him. They are both beaming. The background is wood panelling.
A newlywed couple, lit from the side by a large window. His arms are wrapped around her from behind and she is reaching up to touch him. Her eyes are closed and she looks perfectly relaxed as he smiles at her. The background is wood panelling.
Wedding photography in Marischal College's Grant Room in Aberdeen. A smiling m/f couple in shades of blue are framed against the ornate blue ceiling and glowing golden chandelier.
Wedding photography in Marischal College's Grant Room in Aberdeen. A smiling m/f couple in shades of blue are framed against the ornate blue ceiling and glowing golden chandelier.
The weather was turning as we left Marischal College, so we took just a handful of group shots on Broad Street, with the rest to follow at the Chester Hotel reception (we always have a bad weather plan B in North-East Scotland!).
A newlywed m/f couple hold hands and smile as they walk out of Marischal College, their guests lined up on either side, clapping and cheering for them.
Black and white photo of a newlywed groom and his four bandmates. They are all in kilts, raising fists and cheering, outside of Marischal College in Aberdeen.
Black and white photo of newlywed bride in floral dress and white heels chatting to female guests in lovely dresses under umbrellas, on a rainy summer day, outside Marischal College in Aberdeen.
Drinks Reception at The Chester Hotel
Then it was straight into taxis to The Chester Hotel on Queen's Road for a drinks reception and dinner (with a shout out to any venue which offers the photographer a pot of tea).
Black and white wedding photo: Two brothers in kilts flanked by their mother and father, all stand laughing; the mother is smiling up at her sons.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of a man holding a glass of bubbly; the drink is lit by the sun and glowing against a dark background.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of a man in kilt sitting on a sofa, gazing off to one side.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: A short-haired white woman in a smart floral dress and glasses holds a drink and waves her hand expressively as she talks.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: A woman lit by windowlight plays with her hair absent-mindedly as she listens to somebody talk.
The table was set for the meal with homemade favours of tablet and crocheted thistles.
The couple had opted to do speeches before the meal, and had booked me to stay until these were over. Kathryn's dad gave a moving - but hilarious - speech which included reading from a letter she had written to the tooth fairy as a child. Dick was up next, and then - as is traditional for the five of them - his four bandmates gave a collaborative speech.
Most of the guests have known each other for many years, so the speeches were full of old stories and in-jokes, happy tears and gentle teasing, but also a huge, huge amount of love for Kathryn and Dick. 
A long-haired groom in traditional Scottish kilt checks his reflection in a mirror.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: A crocheted thistle and bag of tablet sit on top of the napkin and menu at a place setting.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Father of the bride reads from a yellow tooth fairy letter as guests in the background look at him and smile.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of laughing guests during speeches.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of bride putting her head in her hands as groom laughs and her father looks over at her, mid-speech.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Father of the bride pauses for a drink mid-speech as mother of the bride wipes tears from her eyes.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Guests clap and laugh during speeches.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Guests clap as father of the bride sits down at the end of his speech.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of groom standing up to read his speech. Guests around are smiling.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of bride standing and hugging groom mid-speech; his notes are visible in his hand, with "Thank You" legible at the top.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of groom smiling to his left mid-speech.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Mother of the groom in pretty floral dress smiles up at her son.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of wedding guest smiling.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Black and white photo of guests listening to speech; one young woman looks teary.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Bride holds her hand to her mouth and laughs as she looks across the table at a friend.
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Bride's close friend, with red curly hair and a red and pink leopard print dress, smiles.
Congratulations again, Kathryn and Dick!
And if you are interested in wedding photos like these for your Aberdeen or wider Scotland wedding, you can...
find out more about my packages here
Wedding reception at Chester Hotel, Aberdeen: Tablescape of empty glasses on the reception dining table, with cutlery and bags of tablet visible here and there.

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