Credits
The wedding team
- Filmmaker
- @zadefilmco
- Photographer
- @rickybailliephotography
- Gown
- @suzanneneville
- Shoes
- @manoloblahnik
- Planner
- @timelesswhiteweddings
- Floristry
- @wildflowersedinburgh
- Makeup
- @julzstron
- Marquee
- @willsmarquees
- Entertainment
- @redhotchillipipers
- Catering
- @goodhighlandfood
- Rentals
- @houseoffurncollection
- Napkins
- @theembroiderednapkincompany
- Draping
- @illumin8_events
- Chandeliers
- @crescent_moon_events
- Production
- @catalyst.eps
- Assistant photographer
- @sambrill
A Dornoch Cathedral wedding in the Scottish Highlands
Words and photographs by Ricky Baillie
Katy and Rory’s wedding in the north of Scotland was as elegant as it was grand, and I was delighted to capture their stunning celebration.
The weekend began with an intimate candlelit dinner. A beautiful opportunity for friends to reconnect and guests to get to know one another ahead of the big day.
I’m always glad when I get to photograph a wedding over two days. It gives me a chance to recognise people the following morning and to understand a little more of what they mean to each other. With Katy and Rory, the route from that first dinner to the final fireworks took in a cathedral, a castle and a marquee. Some of the photographs I like best are of the minutes spent moving between them.
From the wedding morning to Dornoch Cathedral
Katy’s shoes sat on a pillow beneath a pale blue ribbon. The wider photograph shows her sitting on the edge of the bed, with the patterned walls, dark wood and bedside lamps around her. Put those frames side by side and I think you get a lovely sense of the morning. Katy wore Suzanne Neville, with Manolo Blahnik shoes. The long train is particularly striking in the photograph of her at the doorway, framed by greenery and flowers.
A gorgeous ceremony at Dornoch Cathedral was followed by a drive in a vintage Bentley to the castle, where guests gathered on the grounds for champagne and canapés in the sunshine.
My favourite cathedral frame comes just after the ceremony. Katy and Rory have their joined hands raised as they come down the aisle, and the colour of the stained glass is visible over their heads. A few frames later, the two of them are walking together at the castle. That photograph is in black and white. The outline of Rory’s kilt and the movement at the hem of Katy’s dress are enough to tell you they’re on the move again.
Dinner at the castle
The beautifully designed marquee provided the perfect setting for dinner beneath breathtaking floral installations and chandeliers. Afterwards, guests took to the chequered dance floor for an evening of fantastic entertainment, with a spectacular fireworks display bringing the celebrations to a close.
It’s worth pausing over the two photographs of the marquee before the dancing started. In the wider view you can follow the white tables through the room beneath the drapery and chandeliers. In the closer one, there’s a little shaded lamp tucked into the flowers, and a dark green bow at a place setting. Those are details you would have seen sitting down to dinner. I like giving them as much room in a gallery as the view from the entrance.
Timeless White Weddings planned the celebration, with Wild Flowers Edinburgh on flowers and Wills Marquees behind the dinner setting. You can find the rest of the people who brought the weekend together in the wedding team credits. There was a great deal of work behind that room, right down to what each guest found on their plate.
The last photographs of the night
The chequered floor takes on quite a different look under the evening lights. One frame has the disco ball above Katy’s shoulder as she laughs. In the next, the camera is right in amongst the musicians. With the Red Hot Chilli Pipers playing, there was as much going on at the edge of the dance floor as there was in the middle of it.
For the final photograph the camera looks past Katy and Rory, so you see the fireworks from their side. After a day spent photographing their faces, it felt right to end with the two of them taking it all in together.
Such a memorable couple of days, and a privilege to be part of them. Thank you, Katy and Rory, for placing your trust in me! 🥂
The wedding team
Filmmaker @zadefilmco
Photographer @rickybailliephotography
Gown @suzanneneville
Shoes @manoloblahnik
Planner @timelesswhiteweddings
Floristry @wildflowersedinburgh
Makeup @julzstron
Marquee @willsmarquees
Entertainment @redhotchillipipers
Cake @lilyrosecakes_uk
Catering @goodhighlandfood
Rentals @houseoffurncollection
Napkins @theembroiderednapkincompany
Draping @illumin8_events
Chandeliers @crescent_moon_events
Production @catalyst.eps
Assistant photographer @sambrill