Barnbougle Castle, near South Queensferry

There are venues that naturally lend themselves to having a great party and Barnbougle Castle has that vibe which I gathered from documenting effortless celebrations taking place there. Fun fact, it was entirely reconstructed to house a…library for 5th Earl of Rosebery and you can indeed have your ceremony there on the ground floor or an atmospheric drinks reception in its wood panelled decor. It is spacious enough to hold a vigorous ceilidh so the options for you and your party are endless. The purpose-built gallery hall was a location for the Earl to practise his speeches when he became Prime Minister but from my photographer’s point of view the gallery gives me a great vantage point for capturing your speeches/toasts and even more dancing. The castle grounds are the most beautiful backdrop for portraits - the tree alley going away from the front lawn into the estate is perfect if you want to nip out from your drinks reception and the beach side and the walk with Scottish pine trees is very special in the golden hour when the sunset reflects off the sea and the evening light gets filtered by the branches. Again, it is one of these venues where locations for nice portraits are just a short walk away. For the beach part I recommend some comfy shoes though as it is quite pebbly but when the tide is out it offers an exquisite backdrop. Inside the castle the stone staircase is wide enough to let a lot of light and…dance a can can which I once witnessed performed by a row of three guests!