A Colourful & Creative Carlowrie Castle Wedding

Real Wedding
Written By Lou Rob

Emma & Rory

When I think back to Emma and Rory’s Carlowrie Castle wedding in April, the first word that comes to mind is intentional. Every detail was thought through, every element told a story, and the whole day was a celebration of colour, creativity, and connection.

Emma is an artist, and you could feel her creativity woven into the fabric of the wedding. From designing all the stationery herself to hand-stitching a dusky pink veil scattered with 3D flowers (with a little help from her bridesmaid), she poured her personality into the details. As a storytelling photographer, I’m always drawn to those personal, artistic touches and this wedding was full of them.

A Venue Made for Colour: Carlowrie Castle

Carlowrie Castle, just outside Edinburgh, was the perfect setting for such a vibrant day. Yes, you’ve got the iconic castle itself which is an absolute showstopper for portraits but what I love most as a photographer is the variety.

The grounds offer everything from romantic, tucked-away corners of the garden to wide open lawns, greenhouses, and even tennis courts for a modern twist. It means you can capture everything from those big, sweeping statement shots to quieter, intimate portraits that feel like little secrets. Emma and Rory’s day made full use of the space, and it gave us so much freedom to play with light, colour, and composition.

Florals That Stole the Show

If there’s one element that really defined this wedding, it was the flowers. Emma wanted “more is more” when it came to pastels and florals, and Emily from Fruit Salad Flowers brought that vision to life like absolute magic.

Bright, varied pastel tones blended into arrangements that felt both joyful and elevated. From bold bouquets to beautifully styled tables, the florals pulled everything together and created such a fun, artistic vibe. They weren’t just decoration - they were an expression of Emma’s style and personality.

Favourite Moments

There were so many highlights, but a few stand out for me:

✨ The confetti shot (as alsways) was pure joy, energy, and colour. It’s one of those moments where you can feel the celebration in every frame, and Emma and Rory’s guests absolutely nailed it.

✨ Evening portraits - after dinner we slipped away for a few extra shots in the garden, and the light was stunning. Soft, golden, and romantic and the perfect contrast to the bright, bold daytime vibe.

✨ The details, maaaaaan, the details - from the hand-stitched veil to the illustrated stationery, everything was layered with intention. It’s that sort of thoughtfulness that makes a wedding feel so personal, and it shines through in the couple’s final gallery.

Why I Loved This Wedding

As an Edinburgh wedding photographer, I shoot so many different styles of weddings but Emma and Rory’s day was the perfect reminder of why I adore colourful, creative celebrations. It was elegant but playful, stylish but relaxed, and most importantly, it felt completely authentic to them.

If you’re planning a Carlowrie Castle wedding and dreaming of something filled with personality, colour, and stunning florals, I can’t recommend this venue enough. And if bold, joyful photography is your vibe then I’d love to hear from you.

The Team

Lou Rob
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