What does this diary cover?

Notes from behind the camera: Scottish venues, how light behaves at different times of year, the analogue process from exposure to scan, and full weddings written up properly.

Why write about film photography in detail?

Because most couples have never hired a film photographer and reasonably want to know what changes. Explaining the process is more useful than asking anybody to take it on trust.

Can I see a full wedding gallery rather than a highlights set?

Yes. Ask when you enquire and a complete gallery can be shared, which shows consistency across a whole day.

Where do I go if I want to book?

The enquiry page. Send your date and venue, and expect a reply within 24 to 48 hours.

Carberry Tower Wedding Photographer | Film Wedding — Steven William Weir: UK, Scotland Wedding Photographer and Film

Katy and Will’s wedding brought together two brilliant East Lothian settings: a family ceremony at St Mary’s in Dalkeith, followed by a proper celebration at Carberry Tower. As serving members of the military, the traditions around the day meant something personal to them. The uniforms, guard of honour and sword arch were part of their story, not decoration added for the photographs.

They wanted the day photographed naturally, with a mixture of digital and analogue film. That suited everything about it: the quiet start in Carberry Tower’s old rooms, the formality of the ceremony, croquet on the lawn and a packed ceilidh once everyone stopped behaving themselves.

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From Carberry Tower to St Mary’s, Dalkeith

Both sides of the wedding party got ready at Carberry Tower. Katy was in the Music Room with her bridesmaids while Will and the groomsmen were in the lodge, only a short walk away. Having everyone on the same estate gave the morning a calm rhythm. I could move between the two without forcing anything, picking up the smaller parts of the story as they happened.

The ceremony took place at St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dalkeith, just inside Dalkeith Country Park. It is a beautiful church, but more importantly it felt intimate and grounded. The service was led by the Reverend Peter Harris, with family and friends close around them.

A sword arch, confetti and the guard of honour

Outside the church, Katy and Will walked through a military sword arch and straight into a burst of confetti. Because they both serve, the guard of honour carried real weight. It was formal for a moment, then immediately joyful as everyone crowded around them on the path.

The group photographs included the military guard of honour too. Katy and Will were confident we could get through them with military precision. They were not wrong. Once the formalities were finished, the whole mood loosened and everyone headed back towards Carberry Tower.

Back to Carberry Tower

Carberry Tower Mansion House sits in its own grounds near Musselburgh, with enough variety to let a wedding breathe. Guests played croquet on the lawn, caught up in the gardens and made the most of the afternoon without the photographs taking over.

Katy had particularly wanted a photograph beneath the huge copper beech on the lawn. We made time for it, but kept the portraits relaxed. The tree, the gardens and the darker rooms inside the house gave us completely different textures without needing to manufacture moments. The library and red room were especially good for a few quiet frames away from the crowd.

Photographing the day on film

Katy and Will had seen my film work on Instagram and knew they wanted analogue photographs included. Film slows things down just enough. It makes me look harder at light, gesture and timing, while the digital cameras let me react quickly when the day starts moving.

Carberry Tower is a gift for that combination. Soft window light, dark timber, military dress, flowers, movement on the lawn and the grain of the evening all translate beautifully onto film. The result is not about making a modern wedding look artificially old. It is about giving the photographs texture and atmosphere, while keeping them honest.

That carried into the evening, when Norman Mackay’s Ceilidh Experience filled the dance floor. The neat lines of the ceremony were long gone by then. There was movement everywhere, shoes coming off and people being pulled into dances whether they knew the steps or not.

The team behind the day

Venue: Carberry Tower Mansion House
Ceremony: St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Dalkeith
Minister: Reverend Peter Harris
Venue coordinator: Rebecca Kennedy at Carberry Weddings
Hair and make-up: Karen Mason Weddings
Flowers: The Petal Shoppe
Ceilidh band: Norman Mackay’s Ceilidh Experience

Planning a Carberry Tower wedding?

If you are planning a wedding at Carberry Tower, St Mary’s Dalkeith or elsewhere in East Lothian, and you want the day documented in a relaxed mixture of digital and analogue film, get in touch here. I would love to hear what you are planning.