Cool Runnings and Flying Beasties – an Olympic Wedding at Dalmunzie Castle

Have I told you how much I enjoy photographing weddings at Dalmunzie Castle? The place, which is one of Scotland’s finest wedding venues, simply oozes with character and the food is to die for.   So it was wonderful to once again find ourselves back up in Glenshee for the Wedding of Jill and Iain in mid July.

Now when it comes to occupations, I think our Groom, Iain, easily beats anything I’ve came across before. You see, he’s an Olympic Bobsleigher. Skeleton class to be exact. Now that’s not something you’ll hear very often in conversation. The last time I’d photographed Jill and Iain was for their pre-wedding shoot  just over a year ago (again at Dalmunzie). At the time he was hoping to be selected for the New Zealand Winter Olympics Team.   Well it turns out he made it to Vancouver. However as any sensible person will tell you such sports are filled with potential pitfalls (and we all will sadly recall the dreadful accident during the Luge event). Even more so when you realise that Skeleton class Bobsleigh is the one where the rider basically careers downhill head first on what is essentially a large metal tray with runners. Unfortunately Iain had a rather spectacular crash and had to pull out after the second Heat.  Fortunately he only suffered concussion.  Boys and their sleds, eh? As well as an Olympic athlete (who formerly trained as a stunt man!), he’s also studying for a Phd in Nuclear Astrophysics - he even designed his own sled – hope that concussion didn’t damage too many of the brain cells Iain!  (Incidentally you will note that his Best Man and fellow Skeleton team member, Ben, has his own built-in safety padding for his head – although the rumour is that he only grows his hair that way so that he could claim to be the tallest athlete at the Games LOL).

Jill in the meantime is much more sensibly employed – although in a career also fraught with danger – she’s a Schoolteacher.  Icy bobsleigh run or a class packed with screaming kids – hmmm – let me think about that one?  She is however clearly a very determined young lady and was adamant she was going to be married outside on Dalmunzie’s lawn, despite the weather – which on that particular day was decidedly wet.  So after a consultation with the Registrar, it was agreed the ceremony would be held under the shelter of a large tree – but as luck would have it as soon as Jill stepped outside the rain stopped.  Result.  Their ceremony also included a traditional handfasting ritual where the couples’ hands are tied together to symbolise the bond of marriage.  At this point, being in amongst the trees, a number of wee flying scottish beasties decided to start eating the guests for lunch and one particularly large one even had the audacity to go for the Bride – where it landed right on her face during the vows – Jill however just smiled and ignored it until the vows were complete. What a trouper!

Now at this point, after all this testoterone-filled talk of Bobsleighs, Winter Olympics and Flying Beasties, my wife and wonderful photography assistant / second shooter, Morag, reminds me it would be a good time to to tell you that Jill was wearing a Suzanne Neville wedding dress - one of London’s finest couture wedding and evening wear designers.  Suzanne Neville wedding dresses have recently been worn by Kirsty Gallacher and Camilla Dallerup.  But I’m sure if any of them had a huge flying beastie land on them during their wedding vows they would have been running around and screaming like little girlies – not like our bride Jill, who showed her man that she too is full of Olympic spirit.

Here are my favourite wedding photographs from Jill and Iain’s Wedding Day – see if you can spot the flying beasties:-

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P.S. Speaking of Bobsleigh’s, one of my favourite films is “Cool Runnings“, the comedic story of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team and their antics getting into the Winter Olympics, despite the obvious lack of snow in their home country.

P.P.S. I’m losing count of how many schoolteachers’ wedding I’ll be photographing this year.  Finally I might become the teacher’s pet.   I’m going to invest in more apples.