A bright, colourful wedding, filled with flowers, for an artistic bride with a strong sense of the style she wanted for her special day
This bright and colourful Carlowrie Castle wedding in Edinburgh brought an explosion of flowers, art and personal touches.
With a handmade dusky-pink veil, vibrant florals, a heartfelt humanist ceremony and award-winning Scottish castle catering, Rory and Emma’s spring wedding shows just how stunning a colourful Scottish wedding can be.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Venue | Carlowrie Castle, Edinburgh – luxury Scottish castle wedding venue with gardens and modern art
Date | 11th April 2025
Photography | Lou Rob Photo
Guests | 95
Ceremony | Personal humanist wedding ceremony with poems, music, ring warming and candle lighting
Entertainment | Anti-Wedding Wedding DJs, live guitar and vocals, and a live wedding illustrator
Styling | Vibrant, flower-filled wedding with handmade dusky-pink veil, colourful stationery, bespoke favours and artistic details
A colourful vision for a Scottish spring wedding
“Most people would describe my style as colourful, and our wedding was no different,” smiles artist and newlywed bride Emma Maher.
“Anywhere I could add colour and flowers, I did. More is more for me. It’s the same with my artwork – it features a lot of designs incorporating florals with bright, vibrant and pastel tones, an aesthetic that fitted perfectly with our spring date.”
The Edinburgh-based couple filled Carlowrie Castle with artistic touches. Emma designed the stationery herself – from invites to menus – and sourced thrifted plates for the tables.
“Although it was a lot of extra effort during an already busy time, it all gave me an opportunity to showcase my work,” she adds.
Discover even more incredible Scottish castle wedding venues
Dream flowers and a handmade veil
Finding the right florist was a top priority. “It was like she went into my brain and read my thoughts! She knows exactly how to capture an idea and bring it to life,” Emma says of Emily Clift from Fruit Salad Flowers.
One key inspiration came from the bride’s own DIY project: “I decided I wanted a dusky-pink veil with 3D flowers. I couldn’t find anything online, so I decided to make it myself with the help of one of my bridesmaids. Two days before the wedding, I sat on the bed of our spare room with my bridesmaid Arlena and hand-stitched each flower onto my veil.
“It was so lovely having that quality time with her.”
Capturing colourful wedding photography in Scotland
The couple found their photographer, Lou Rob Photo, through a Google search for 'colourful wedding photographer Scotland'.
“Louise’s energy was perfectly matched with ours. She has a way of capturing people in the most beautiful way. Her work screams happiness and we love everything about our wedding album.”
Emma especially treasures the emotional images with her mum: “It was such a special moment. My mum was sadly quite unwell for most of 2024, so we were over the moon that she could make it over from Ireland to share our special day.”
Find more wedding photographers in Scotland
Honouring family at the ceremony
Celebrant David Elder of the Humanist Society Scotland worked with the couple to create a heartfelt humanist ceremony at Carlowrie Castle. “Rory and I felt present and connected throughout the ceremony. We held hands the entire time, which helped with the nerves!”
Emma honoured her late father with a bouquet charm engraved walk with me today, and the couple included family poems, music from friends and symbolic rituals such as a candle lighting.
Carlowrie Castle wedding reception with music, art and food
The castle’s gardens, modern art and seclusion instantly won the couple over. “Rory is a landscaper, so the gardens were particularly important to him. We knew pretty much instantly as we drove up the first time that this was the place for us.”
Guests enjoyed sunshine in the gardens, with Anti-Wedding Wedding DJs creating the soundtrack.
“He knew our vibe from the get-go, and he totally nailed the music for the drinks reception and party.”
Food was another highlight. “We knew anything David cooked would be out of this world!” laughs Emma of executive chef David Millar. “Every single guest raved about the meal, and plates were licked clean.”
Other personal touches included chocolate wedding favours designed with Irish company Bon Chocolatiers and a live illustrator capturing scenes throughout the day.
What is a wedding painter/illustrator and should I book one for my wedding?
Top wedding tip from the couple
“Be prepared for things to really ramp up in the months just ahead of the wedding. Don’t expect much communication from your suppliers too far in advance and don’t worry if you’re not hearing from them – they probably have lots of weddings ahead of yours!”
Supplier list
Venue and food Carlowrie Castle, Edinburgh
Photography Lou Rob Photo
Celebrant David Elder, Humanist Society Scotland
Wedding dress (and alterations) Kendal by Freda Bennet from Emma Roy of Edinburgh
Bridal accessories Lace & Favour shoes, vintage earrings, veil materials and fingerless gloves, Etsy
Bridesmaid dresses Six Stories
Hair Stacey Deane Bridal Hair
Makeup Claire Nisbet Makeup Artist
Nails Cocos Beauty Lounge Edinburgh
Groomswear Slater Menswear
Wedding rings McIntyres of Edinburgh
Flowers Fruit Salad Flowers
Chair ribbons Our Table, Edinburgh
Stationery Emma Maher Art – aka the bride!
Favours Bon Chocolatiers
Ceremony music Friends Ryan and Billie on guitar and vocals
DJ Anti-Wedding Wedding DJs
Live wedding illustration Naomi Austin
Additional guest accommodation Dakota Hotel, South Queensferry
