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Doubletree North Queensferry | Autumn Wedding
Katie and Zara’s autumn wedding at DoubleTree North Queensferry gave me the chance to explore the village I love (and live in) to capture stunning views of the Firth of Forth, plus a special visit to the 18th-century sailor’s graveyard—perfect for their Halloween celebration.
DoubleTree North Queensferry is a brilliant spot for a big hotel wedding by the sea with its cracking views over the Firth of Forth and the Queensferry Crossing – which twinkles at night.
I live in North Queensferry, so I’m a bit biased about this location, but I also know the village inside out – from the iconic spots to the hidden gems that most visitors never find.
(I also love to shine the light on Fife as a wonderful wedding location, click the button below to explore my Fife weddings page)
That’s why I was thrilled when Katie and Zara chose DoubleTree North Queensferry for their wedding.
It gave me the chance to take them beyond the usual photo locations and create something unique and personal. There are so many spots to explore beyond the usual pier pictures.
For Katie & Zara, we went the extra mile and got access to the 18th-century sailor’s graveyard, normally locked to the public. It added a quirky, Halloween vibe to their day, and we had such a laugh exploring.
I first met Katie years ago when I photographed her mum Gaye’s wedding to Richard, so it felt extra special to now be capturing her wedding day. We had a lot of laughs during their pre-wedding shoot with their characterful dog, Lois, who’s also had his own doggy photoshoot, where we captured his cheeky character. Unfortunately, he was perhaps too cheeky to bring along to the wedding.
I love Katie and Zara’s outfits. Katie rocked a tailored burgundy suit, which added an extra autumnal pop of colour and perfectly complemented Zara’s sweetheart dress and red hair, which, in turn, perfectly complemented the red hues of the Forth Rail Bridge. I also love that they had matching hoodies to cosy up in later in the evening – a playful and personal touch that was so very them!
Their wedding, held the day before Halloween, had loads of fun, seasonal details but stayed true to their personalities—laid-back and full of life. I loved the dried flowers, which looked lovely with the blue bridesmaid dresses.
If you’re looking for a big hotel wedding venue, DoubleTree North Queensferry is a fantastic choice. With its amazing view to enjoy, it’s incredibly accessible too—just a 15-minute walk from the train station or a minute’s walk from the bus stop on the bridge. But what makes it even more special is the way the village offers countless opportunities for unique photos, whether you want to stick to the classics or find something a little different.
Katie and Zara’s day was filled with laughter, love, and a lot of fun—a perfect reflection of their relationship. It was such a privilege to be a part of it all and capture these memories for them. If you’re planning a wedding here, I’d love to show you all the best spots and help you create something truly unforgettable!
St. Andrews Wedding
Check out Georgia & Julian's beautiful and relaxed at St. Andrews wedding. It was such a privilege to capture their special day.
St. Andrews University’s most famous couple may be William and Kate but Georgia and Julian also met at the university and not being royals they could have a super fun wedding with all their mates. They had their ceremony at the exclusive St Salvator’s Chapel followed by a fun filled reception at the Old Course Hotel.
To get married at St. Salvators you have to be affiliated to the university so as alumni Georgia and Julian got to use the chapel and the adjacent quad area for their photos.
Want to know more about my photography?
It’s a short distance to the Old Course Hotel which is one of my favourite venues with a brilliantly attentive team, stunning views, multiple beaches and a famous mini bridge to explore for photographs.
They loved their time in St. Andrews so when it came to choosing where to get married, they wanted to bring everyone back to the town to celebrate. For many of their friends, who they’d met at University it was also a chance to have a bit of a reunion and The Old Course Hotel was the perfect setting for a very good party and bouncing ceilidh.
St. Andrews has many famous landmarks but the little cute stone Swilcan Bridge is possibly the most famous so Georgia and Julian wanted to head there for photographs, especially as they could also get their university halls and the hotel in the background. The hotel organised a car to take us along but you can easily walk there if you fancy a wander. Georgia and Julian got a lift along to the bridge and they chose the pretty hotel garden and the university quad for pictures but I would also highly recommend a trip along to the beach if you have the time!
Want to find out more about Fife weddings with my guide?
The Fantastic Team
Venue: The Old Course Hotel
Chapel: St. Salvator’s, St. Andrews University
Floristy: Stucio and Waow
Dress: La Novia
Hair: Sophie Butler
Make Up: Vintage Beauty Box
Ceilidh Band: Skyrie
Are you Planning a wedding at the Old Course Hotel?
Balmule House - Country House Wedding Venue Fife
A wedding venue guide to Balmule House, the beautiful exclusive use country house boutique hotel wedding venue just outside Dunfermline.
Balmule House
Balmule House is a 500yr old mansion house which is now a country boutique hotel. It is tucked away in the beautiful countryside just 3 miles north of Dunfermline. It’s small size makes it perfect to book out for an exclusive wedding.
They offer an option to put a marquee in the garden for larger weddings (up to 500 guests) but having an intimate wedding in the house makes the most of the beautiful characterful spaces.
Country House Wedding
The house sits up on a hill surrounded by 30 acres of woodland and looks down over the countryside.
It has pretty spaces outside including a lawn, a long tree lined driveway, a walled garden and woodshed.
These spaces were brilliant to explore for photos but the inside spaces are equally as beautiful which would make it a brilliant venue for an autumn or winter wedding.
Relaxed Venue
Matt & Hannah hired the entire house for their wedding and everyone seemed so relaxed and really enjoyed just having fun all day.
It’s beautifully renovated with lots of period features which make the space feel homely.
I imagine in the winter it is super cosy as each room has a nice fireplace.
Beautiful Light Rooms
Matt & Hannah used 3 spaces within the house for their wedding.
The main reception room can accommodate up to 40 people for a wedding ceremony.
The dining room also accommodates 40 guests for a meal and the space hosts larger number for the evening reception.
For larger weddings there is the marquee option which can take up to 500 guests.
Dining Room
The south facing dining room overlooks the walled garden to the west and the fields to the south.
The bay window is a beautiful feature and brings in lots lovely light which is great for your photographs.
Normally this space is furnished with lovely sofas but it is very versatile and the management just seamlessly change the spaces to suit the required function.
I used this space for a family shoot a few years back so if you’d like to see it as a cosy seated area, click the button below.
Boutique Hotel
The house has 8 bedrooms which all have their own unique character which was a really fun feature of the hotel.
Hannah had this massive bridal suite to get ready in which was a fabulous space and had a vast impressive bathroom to match.
Pretty Spaces
I love the staircase in the house, it was a great place to capture some pictures of Hannah on her way to the ceremony.
Well Looked After!
What makes a brilliant wedding venue? It’s not just the location, space and the pretty features of the venue but the management.
Franc, the owner, seems to sincerely want the couples who choose Balmule to have an amazing time which is my main aim to.
The exclusive use means the management are just looking after you on the day and bride and grooms love this.
I’ve heard great things about how well they are treated and how lovely an experience it was.
I have seen plenty couples stressed on their wedding day because they are not so well looked after and I truly believe being able to trust your suppliers is essential. I always want my couples to feel completely comfortable and trust that I know exactly what they want and Balmule seem to be the same.
Main Hall
When you first enter the house you enter via an arched entrance porch which is a lovely place to have a welcome sign for the wedding party.
You then enter an entrance hallway which leads into the main hall. The comfy seating in the hall was a great waiting area for guests who arrived early for the ceremony, it then became a good place for mingling during the drinks reception and then Matt & Hannah used the area for their cake cutting and then dancing.
I really loved how versatile the spaces all were.
Walled Garden
The walled garden is full of cute pathways lined by box hedging. It’s a lovely place to go for a walk and enjoy a bit of time together and get some photos taken.
It’s also a nice space for your guests to enjoy or for some family photos.
The main car park sits behind the walled garden so guests can walk through the garden when they arrive which is a nice welcoming approach.
Golden Light
Matt & Hannah were married in May when the evenings are long and we went out during the golden hour to explore the grounds and get some photos as the sun was going down.
Whatever the time of year it is nice to get out the hour before sunset to catch some of the golden light.
In the winter the daylight hours are so short but when it is sunny you get low light much of the day and it is beautiful for photos.
Planning a wedding in Dunfermline?
I live in North Queensferry which is perfectly located for weddings in Fife & Edinburgh and it’s only 10 minutes from Dunfermline (I also cover weddings further afield).
If you’d like to know more, check out my weddings page and get in touch, I’m happy to answer any questions and help you with your wedding.
Find out more:-
- Wedding Information (to find out more)
- Pricing Brochure (if you’d like to get an idea of cost)
- Edinburgh Wedding Blog (for more wedding inspiration)
Read More?
I have some other guides for venues nearby, click the name if you’d like to read more:-
- The Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews
- Dunfermline Weddings & Photo Shoots
- South Queesferry Weddings
