Iona & Sam’s Incredible Day in Scotland – Cluny Castle Wedding Videographer
When Iona and Sam asked me to be their Cluny Castle wedding videographer, and to head up to Scotland near Aberdeen for their day, I was absolutely buzzing. Castle weddings already carry a certain energy — but Cluny Castle takes that to another level.
The drive in alone sets the tone. Long tree-lined roads, endless Aberdeenshire countryside, and then suddenly this towering granite castle appears in front of you. It feels cinematic without even trying. Wild, dramatic, unapologetically Scottish.
As a wedding filmmaker, venues like this are a dream to work in. The scale. The atmosphere. The way the light moves through those granite walls. It gives you so much to work with creatively while still allowing the story to breathe.
But as always, the setting is just the backdrop.
What made this day special was Iona and Sam. Calm in all the right moments. Emotional when it mattered. Completely up for it when the music started later on. The whole day had this effortless flow — no awkward staging, no forced moments — just real reactions, real laughter and the kind of hugs that linger a little longer. And honestly, this is exactly why I love being a Cluny Castle wedding videographer — capturing days that feel both epic in scale and deeply personal at the same time.
Cluny Castle Wedding Videography
One thing I decided early on was to drive up to Scotland rather than fly. It was “only” nine hours, and since this was my first proper trip north of the border, it felt wrong to rush it. And honestly? I’m so glad I did. The further north I drove, the more dramatic it became. Open landscapes. Rolling hills. Hardly any traffic. Everything just felt fresh and untouched. Scotland completely blew me away.
Arriving at Cluny Castle the day before gave me time to properly explore and take it all in. I always like to understand a venue before the day unfolds — where the light falls, how the rooms connect, which spaces feel intimate and which ones feel grand. It means when the real moments happen, I’m ready without needing to interfere. That preparation is a big part of how I work as a Cluny Castle wedding videographer. Knowing the flow of the space allows me to stay unobtrusive and let everything unfold naturally, which is essential when filming somewhere with as much character as this.
We started the morning in our usual way. Establishing shots of the castle first — the granite exterior, the surrounding countryside, that quiet stillness before guests arrive. Those opening frames matter. They ground the entire story. Then it was into groom prep, followed by bridal prep, all happening inside the castle itself. When everything takes place in one location like this, the whole morning feels calmer. No rushing around. No time lost in transit. Just a steady, relaxed build-up to the ceremony — exactly the kind of environment I love working in as a Cluny Castle wedding videographer.
Being a Cluny Castle wedding videographer on a day like this is about observation, not direction. Capturing the nerves before the jackets go on. The laughter echoing through the corridors. The parents hovering in the doorway, half emotional, half trying to hold it together. This part of the day is where we really connect — not just with Iona and Sam, but with their closest people. And that connection is what makes the final film feel personal rather than polished for the sake of it.
What makes Cluny Castle genuinely special is the fact that it has its own chapel inside the castle walls. Not a separate building across the grounds. Not a temporary setup. A real chapel, built right into the castle itself — which is exactly where Iona and Sam chose to tie the knot.
Having everything in one place changes the energy of a wedding day completely. Prep, ceremony, celebrations — all flowing naturally from one space to the next. As a Cluny Castle wedding videographer, that seamless movement makes a huge difference. There’s no disruption, no pause in atmosphere, just a steady build from those quiet morning moments into something much bigger.
But what truly defined this ceremony wasn’t just the setting. It was the dogs. Four of them in total — fully part of the day, not just a quick photo opportunity. One even stepped up as ring bearer, which, as you can imagine, brought a smile to absolutely everyone in the chapel. And somehow, that combination — a historic Scottish castle chapel and four dogs wandering down the aisle — worked perfectly. The grandeur of the setting never felt intimidating. It felt warm. Personal. Completely Iona and Sam.
You could see how much it meant to them to have their dogs there, woven into such an important moment. It softened the formality, lifted the nerves, and created those little unscripted reactions that make a wedding film feel alive rather than staged. That’s the balance I always look for as Cluny Castle wedding videographer. The scale and drama are already there. My job is to make sure the personality and emotion sit right alongside it. And in that chapel, with granite walls surrounding them and paws padding across the aisle, it all came together effortlessly.
And then — the Scottish weather did something unexpected. It behaved. Apparently it rains all the time in Scotland (or at least that’s what everyone kept telling me), but on Iona and Sam’s day the sun showed up properly. Blue skies, warmth in the air, not a hint of drama from the clouds. We couldn’t have asked for better.
That meant the drinks reception unfolded outdoors, with the castle as the backdrop and guests spilling out onto the grounds. There’s something about sunshine after a ceremony that lifts everything. The hugs last longer. The laughter gets louder. The energy shifts up a gear. For a Cluny Castle wedding videographer, this is where the day really opens up visually. The granite of the castle against blue skies. Champagne glasses catching the light. Guests relaxing into the celebration. It gives the film texture and movement.
Later on, as the evening started to soften, we slipped away with Iona and Sam for some golden hour portraits. Scottish light hits differently — softer, lower, almost cinematic without trying too hard. Those few quiet minutes away from everyone else gave us some incredible frames. Intimate, calm, just the two of them taking it all in. Then it was back inside for the wedding breakfast and speeches.
Speeches are such a huge part of the films I create as a Cluny Castle wedding videographer. They’re not just a moment to document — they’re storytelling gold. I often layer parts of the groom’s speech, the bride’s speech, and snippets from the ceremony vows over the highlight film. When used well, voiceovers elevate everything. They add depth. Context. Emotion. And with Iona and Sam, it worked beautifully.
One of my favourite parts of the day was hearing Iona stand up and deliver her speech. It’s definitely becoming more of a trend for brides to speak, and I’m absolutely here for it. It adds balance, honesty and often a completely different emotional tone to the film. When both sides share their perspective, the story feels fuller. More rounded. More real. And in this case, it took their highlight film to another level.
If the day felt relaxed and emotional up until this point, the dance floor flipped the switch completely. As soon as the music started, the energy in the room changed. Jackets came off. Shoes slowly disappeared. The formalities were done — this was pure celebration. And that’s one of my favourite parts of any wedding to film.
The beauty of celebrating at Cluny Castle is that even when the party gets wild, the setting still feels epic. Historic walls, dramatic interiors, and a packed dance floor right in the middle of it all. It’s that contrast I love — centuries-old stonework and modern chaos unfolding in front of it. From a Cluny Castle wedding videographer’s point of view, this is where everything comes together. The story has been built. The emotions have landed. The speeches have set the depth. Now it’s movement, laughter, hands in the air, and moments no one planned but everyone will remember.
I always document the dance floor as it actually feels — not staged, not interrupted. Just real reactions and real energy. And Iona and Sam’s guests absolutely brought it. Ending the night like that felt like the perfect full stop to an incredible Scottish celebration.
If you’re planning your own wedding at Cluny Castle and want a film that captures the scale of the venue but never loses sight of the people at the centre of it, I’d love to hear from you. Being a Cluny Castle wedding videographer isn’t about creating something overly polished or staged — it’s about telling the story honestly, with atmosphere, emotion and personality woven through every frame. Cluny Castle is one of those venues that gives you drama automatically. My job is to make sure your story feels just as powerful. If that sounds like your kind of film, let’s make it happen.
