Back in January, Emma got in touch to ask if I was free to photograph her and Steven's wedding at The Weigh Inn Hotel in Thurso at the end of July. I grew up just along the road in Castletown, so a booking back home in Caithness is always one I'm chuffed to get.
Meeting Emma and Steven.
With me based down in Moray, we didn't get the chance to meet in person straight away. That finally happened in mid-May, when I was up for a night out with some old school friends. It was good to put faces to names and have a proper chat about their plans for the day.
A ceremony in full Highland dress.
I started just before the ceremony with a few photos of Emma in her dress before she headed off to get married. Steven was in his full kilt outfit, right down to the tackety boots, and the ceremony was brilliant. Full of stories about the couple, and even had a Jumping over a broom—often called jumping the besom (a traditional broom made of twigs tied to a pole)—a symbolic Celtic and folk wedding ritual sometimes integrated into modern Scottish humanist or outdoor ceremonies. What the Tradition Means * Sweeping away the past: The act represents clearing out old negative energy, bad omens, or past struggles as the couple crosses a threshold. * A leap of faith: Jumping hand-in-hand signifies a shared commitment to tackle future hardships and obstacles together. * Symbolic parts of the broom: * The wooden handle represents the strength of the couple's bond. * The straw or twigs represent home, hearth, and family. * Ribbons tied to the broom symbolise the binding of their lives.
Candid photos and family groups.
Once they were married, I went back to taking candid photos while Emma and Steven had time to mingle with their guests. It's one of my favourite parts of any wedding: the hugs, the handshakes and the first proper laughs of the day, all happening naturally without anyone being posed. After that, we gathered everyone together for the family group photos.
Couple portraits over Thurso Bay.
For their couple photos, I took Emma and Steven to a few spots in the hotel grounds, then across the road where you can look out over Thurso and Scrabster Bay, with Dunnet Head in the background. If you're getting married at the Weigh Inn, it's well worth setting aside time for that view. If you want to go a little further afield and the weather is on your side, you can head to Thurso or Scrabster Beach, or take a walk along the Riverside.
Into the evening.
I finished the day with more candid photos of their guests enjoying themselves, before leaving Emma, Steven and everyone to their evening dance and meal at the Weigh Inn. Thank you both for having me. It was a real treat to be back up home for your wedding.
Planning a wedding in Caithness?
Do you photograph weddings in Caithness?
Yes. Although Fitlike Photography is based in Moray, Caithness is home for me (Mum and my sister still live there), and I love getting booked for weddings in Thurso, Wick, and the surrounding area.
Where are the best photo spots at The Weigh Inn Hotel, Thurso?
The hotel grounds work well, and just across the road you get views over Thurso and Scrabster Bay towards Dunnet Head, which makes a great backdrop for couple portraits.
Do you photograph full-day weddings in Caithness?
Yes, full-day weddings are brilliant, and I find them more relaxed with more time to get you and your family together.
Do you charge extra to photograph weddings in Caithness?
No, all half-day and full-day packages include mileage, and I love coming home to visit family and friends. TBF, I’m up around five times a year anyway.
If you're planning your wedding in Caithness or anywhere in the Highlands, get in touch and tell me about your day.
Words & photographs by Mike Custer, Fitlike Photography.
