The Best Wedding Photography Locations in the Cairngorms

The Cairngorms National Park, the UK’s largest national park offers a stunning backdrop for wedding photography. With its majestic mountains, ancient forests and serene lochs, this picturesque region provides breathtaking locations for couples to capture unforgettable moments on their special day. Throw in the incredible seasons we experience here, you’re backdrop could be purple heather, a palette of autumn gold or even feature snow.

In this blog we take a look at some magical locations which would make a perfect backdrop to create special memories of your big day. All of the locations featured are a very short walk away from the road so nice and accessible when decked out in a wedding dress.

If you are planning your special day, vow renewals or an elopement and would like some expert help get in touch with local wedding planner Lindsay at Wide Sky Weddings. She has the local expertise and knowledge to work with you to create a unique celebration filled with joyful moments, thoughtful touches and the wild magic that these lochs, forests, meadows and mountaintops are bursting with.

Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus

With a castle island backdrop Loch an Eilein is a favourite destination for many visitors to the Cairngorms. You can park up literally a couple of hundred metres from the lochside and get some magical shots to create long lasting memories.

Loch Garten, near Boat of Garten

Loch Garten is home to some amazing wildlife so while you take some quiet time out on your day to capture your special moments, keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels and crested tits in the trees. You could even hand feed the coal tits outside the nature centre for an extra something in your photo! The backdrop here is stunning and the lochside is very accessible.

Loch Morlich, near Aviemore

Loch Morlich features in many a childhood memory playing on the sandy beach at the foot of Cairngorm Mountain. Why not revisit it to capture more lifetime memories with your wedding photographer. The backdrop here is amazing in all seasons. You can have snow on the mountains and sun on the beach or Autumn tinges through the forest. Again the beach is nice and accessible from the road but can get very busy on a sunny day in the height of summer.

Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar

The mighty Mar Lodge Estate covers a vast area but the iconic view on the way from Braemar to Mar Lodge is a favourite backdrop for wedding photos. Mar Lodge itself is an iconic backdrop for photos and if you book the Highland hunting lodge filled with rich wood panelling, antiques, and lots of stag heads unique photo opportunities abound.

Glen Tanar Estate

This unique venue on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park is the ultimate destination to capture the traditional Cairngorms scenery of pine forest, lochs and mountains. As a bonus Glen Tanar offers a ballroom, the pretty little Chapel of St Lesmo and seven luxury self catering cottages to accommodate your guests.

Blair Castle Grounds, Blair Atholl

If you are looking for grandeur in your photos and big day then look not further than the brilliant Blair Castle’s Gardens and Grounds . If you prefer something a little more rustic then their ‘Wild Weddings’ set in the ruin of St Bride’s Kirk, the secluded woodland of Diana’s Grove or the nine-acre walled Georgian designed Hercules Garden which features a folly, a Chinese bridge, a swan house, a herb garden, a sculpture trail and an orchard of more than 100 fruit trees will make for some truly beautiful images to treasure.

Linn of Dee, Braemar

Linn of Dee is part of the Mar Lodge Estate mentioned above but gets a special mention for its really special river side setting with many options for photography with a big backdrop of the river and glen to one side of the bridge or a forest beside the river setting to the other. A quick google of this location with the word wedding will deliver you some amazing photography to browse.

Castle Roy, Nethy Bridge

This 12th century fortress built by the Clan Comyn on the edge of Nethy Bridge is handily situated next door to the old Abernethy Kirk. The castle offers a dramatic, historic background to photos and the resident Highland Cow ‘Murdo’ is a very popular feature greeting visitors to Castle Roy. The castle walls also offer a space within which to hold a marquee for a truly unique wedding venue.

Local Photographers

There are many more magical places in the Cairngorms National Park to capture the photos to treasure memories of your special day. Share your favourite places with us.