The blog of award winning scottish photographers, Archibald Photography. Real life wedding photography stories and recommended suppliers from weddings in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Scotland and destinations overseas.
As you may have heard on our Facebook business page or via Twittter, Mark and I have been completely thrilled to have been nominated for the 3rd year running in the VOWS Awards. We were nominated in 2008, won the overall award for the photography category in 2009 and have now received notification of having been shortlisted again in the 2010 awards.
VOWS stands for Voted Outstanding Wedding Supplier and is an awards body that was set up in 2005 to recognise companies in Scotland who offer excellent customer service within the wedding industry. The awards are voted for by couples who have recently been married in Scotland (on or after 21st September 2009). As the awards are based on votes from our clients, we were very flattered and honoured to win last year and very excited to be nominated again for 2010. The final winners are announced in November. You can view the full list of nominees here.
We would like to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all our lovely customers that placed a vote for us to win.
Rosa and Barry met whilst on holiday in Mailia in 2002. Barry proposed to Rosa on 22nd December 2007 having booked for a surprise overnight stay at the Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh. Barry ended up popping the question in the honesty bar at the hotel – after two ‘failed’ attempts at asking Rosa earlier in the day! The couple were sat on a sofa and Barry lent down (Rosa thought he was tying his shoe lace) & the next thing she knew he was on one knee in front of her!
Barry and Rosa looked at quite a few venues before picking Glenbervie House Hotel (a 5 star luxury hotel in Larbert, Central Scotland) but as soon as they drove up the driveway, they both knew it was perfect. They loved the fact that you get exclusive use of the house which they said “makes it that bit more special!”. They felt the service at Glenbervie House was brilliant throughout the run up to the wedding and on the actual day of the wedding. Rosa told us “the staff at the venue made sure the day flowed perfectly which allowed me to just enjoy it without worrying about what needed to be done or what was happening next”.
Rosa’s dress was bought from a small independent bridal shop in West Yorkshire called Perfect Daze. As Rosa told us “I originally tried the dress on about a year and a half before the wedding and nothing I saw after that would compare! When I went back to Perfect Daze to order the dress, I was told that the designer, Catherine Jane had gone into receivership and therefore I wouldn’t be able to get the dress. Emma (the owner of Perfect Daze) saw how upset I was and managed to get a final one off made for me! I love everything about my dress and I’m so sad I’ll never get to wear it again!”
Rosa’s veil and tiara were her ‘something borrowed’ (from a friend) and her Mum and Dad bought her jewellery for her, which matched her tiara really well. Rosa’s shoes were ivory pointed toes with a low heel and she got them from the Westend Wedding Boutique in Glasgow.
Millennium Hair Design in Wishaw did Rosa and her bridesmaids’ hair and Rosa commented “the girls in there were fab”. Rosa’s make-up was done locally to the Glenbervie at Airth Castle Spa.
Flowers were provided by Alison’s Flowers in Stonehouse. Rosa chose neutral (ivory & white) flowers to to work with their chosen colour scheme at Glenbervie House. Roses and white thistles were the main flowers used to connect the Yorkshire and Scottish backgrounds of the couple. Their cake was made by Barry’s old Home Economics teacher.
Kilts were from Kilt Pin in Falkirk who won Best Groomswear Company 2009 at the recent VOWS Awards.
For entertainment in the evening, the couple had a band called Red Hot Poker Band. Rosa told us that “everyone commented on how good the band were in the days and weeks after the wedding – its was a brilliant night”. The couple’s first dance was ‘Rhythms del Mundo’ – a cuban mix of Jack Johnson’s ‘Better Together’ because as Rosa pointed out “it is better when we’re together!!”
Rosa also spoke very highly of John McIntyres in Glasgow where the couple purchased their rings. Rosa told us that “the service was brilliant. When you purchase your wedding ring’s there you get 10% discount on any further purchases, which is good for bridesmaids gifts and jewellery. I would recommend them to everyone!”
I was interested to find out why Barry and Rosa had chosen Archibald Photography as their photographers. Rosa said “I first saw your photographs when I searched for wedding photographers online and I knew Marks images were just the style we wanted. After visiting your studio and meeting you both we were certain that you would produce the type/style of album we wanted. I love the images of Barry and I walking down the drive with the trees behind us. They are just beautiful, I still can’t believe its us in the pictures!”
For Barry and Rosa, the best thing about the day (other than the marriage ceremony) was having all their friends and family together in one place at one time. As Rosa pointed out “it’s not likely to happen again anytime soon and so really does make the day extra special.” Barry sums up the day as “awesome!”
On any wedding day, there is usually something funny that happens or doesn’t go as planned. For Rosa and Barry, it was the cutting of their wedding cake. According to Rosa “we did under estimate how hard it would be to cut the cake – that was quite funny and made some pretty good photos!”
From our point of view, we loved watching the slideshow for the first time with Rosa and Barry. The sequence of images from their speeches had us all in fits of giggles and we hope their images will provide them with a fantastic lasting record of a fabulous day.
Here’s a slideshow of our favourite images from their day (turn off the volume if at work!):
Mark and I were stunned and honoured to be announced on Monday night as the 2009 winner of the Photography Category of the VOWS Awards which recognises outstanding service in the wedding industry. We would like to wholeheartedly thank our clients for voting for us and for making this happen. We are lucky to book such lovely people as customers!
Monday night’s VOWS gala dinner was a glittering affair with superb entertainment by way of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Singing Waiters and comedienne Craig Hill. We literally nearly fell off our chairs when our names were announced as the winners.
The VOWS Awards are independently run and are funded by sponsorship from a range of prestigious companies (www.vowsawards.co.uk). The aim of the VOWS Awards is to inform couples planning their wedding of the companies offering the best in service in the industry. One lucky couple who voted for their favourite suppliers also won a second honeymoon courtesy of Sandals. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of our clients whose name was drawn this time.
2009 Winner of VOWS Photography Award
We have been receiving lovely messages of congratulations from our clients since our win was announced. Here are but a few:
“Congratulations to you both, It really couldn’t have happened to two nicer people. It is well deserved and shows the amount of hard work and dedication to what you do is paying of in dividends. Well done and keep up the good work. Speak to you both soon.”
Ian & Maria
“Congratulations on your VOWS Awards win. Of course I was rooting for you all the way so am delighted to hear you got the recognition you deserve! I am really looking forward to working with you both in the run up to our wedding, and allowing both of you to do what you do best – produce stunning work. Once again, congratulations – roll on the 2010 awards and see if you can make it 2 years running!.”
Lindsay
“Wow what fab news and very well deserved. I often delve into your site and your wedding photos are fab. Well deserved accolade for all your hard work. Bring on 2010!!“
Mary
“I couldn’t imagine you guys not winning it!“
Sue
“So chuffed for you both! Heard the news on Twitter on Monday. Totally brilliant and well deserved! No doubt you will now be even busier than ever!!! Roll on next year for a repeat performance!“
Jenny
“Just wanted to congratulate you on your success at the VOWS awards. You both thoroughly deserve the award and we both wish you every success in the future. We would certainly recommend you to anyone looking for stunning photography and excellent service. Well done again.”
Nicola & Ian
“That is fantastic news Donna, very well done and very well deserved. I still have people complimenting me on our wedding photos and how natural they are. Great news – I’m delighted for you both.“
Carol
“Congratulations, I must say I am not surprised though. We looked at over 25 photographers before going with Mark. He was by far the best.“
Nadeem
Hooray! We’ve been nominated for the second year running for the VOWS Awards! Donna and I are totally chuffed, especially as apparently this year there were more than 10,000 nominations.
The thing I like about the VOWS Awards is that it is the only one to recognise the behind-the-scenes work involved in creating a smooth, fun and well organised photography experience. I really believe that great images are only half of what a photographer should strive to offer their couples. We really want all our couples to look back on their wedding and remember the photography as being the best fun part…(yes, that is possible!!!). I’m especially pleased for Donna who deserves this award on her own. Her organisation and tireless enthusiasm has to be experienced to be believed! Luckily all I have to do is lose myself in my photography and the fun of a wedding day. We get so many nice people booking us that it is a doddle. I think we must have a Cool Couples Magnet hidden somewhere in our studio!
Did I mention the VOWS Awards ceremony also offers the chance to share a few guilt free shandies with some very good friends? Here’s to the VOWS 2009 ceremony in November! ….. hic ….
