A new countryside wedding venue
The Den at Culross (https://www.theden-atculross.co.uk/) is a new wedding venue, opening in October 2019 for it’s first wedding on the 12th of the month which I was fortunate enough to be the official wedding photographer for. Audrey and John have put an immense amount of work into renovating the buildings to a high-quality wedding venue. I saw the venue a few months before completion and then the incredible transformation just a week before the first wedding held there when I was there scouting for locations to take my couple after their ceremony.
The venue itself is in a quiet bit of countryside which is perfect if you are a photographer who likes landscapes in your images rather than neighbouring buildings. It is also great for getting beautiful Golden Hour light in different locations with your couples.
Entrance to the courtyard, The Den at Culross
The courtyard in the afternoon sun, The Den at Culross
Wedding bunting around the arches, The Den at Culross
The courtyard itself is a fantastic space, the afternoon sun hits it nicely giving great light for shots whether it is groups or a wedding ceremony. It is also great for reception shots as again it is a wide space which allows for you to really get between all the guests and capture those special moments, and it has plenty of character for the otherwise ordinary images.
Above the courtyard there is a lovely little groom’s room, a private space that is great to do groom prep with some props dotted about the room. It would also be great to take your couple there if the weather is awful outside for a quiet five minutes between ceremony and speeches for some couple shots.
The byre, perfect for wedding ceremonies, The Den at Culross
Optional details within the byre for the wedding ceremony, The Den at Culross
The byre is a great space for a wedding ceremony, holding up to 150 guests. As a first shooter I had plenty of space behind my couple to move around and get pictures of both of them during the service. Also, for the ceremony there is a balcony above the byre where you can send your second shooter to get some superb shots of brides walking down the aisle, as well as a view of all the guests on the day. The vestibule next to the byre is great for signing the register as it is small an intimate. The space can be tricky depending upon which lenses you use, but you can always open the doors behind you if it isn’t pouring down with rain.
The barn, great space for your wedding reception, The Den at Culross
Add seats and props to your wedding day, The Den at Culross
Accessorise the barn to however you would like for your wedding day, The Den at Culross
Receptions, meals and dancing are held in the barn which is a huge space, fantastic for big wedding parties, and amazing for personalising to make your day really special. Audrey and John have done a lot of work to make sure that even though it is a large space, it isn’t cold for you and your guests. The space within the barn helps the photographer as you aren’t fighting to get between guests to get those dancing shots, you can easily mill about and get great reportage shots without being too obvious in front of someone. The rustic environment allows for you to get some great detail shots with plenty of texture and character. Wedding couples can have an array of props for their wedding day including whiskey barrels, couches, old fashioned cameras etc.
In the fields surrounding The Den are some huge hay bails. The Den at Culross
On top of all the formalities of the day, there is also the time you get to spend with your newlywed couple for their portraits, and The Den has some amazing spots! There are fields surrounding the wedding venue, great for some rustic shots, and providing you have an awesomely adventurous bride (as I did) there are log piles to climb up or stand near to get some great shots too in the setting sun, but make sure your brides wear their wellies and are happy to get stuck into your vision! There is also a small area of trees which was great to go in and get some shots.
The buildings at The Den are great for adding character and texture to not just couples shots but all your images that you just wouldn’t find in a hotel environment. So if you love that rustic look, happy to squelch through the mud, and love to shoot in a countryside location with a unique environment, then The Den at Culross is definitely the place to go! Great for outdoor couples who want to personalise their day at every opportunity, and a fantastic location to shoot as a photographer!
