Glen Tanar Wedding Photographer
Weddings at Glen Tanar
A character-filled Victorian Ballroom, a quiet trout loch and acres of Royal Deeside around you.
One of Royal Deeside’s stand-out venues
The Ballroom is only the beginning
Glen Tanar sits just outside Aboyne, tucked into a 25,000-acre Highland estate. The Victorian Ballroom is the heart of the wedding, but the lawns, old stonework, forest and trout loch give the whole day far more than one backdrop.
Most of the day can unfold around the Ballroom and grounds. You can have the ceremony indoors, outside on the lawn or down by the loch, then bring everyone back together for dinner and the evening.
For photographs, the variety is already there. We can use the scale and warm timber inside, then head out for a short wander rather than turning the drinks reception into a long expedition.
Why Glen Tanar works so well
Everything has its place, but the day never feels boxed in.
01
Ceremony options
The Ballroom, lawn, trout loch and nearby St Lesmo’s Chapel all give you a different way to shape the ceremony around the day you want.
02
Loch and grounds
The water, pines and open estate give us plenty of variety close by. A few well-timed minutes outside can add a completely different feel to the photographs.
03
The Ballroom
The huge timber ceiling, stone fireplace and chandeliers give the ceremony, dinner and dancing a proper sense of occasion from morning into night.
A real Glen Tanar wedding
Amber & Michael
Amber and Michael made brilliant use of Glen Tanar. Their ceremony sat right beneath the Ballroom chandeliers, with the stone fireplace behind them and everyone gathered close around.
Later we headed down to the trout loch for a short set of portraits, then came back inside for the speeches, first dance and a very busy floor. That mix of grand indoor space and quiet estate scenery is exactly what makes the venue work.
Another Glen Tanar wedding
Matt & Melissa
Glen Tanar has a completely different character once daylight has gone. Matt and Melissa’s portraits show how much atmosphere is still there without ever stepping outside.
After dark in the Ballroom
Once the chandeliers become the main light, the timber ceiling and long run of the room take on a proper cinematic feel.
A few minutes is enough to make something completely different, using the space itself rather than filling the evening with more of the same.
The Eastside approach
Use the venue properly, then get you back to everyone
Glen Tanar gives us plenty to work with, so there is no need to force everything into one long stretch of photographs.
We can take a short wander after the ceremony, use the Ballroom while it is looking its best and head to the loch when the weather and light are on our side. Breaking it up keeps the photographs varied and lets you enjoy far more of the day with your family and pals.
If the evening gives us something good, we can nip back out or make a few portraits beneath the chandeliers. It is always led by what is happening, not by a rigid list.
LocationGlen Tanar Estate, near Aboyne in Royal Deeside.
The settingBallroom, trout loch, lawns and forest within a 25,000-acre estate.
CeremoniesBallroom, lawn, loch or St Lesmo’s Chapel.
CapacityUp to 140 seated in the Ballroom, with dining for up to 90.
A few useful things to know
Glen Tanar wedding photography questions
Have you photographed at Glen Tanar before?
Yes. Amber and Michael, and Matt and Melissa, are both photographed here. I know the Ballroom, loch and the parts of the grounds that work well without taking you away for ages.
Where can we take our couple photographs?
The trout loch, lawns, forest edges, old stonework and Ballroom all give us something different. We choose what suits the weather, the light and the way your day is running.
What happens if it rains?
The Ballroom is a brilliant indoor setting in its own right. We can use the fireplace, timberwork and window light, then head outside later if the weather gives us a gap.
Can guests stay on the estate?
Glen Tanar has self-catering cottages around the estate, which can be especially handy if people are travelling into Royal Deeside for the wedding.
A bit more from Glen Tanar
The ceremony, the people and the party
A few more photographs from the estate, from the quieter details and the scale of the Ballroom to the moments when everyone is properly into the evening.
Planning a Glen Tanar wedding?
Tell me what you’ve got planned.
Send me your date and a bit about the day. I will let you know my availability and send over the full wedding brochure.
