Schivas Steading Wedding Photographer
Weddings at Schivas Steading
A brilliant Aberdeenshire venue with big views, loads of character and a wedding day that can feel completely your own.
A proper country venue
Loads of character, without feeling too formal
Schivas Steading sits in the Aberdeenshire countryside near Ellon. The building has exposed stone, oak beams and a huge window looking out towards the rolling fields and Bennachie. It feels special as soon as you walk in, but it still has that relaxed country feel that lets everyone settle into the day.
The two floors work really well. You can hold the ceremony downstairs, have dinner upstairs and let the space change around you without the wedding ever feeling broken up. Outside, you have courtyards, countryside and the rest of the Schivas estate to work with.
From my side of things, it gives us variety without turning the drinks reception into a photoshoot. We can use the light inside the Steading, head outside for a few relaxed photographs, then make a short trip to the House of Schivas if that is part of your plan.
Why Schivas works so well
A relaxed flow, brilliant light and more than one part of the estate to explore.
01
The Steading
The stonework gives the room warmth, while the large window keeps it full of natural light. It looks great before you have added a thing and it comes alive once everyone is in.
02
The estate
The Steading, House of Schivas, walled garden and lake all give the day a different feel. There is plenty of choice, so we only use what actually suits you.
03
The party
The upstairs dining space feels elegant without becoming stiff, then the whole place has a proper buzz once the speeches finish and the dancing gets going.
A real Schivas wedding
Arlene & Lewis
Arlene and Lewis’s day started at her mum’s home farm, and that gave the whole morning a real family feel. It was busy, funny and completely them. At one point the cows escaped into the barley field, which meant her dad and brothers had to head out and chase them back. You could not have planned it, and I would not have wanted to. Those are the bits that make a wedding story feel real.
From the farm we moved to Schivas Steading for the ceremony. Afterwards, everyone had time to settle into the drinks reception while we made a short trip to the House of Schivas for a few portraits. The old stone, gardens and open countryside gave us a completely different look, then we were back at the Steading before it ever felt like Arlene and Lewis had disappeared.
The day finished exactly as it should, with a full room, plenty of dancing and all the people they cared about in one place.
The best thing about Schivas is the amount of variety you can get without the wedding ever feeling like a tour of the estate.
A photographer’s view
Getting ready
The morning can happen at Schivas or somewhere personal to you
The estate has accommodation at Newton House, South Lodge and West Lodge, which can make preparations and the journey to the Steading nice and simple. But you do not have to force everything into one location. Arlene getting ready at her mum’s farm gave her photographs a personal start that no hotel room could have copied.
If you are preparing away from the venue, leave a sensible bit of breathing space in the timeline. I would rather arrive at Schivas with everyone calm than have you watching the clock all morning. Wherever you get ready, choose the brightest room you can and keep one corner clear for the dress, the final touches and a few photographs with the people around you.
My advice: pick the place that means something to you, then build enough travel time around it. The photographs will feel more like your day and the morning will feel far less rushed.
Planning the flow
How I would make the most of a wedding at Schivas
Before the ceremony
Keep the morning simple
Use the estate accommodation or somewhere personal nearby. Give hair and makeup a proper finish time so there is no panic before the ceremony.
After the ceremony
Stay with your guests
We can do the family groups first, then take ten minutes around the Steading while everyone enjoys a drink. There is no need to vanish for ages.
Later in the day
Use the estate well
If the House of Schivas or evening light is part of the plan, we choose the right moment and keep it short. You get the variety and still enjoy the party.
The Eastside approach
Good photographs without losing half your wedding day
Schivas gives us a lot to work with, but that does not mean we need to use every corner in one go. I normally split the photographs into short parts. We might use the Steading and the grounds during the drinks reception, then head out again for five or ten minutes if the evening light turns good.
If you want photographs at the House of Schivas, we agree that in advance and keep the trip organised. The House and Steading are separate parts of the estate, so it is worth allowing the time rather than trying to squeeze it in between everything else.
The rest of the day is photographed as it happens. The nerves in the morning, reactions during the ceremony, the daft bits during the speeches and whatever happens once the dance floor fills up. That is the stuff you will want to remember.
LocationNear Ellon in Aberdeenshire
CapacityUp to 150 for dinner and 200 in the evening
CeremoniesIndoor and outdoor options
AccommodationThree estate properties available
A few useful things to know
Schivas Steading wedding photography questions
Where can we get ready?
The estate has Newton House, South Lodge and West Lodge, or you can prepare somewhere nearby that means more to you. If there is travel involved, I will help build it into the photography timings.
Can we use the House of Schivas for photographs?
It can be a brilliant addition, with the old stone, courtyards, garden and lake giving us a different look from the Steading. Speak to the venue about access and let me know early so we can plan it properly.
What if it rains?
The large window, stone walls and character inside the Steading give us useful options. If the rain eases later, we can nip outside for a few minutes without turning the whole timeline upside down.
Will we be away from everyone for long?
No. I keep the portraits relaxed and split them into short sections. Most of the day is about you being with your family and pals, not standing in front of my camera.
Venue details can change, so always confirm current capacities, accommodation and access directly with The Schivas Steading.
A bit more from Schivas
The quiet moments, the people and the party
A wedding gallery should feel like the whole day, not just a set of couple portraits. These are the bits around the edges that bring it all back.
Venue details
Contact The Schivas Steading
If Schivas feels like it could be the one, the venue team can help with availability, private viewings, wedding packages and accommodation across the estate.
Phone
Address
The Schivas Steading, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB41 7DQ
Planning a Schivas wedding?
Tell me what you’ve got planned.
Send me your date and a bit about the day you want. I will let you know my availability and send over the full wedding brochure.
