This Branxholm Park wedding was full of personal details, magical moments, and a celebration that felt completely true to Salo & Eli. Located in the Scottish countryside, Branxholm Park is a whimsical, fairy-tale wedding venue, making it the perfect setting for a fantasy-themed wedding celebration.
Branxholm Park Wedding in Scotland
This Branxholm Park wedding was an absolute dream to photograph, especially with its full fantasy theme. As a Baldur’s Gate and Dungeons & Dragons player, this day felt like a real pinch-me moment. From the moment I arrived, it was clear this wedding was going to be something truly special!
I was so excited to travel up to Scotland for this celebration. I often get asked if I travel for weddings, and days like this are exactly why the answer is always yes! Being able to document such a unique and personal wedding, in such an atmospheric setting, is one of my favourite parts of the job.
A Whimsical Branxholm Park Wedding Venue
Branxholm Park is one of the most whimsical wedding venues I’ve ever photographed. Tucked away in the Scottish countryside, it feels like stepping straight into a fairytale. With its imaginative details, hidden corners, and storybook architecture, it was the perfect setting for a fantasy-themed wedding.
Every part of the venue added to the magic of the day and suited Salo & Eli’s vision beautifully. A Branxholm Park wedding is ideal for couples who want something a little bit different.
A Personal Branxholm Park Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony was led by celebrant Gerri and was one of the most personal and heartfelt ceremonies I’ve witnessed. It felt deeply meaningful, full of warmth and intention, and perfectly reflected Salo & Eli as a couple.
Surrounded by loved ones who had travelled from all over to be there, including Salo’s family who came over from Spain, the ceremony felt intimate and incredibly special.
A Magical Glasshouse Wedding Reception
After the ceremony, the celebrations continued in the most incredible glasshouse at Branxholm Park. Filled with light, greenery, and flowers, it felt magical and almost otherworldly as a reception space.
As the light shifted throughout the day, the glasshouse only became more atmospheric. It was a beautiful place for guests to relax, celebrate, and enjoy the rest of the wedding day.
Personal Details at a Branxholm Park Wedding
Salo & Eli had so many thoughtful personal details woven throughout their wedding. Their invitations were illustrated by Eli, which made them even more meaningful. I absolutely loved creating their flat lay and photographing those details, knowing how much care and creativity had gone into them.
Their outfits were also perfect and felt completely true to who they are. Every choice they made reflected their personalities, their relationship, and the world they had created for their wedding day.
A Few Words from Salo & Eli
How did you two meet?
We met through Tumblr! At the time, we both liked the same video games, Fallen London and Sunless Sea. We started by making lore posts and, before long, we were writing fanfiction and drawing fan art for each other.
At first, we joked about dating. Eventually, though, I messaged Eli to ask whether we were actually joking or if we could really be together. That’s when we officially started dating.
We met in person for the first time in Madrid on June 9th, 2017, and from that moment, we knew we wanted to be together forever. We stayed long-distance until just after Christmas 2017, when I moved to Newcastle. We’ve been living together ever since.
Describe the proposal!
We’d been talking about getting married since we first met (very stereotypically gay, we know!), so we always knew marriage was on the cards. Because of that, we both decided we wanted to propose to each other.
We chose to do it during a Disneyland trip. In the end, we both proposed at Snow White’s Well at sunset on May 10th, 2022. Only later did we realise we’d accidentally wandered into an area that was closed to the public, which explained why it was completely empty. A very kind cast member waited until we’d stopped crying and laughing before letting us know.
We actually got legally married on September 20th, 2024. However, we haven’t told anyone apart from our witnesses, so everyone will be finding out at our wedding ceremony 🤭
What is special about your venue?
From the moment we saw it, Branxholm Park felt like something straight out of a fairytale. Tucked away in the countryside, it looks like a fantasy mansion and is decorated in a beautifully whimsical, imaginative way. A Branxholm Park wedding feels completely immersive, with so many magical spaces to explore.
Our wedding meal will be held in a glasshouse that’s completely filled with flowers and greenery. There’s also a hedge tunnel decorated with fairy lights that leads into the ceremony chapel. The chapel itself is covered in plants and flowers across the ceiling and is softly lit by candlelight.
Outside, there’s a firepit swing circle and a loggia — a covered outdoor social space with stone benches and statuary. The venue is surrounded by woods and countryside, which adds to the storybook atmosphere.
Inside, there’s a wooden staircase with stained glass windows and a wall-to-ceiling dollhouse featuring felted mice getting ready for a wedding (and, uh, hosting a slightly unexpected BDSM party in the attic). There’s also a small farm on site, so mini goats and geese might be around on the day, along with a Labrador and a three-legged cat.
Any details of note about your big day?
We’ve been telling friends that our wedding theme is basically “what if the Met Gala theme was fantasy or fairytale?” They’ve completely run with it, and we’re so excited to see everyone’s outfits.
We’re planning an outfit change while guests finish their meals. Eli will change into trousers, and I’ll change into a gown before we reappear for our first dance.
Our cake toppers are Sylvanian Families figures that we’ve modified to look like us, along with Sylvanian babies styled to resemble our cats. I’ll also be wearing a locket with photos of our cats inside.
We don’t have a traditional wedding party. Instead, four friends from Spain will open the bridal procession, each holding a lantern. Eli’s dad will be wearing elven-style leather armour, at least for the ceremony.
We also have a sword that we’ll be using to cut the cake, which will double as a photo prop. Sadly, Eli’s mum passed away a few years ago and can’t be with us. However, we’ll be honouring her with a small memorial in the chapel at our Branxholm Park wedding.
Venue: https://www.branxholmpark.co.uk/
Salo outfit details: https://www.instagram.com/_leflaconboutique
Eli outfit details: https://www.instagram.com/vintageprimrose_shop/
Hair & Makeup: https://www.tonisearlemua.com/
Flowers: https://www.instagram.com/undertheivyflowers/
Celebrant: https://www.celebratepeople.co.uk/our-celebrants/gerrie-douglas-scott/
If you’re planning a Branxholm Park wedding or dreaming up a celebration that leans into storytelling, fantasy, or something a little different, I’d absolutely love to hear about it! Travelling for weddings like this is always a joy, and capturing days that feel this personal is exactly why I do what I do.
