Lee & Ashlea | Hetland Hall Hotel Wedding, Dumfries and Galloway
Claire Hirst Photography captured Lee and Ashlea's wedding at Hetland Hall Hotel in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on Saturday 15 August 2026.
Meet Lee & Ashlea
Ashlea was, hands down, the most excited bride I've ever had the pleasure of photographing. I'd watched these two count down every milestone on the way to their wedding day, from booking me all the way through to collecting the dress. Arriving at Hetland Hall Hotel on the morning itself felt a bit like turning up at the end of a very long, very happy countdown. And it did not disappoint.
Getting Ready
The first thing I clocked was the invitation: a newspaper front page called The McCullough Mail, announcing that Ashlea & Lee were getting married. What a lovely idea. It became the backdrop for my favourite bridal details of the day: pearl-covered Jimmy Choo heels, a little bottle of Miss Dior, a string of pearls and the rings tucked into their box.
Lee's details were every bit as good. There was a tartan tie, a silver pocket watch, a sgian-dubh, a thistle kilt pin, polished brown brogues and a fur sporran, all laid out against a dark backdrop. When a groom brings this much proper Scottish detail, I photograph every last piece of it.
Then came the window light. Ashlea stood with her veil framing her face, looking out over a bouquet of white roses, eucalyptus and blue thistles. Lee stood half in shadow beside a quilted leather panel, fiddling with his pocket watch chain and giving me a look that says he knows exactly how this day is about to go.
The Groom and His Crew
Lee's groomsmen are my favourite kind of wedding party, because they were laughing before I'd even asked them to. Five men in grey tweed jackets and blue-and-tan tartan kilts came strolling out past the whitewashed front of Hetland Hall Hotel, with a white lion statue keeping watch beside the door. Everybody's looking at somebody else and everybody's grinning. No posing required.
The Ceremony
Under a ceiling of glowing chandeliers, Lee and Ashlea stood hand in hand at the top of the aisle and simply laughed. It was proper, can't-hold-it-in laughter, and their guests laughed and clapped right back at them. Bridesmaids in sage green satin were beaming from the seats, and the hats and fascinators were out in force. I love a ceremony where nobody is holding it together, and this was exactly that.
Afterwards we stepped outside to the hotel's red sandstone doorway, where Lee and Ashlea shared a kiss framed by that big arched fanlight. Then came the confetti. Heart-shaped petals filled the air as everyone gathered on the gravel out front, glasses in hand and cheering, while Lee dipped Ashlea back for a kiss in front of the hotel. That black and white frame is exactly why I love confetti.
The Blue Triumph
And then there was the car. A pale blue vintage Triumph convertible, with ribbon across the windscreen and hessian bunting draped over the boot, waiting on a tree-lined drive. It was made for photographs. We had the two of them leaning on the bonnet, foreheads together. We had them curled up in the open door wearing matching "Just Married" heart-shaped sunglasses, his black and hers white. We had them nose to nose over the back seat with the bunting spread out in front of them.
My favourite action moment was the panning shot of Ashlea waving at the trees from the back seat, veil flying. I also love the black and white frame of the car heading away with the bouquet held high.
The Reception at Hetland Hall Hotel
At the top table, a neon "Mr & Mrs McCullough" sign glowed on a ribbed arch behind the happy couple. One guest chose that exact moment to plant the most enthusiastic kiss on Lee's cheek, while Ashlea laughed and a bearded gent in a kilt looked on. If I could only frame one picture from the reception, that's the one.
Lee and Ashlea, thank you so much for asking me to share your big day, and for letting Rupert loose with the drone too. Buckle up, because there's plenty more to come. Congratulations, Mr & Mrs McCullough!
If you're planning a Scottish wedding, or any wedding worth the journey, I'd love to hear about it. I'm based in North Yorkshire and Darlington, but as this one proves, I'll happily head north for the right day. Get in touch to talk about your wedding day
