Thursday 27 May 2021

The Walled Garden - 5 Stars

On Saturday 22nd May 2021 I had the pleasure of being invited along to film the wedding of Ricky & Leah at the Walled Garden in Kincardine. I had no idea what to expect, but hoped for a dry day so the couple could have a pleasant outdoor wedding and I could enjoy editing a ceremony taking place in natural light. 


They deserved a decent day due to all the to-ing and fro-ing of the past 14 months, and I don't think they were disappointed. I always tell my clients that the weather at weddings in Scotland is usually surprisingly good - mostly due to the combined 'well-wishing power' of all the guests crossing their fingers and toes for them. And it works! I think I've only been to one wedding out of 130 or so when the heavens opened and it poured the whole day, and that wasn't even the one on Friday 13th! (when my drone broke, but that's another story)


Anyway, back to the Walled Garden. It was an easy drive up from Livingston (I even washed the car) up the A801 onto the M9 near Falkirk and then up and over, taking the turn off towards Airth Castle at junction 7 and over the Kincardine Bridge. From then it was just a case of staying on the main road keeping the Firth of Forth on my right and following it along until I came to the parking lay-by on my left, after which the couple had warned me would be the turn off for the Walled Garden. So I pulled in after the P sign to attach my Go Pro to the bonnet, and stretched my legs before continuing my journey.


It was an overcast jaunt up the long drive through the forest and through the gates to the venue, and after being unsure exactly where to park, I was welcomed by the gentleman who owns the garden, whose name I never found out. He pointed me in the right direction and I walked through the little door into the Walled Garden proper.

Walled gardens always hold a kind of mystery and intrigue for me, probably after reading or watching 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett, so I was quite looking forward to discovering what would be found within this one.


Amazingly the whole place is solely managed by the couple who own it, which is not impossible, Anne, the lady of the garden assures me, as long as you stay on top of it all year. Apparently a walled garden is always a few degrees warmer than the surrounding area, and has two south-facing walls, two north walls, two east walls and two west walls, meaning a wide variety of growing conditions for a huge panoply of plants. 


Built in 2009, the venue is well laid out with indoor areas, tents and gazebos-a-plenty should the weather take a turn. It's also set in acres of forest and countryside, with a breathtaking view of the valleys and mountains to the north. Frolicking lambs, buzzing bees and twittering swallows are all in abundance. Unlike my vegetable patch, no baby weed nor slug is even permitted to gain the slightest foot or toe-hold.


The weather was dappled sunshine for the outdoor ceremony, after which it became slightly overcast and a few tentative drops of rain fell before the speeches beneath the canopy, but for the most part the whole day was dry, bright and fresh. 

The first couple of dances was also outside on the slabs where the ceremony had taken place now the chairs were cleared away. Drinks no doubt flowed into the evening but by then I was already on the road back over the Kincardine bridge on my way home to begin editing.



So give the Walled Garden near Kincardine a look if you're searching for a venue that's a bit different this summer.



Contact Chris at info@whiteorchidweddingfilms.co.uk 
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