Some wedding days have so much going on that everywhere you look, something is happening.

Ellie & Rico’s was one of those.

They started the morning getting ready separately before meeting at St Ternan’s Church in Banchory, with friends and family gathering around them for a really lovely ceremony. From there, everyone travelled to Coos’ Cathedral for an afternoon that just kept building — drinks and canapés on the lawn, music, speeches, dinner, a change into traditional Ghanaian clothing, sparklers, a family-led libation and then a very full dancefloor.

There was so much personality throughout the whole day, and I loved how naturally Ellie and Rico brought their families, backgrounds and traditions together. Here’s a little look at their Coos’ Cathedral wedding.

A church ceremony in Banchory

The day began in two different places, with Ellie and Rico both getting ready surrounded by the people closest to them. Rico arrived at St Ternan’s Church in Banchory ahead of the ceremony to welcome guests, while Ellie finished getting ready before making her way to the church.

St Ternan’s sits on the High Street in Banchory and has a lovely intimate feel inside, which suited their ceremony beautifully. There were emotional moments, plenty of smiles and that brilliant rush of energy as Ellie and Rico walked back up the aisle together afterwards.

From Banchory to Coos’ Cathedral

After the ceremony, everyone made their way to Coos’ Cathedral at Aboyne Castle Estate for the rest of the celebrations.

It’s a very different setting to a traditional hotel or castle ballroom. The building began life as a grand cattle steading in the late 1800s, and today it gives weddings a huge, characterful space while still feeling connected to the Aberdeenshire countryside.

For Ellie and Rico, though, the nicest part was seeing how they actually used it.

Everyone headed outside first for drinks and canapés on the lawn, with music playing and guests catching up in the afternoon sunshine. There was plenty of room for people to spread out, chat and enjoy themselves before heading inside later for speeches and dinner.

Ghanaian traditions woven into the day

One of my favourite things about Ellie & Rico’s wedding was how naturally their different family traditions became part of the celebration. Later in the evening, they changed into traditional Ghanaian clothing before heading outside for a sparkler tunnel with their guests. That was followed by a libation led by Rico’s mum, bringing another very personal part of their families and heritage into the day.

And for me, that’s always what makes these moments so enjoyable to film — you’re capturing things that are genuinely part of who the couple and their families are.

Speeches, dinner and a packed dancefloor

Before the evening celebrations properly got underway, there were speeches and dinner inside Coos’ Cathedral. Speeches are always one of my favourite parts of a wedding day because you learn so much about the people you’re filming. There are stories the couple already knows, stories they definitely weren’t expecting to hear again, and reactions from friends and family all around the room.

Then it was onto the dancefloor.

By that point, nobody needed much encouragement. The floor filled quickly and stayed that way, bringing a brilliant end to a day that had moved from a quiet morning, through a church ceremony and garden drinks, into one big celebration.

What I loved about Ellie & Rico’s wedding

What stayed with me most was how much of them there was in the day. Their ceremony felt personal, the afternoon at Coos’ Cathedral was relaxed and sociable and their Ghanaian traditions brought something completely individual to the evening.

And once the dancing started, everyone was simply there to enjoy it.

That combination is exactly what I love about documentary wedding films. You don’t need to manufacture moments when the day already has this much personality. My job is just to be there, notice them and make sure they’re remembered.

If you’d like to know more about how I work on a wedding day, you can read about my natural, documentary approach to wedding videography in Scotland.

Planning a Coos’ Cathedral wedding?

If you’re planning a wedding at Coos’ Cathedral, Ellie & Rico’s day is a great example of how much flexibility the venue gives you.

You can have a ceremony elsewhere, make the most of the grounds for drinks and photographs, then bring everyone inside for dinner, speeches and a big evening celebration. And because you’re in Royal Deeside, there are plenty of options nearby if you want different locations to form part of the day.

You can also explore more of the Scottish wedding venues I love filming at, or see more examples of my wedding films across Scotland.

Coos’ Cathedral wedding video FAQ

Where is Coos’ Cathedral?

Coos’ Cathedral is at Aboyne Castle Estate in Aberdeenshire, in the heart of Royal Deeside.

Can you have your ceremony somewhere else and celebrate at Coos’ Cathedral?

Yes. Ellie & Rico held their ceremony at St Ternan’s Church in Banchory before travelling to Coos’ Cathedral for drinks, dinner and the evening celebrations.

Is Coos’ Cathedral suitable for a large wedding reception?

The venue offers a large open interior, making it well suited to weddings with dinner, speeches, entertainment and plenty of space for dancing afterwards.

What is a Coos’ Cathedral wedding like to film?

For me, one of its strengths is the variety. You have the scale and character of the main building, outdoor space for guests to gather, and plenty happening within a relatively compact area once everyone arrives.

That means I can move quietly between conversations, speeches, reactions and the dancefloor without needing to pull the couple away from their guests for long periods.

Looking for a Coos’ Cathedral wedding videographer?

If you’re planning your own wedding at Coos’ Cathedral, or anywhere else in Aberdeenshire, I’d love to hear what you have planned.

My approach is relaxed and discreet, with the focus on the people, conversations, laughter and all the moments that happen naturally throughout the day.