A CRAIL WEDDING WITH AN INDIAN TWIST
THE COW SHED WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Alexander and Nidhi's Scottish wedding, with a wondrously Indian twist to the ceremony.
As I drove to The Cow Shed, a wedding venue in Crail on the East Neuk of Fife, the sun was impressively strong overhead, looking like it might be securely baked in for the day. With about five or so miles to run, I turned off the road to Crail, just after Kilrenny, found a narrow road down to the coast, and weaved my Fiat 500 hire car along what eventually became a farm track to find a decent spot to take lunch overlooking the North Sea. My eyes were squinting, looking for the Isle of May nature reserve, which should have been directly in front of me, and that’s when I first spotted the mist.
The Scottish haar is nature's way of saying, "You thought you were going to see the beach today? Think again!" The coastal mist sneaks in like a ninja, transforming a sunny day into a scene from a foggy mystery novel. At its most impressive, the haar can ensure you'll only see about two feet in front of you. It’s a spectacle, though I suppose if you live on the East coast of Scotland, there are days where you’re not quite so immediately awed.
This haar seemed to move reasonably swiftly in my direction, and immediate thoughts turned to a favourite cult movie of mine, The Fog, a 1980 horror directed by John Carpenter. The story is set in the small coastal town of Antonio Bay, California, which is about to celebrate its centennial. I suppose if I were to squint again, Kilrenny could be Antonio Bay, perhaps, maybe. As the town prepares for the festivities, a mysterious and eerie fog rolls in, bringing with it the vengeful spirits of mariners who were scuppered in a shipwreck caused by the town's founders.
Sandwich despatched and haar edging ever closer, the Fiat and I made our final five miles journey up to Crail, by which time the early wisps were beginning to envelop the venue.
The vibrant hues of an Indian ceremony, from the rich reds and golds of bridal attire to the bursts of marigold orange and peacock blue in the decorations, create a dazzling tapestry of color that symbolizes joy, prosperity, and tradition.
The Cow Shed at Crail, originally a 19th-century farm building in the historic East Neuk of Fife, has been transformed from its agricultural roots into a wonderful event space. This rustic venue, once used for housing cattle, now hosts weddings, workshops, and gatherings, preserving its original stone walls.