Amanda and Allan's Wedding at the Art Club in Glasgow

As a wedding photographer I try to avoid photographing friend's weddings as often as possible. There is a huge amount of work to do on the day and the chances of having a conversation with someone, or getting hold of the elusive glasses of champagne, are slim. You can be taking a short rest only have to break off and start photographing again because a bunch of guests have started to dance around with napkins on their heads, for example. You can't be a guest at a wedding and cover the day professionally as well - it just doesn't work.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule and when I was asked to photograph the wedding of my old friend Amanda, and her partner Allan, back at the end of August last year I couldn't refuse as I knew it would be a great day. Amanda and I met about 14 years ago when we were both working in Jessop's camera shop. I started work there in the first year of setting up my business, mainly to take advantage of the staff discounts so that I could build up my stocks of equipment but also to prove to myself that I would never want to work there again.

Typically, for Amanda, the wedding was a little complicated. We started at Douglas and Lee hairdressing on Bath street where Amanda sat and continued her last-minute wedding planning whilst having her hair done at the same time. Unfortunately, as you would expect in Glasgow, it started to rain while we were in there but, as we left, a kind customer donated her umbrella to the bride - very kind! We then moved a few doors up the road to a make-up studio above Eleganza Sposa and then, after that, even further up the hill to Malmaison for the final finishing and dressing.

Amanda and Allen had chosen the beautiful setting of St. Mungo Museum of Religious Art for their ceremony and their minister was kind enough to give me a free reign to take pictures which was great. There was plenty of light in there anyway so I didn't need to use a flash and so could remain fairly hidden.

After a few photographs in the grounds of the museum we all headed back up to Bath street again, this time to the Glasgow Art Club - a very old institution that was regularly visited by Amanda's father. I had been there before several times - for burlesque and cabaret shows - but never before for a wedding.

 The mother of the bride meeting some of the friendly locals.

Like myself (but obviously not as good) Amanda is a keen photographer and did all of her own stationery and table settings, much of which were based on her own photographs taken around her current home on the island of Coll. The beautiful flowers are also worth a mention and they were displayed by Little Botanica.