Clubhouse on Highland Wedding | A Whimsical Birmingham Estate Wedding

wedding
Written By Milly Baine

There was a moment during cocktail hour when the bagpipes started playing again, and I remember looking around to see everyone's reaction.

Some guests smiled because they knew exactly what was coming. Others had never heard bagpipes at a wedding before. By the end of the evening, people were learning Scottish dances, trying Irn-Bru for the first time, and swapping stories over dinner.

It was one of those weddings where you kept finding another detail that made you stop for a second.

A Spring Wedding at Clubhouse on Highland

Abby and Nick were married in April at Clubhouse on Highland in Birmingham, Alabama, surrounded by about 120 of their favorite people.

Their wedding was colorful and fun. Pale greens and soft yellows carried through the flowers and table settings, and the historic rooms of Clubhouse on Highland gave everything a romantic backdrop.

I photograph a lot of weddings across Alabama, and Clubhouse on Highland is one of those venues I'm always happy to come back to. It has the feel of an estate wedding without asking couples to leave Birmingham, and every room has its own personality.

Scottish Traditions, Watercolor Paintings, and Irn-Bru

Nick is Scottish and English, so they worked those traditions into the day in ways that felt completely natural.

He wore a traditional kilt. A bagpiper played before the ceremony and during cocktail hour. Later in the reception, friends and family gathered for Scottish dancing inviting everyone else onto the dance floor.

One of my favorite reception details was the seating assignment.

Each table was named after a home Abby and Nick had shared together. Beside the table number was a watercolor painting of that house. It was such a fun way to look back at the places they'd lived and the life they'd built together.

Then there was the Irn-Bru.

I'd never photographed a wedding with an Irn-Bru tasting table before, but guests were lined up to try it. It's the kind of detail people end up talking about long after the wedding. I personally have never tasted anything like it.

Why I Love Photographing Weddings at Clubhouse on Highland

Clubhouse on Highland gives you a lot to work with without ever leaving the property.

The downstairs sunroom is probably my favorite space in the house. The tile floor is beautiful, and the natural light stays consistent for most of the day, so I almost always find myself bringing couples back there.

The bridal suite upstairs is another favorite. It has plenty of room to get ready, and the windows keep everything bright without feeling harsh.

Then there's the balcony.

During the reception, I slipped upstairs for a different view of the patio. Looking down from above, I caught Nick laughing with guests below. It's still one of my favorite photographs from the day because it shows the reception in a way you just can't see from the floor.

We also made some of my favorite portraits through the old windows around the house. Clubhouse has enough interesting architecture that you don't have to force creativity. You can just pay attention to what's already there.

What Couples Should Know About Clubhouse on Highland

If you're planning a wedding at Clubhouse on Highland, one thing to know is that the light changes quickly during the ceremony.

You're indoors for the ceremony itself, then everyone heads outside for the recessional. Moving from the darker interior to bright afternoon light happens in a matter of seconds, so it's something I always keep in the back of my mind while photographing there.

For couples, though, it usually means one thing: trust your photographer to handle it. You don't have to think about changing light while you're celebrating.

The venue also has enough variety that there's no need to leave for portraits unless you simply want to. Between the gardens, front porch, historic interiors, sunroom, staircase, and upstairs balcony, there's more than enough to create a full wedding gallery.

Why Clubhouse on Highland Is One of My Favorite Birmingham Wedding Venues

I recommend Clubhouse on Highland to couples fairly often, especially if they're searching for a historic wedding venue in Birmingham or an estate wedding venue in Alabama.

It doesn't have that "blank canvas" feeling where everything depends on the décor. The house already has character. Add thoughtful flowers, good music, and people who are genuinely excited to be there, and it all comes together pretty naturally.

Abby and Nick's wedding is a good example of that.

The venue gave them a beautiful place to celebrate, but what I'll remember are the things that only could have belonged to them: the kilt, the watercolor paintings, the bagpipes, the Scottish dancing, and the guests who traveled from all over the world to be there.

Planning a Clubhouse on Highland Wedding?

If you're planning a wedding at Clubhouse on Highland and looking for a Birmingham wedding photographer, I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.

My approach blends art-forward editorial portraits with honest photojournalism, so your gallery includes both the big moments and the small ones you didn't realize were happening. Whether you're planning a colorful spring wedding like Abby and Nick's or something dark and moody, Clubhouse on Highland is a venue that photographs beautifully in every season.

Vendor Team

Milly Baine
Next

Scarritt Bennett Engagement Photos | A Gothic-Inspired Session in Nashville