Dundas Castle Wedding in Scotland | Scottish Castle Wedding | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Dundas Castle Wedding in Scotland | Scottish Castle Wedding | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
I was so excited for this wedding day at dundas castle! when APhril and graham decided to have their destination wedding in scotland, I knew it was going to be a fun time, but then learning that it was at dundas castle, I knew right then that they had the best taste and it was going to be a stunning wedding day, but also a solid party! Although, this was more of a destination wedding for APhril, as she and her family are all from the los angeles area, whereas graham was born and raised in Scotland. though he now lives in LA, which is where he met his bride, aphril.
a beautiful wedding day at the historic dundas castle
Dundas CastlE has so many rooms to get ready in and all of them are stunning with historical furniture and features displayed throughout. the owners actually live in a part of the estate still, in a private wing, so you can see a few family portraits in the library and living rooms. Aphril choose to get ready in a stunning room with two large windows overlooking the front courtyard of the castle entrance. It was joined to another room that was a beautiful shade of mint, and that is where her dress was hung up, so it wasn’t in the line of makeup while the bridal party was getting ready.
After the bridesmaids were ready, they all helped aphril put her dress on and button her many buttons on the back of her stunning wedding dress by rita vinieris. They held her dress as aphril walked down the grand staircase to head to the wedding ceremony. Her dad met her at the bottom of the stairs to walk her all of the way out of the castle and down the aisle.
The wedding ceremony took place in the tower within the castle. You did have to exit the main dundas castle building and walk through a quaint courtyard garden and then into the tower and up a few flights of a spiral staircase, but it all felt very fairytale-esque. Think, rapunzel barbara, from wild flower workshop, created the most beautiful floral installations at the front of the ceremony space on podiums as well as in the tower walls. Aphril’s wedding bouquet was also an artistic piece of work in and of itself. The staff of the castle rang the tower bell to announce the bride was on her way, as all of the guests were fully packed into the chairs and balcony area of the tower hall. as aphril’s dad walked her down the aisle, graham was so full of emotion and it was the sweetest thing to witness. The kids had bubble guns and an owl flew the rings to the bride’s brother. Overall, a wedding ceremony at dundas castle is a completely unique and customizable experience and one that is forever a memorable story for everyone to tell.
The wedding ceremony took place at the top of a tower in dundas castle
After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom made their way to the rooftop of the tower for a few couple portraits overlooking the bridges and water of south queensferry, while the wedding guests headed back to the main castle building for cocktail hour. After the wedding portraits the bride and groom had some time alone to themselves before being announced down the grand staircase in front of all of their wedding guests to join them for the rest of the cocktail hour. There were a few speeches at the stairs, a cake cutting with a sword and plenty of shots taken, hugs given and selfies photographed for the next hour before the wedding reception.
Dundas castle has the perfect courtyard for a sunny cocktail hour
There were two scottish bagpipers that led the bride and groom into the pavilion just outside of the castle for a sit down wedding meal, and later that is where the dancing would take place as well. A lot of Irn bru was had, more speeches with tears and laughter and then a delicious meal by the catering team from heritage portfolio. The dessert was a beautiful lavender color that matched the bright wedding bouquet centerpieces from wild flower workshop. Once the dancing began, it was easy for the dance floor to be filled with wedding guests as the jammy devils were just that good! Everyone was instantly out of their seats and having the best time on the dance floor. The party went late into the night where the groom, who is a part of the scottish house mafia DJ Trio, were able to DJ with his friends. You know it’s a good day when the dancing never ends, in the best way possible. unforgettable memories were made all day long, and that is the best kind of destination wedding day. And Dundas castle estate was the perfect location for such a special day in their lives. x
“Dundas Castle is a beautiful castle wedding venue near Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a perfect scottish castle for a Destination wedding day.”
Scotland Castle Wedding VENUE - Dundas Castle | Florist - Barbara Smith of Wild Flower Workshop | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer - Melody Joy | Make-up Artist - brook lilias makeup | Hair - abi taylor bride | Bride's Wedding Dress - Rita Vinieris dress | Cocktail Hour + Reception Caterer - Heritage Portfolio | Ceremony and Reception Band and DJ - Jammy Devils Band and the scottish house mafia
If anyone is planning a destination wedding in scotland or a wedding at dundas castle, just outside of Edinburgh, I would love to chat
more with you about your wedding day!
Reach out to me on the link below.
Royal College of Physicians Intimate Wedding Day in Edinburgh, Scotland | Edinburgh Wedding Photography
Royal College of Physicians Intimate Wedding Day in Edinburgh, Scotland | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | DEstination Wedding Photographer
Myranda and paul had the most beautiful, intimate wedding day in Edinburgh, Scotland. The ROyal COllege of Physicians was the main venue for their wedding day, and they had the earlier parts of their wedding scattered all over the beautiful scenes of Edinburgh. Which Jamie, of timeless white, planned the whole day out perfectly, honestly, It was one of those days that just flowed along beautifully, and I think a lot of it was his organization skills, which I really appreciate as a wedding photographer.
First, after getting ready at a flat in New town, Myranda walked over in the lovely rainy weather of scotland, that stopped just before she arrived for her first look underneath edinburgh castle. PauL was waiting for her by standing in front of the ross fountain in princes garden, while he gazed at the castle. It honestly is such a lovely spot for a first look, and the gardens are large enough that you can always find a quiet corner to have an intimate moment for your wedding day.
After the first look, Myranda and Paul strolled through Princes Garden and throughout the royal mile in Old town. They eventually made their way over to the royal cafe to grab a drink while sitting in a corner booth and have a little breather together before heading up to calton hill for the ceremony.
The filmmaker and myself, the talented David James, headed up to calton hill to give the couple some more time to themselves at their rental and to give us time to capture all of the lovely floral installations that Gloam created for their intimate wedding ceremony. The ceremony was set up on the back of the hillside on calton hill, where arthur’s seat was the iconic backdrop. After watching one day recently, I am sure arthur’s seat will be a part of even more love stories now. It really is such a beautiful hill and so close to the city. Anyways, back to the wedding day, Myranda and Paul’s wedding guests all arrived on a double decker vintage bus to the top of the hill, and myranda’s dad walked her down the aisle while paul was waiting at the top of calton hill with the landscape of edinburgh able to be seen within a 360 view all around him.
“After the ceremony on calton hill, the wedding guests headed
over to The Royal College of Physicians in the new town neighborhood
of Edinburgh, scotland for the cocktail hour in the cullen suite
and an intimate dinneR reception in the new library.”
After the ceremony, Myranda and paul joined their wedding guests aboard the vintage bus to drive over to the royal college of physicians in the new town neighborhood of edinburgh, where the guests were having cocktails upstairs in the cullen suite. Because they already had their wedding portraits taken before the ceremony they were able to mingle and enjoy the full cocktail hour with their loved ones.
When the cocktail hour was wrapping up, the opened the doors to the New library, where one long dinner table had been decorated by the edinburgh floral stylists, GLOAm. The long table was full of tall candlesticks, florals and little disco balls The dinner table was surrounded by all of the bookshelves in the royal college of physicians, and is actually a working college and library to this day. from a wedding photographers point of view, having a balcony in the library really makes for great angles of you and your guests if you choose to have your intimate wedding day at the royal college of physicians.
another reason that you would want to get married here, is that they have such lovely caterers, such as saltire hospitality, who not only have delicious and beautiful dishes they serve, but their staff is always so helpful and friendly to work with. Of course, Jamie, of the timeless White wedding planning team, made sure that myranda and paul had a wonderful team of local wedding vendors to make this wedding day run so seamlessly.
Myranda and Paul had the amazing DJ Sam Young, who has DJ’d for “George Clooney, Idris Elba weddings, Elton John’s 60th, events for Gucci, Valentino, GQ ‘most connected men’ event”… just to name a few from his socials. So what I love about this Edinburgh wedding venue that is if you really want to work with someone they are open to it, and I love that Myranda and Paul really wanted an amazing dj, even for how intimate their micro wedding day was.
They danced the night away in the great hall, where the flashing lights of the disco ball sparkled all over the grand pillars that surrounded the room as well as all over the historic and ornate sculptures and detailed cornicing work on the ceilings. Overall, the royal college of physicians was the perfect wedding venue for this intimate wedding day in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“The Royal College of Physicians is
one of the loveliest library wedding venues
in Edinburgh for an Intimate Wedding
Day with your loved ones.”
Wedding Venue / Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Stylist, Florist & Stationery / GLOAM
Wedding Planner / Timeless White
Photography / Melody Joy
Videography / David James
Bride’s Dress / Flora
Groom’s Formalwear / Anatoly & Sons
Wedding Rings / Marrow Fine
Hair & Makeup / Bonny’s Wonderland Hair and Makeup
Catering / Saltire Hospitality
Celebrant / Caroline Lambie
Entertainment / Tartan Entertainment
Transport / The Red Bus
Featured / THE LANE
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO DOCUMENT YOUR INTIMATE WEDDING DAY at the royal college of physicians IN EDINBURGH, INQUIRE WITH ME AND tell me all about your LOVELY wedding day on MY INQUIRY FORM.
Royal College of Physicians Wedding in Edinburgh | Edinburgh wedding Photographer
The Royal College of Physicians wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland | Jessica & Lewis | St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral | Edinburgh
wedding Photographer
Jessica and Lewis chose to have their wedding day in their lovely hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland at the royal college of Physicians, A historic wedding venue located in the heart of Edinburgh on Queen Street. Lewis got ready ready in his childhood home with his best friends and they ended up walking to a local pub for pints just before heading to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church to start greeting everyone for the wedding ceremony. Jessica started her day by getting ready in the main bridal suite of the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel with all of her best friends and family members. the talented Rae Mathieson did an amazing job on Jessica’s makeup and MElanie Herriot did a beautiful job on her long wavy hairstyle.
A vintage car drove Jessica and her dad over to ST. Mary’s Episcopal Church in the west end, for their beautiful wedding ceremony. Then after the vows, the edinburgh string ensemble playing, then being led out of the ceremony by a bagpiper, they had a long sparkler exit all of the way back to their blue vintage car and drove over to The ROyal College of Physicians of Edinburgh for their cocktail hour and wedding reception. The cullen suite is where they had their portraits taken and the late night buffet desert table and the new library was where the guests congregated for drinks during the cocktail hour and room change before and after the dinner in the great hall. All of the rooms were such lovely and unique spaces for the guests to wakl around and mingle.
One of my favorite parts of the wedding day was during the cocktail hour in The New Library room of The Royal College of physicians, because they had a brass band, called Top tier Brass, playing covers of a lot of dance songs from the second level of the library while everyone below with their drinks created a dance floor as soon as the tunes started. It was such a great atmosphere for everyone and it was one of those weddings where everyone danced and was in high spirits the entire evening. they switched up the music again for the main dance floor in the great hall, where they had jonny ross music dj’ing and had two guys on a saxophone and bongos walking around and working the crowd. IT was such a fun evening full of limbos, laughter and learning on the dance floor about guests going “true scotsman in a kilt.” look it up, if you don’t know what that means.
It was also my first time working with Ollie & Ivy on a wedding day, and they did such a beautiful job with the floral arrangements, from the wedding bouquet, to the ceremony, to the floral installations to the dinner table centerpieces. Overall, I would easily recommend them again as a wedding florist in Edinburgh.
In the end, this was such a beautiful wedding day in the center of edinburgh. ALso, Jessica did such an amazing job planning this entire wedding day by herself. Honestly, I’m sure the staff at the royal college of physicians helped a lot, but I was so impressed at Jessica’s eye for detail, understanding of timelines and overall taste and style for the vendors she selected and the vision she had. All in all, this was another lovely wedding day at the royal college of physicians in edinburgh and it’s a bit of “win, win” that I live within walking distance of this wedding venue and could just stroll a few blocks home at the end of the night. x
bridal suite in Edinburgh - Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel // Edinburgh Wedding Florist - Ollie & Ivy // Scotland Make-up Artist - Rae Mathieson // Edinburgh Hair Stylist - Melanie Herriot (MHM Styling) // Wedding Dress - Stella McCartney from Net a Porter and HOM Bridal for alterations and bespoke cape // Groom jacket and waistcoat - 21st Century Kilt // rental jackets for ushers - McCalls Edinburgh Kilt Hire // Bride + Groom Rings - Cara Jewellers, Dubai // Ceremony + Reception Venue - St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral // Edinburgh Wedding Venue - Royal College of Physicians The New Library // Cocktail Hour + Reception Caterer (Including desserts!) - Saltire Hospitality // Ceremony/Reception edinburgh music - Edinburgh String Ensemble - Top Tier Brass - Jonny Ross Music (DJ, Sax and Bongos) // Wedding Filmmaker - Simon Hird // Wedding car supplier - Edinburgh Classic Wedding Cars
“The Royal College of Physicians is one of the loveliest and historic library wedding venues in Edinburgh, Scotland.”
Edinburgh City Chambers Wedding | Edinburgh, Scotland Elopement Photographer | Virgin Hotels Edinburgh Cocktail Hour | Bonham Hotel Wedding Reception | Duygu + Chris
Edinburgh City Chambers Wedding | Edinburgh, Scotland ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | Virgin Hotels Edinburgh Cocktail Hour | Bonham Hotel Wedding Reception
Edinburgh City Chambers weddings are some of my favorite weddings to photograph in Edinburgh, Scotland. Nestled in the heart of historic Edinburgh lies a gem of elegance and heritage: the Edinburgh City Chambers. This enchanting venue provided the perfect backdrop for duygu and chris’ intimate wedding ceremony that seamlessly blended tradition with modern flair. The couple exchanged vows amidst the grandeur of this historic building, surrounded by close family and friends. The picturesque setting lent itself beautifully to capturing timeless portraits. After taking all of the family wedding photos in the courtyard of Edinburgh city chambers, we headed over to Calton Hill and the iconic Royal Mile serving as stunning historic backdrops for couple portraits to create memories frozen in time.
Following the heartfelt ceremony at Edinburgh City Chambers, the celebration continued at the stylish and modern commons club at the Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh, where a delightful cocktail hour awaited the guests. The lively atmosphere and chic ambiance set the stage for laughter and heartfelt conversations, creating unforgettable memories. But the excitement didn't stop there—the couple surprised their guests with a whimsical twist by arranging a double-decker bus ride to the Bonham Hotel. As they traveled through the streets of Edinburgh, an acoustic guitarist serenaded the group, setting the mood for an evening of enchantment.
Arriving at the Bonham Hotel, all of duygu and chris’ wedding guests were greeted with the melodic tunes of the guitarist continuing over drinks. The intimate gathering exuded an aura of warmth and closeness as guests mingled and shared stories. The night crescendoed into a formal dinner reception, where the couple, alongside their loved ones, had a beautiful multi course dinner around one large table with their loved ones. The ambiance was elevated by the elegant setting and the heartfelt speeches that echoed through the halls, celebrating the union of two souls amidst the beauty of Edinburgh's rich cultural tapestry.
This unforgettable celebration wove together the timeless charm of Edinburgh's landmarks with the couple's unique vision, creating an intimate wedding experience that will forever linger in the hearts of all who attended. From the historic City Chambers to the scenic Calton Hill and the lively streets of the Royal Mile, every moment was a testament to love, heritage, and the magic of creating cherished memories in a city steeped in history and romance.
Wedding Ceremony - Edinburgh City Chambers European room // Wedding Cocktail Hour - Virgin Hotels Edinburgh // Wedding Reception - Bonham Hotel // Wedding Portraits - The Royal Mile and Calton Hill
the Edinburgh City Chambers European Room on The Royal Mile is a dreamy spot for couples to tie the knot. It's like stepping into a fairy tale—beautiful ceilings, fancy lights, and old-style buildings make it feel like you’re a part of history.
Getting married here isn't just about the ceremony. It's about being part of something bigger. The room has seen so much history, and now it gets to be a part of a new love story. The Royal Mile's streets add to the magic. They're charming and make the whole day feel special. Saying "I do" here means connecting your love story to Edinburgh's past—it's pretty SWEET.
After the vows, the newlyweds are surrounded by a place that's seen a ton of stories. It's a reminder that their love is now a part of something really timeless and awesome. Basically, getting married in a historic wedding venue like the European Room in city Chambers isn't just romantic—it's like adding your love story to an endless list of other amazing stories from the past.
After a beautiful ceremony at the Edinburgh City Chambers, this wedding couple went for a super cool move. They chose the Virgin Hotels in the old town on Victoria Street for their guests' hangout—the Commons Club bar—for a post-ceremony cocktail hour. Now, this place isn't just any bar. It's like stepping into a trendy spot with a vibe that screams fun and chic. The couple decided to treat their guests to something special, turning the usual after-ceremony gathering into an unforgettable experience.
The Commons Club is like a hidden gem in the heart of Edinburgh's old town. It's not just a bar; it's a place filled with Solid drinks, clinking glasses, and good times. The atmosphere is electric, with its cool décor and cozy corners—it's the perfect spot for guests to unwind and celebrate the newlyweds' big moment. The choice of this spot wasn't just about a fancy venue—it was about creating an extension of the joy from the ceremony. By picking a spot like the Commons Club, the couple gave their guests a chance to keep the celebration going in a place that's all about good vibes and making memories. Imagine the happiness in the air as friends and family toast to the newlyweds, surrounded by the historic charm of Victoria Street. It's not just a bar; it's an extension of the love and joy that started at the City Chambers.
In a nutshell, this couple didn't just plan a wedding; they orchestrated a whole experience. Choosing a spot like the Commons Club wasn't just about drinks—it was about giving their guests a piece of their happiness in a place that's stylish, lively, and oh-so-memorable.
aS newlyweds, duygu and chris stood on top of Calton Hill in Edinburgh, the rain adding a touch of charm as they pose with umbrellas overlooking the majestic Edinburgh Castle. Despite the rain, the scene feels straight out of a romantic movie. The couple's love shines through the mist, embraced by the beauty of Edinburgh’s city skyline. The rain becomes part of the story, adding a poetic allure to their portraits against the backdrop of the ancient castle. It's not just about taking pictures—it's about turning challenges into beautiful, unforgettable memories. Calton Hill never disappoints on a wedding day, even in the rain it’s worth the drive or walk up.
Finally, Duygu and Chris had their wedding bus drop off all of their guests after a tour of edinburgh’s new town, to an intimate wedding reception tucked away in the charming Bonham Hotel, nestled in Edinburgh's picturesque West End. The setting exudes an elegant and cozy atmosphere, creating the perfect ambiance for a heartfelt celebration.
The Bonham Hotel is like a hidden gem, offering a blend of sophistication and warmth. The intimate reception feels like a private gathering among dear friends and family. The soft glow of lights, the tasteful décor, and the welcoming ambiance made for a beautiful evening. The couple, surrounded by their closest loved ones, shares laughter, heartfelt toasts, and cherished moments. The beauty of an intimate reception lies in the ability to truly connect, to have conversations that linger and memories that feel deeply personal.
As the evening unfolds, the culinary delights crafted by the bonham hotel's chefs add to the magic. Each dish is not just a meal but a work of art, served with care and attention to detail. The flavors dance on the palate, enhancing the joy of the occasion. The Bonham Hotel's West End location adds a touch of sophistication to the celebration. The quiet elegance of the surroundings becomes a backdrop to the love and happiness shared within. It's a perfect blend of intimacy and casual dinner party, creating an evening that feels both lavish yet personal.
And amidst it all, the newlyweds steal glances, their eyes reflecting the sheer joy of starting this new chapter together. The Bonham Hotel, with its intimate charm, becomes a starting place where their love and celebration intertwine, creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime with all of their closest family members. x
Dovecot Studios Wedding | Sara + Gus | Duddingston Kirk Wedding | Halfpenny London Dress | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Dovecot Studios Wedding |
Sara + Gus | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Halfpenny London DRESS | Kinloch anderson | Ochre botanical Studios | DudDingston Kirk
Sara and Gus are such a beautiful couple, inside and out. They started their day with a beautiful view over Duddingston Loch at the lovely historic church hall of Duddingston Kirk, in Holyrood Park. Their wedding guests, local Edinburgh family members to friends who traveled up from London, were all greeted with beautiful music by a local bagpiper and the entire scene was straight out of out an international romance film. The Duddingston Kirk church hall had a loft overlooking the entire ceremony and one large beautiful window, that was perfectly lit with natural light for them to sign their marriage certificate. Sara was wearing a gorgeous wedding dress and blouse from Halfpenny London that also matched the timelessness of the venue. After their sweet ceremony, where one of Sara’s best friends sang a lovely opera piece (one of the loveliest I’ve heard in a long time, as my dad had us listening to opera a lot growing up), and her voice filled the hall. Honestly, the acoustics were perfect in there for opera music. As they exited the front doors of Duddingston Kirk, everyone was waiting outside for them in two rows of sparklers throughout the Duddingston Kirk grounds, all of the way until the entrance gate to the Old Church Lane, where a beautiful vintage Daimler wedding car was waiting to take them to the Old Town of Edinburgh for their wedding portraits.
We strolled around the Edinburgh University Old College, which was perfectly placed down the street from their wedding reception venue at Dovecot Studios. Now Dovecot Studios is one of the loveliest halls I’ve been to in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Dovecot used to be a swimming pool for locals and has now been restored and converted into thriving artist studios as well as an art museum to display the local artists works. Dovecot also have art exhibits as well. The main space in the Dovecot Studios is a large hall with a viewing balcony overlooking a stunning center hall with an immaculately crafted high ceiling. It’s the perfect wedding venue for having a cocktail hour on the balcony before dinner, and then going up to the balcony for coffee and dessert while they clear the main floor for dancing and a live band, like The Jets, who did a lovely job at this wedding. I appreciate ceilidh dances so much. Not only are they a fun time, but ceilidh’s help everyone loosen up and help everyone meet other friends and relatives they hadn’t been close to before. All in all, Sara and Gus had such a beautiful day with their loved ones and Dovecot Studios was the perfect venue to house those unforgettable memories for them! x
Florist Company Name - Julie at Ochre Botanical Studios | Edinburgh Make-up Artist - Sophie Alexis Make-Up | Edinburgh Hair Stylist - Marnie 7 West | Wedding Dress + Sheer Blouse - Halfpenny London | Shoes - Loeffler Randall Shoes | Earrings - Completed Works | Groom's Jacket - Kinloch Anderson | Bride + Groom Rings - Natalie Landale Jewellery | Church Wedding Ceremony - Duddingston Kirk | Edinburgh Reception Venue Hall - Dovecot Studios | Wedding Reception Caterer - Pinkerton's Catering | Edinburgh Wedding Live Band - The Jets
A Beautiful Edinburgh Wedding | The Scotsman Hotel | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
A Beautiful Edinburgh Wedding | The Scotsman Hotel | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Ochre BotanicaL Studios | GRAND CAFE EDINBURGH RESTAURANT
Alana and Les are local to Edinburgh and chose to have their wedding day start and end in the heart of their city, at The Scotsman Hotel. Alana spent her morning in the bridal suite that overlooked the Edinburgh skyline and spent the morning with her daughter and closest family members. She wore a stunning vintage wedding gown and her wedding bouquet was done by the talented Ochre Botanical Studios with silk from Heirloom Silk Ribbons. A cream vintage VW van picked up Alana and her bridal party and took them to the wedding ceremony, at City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, a beautiful church located in a stunning historic hall in the Old Town of Edinburgh. After the ceremony we strolled around one of their favorite gardens in Edinburgh and then headed back to The Scotsman Hotel for the wedding dinner and had speeches overlooking the guests from the balcony of The Grand Cafe. One of the reasons I love the The Grand Cafe is because, since being located within The Scotsman Hotel, it has a stunning view of Edinburgh, as it overlooks The Balmoral, Waverly Station and the New Town skyline. And since Alana and Les had friends from all over the world at their wedding day, and myself still feeling like a tourist after living here for a few years now, the city view from The Grand Cafe really does have such a romantic and magical feeling about it, especially as the skyline lights up as the sun fades into the night. x
Edinburgh Hotel - The Scotsman Hotel | Wedding Dress - Bliss Studio Edinburgh | Wedding Bouquet - Beige Blommer of Ochre Botanical Studios | Floral Designer - Beige Blommer | Floral Company - Root and Branch Flowers | Floral Silk - Heirloom Silk Ribbons | Wedding Reception Dinner - Grand Cafe Edinburgh | Church Wedding Ceremony - City of Edinburgh Methodist Church | Edinburgh Hair - Stefan Hampton of Hamptons Hairdressing Salon | Edinburgh Makeup Artist - Nikki Marshall World | Bridal Headband - Etsy, Design by Hummingbird
The Free Company Wedding | Sally + Kevin | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
The Free Company Wedding | Sally + Kevin | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | justin Alexander wedding dress
The Free Company was the perfect start and end to Sally and Kevin’s wedding day. Sally spent the morning tucked away in the House of Cockburn, a beautiful historic home located just outside of Edinburgh, in. Balerno, and conveniently a few minutes up the road from The Free Company. She spent the morning of her wedding day drinking coffee and mimosas with her bridesmaids, while getting her hair and makeup done by the lovely Megan Neely and Danielle Dickson. After she was finished getting ready she rode with her mom in a vintage wedding car to St Theresa's Church, where her and Kevin said ‘I do.’ They exited the church together as husband and wife by running through a sea of confetti to their getaway vehicle, the previously mentioned vintage wedding car. From there, we all rode together to The Free Company before the guests arrived, to roam around the farm fields and take couples portraits of them as newlyweds. When we pulled up to The Free Company, we were greeted with champagne by Angus, who is one of the original founders of the The Free Company and now runs the farm and restaurant with his brother.
By the time we took portraits around the farm and walked back to The Free Company courtyard, all of their guests had arrived and local canapés were being served. The drinks were flowing in the best way possible. Everyone was smiling and catching up with friends, new and old! Cocktails are one of my favorite times of a wedding day because it’s the first time anyone can run up to the bride and groom and congratulate them on becoming husband and wife. The atmosphere of the courtyard cocktail hour was stunning and full of warmth, as the sun was shining brightly and there was a live band playing beautifully in the background of the lively conversations.
After the cocktail hour everyone headed through the bar area to the main hall of The Free Company where two long tables were formed to create a family style dining atmosphere. And as lovely as the farm setting and beautifully remodeled venue is, the real gem of having your wedding at The Free Company, is the top tier farm to table full course meal that you and your guests will have the privilege of tasting. All of their meals are seasonally set and locally sourced, specifically from their farm. If you are a wedding guest or simply visiting Edinburgh or Scotland for any other reason (and just stumbled upon this blog post), it’s worth having a meal at The Free Company during your stay here. Sally and Kevin spent the evening dancing with their friends to DJ Paddy Gordon and then had fresh pizzas and late night conversations in the courtyard under the stars. x
Edinburgh Wedding Venue - The Free Company | Farm to Table Catering - The Free Company | Florist - The Free Company | Getting Ready Bridal Accommodation - The Free Company Lodging | Edinburgh MUA - Danielle Dickson Makeup | Edinburgh Hair Stylist - Bridal Hair by Megan Neely | Wedding Dress - Justin Alexander | Scotland Church Ceremony Location - St Theresa's Church | Scotland DJ - DJ Paddy Gordon, MPG Entertainments
Barnbougle Castle Wedding | Rosebery Venues | Rosie + Sean | Castle Wedding Venue Near Edinburgh, Scotland | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Barnbougle Castle Wedding | Rosebery Venues | Rosie + Sean | Castle Wedding Venue Near EdinburgH | Scotland Wedding Photographer | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Rosie and Sean decided to fly all the way to Scotland from America to get married at a romantic seaside castle just on the outskirts of Edinburgh, at the lovely Barnbougle Castle. Barnbougle Castle is truly a beautiful piece of history. It’s origins date back to the 13th century and is placed right in the center of the Dalmeny Estate, near South Queensferry.
Before driving over to Barnbougle Castle, Rosie started the morning of her wedding day at The Scotsman Hotel, getting ready in a bridal suite overlooking the Edinburgh city skyline. When I arrived at The Scotsman Hotel, Mercedes (the owner of the design-led wedding planning studio of Scarlett & Bell) was there ready to go with all of the details and plans to make sure their wedding day went by seamlessly, which of course it did. I always love not only working alongside talented individuals, but ones I consider encouraging friends in the industry! Ever since I moved to Edinburgh when I married my (very Scottish) husband, I’ve been grateful to be able to form a small community of like-minded friends who have the same design-led mindsets on wedding days, and of course can run a tight ship with the couple and guests feeling their most relaxed and in wedding bliss selves. Anyways, that was a long ramble, but to conclude, I highly suggest hiring Mercedes of Scarlett & Bell to help with you wedding planning in Scotland, whether you are from here or from abroad. Fina Beauty’s team was also there putting the finishing touches on Rosie at The Scotsman. Once her hair and makeup was completed, we headed over to The Royal Mile to capture a first look for her and Sean. Of course The Royal Mile can be busy, but there are plenty of quiet corners I am happy to suggest so that couples can have an intimate and personal moment away from the crowds.
Once we finished taking bridal portraits on The Royal Mile, a vintage car picked up Rosie from The Scotsman Hotel and drove her over to Barnbougle Castle just in time for the wedding ceremony. I arrived to the venue just before Rosie, alongside Matt Willoughby, who was the wedding filmmaker for the day. He is also someone I would recommend for a relaxed, friendly and unique eye to create a cinematic wedding experience for you to relieve in motion. I was able to capture all of the stunning wedding floral installations that were done by Adelaide’s Flowers just before the wedding ceremony started, which was beautifully held outside on the Barnbougle Castle terrace, overlooking Edinburgh just beyond the waterfront. After the wedding ceremony, which was full of beautiful Scottish wedding traditions, the couple walked out in front of Barnbougle Castle as the bagpiper played and confetti was thrown at them by all of their loved ones.
The rest of the evening was filled with drinking and delicious courses by Wild Thyme with their loved ones in the main dining hall of Barnbougle Castle, sitting outside on the terrace with coffee and Sicilian Pastry Shop cake and then dancing the night away to the live band, The Soul Establishment. It is so beautiful to see so many Americans enjoying the scottish culture and their heritage, and especially in such a romantic history castle, like Barnbougle. x
Scotland Castle Wedding Venue - Barnbougle Castle, Rosebery Venues (a lovely Scottish castle wedding venue on Dalmeny Estate, near Edinburgh, Scotland) | Design-Led Scottish Wedding Planner - Scarlett & Bell, Mercedes Somerville | Edinburgh Hotel Bridal Suite - The Scotsman Hotel | Scottish Wedding Florist - Adelaide Menzies of Adelaide’s Flowers | Luxury Bridal Makeup and Hair Stylist in Edinburgh - Fina Beauty | Edinburgh, Scotland Wedding Reception Catering - Wild Thyme | Wedding Cake - The Sicilian Pastry Shop | Edinburgh Live Wedding Band - The Soul Establishment of Established Entertainment | Scotland Wedding Filmmaker - Matt Willoughby Film assisted by Simon Hird Weddings |
Edinburgh Wedding | Ruth + Mark | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
Edinburgh Wedding | Ruth + Mark | Scottish Bride | Edinburgh Wedding Photographer | Scotland Wedding
Edinburgh Weddings are some of my favorite! The architecture in this city is like no other. But truly, my favorite part of this wedding day is that Ruth and Mark are some of our best friends in Scotland and we were honored that they wanted Ross and I to capture their wedding day! Ruth and I actually were introduced by a mutual friend on Instagram telling us to meet at Cairngorm for coffee simply because he “thought we would get along well.” Well, he was completely right, because now she is one of my best friends here in Scotland!
Ruth started her wedding day at The Place Hotel with a morning of drinking mimosas and having a stunning view of the rooftops of Edinburgh. Mark spent his morning with his groomsmen at his home overlooking The Fourth Bridge in South Queensferry. His guys were doing cartwheels in kilts (good thing Ross was there to capture that craziness in person, because of course I couldn’t post all of those) and drinking coffee from The Manna House, their favorite local cafe. Both Ruth and Mark are such laid back individuals and both just wanted relaxing mornings with their best friends. Those are my favorite kind of mornings.
The Place Hotel is right next door to their ceremony location at P’s & G’s Church, so she was able to easily walk down the street and straight down the aisle for her ceremony. Ruth had the entire sanctuary of P’s & G’s transformed into a whimsical space full of nature and the outdoors. I even spent a day walking along the beaches of Scotland collecting sea glass to use as decor with Ruth. If you are looking for endless beautiful sea glass, the shores of the Dalmeny Estate have a lot that get washed up along the shore. In the end, they were able to gather enough blue and green sea glass to hang on all of the branches that they foraged from a local estate. After their ceremony, everyone caravanned down to the cobblestoned waterway of Quay Commons, in Leith, for an afternoon cocktail garden party in the sun! We then strolled through Custom Lane for their bridal portraits. They played a bit a ping pong in front of Williams and Johnson and just relaxed for a while, just the two of them, before greeting a couple hundred of their closest friends and family back at P’s & G’s for a night of Scottish wedding traditions and wedding party!
The guests (just a few, 400ish of them) were all greeted with a custom drink and handmade wedding favours, a bar of soap from the Isle of Skye company, Skye Soap. There were dances, speeches, a live band the whole evening and some solid ceilidh dancing! It was just the perfect evening and there is nothing better than walking away from a wedding and not wanting it to end. I’m so happy to have celebrated this wedding day with Ruth and Mark. With every unique wedding I capture, I’m left with memories that I’ll cherish forever and I couldn’t be more grateful for beautiful wedding days like this one.
Just in case you wanted to see Ross and I in action, these above photos show us in our happy place, dancing alongside everyone while capturing the fun happening all the way until the final dance, which is my favorite one! I truly love my job and celebrating the couples I’m documenting!
The images below are from the day-after shoot! We started at Fortitude Coffee and had flat whites before we headed off to roam the streets of the city where these two fell in love.
Edinburgh Wedding Photographer - Melody Joy Co. | Edinburgh Wedding Venues - Ps & Gs Church (ceremony + reception), Cafe Tartine (starter), Papillion (main) + Quay Commons (dessert) | Edinburgh Celebrant - Rev. Michael Mair | Edinburgh Wedding Videographer - Sandy Butler Videography | Edinburgh Wedding Dress - House of Mooshki (bespoke) at Edinburgh Bridal Boutique - Pretty Woman | Jewellery + accessories - Róis Scottish Sea Glass Designs | Bridesmaid outfits - Coast | Scotland Groomswear and kilts - The Kilt Store, Edinburgh | Edinburgh Wedding Florist - Narcissus | Edinburgh Wedding Band Entertainment - Corra | Edinburgh Bridal Make-up - Alicia Avenzzano | Custom Scottish Wedding Favours - Isle of Skye Soap Co. | Edinburgh Set design - Big House Productions