A Winter Wedding in Edinburgh
Unconventional Winter Wedding in Edinburgh’s undercroft
Just before Halloween 2021, an enquiry landed in my inbox for a wedding for a date exactly 2 months and 1 day away, in Edinburgh. That’s right, straight after Christmas, in that boring little gap before New Year’s Eve. Great! I could make a few days out of it, enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, photograph a wedding, and maybe even see the Hogmanay celebrations. It’s pretty unusual to have an enquiry for full-day wedding photography – prep to dancing – with two months' notice, even more so when the couple lives in Canada and are doing all the planning remotely. Who was I to turn down that challenge though?
Scott and Amber live in Vancouver, British Columbia, and work in film and TV, having moved there in 2018. They met five years ago when the lived in London at work at the nostalgia-inducing shopping channel, QVC. Scott proposed, they decided to get married and then health issues in the family prompted a bit of a rush.
As far as couples go, Scott and Amber are pretty unconventional. Lovers of beer, bike rides, bouldering and pop punk, they were never going to have a traditional wedding – un-wedding all the way!
The Rowantree in Edinburgh (operated by Unusual Venues, no less), a former underground tavern beneath Old Town, was the watering hole for some key historical Scots, including Rabbie Burns! It oozes character, has dark moody vibe, but is spacious enough to cater for 80-110 guests. It has a few photography challenges – the darkness and ambient lighting are fun to play around with, and the low ceiling means I bumped my head more than once, but the staff, catering and bar easily won me over!
Ever the alternative bride, Amber wore white Dr Martens and a trilby, with hair and makeup by local hair and makeup artist Melanie Herriot. Scott and the groomsmen grabbed suits from Slaters in Glasgow the day before (after a last minute change of plan).
We started the day with prep just up the road at Radisson Blu Edinburgh – topped off by bridal party shots right before a windy stroll down to the Rowantree. After the ceremony we had a quick walk around Edinburgh for our couple portraits. Scott and Amber were determined that I get my fill of big doors, so Tolbooth Kirk at the head of the Royal Mile and St Giles Cathedral had a visit, along with Victoria Terrace, which overlooks the Harry Potter inspiration, West Bow/Victoria Street.
We had a quick dash back to the Rowantree ready for mingling, food and speeches, and then it was time for the married couple’s favourite part – the party. Due to COVID Scott and Amber’s chosen pop-punk duo were hastily replaced by trio Three Card Trick, who delivered some absolute bangers! The first dance lasted all of 10 seconds before the dance floor was invaded by the bridesmaids and groomsmen and they NEVER stopped. I left them to it, still going late into the night!
Unfortunately, I never got to see Hogmanay, as the celebrations were cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, but maybe I’ll get another Edinburgh wedding over December to pay another visit! Get in touch if you’re planning one!
