Christmas is normally a time of year that I look forward to putting my feet up, turning off the computer and spending some quality time with my better half Beki and the family…however, last Christmas had a little trip in store for us on Boxing Day when we boarded a plane up to Edinburgh to photograph Katie + Simon’s wedding at Edinburgh Castle.
I first spoke to Helen (Katie’s lovely mother) a few months ago when they found me from a direct recommendation from Sandon Hall – where I was also due to spend New Years Eve with Katie, Simon and their friends and family too – and as soon as we started talking about the plans for the celebrations at Sandon Hall, and discussed the actual wedding being in Edinburgh just after Christmas, we just knew we had to put together a package to be there with them to capture the day…and I’m so glad we did!
With the knowledge the day was going to be incredibly special, with Simon’s mother and Grandmother flying in from Sydney with the couple to share their wedding and just the closest family members there, it was going to be a wedding to remember. And after meeting Katie and Simon a couple of days before Christmas I also knew it was going to be a lot of fun too!!
Travelling up the day before with Beki we enjoyed settling into a fabulous night at a brilliant bar/restaurant before it was back to work the following day for the wedding.
Starting at the Waldorf Astoria we met up with Katie and Simon with their friends and family whilst they were starting to get ready, before taking the stroll up Castle Terrace with the boys to the castle.
Fortunately the heavy snow that had landed south of the border never came up to Edinburgh, and blessed with exceptionally mild conditions, it made the day a pleasure…though I’m pretty sure Simon was at his cold endurance limits by the time we’d spent a few minutes on the Castle ramparts capturing their evening portraits.
The ceremony in the Gate House Suites was so relaxed and intimate, something I’d almost forgotten about the difference with Scottish wedding – I love their registrars!, and with their closest family there it felt incredibly special for me and Beki to be invited along to capture their day.
After returning to the Waldorf Astoria to capture their family portraits on the wonderful grand staircase, and the champagne reception at the Pompadour we bid everyone a fond farewell, looking forward to meeting up with them a few days later at Sandon Hall.
Here’s a little look at their Edinburgh Castle Wedding Photographs by Documentary Wedding Photographer Stuart James.