A bride in a white wedding dress smiling with two bridesmaids in green dresses holding bouquets of white flowers outdoors.
Close-up of two people standing on a dirt trail, wearing traditional Scottish attire. The person on the left wears a long cream-colored dress and floral-patterned boots, while the person on the right wears a tartan kilt, white knee-high socks, and black lace-up shoes.

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Real Weddings, Wedding Venues Alison Edward Real Weddings, Wedding Venues Alison Edward

Ghillie Dhu | A Romantic Candelit Wedding Ceremony

The dramatic candlelit hall in the Ghillie Dhu looked beautifully romantic and the perfect place for Sarina & Liam’s wedding


It’s lovely that two teachers who travel the world teaching and exploring so many place’s chose Edinburgh for their beautiful wedding. Liam is Scottish and Sarina is from Germany and they love the city.

The gothic wedding ceremony space at the Ghillie Dhu , Edinburgh

The dramatic candlelit hall in the Ghillie Dhu looked beautifully romantic and the perfect place for their ceremony. The Ghillie Dhu has super thick curtains which they use to close off the ceremony space within the hall, it creates a moody gothic space which is just lit by the Ghillie Dhu’s ornate chandeliers and candlelit mantlepiece. It really focussed everyone’s attention on the aisle for Sarina to make a dramatic entrance.

The Ghilie Dhu has access to the private gardens in Rutland Square so the whole wedding party headed along for a drinks reception. The summer rain arrived in good Scottish style but their hardy guests happily stayed out in the gardens rather than returning to the cosy bar in the Ghilie Dhu, until it go very heavy and they conceded that heading inside would be a good idea.


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The Ghillie Dhu’s chef’s create wonderful Scottish cuisine with a modern twist which was the perfect Scottish experience for their many German guests. When the guests returned for their meal the venue felt completely transformed with the curtains pulled back, the light spilled in through the stained glass windows. When the sun got low in the sky and the rain stopped I popped out with Liam & Sarina to get some pictures in Princes’ Street Gardens and then they finished off the night by introducing their friends and family to the lively fun of a ceilidh.

Black & White Prices Street Gardens wedding photograph Ghillie Dhu wedding

The Wedding Team:

Venue: Ghillie Dhu

Caterer: Ghillie Dhu

Band: The Big Shoogle

Cake: Nice Times Bakery

Florist: Pretty Little Petals

Hair & Make-Up: Julie McGuire

Ceremony Officiant: Neil Johnston

Dress: opus61_brautmode

Stylist for bride and bridal party: Julie McGuire

Bride Preparations Venue: Waldorf Astoria Caledonian Edinburgh

 

Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.

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Real Weddings, Wedding Venues Alison Edward Real Weddings, Wedding Venues Alison Edward

Joyful Colour | Dovecot Studios Wedding

Lynsey and Mike’s colourful wedding at Dovecot Studios in the heart of Edinburgh


Lynsey & Mike love colour and music, they wanted a vibrant fun venue which was a bit different. They settled on the beautiful Dovecot galleries, a contemporary art hub and tapestry studio, originally built as a grand Victorian swimming bath where Lynsey’s mum used to swim.

Wedding details from Dovecot Studios
Groom & family before wedding at Dovecot Studios Edinburgh
Bride & Mum before wedding at Dovecot Studios Edinburgh

Nestled right in the heart of Edinburgh the Dovecot Studios an easy central location for their friends and family to get to and just round the corner they had Edinburgh’s Old College which was the perfect place to explore for some of their photographs.

The Dovecot is a beautifully light place for a wedding and despite their wedding being in July they were conscious of Scotland’s unpredictable weather.

They knew they would have a great space even if it rained, which it did, a lot!

Guests waiting for wedding at Dovecot studios edinburgh
wedding ceremony at Dovecot studios

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First Kiss at Dovecot studios wedding

Despite the weather, Lynsey and Michael ventured out to explore Old College and just as we got back in, we heard the heaven’s open and the loud patter of rain hit the roof of the Dovecot’s grand atrium.

Smugly and snugly inside, we got to explore the colourful weavers floor, which is where the old swimming pool was.

The weavers floor is a working space full of looms where you can see the tapestries taking shape.

The floor is only cleared for a very limited number of larger weddings each year and we had to be conscious of the artist’s work as we explored with Caitlin from Dovecot as our guide.

Guests at Dovecot studios wedding by Ali Jay Photography
Signing the register in the old ladies changing rooms at Dovecot Studios wedding, Edinburgh
Bride & Groom leaving wedding ceremony at Dovecot studios Edinburgh
Black & white photo at Old College Edinburgh during Dovecot Studios wedding

Lynsey & Michael aren’t a serious couple who want to gaze into each others eyes all the time and be all serious so we just had some fun exploring to get some photos of them together.

We enjoyed the beautiful architecture of Old College and the Dovecot, I wanted to capture lots of fun and laughter and the colour of the yarns and looms.

They finished the day with a ceilidh and band and a full dancefloor of their favourite people.

Old College Edinburgh University wedding photographs
The weavers floor of Dovecot Studios
Couples portraits on the weavers floor at Dovecot Studios Edinburgh
Beautiful light photographs of the wedding tables at Dovecot Studios wedding
Speeches at Dovecot Studios Wedding
Speeches at Dovecot Studios Wedding
Speeches at Dovecot Studios Wedding
Grooms speech at Dovecot studio wedding
Grooms speech at Dovecot studios wedding
Cake cutting at Dovecot Studios wedding
Weavers loom at Dovecot studios

The Artistic Team

Venue: Dovecot Studios, coordinated by Caitlin

Dress: Gwenne's, Edinburgh

Kilt: Groom’s Own

Officiant: Kathleen Hood

Floristy: Save The Date Collective

Hair & Make Up: The Beauty Works

Band: Hot Date

First dance at Dovecot studios wedding

Are you Planning a wedding at Dovecot Studios?

Get in touch today, I’d love to be part of your amazing wedding team.

 

Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.

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