Izzie and Caelum's Edinburgh Castle Wedding

Izzie and Caelum got married at Edinburgh Castle, the 900-year-old fortress perched high above the city on Castle Rock, in the Gatehouse Suite at the top of the Royal Mile. A small-ish wedding, a pub beforehand, a hand fasting under the arches of Parliament Square afterwards, and about as far from a stuffy, formal, royal affair as you can get.

Most people presume you can’t get married at Edinburgh Castle. You can. Who’d have thought you could tie the knot in the birthplace of James VI (or James I, depending on your political persuasion).

A pint on the Royal Mile before walking up to the castle

Caelum met his groomsmen and guests in Deacon Brodies on the Royal Mile before a relaxed wander up the Mile and in to the castle. Izzie arrived shortly after, surrounded by her bridesmaids decked out in black.

They met on the steps of the Gatehouse Suite together and shared a quiet moment before walking down the aisle. Hand in hand.

A ceremony in the Gatehouse Suite with a song written by a bridesmaid

Their celebrant Isy ran a personal ceremony, and one of the bridesmaids had written a song for them, which she performed in the room. That’s the sort of thing you can’t plan for as a photographer. You just need to be in the right place and stay out of the way.

Then out on to the Gatehouse Suite’s balcony for cocktails, champagne and canapés. It looks out over the city on one side and back on to the castle behind. There aren’t many drinks receptions with a view like that.

Couples photos down the Royal Mile and around the Old Town

After the drinks reception we took a stroll out of the castle for relaxed couples photos in the best photo spots around Edinburgh’s Old Town. No posing, just the two of them walking and us keeping up.

We wandered down the Royal Mile and they stopped for a dance, a twirl, even a twerk behind St Giles’ Cathedral. They tied the knot (a wee hand fasting) under the arches of Parliament Square. And sipped rosé from the bottle.

Why Edinburgh Castle works for a small wedding

The Gatehouse Suite is the part of Edinburgh Castle you can actually get married in, and it suits a smaller guest list: one room, one balcony, and the whole Old Town on your doorstep when you want to get out and wander.

Relaxed, casual, personal. Now this is the way to have a small-ish wedding in Edinburgh.