Eilidh and Edward's relaxed wedding at Cheval The Edinburgh Grand

Eilidh and Edward got married at Cheval The Edinburgh Grand, the old bank building on St Andrew Square in the middle of Edinburgh. A small humanist ceremony with their closest family and friends, a wander through the cobbled backstreets for photos, and dinner back at The Grand. The morning was misty in that way Edinburgh does so well, the kind of weather that feels straight out of a black and white film.

Tartan trousers and a tiara

Eilidh wore a minimalist dress, clean lines, nothing fussy, with a delicate tiara. Edward didn’t look too shabby himself, in tartan trousers that gave the whole thing a modern Scottish twist.

The two of them against the cobbles of the Old Town worked. Plenty of people on the streets stopped to look when we nipped out for photos, which I’ll come back to.

A humanist ceremony at The Edinburgh Grand

Their humanist ceremony was held at The Grand, with just their closest family and friends in the room. It was written around the two of them and their story rather than a script that could have been anyone’s.

Why The Edinburgh Grand is a brilliant venue for photos

Let’s talk about the venue for a moment, because as the name suggests it’s grand in every way. Black and white chequered flooring. Circular balconies that layer up through the building to the very top, where the roof lets the daylight stream in.

We made the most of it. After the ceremony we gathered everyone together for a group photo on the circular balcony, which gives you the whole wedding party in one frame with the building wrapped round them. That’s the group shot sorted in one go, and everyone back to the bar.

Portraits in the backstreets, and a dance outside the Café Royal

One of my favourite parts of the day was wandering through the cobbled streets with Eilidh and Edward.

Here’s the thing: most people don’t actually want to be the centre of attention in the middle of a busy city. Eilidh and Edward weren’t keen on an audience, so we skipped the crowds and went through the backstreets instead. We stopped by the Café Royal for a dance on the cobbles, the two of them laughing and taking it in, and that’s where the best photos of the day came from. Nobody posing. Just a wander and a dance.

Back to The Grand for drinks, dinner and speeches

After our wander we returned to The Grand for a few more photos on the balconies, then the drinks reception. Champagne bottles popped and glasses drained, and nobody was in a hurry.

Then Eilidh and Edward joined their guests for dinner in The Grand’s dining space, with speeches to finish.

If you’re planning a small wedding in the middle of Edinburgh and want the photos to feel like a wander with a mate rather than a photoshoot, I’d love to hear from you.