Iona and Stuart's DIY Barn Wedding at Kirknewton House Stables

Iona and Stuart got married at Kirknewton House Stables, a barn-style DIY wedding venue about thirty minutes from Edinburgh. It’s one of those rare places that feels tucked away in the Scottish countryside but is still incredibly accessible. The stables sit in perfectly manicured gardens, and there’s a rustic house on site to get ready in. Iona and Stuart filled the whole thing with their own touches, booked a humanist celebrant, and had an Italian restaurant feed everyone on the hottest day of the year.

A creative, laid-back wedding at Kirknewton House Stables

Both Iona and Stuart are graphic designers, which tells you most of what you need to know about the details. Kirknewton is a fully DIY venue, so everything you see is the couple’s own work, and their relaxed, calm vibe echoed through every part of the day.

A humanist ceremony full of travel stories

Iona and Stuart tied the knot in a humanist ceremony, and humanist ceremonies are one of my favourite things to photograph. They tell the story of the couple in a way that lets everyone in the room get a glimpse of the relationship, rather than reading from a script that could be about anyone.

For Iona and Stuart that meant stories of their adventures together, tales of travels far and wide, and plenty of laughter from the seats. Personal, heartfelt, and entirely them.

The gardens on the hottest day of the year

One of my favourite parts of the day was exploring the gardens with Iona and Stuart. The Scottish sun was in full force, and we wandered around the lawns for a wee while without any posing. The gardens at Kirknewton are absolutely pristine, and there’s a lot of range in them, from quiet tucked-away corners to the big open views back towards the house.

When it came to the food, Iona and Stuart did things a little differently, and it paid off in a big way.

Instead of a traditional wedding caterer, they trusted the team at Locanda de Gusti, an authentic Italian restaurant in Edinburgh. The head chef didn’t offer tastings or hand them a set menu to choose from. He promised spectacular, seasonal food served family-style on sharing plates, and boy, he delivered.

The food was one of the big highlights of the day. Each table was overflowing with Italian dishes made to be passed around, and that’s what did it: everyone leaning in, reaching across, talking to the people next to them. It brought the whole room together.

Why Kirknewton House Stables is one of the best wedding venues near Edinburgh

Kirknewton House Stables is so close to Edinburgh but feels like a world away, which makes it the right spot for couples who want countryside without a long drive for their guests. The barn and the gardens give you complete flexibility to put your own stamp on the day, whether that’s rustic and relaxed or something a bit more formal.

Iona and Stuart’s wedding is a good example of what the place can become when a couple takes that flexibility and runs with it. It’s definitely become one of my all-time favourite venues, and I can’t wait to go back.