Hannah and Niall's December Wedding at Mansfield Traquair, with a First Look on Circus Lane

Hannah and Niall got married in mid-December at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh, with a first look on Circus Lane beforehand and the party at Mansfield Traquair, a former church just north of the city centre with the highest ceilings you’ve ever seen. It was my first time photographing at Mansfield Traquair despite walking past it a thousand times when I lived in Leith, and my word, what a day it was. I spent most of it with my cheeks hurting from smiling.

Hannah grew up in Innerleithen, the Borders village I live in now, so we’d met up a couple of times in the run-up. By the day itself it genuinely felt like watching two old friends tying the knot.

Why a first look on Circus Lane was essential in December

After relaxed morning preparations separately, Hannah and Niall both headed to Circus Lane, Edinburgh’s most photographed street and arguably one of the most beautiful in Scotland, to see each other for the first time before the ceremony.

I’m a big fan of a first look. It’s a really special, intimate time, just the two of you, away from your guests, and it gives you relaxed couples photos without anyone waiting on you.

Especially when you’re having a long Catholic ceremony, in Scotland, in mid-December, when it goes dark at about 1:45pm. If that’s the situation then it’s essential. But I’d recommend one to anyone, regardless of ceremony times, sunsets or logistics. If nothing else it frees up time after your ceremony to enjoy with your guests, because most of your couples photos are already done and dusted.

Letters, hidden crocs and a sabered bottle of champagne

The morning was full of personal touches. Hannah and Niall wrote letters to each other to read in a private moment before the wedding. They’re personal, and you can say things in them that you might not want to confess in front of 120 guests. Hannah included photos of their journey together and, most importantly, of their dog, who couldn’t join them on the day.

Niall had a personalised bottle of Le Labo with the wedding date on it. Hannah had personalised wedding crocs hidden under her dress. Yes please.

Then Hannah sabered a bottle of champagne with her bridesmaids. If you’ve never heard of it, champagne sabering is a tradition dating back to Napoleonic times where you slice the top off the bottle. I’ve written a whole guide on how to do it on your wedding day.

Minutes before jumping into the vintage VW camper vans to head to the ceremony, Hannah’s dad’s shoe fell apart. Like rain on your wedding day, that’s good luck. Probably.

A late arrival at St Mary’s Cathedral and a kiss halfway down the aisle

Fair warning: if you’re late to your wedding ceremony, I will take photos of your family and friends checking their watches. Hannah can be forgiven, mind, as she was caught in classic Edinburgh traffic and roadworks.

The groomsmen walked in with the sass of a 90s boyband, which is a photo every wedding should have.

Top tip for walking back down the aisle as a married couple: stop halfway and have a kiss. It makes for incredible photos with all your guests in the background. Then outside for confetti, which makes for some of my all-time favourite photos every single time.

Charity shop mugs instead of wedding favours at Mansfield Traquair

The vintage campers brought everyone over to Mansfield Traquair for a relaxed drinks reception, and the tables had the best favour idea I’ve seen.

Here’s the deal: wedding favours cost a tonne of money, get wasted or thrown away. Hannah and Niall designed personalised stickers, hit up their local charity shop and bought every guest a mug. Worst case scenario the mugs get thrown away like most favours, or end up back at the charity shop in three months. Either way the charity has the money, and you get a feel-good moment when you take your wedding album round to your mum’s and she’s got your mug in the cupboard.

A quiz for the family tables and never have I ever for the rowdier ones. Something for everyone.

Epic speeches and a fairy-lit dance floor

Hannah and Niall’s wedding party danced into the hall and threw some shapes at the front, then Hannah and Niall danced through the tables to get to their seats. It was like the half-time show at the Super Bowl.

The speeches were truly epic. Sometimes I wish I recorded the audio, if only to look back and work out why the bride had a knife in her hands.

Mansfield Traquair is the most spectacular venue for a first dance, surrounded by fairy lights under those ceilings. There is nowhere else quite like it. The Stylists played, there were ceilidh dances, and then an impromptu performance of Irish dancing from Niall’s family.

I can’t wait to be back at Mansfield Traquair, and if the next ones are anything like this one, I’m in for a treat.