Scotland’s Capital City
Edinburgh Elopement Photographers
Elope to Edinburgh
Four completely different backdrops in a single day. No hire car needed. And we’ll handle the rest.
Edinburgh is the easiest place in Scotland to elope
That’s not a throwaway line. The tram runs straight from the airport to the city centre. You don’t need a hire car. There are more celebrants and hair and makeup artists here than anywhere else in Scotland. And you can go from wild Highland scenery in Holyrood Park to the cobbled Old Town to the Georgian New Town to the quiet of Dean Village, all in a single afternoon.
We photograph elopements in Edinburgh every month. We know where to go, when to go and how to avoid the crowds. We’ll plan your day, introduce you to our favourite suppliers and make sure you know exactly where you need to be and when.
Most of our couples are from the US and Canada and they’ve never been to Scotland before. By the time you land, everything is sorted. You just show up and get married.
Why couples pick Edinburgh over everywhere else
Edinburgh gives you something most elopement destinations can’t. A proper city with proper wilderness sitting right in the middle of it.
Holyrood Park is basically the Highlands dropped into a capital city. You can say your vows next to a ruined chapel with views to the sea, then be sitting in a cocktail bar twenty minutes later. No two-hour drives between locations. No scrambling to find somewhere to eat afterwards.
Then there’s Dean Village. A 12th-century milling village hidden in a gorge in the middle of the city. Most tourists don’t even know it exists. It’s one of our favourite spots for portraits and it’s a ten minute walk from the West End.
Scotland lets you legally marry outdoors in almost any location. No venue licence required. That means clifftops, parks, castle grounds, botanical gardens. Explore our Scotland elopement locations for more options beyond Edinburgh.
What we actually do
Every booking starts with both of us. Two photographers, all day, a curated gallery of hand-edited images and a non-legal ceremony if you want one. That’s the £4,000 base package.
Most of our couples from overseas add our planning support (+£1,000). That means we handle everything: finding you the right ceremony spot, introducing you to a celebrant, connecting you with hair and makeup, recommending accommodation and building a timeline so the whole day flows without anyone feeling rushed. You get a WhatsApp group with us from the moment you book so you can ask questions whenever they come up.
On the day itself, we’re with you the whole time. We carry your stuff. We hold the umbrella. Edinburgh is a walkable city and when we need to cover more ground we’ll sort Ubers. We know where the light is best at what time of day and which “popular” spots to avoid because they’ll be rammed with tourists.
We can also perform a non-legal ceremony for you. Handfasting, quaich, oathing stone, personal vows or any other tradition you’d like to include. This is included with every booking, saving you the £500-750 a separate celebrant would cost. If you need a legally binding ceremony, we’ll introduce you to celebrants we trust.
We’ve photographed over 200 elopements. We know what works and what doesn’t and we’ll tell you straight.
What’s included
Our Edinburgh elopement photography starts at £4,000. Both of us with you all day. Add planning for +£1,000 or video for +£1,000.
Here’s what the base package covers:
Both of us, all day: Two photographers from getting ready through to the last toast. No hourly limits, no clock-watching.
A curated gallery: Every image hand-edited. No filler, no duplicates. Quality over quantity.
Your ceremony: We can perform a non-legal ceremony for you. Handfasting, quaich, oathing stone, personal vows or any other tradition you’d like to include. Included with every booking.
Video call before your trip: We go through the plan, answer your questions and make sure everything is sorted.
Travel across mainland Scotland: Included in the price. Edinburgh, Glencoe, the Cairngorms, the coast.
Add planning (+£1,000): Location guidance, supplier introductions (celebrants, florists, hair and makeup), legal help, accommodation recommendations, Scotland trip planning, WhatsApp group with us for ongoing support.
Add video (+£1,000): A cinematic highlights film of your day.
Payments accepted securely online via credit/debit card. 25% deposit to secure your date.
“Cannot thank Matt and Jodie enough for their kindness and being a part of our very special day in lovely Edinburgh! Not only are they charming and hilarious, but they are masterful professionals and go the extra mile. They will put you at ease, even in ice cold, pouring rain. We are from America and had never even been to Scotland prior, luckily our trust was not misplaced.”
Let’s sort your Edinburgh elopement
Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll take it from there.
For Outlander & Blood of my Blood fans
Get married at Lallybroch
Midhope Castle is the real Lallybroch from Outlander and Blood of my Blood. It’s about 30 minutes from Edinburgh city centre and we can take you there as part of your elopement day.
If you’ve watched Jamie and Claire walk through that archway and thought “I want to get married there”, we can make that happen. We’ve photographed elopements at Midhope and we know exactly how to make it work.
See Midhope Castle ElopementsOur favourite Edinburgh elopement locations
We’ve shot at all of these. We know the access, the light, the crowds and the permit situation for each one.
01
Calton Hill
The classic Edinburgh elopement spot for good reason. You can see the Castle, the Balmoral clock tower and Arthur’s Seat all from one vantage point. The area near the Dugald Stewart Monument is great at golden hour. You’ll need a permit from Edinburgh Council for ceremonies here, which we can help you sort.
02
Arthur’s Seat
The highest point in the city. 360-degree views. The hike to the summit is about 30-45 minutes and it’s not a gentle stroll, so this one’s for couples who are up for it. Sunrise is really the only time you’ll get any privacy up there.
03
St Anthony’s Chapel
Our favourite outdoor ceremony spot in Edinburgh. A ruined chapel perched on the slopes of Holyrood Park with views across the Old Town to the Firth of Forth. It’s a short hike to reach it, which means most tourists don’t bother. You’ll need permission from Historic Environment Scotland.
04
Dunsapie Loch
A quieter spot in Holyrood Park, away from the main paths up Arthur’s Seat. More private, more secluded. It looks particularly good in April and early May when the wild yellow gorse is out.
05
Dean Village & The Royal Mile
Two very different vibes, both brilliant. Dean Village is a hidden 12th-century village in a gorge that most visitors walk straight past. The Royal Mile is touristy, yes, but the closes (narrow alleyways) and hidden courtyards off it are perfect for portraits. Advocate’s Close and Dunbar’s Close Gardens are both worth knowing about.
06
Royal Botanic Garden
70 acres of gardens a short walk from the city centre. If you want greenery and colour rather than dramatic hills, this is the one. Locals call it “the Botanics.” It’s the second-oldest botanic garden in Britain and it’s free to enter.
When to elope in Edinburgh
Short answer: avoid August. Here’s the longer version.
Winter
Christmas markets, early sunsets and the city lit up. You can have your ceremony, get nighttime shots under the streetlights, and be sitting down for dinner by 7pm. Edinburgh does winter well. Wrap up warm and lean into it.
Spring
March and April can still be cold, but May is often great. The gardens are coming alive, the days are getting longer and the tourist crowds haven’t arrived yet. Easier to get privacy at popular locations.
Summer
Long days and the warmest weather you’ll get. But from late July into August, the Fringe Festival takes over. The city is packed, accommodation prices double and you’ll struggle to find a quiet spot anywhere. We’d suggest early summer or wait for September.
Autumn
Our favourite time to shoot in Edinburgh. The parks go gold and red, the light is low and warm and the summer crowds have gone. September and October are both excellent. We book up a year in advance for October, so don’t leave it late.
Hey, we’re Jodie & Matt
We met in the Office. We are basically Jim and Pam, except we moved to the Scottish Highlands and started photographing elopements. (Sorry, Roy.)
Parents to 3 kids, 2.5 dogs (we can explain) and 1 cat. We love The Office, Outlander (obvs), and we are STILL annoyed about the ending of Game of Thrones. Matt is Harry Potter obsessed.
We’ve been doing this for over a decade. Our business cards say photography, but that doesn’t really cover it. We’re also your witnesses, your guides, your hairpin wranglers and your raincoat holders. We carry the snacks. We hold the umbrella. We tell you where to stand and then tell you to forget we said that and just do whatever feels natural.
We take it seriously. We also take the piss a bit. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Planning from scratch?
Grab our free 30+ page guide to eloping in Scotland. Locations, what to wear, seasons, supplier recommendations. The lot.
Download Free Guide
Where to stay
Your accommodation matters because your getting-ready photos happen there. Here are the places we keep coming back to.
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The Witchery by the Castle
Nine suites. Velvet walls, four-poster beds, roll-top baths. Gothic, over-the-top and right next to the Castle. Breakfast hamper delivered to your room. It’s been voted the world’s most romantic hotel and we’d struggle to argue.
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The Balmoral Hotel
The big landmark hotel at No. 1 Princes Street. Spacious rooms, castle views, a proper spa. Ask for the castle-view rooms specifically.
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Prestonfield House
Our personal favourite. A 17th-century five-star hotel set under Arthur’s Seat on its own grounds. Highland cows and peacocks in the gardens. Every room is different. If you want photos that look like they belong in a magazine, get ready here.
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100 Princes Street
Old-school Edinburgh charm with castle views. If you prefer vintage character over modern minimalism, this is the one.
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House of Gods
Dark, moody, atmospheric. A more compact version of The Witchery’s vibe, right on the doorstep of the Grassmarket bars. Good for couples who want something a bit different.
Where to eat afterwards
You just got married. Go and have a proper dinner.
The Witchery by the Castle
Gilded ceilings, oak panelling, candlelight. Right next to the Castle. If you’re staying at The Witchery too, you barely need to move.
The Kitchin
Michelin-starred, in Leith. Seasonal Scottish ingredients done properly. Book well in advance.
The Little Chartroom
Small, relaxed, excellent food. Good with dietary requirements if you give them notice. No fuss, just really well done.
The Dome
Georgian architecture, marble bars, a serious wine list. Good for cocktails and feeling fancy.
The practical stuff
Getting here
Edinburgh Airport has direct flights from across Europe and connections worldwide. The tram runs straight from the airport to the city centre in about 35 minutes, so you don’t need a hire car. From London, the LNER train from King’s Cross takes just over 4 hours. The city centre is walkable and we’ll arrange Ubers on your elopement day if we need to cover more ground.
Legal requirements
For a legal ceremony you’ll need M10 Marriage Notice forms, birth certificates, proof of address, and in some cases a passport. Minimum notice period is 29 days, maximum is 3 months before your date. We’ll point you in the right direction, but your celebrant will walk you through the details. Read our full guide for Americans getting married in Scotland.
Permits for outdoor ceremonies
For public spaces like Calton Hill or Holyrood Park, you may need a permit from Edinburgh Council or Historic Environment Scotland. Not complicated, but it needs doing 6-8 weeks in advance. We’ll help you sort it. Private venues handle their own licensing.
Do I need witnesses?
Yes, two witnesses over 16 for a legal ceremony. If you’re eloping without guests, we’ll be your witnesses. We’ve done it loads of times. It means your whole day can be just the two of you.
Symbolic vs legal
If the paperwork feels like too much, or you’ve already legally married at home, a symbolic ceremony gives you the same experience without the admin. Many of our couples do a quick courthouse ceremony in the US, then have their proper celebration here. Totally up to you.
Weather
Scottish weather is unpredictable, even in summer. But some of our best photos have been taken in the rain. We always have backup plans, we’ll make sure you’re prepared, and the moody weather makes for better photos than blue sky. You’ll see.
You don’t want stiff poses.
You don’t want to stand around feeling awkward while someone adjusts a light.
You want to get married in a place that means something, with someone who knows it inside out.
We’ve walked the closes. We know the secret spots. We’ve planned elopements from Calton Hill to Dean Village to the top of Arthur’s Seat.
And we’ve got a camera in one hand and snacks in the other.
Let’s sort your Edinburgh elopement
Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll take it from there.