The Balmoral Hotel

Destination weddings don’t always have to be in the scorching heat or flanked by castles. Navreen and Amir chose Edinburgh for their wedding as it holds a strong importance to them as a couple, and it was the perfect place for them to begin their married life. I loved that they chose to wed in a place that was so special to them personally, as it added an extra layer of emotion to the day.

It was my first time visiting Edinburgh. I caught the train up to avoid a long drive and any city centre parking fiascos. With December being the low season for the wedding industry, I had the time to arrive early and leave late, meaning I had a chance to explore the city a bit myself, and get some on-location b-roll footage in the shorter daylight hours. I received about a hundred messages from my sister, a massive Edinburgh tourist,

“Have you been on the Royal Mile yet? Have you seen the castle? Go to Crumbs! Have you had a chance to go to the Scott Monument?”

You mean that Tower of Sauron looking thing? Jokes aside, I thought Edinburgh was great. I really enjoyed the architecture and the history and all the statues, and even saw a bagpipe player. Being a tourist was a welcome change of pace.

And even though it was winter, the weather was surprisingly good!

But enough jollying around, I had a wedding to film. The Balmoral Hotel was a great location, and we had great views out of the bridal prep windows. The ceremony was really personal, with readings from the groom's party being in turns humourous and emotional. After, we all jumped in a fleet of taxis for a photoshoot on the top of Calton Hill. What a stunning location, and atmospheric in the Scottish wind too. It’s always a pleasure to work with a couple who are great sports and up for something a bit extra. Having a winter wedding doesn’t have to mean you’re stuck indoors!

We had a quick pit stop on the iconic Victoria Street for some more couple shots, before heading back to the Balmoral Hotel for the evening reception. It was an emotional night, with more touching speeches from the couple’s sisters, and Navreen’s man of honour. Amir surprised his bride with a live performance of a song they’d joked about having at their wedding, years before even getting engaged. Moments like these are some of my favourites from a wedding day, where we can catch glimpses of the in-jokes and memories that make any relationship so special. You can’t script it, you can’t set it up, but when they happen it can make a wedding film even more special. And then it was time to dance the night away!