Edinburgh City Chambers Wedding | Royal Mile & Leith Arches
Dress @gemmasargent
Flowers @garlandsfloristedinburgh
Hair @sjhugheshair
Cake @liggyscakes
Catering @indulge_catering_events
Music @thestylistsband
Whisky n crisps @the_bow_bar_edinburgh
Reception @leitharches
She came in 50s-inspired bridal with a look that could’ve walked off a Fellini set. He wore a flared double-breasted suit with wide lapels, no tie, tousled hair.
We spent the afternoon wandering Edinburgh — sneaking into cinemas, ducking through Old Town courtyards, propping up the bar at The Bow Bar with a dram and a packet of crisps. Style, mischief, and zero pretence.
Then a vintage VW camper down to Leith Arches. Their choice of venue wasn’t random — it was the place where Chiran first told Maxine he loved her. They kicked off the evening by getting behind the bar and pouring everyone’s first drink, two former bartenders in their element. Maxine’s American family and Kieran’s Scottish one, finally in the same room. First round on the house.
Planning a wedding in Edinburgh? Get in touch.
What's it like to photograph a wedding at Edinburgh City Chambers?
Edinburgh City Chambers sits right on the Royal Mile in the heart of the Old Town, and it’s a beautiful civil ceremony venue, formal and characterful without being overwhelming. As a photographer, one of the things I love about shooting there is what comes directly after: you step outside and the whole city is at your disposal. The closes, the cobblestones, the stacked tenements. It’s all right there.
Where are the best portrait spots near Edinburgh City Chambers?
The closes and courtyards just off the High Street are my favourites — sheltered, atmospheric, and far less crowded than the obvious tourist spots. The Royal Mile itself works well for a more relaxed stroll between locations. If you’re happy to wander and let the day feel exploratory, Edinburgh’s Old Town gives you almost unlimited variety within about ten minutes on foot.
How many guests can Edinburgh City Chambers accommodate for a wedding?
The ceremony rooms are best suited to more intimate gatherings, typically around 60 to 80 guests. Many couples use City Chambers for the ceremony before moving to a larger reception venue elsewhere in the city, which gives you the best of both: something formal and meaningful for the vows, then something completely different for the evening.
Is Leith Arches a good wedding reception venue?
It’s a genuinely great one for the right couple. Leith Arches has an industrial, live-music-venue feel — moody lighting, brick and steel, a layout that lends itself to a relaxed and celebratory night over a formal sit-down meal. It works especially well for couples who want the reception to feel like a brilliant party rather than a traditional wedding dinner.
What's the best approach to portrait time during an Edinburgh city wedding?
I’d almost always rather walk than stand still. Edinburgh’s Old Town gives you a huge amount of variety in a small area, and the best portraits usually come from treating the time between ceremony and reception like a genuine wander — a close here, a courtyard there, maybe a stop somewhere for a drink. It feels less like a photoshoot and more like a continuation of the day, which is when people tend to be most themselves.
How far is Edinburgh City Chambers from Leith Arches?
Leith Arches is roughly two to three miles north of City Chambers, about a 10 to 15 minute drive. The journey makes for a natural break, and it’s a good window for a few portrait stops in the Old Town before heading down towards Leith if you want a change of backdrop before the reception.
Is Edinburgh a good destination for international couples getting married in Scotland?
It’s one of the most naturally suited cities in the world for it. The Old Town is compact and walkable, the light in Scotland is unlike anywhere else, and the combination of civic ceremony venues and interesting reception spaces means you can build a day that feels genuinely rooted in place. For couples flying in from the US or further afield, Edinburgh Airport is well connected, and the city is small enough that guests can explore easily between events.