Great to be back again as the recommended wedding photographer at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh The Caledonian Hotel, this time for Phillip and Rick’s Humanist same-sex marriage ceremony. I previously met Phillip and Rick for a pre-wedding photoshoot at Calton Hill, and in our brief time together I knew their wedding at Waldorf Astoria The Caledonian Hotel was going to be a fun, relaxed and memorable occasion.
I’ve photographed and filmed many weddings at the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh since 2006. The preparations before the ceremony were good fun to shoot, and meeting Phillip and Rick’s family and friends who had travelled from across the UK and America was a real pleasure. The natural light streaming through the large windows was perfect for candid photography.
The Humanist wedding ceremony was the first to be held in The Caledonian Hotel’s ‘The Pompadour’. This elegant room is usually a five-star restaurant, but today was the perfect setting for a wedding. Large windows allowed plenty of natural light to stream into The Pompadour.
Piped into The Pompadour by my favourite Pipe Major, Iain Grant, there were a few tears shed as Humanist Celebrant Tim Maguire welcomed Phillip, Rick and their witnesses into the room.
A wonderfully personal and heartfelt ceremony by Tim was the highlight of the wedding at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh. It’s brilliant that Scotland leads the way with Humanist wedding ceremonies, and Tim’s friendly manner and professionalism ensure your wedding ceremony is unique, fun and sincere.
Having a city-centre wedding can mean couples worry about a lack of variation in their wedding photos. Weddings in Edinburgh city centre have the fortune of taking place in the UK city with the highest percentage of green space, meaning there’s usually the opportunity for some newly-wed photos in a local park or garden (subject to the Scottish weather, of course!). Phillip, Rick and I made the most of nearby Princes Street Gardens, a beautiful oasis in the shadow of historic Edinburgh Castle, and only a minute away from The Caledonian Hotel.
Iain Grant then piped the newly-weds Phillip and Rick into the oak-panelled Boardroom, where their family and friends awaited them. Iain’s toast to the newly-weds is always a highlight of the day, his sense of humour and presence always going down well with everyone present.
Master Of Ceremonies James Henderson introduced the speeches in his inimitable style. Photographing guest’s reactions to the speeches is always good fun and a great opportunity for lots of candid photos of people enjoying themselves.
James Henderson was also the DJ for the evening celebration of this wedding at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, ensuring the party continued into the night. The party was well underway by the time I finished, and the dance floor was packed.
I was honoured to be part of this truly memorable day and very much look forward to creating beautiful wedding albums for the newly-weds.
Wedding At Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh Photos
Shared below is a small selection of photos I created as Phillip and Rick’s wedding photographer at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh The Caledonian Hotel.
