What does this Journal cover?

Real wedding stories from Edinburgh, across Scotland, the UK and Europe, alongside notes on venues, seasonal light and digital and analogue photography.

Why write about film photography in detail?

Because most couples have never hired a film photographer and reasonably want to know what changes. Explaining the process is more useful than asking anybody to take it on trust.

Can I see a full wedding gallery rather than a highlights set?

Yes. Ask when you enquire and a complete gallery can be shared, which shows consistency across a whole day.

Where do I go if I want to book?

The enquiry page. Send your date and venue, and expect a reply within 24 to 48 hours.

Balmoral Hotel Wedding Photography

Milly and Vincent came over from Ireland for their Christmas-time wedding at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. Warm fires and Christmas lights were a lovely part of the setting. It’s a hotel I’ve photographed weddings at many times, and one I’m always happy to return to.

For me, the Balmoral is one of Edinburgh’s nicest hotels. There’s something particularly good about it in winter. Milly and Vincent had planned photographs together before the ceremony, and there were drinks downstairs for Vincent and the boys.

The Balmoral Hotel clock tower seen from an Edinburgh street.

Edinburgh skyline beneath a pale winter sky.

Logs burning in a fireplace at the Balmoral Hotel.

Stained-glass window and hanging lights inside the hotel.

Vincent and the boys sharing drinks around a table in the hotel bar.

Vincent looking across the Edinburgh skyline from the Balmoral rooftop.

Vincent standing on the hotel rooftop in his black tuxedo.

Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh rooftops in winter light.

Milly approaching Vincent on the Balmoral rooftop before their ceremony.

Milly and Vincent smiling together during their first look.

Milly and Vincent embracing on the rooftop in low winter sunlight.

The couple holding hands with Edinburgh behind them.

Milly smiling at Vincent during their rooftop photographs.

A wide rooftop portrait framed by the Balmoral’s stone architecture.

Milly and Vincent standing together in wedding dress and tuxedo.

Softly focused portrait of the couple with sunlight behind Vincent.

Milly and Vincent walking hand in hand across the hotel rooftop.

Milly turning towards Vincent as they walk together.

Full-length rooftop portrait of the couple beside a stone chimney.

Milly and Vincent walking towards the camera in winter sunlight.

The couple walking down the Balmoral’s blue-carpeted staircase.

Milly beside the curved wooden stair rail in her wedding dress.

Black-and-white overhead view of the couple on the hotel staircase.

Milly and Vincent holding hands on the stairs.

A wedding guest seated in the ceremony room.

A violinist playing during the wedding at the Balmoral.

Black-and-white photograph of Vincent chatting with the men before the ceremony.

Vincent greeting seated guests before the wedding ceremony.

Vincent smiling among friends and family in the ceremony room.

A seated wedding guest smiling and applauding.

Guests laughing beside a fireplace decorated for Christmas.

Vincent talking beside a window before the ceremony.

Vincent waiting in the cream-coloured ceremony room.

Black-and-white photograph of a bridesmaid walking down the aisle.

Milly walking down the aisle carrying her bouquet.

Wide view of the Balmoral wedding ceremony with guests seated.

The couple standing with Alan Ness in front of the decorated fireplace.

Milly and Vincent holding ribbons during their wedding ceremony.

The couple holding hands as Alan Ness leads their ceremony.

Friends and family watching the couple from their seats.

Close-up of a hand signing the wedding paperwork.

The newlyweds raising their joined hands as guests applaud.

Milly and Vincent walking together between rows of guests.

Black-and-white close-up of Milly smiling beside Vincent.

Vincent and the groomsmen taking a selfie on the hotel staircase.

The couple surrounded by smiling friends on the staircase.

Wedding party group portrait in an elegant room at the Balmoral.

Milly and Vincent raising their drinks with a guest.

Black-and-white photograph of guests chatting over drinks.

Wedding guests enjoying the reception at the Balmoral.

Milly embracing a guest during the drinks reception.

Friends raising glasses around Milly during the reception.

Wedding breakfast tables set beneath chandeliers at the hotel.

Miniature drinks bottles beside glassware on a wedding table.

Milly’s place setting with a menu and black ribbon.

Vincent standing with a champagne glass at the wedding breakfast.

Black-and-white photograph of guests smiling around a candlelit table.

The couple entering their wedding breakfast with hands raised.

Milly waving as guests welcome the newlyweds.

A man in a red jacket speaking into a microphone.

Vincent smiling while speaking at the wedding breakfast.

Milly smiling during the wedding speeches.

Wide view of guests seated beneath chandeliers for the wedding breakfast.

Black-and-white photograph of Vincent speaking beside Milly at the table.

Edinburgh buildings and lights reflected in a hotel window at dusk.

Drinks downstairs and a rooftop first look

Milly and Vincent were getting ready separately in the hotel. Vincent and the boys headed downstairs for drinks in the bar, before we went up to the rooftop for the couple’s first look.

There was lovely low winter sunlight while we photographed them together. Edinburgh was right there behind them, with views across the rooftops towards Arthur’s Seat. Milly walked over to Vincent, and we gave them a little time together before making some portraits.

Back inside, we used the hotel staircase too. I love the view down through the stairwell, and the blue carpet and curved rail give the photographs a very different feel from the rooftop.

A Christmas ceremony at the Balmoral

The ceremony took place at three in the afternoon, with Alan Ness leading it in front of a fireplace dressed with Christmas greenery and lights. Milly came down the aisle carrying her bouquet, with friends and family watching from either side.

There were ribbons during the ceremony, laughter among the guests, and raised hands at the end before everyone gathered for drinks. Those smaller reactions are as much a part of the photographs as the ceremony itself.

Celebrating inside the hotel

The staircase became a gathering place again, this time for group photographs and a selfie with Vincent and the groomsmen. Then it was back to the drinks reception, with glasses raised and plenty of time for people to catch up.

The wedding breakfast brought everyone into a room lit by chandeliers and candles. Black ribbons marked the place settings, and miniature drinks bottles sat beside the glassware. I photographed the speeches and the reactions around the tables, before the Edinburgh view outside changed to evening lights.

Photographing a winter wedding in Edinburgh

Having their couple photographs before the ceremony gave Milly and Vincent time in the winter daylight without having to leave the reception afterwards. It’s an option worth considering for an afternoon wedding at this time of year, rather than a timetable every couple needs to follow.

I’ve photographed weddings at the Balmoral many times, and I still enjoy finding what’s particular to each day. For this one, that meant the rooftop light, the warmth indoors and the people who had come together to celebrate.

For more of my Edinburgh wedding photography, you can explore the site or look through my wedding portfolio.

The wedding suppliers

The team involved in Milly and Vincent’s wedding:

Venue: The Balmoral Hotel
Celebrant: Alan Ness
Flowers: Snapdragon Edinburgh
Makeup: Lauren Gollan Studio
Hair: The Bride Side
Photography: Steven William Weir

Planning your Balmoral wedding?

If you’re getting married at the Balmoral, I’d love to hear what you’re planning. Whether you’re based in Edinburgh or coming over from elsewhere, we can talk through the photography and how it fits around your day.

Explore my wedding photography coverage, or get in touch to check your date.