Elie Summer Wedding- Elizabeth and Gregor

I’ve been so looking forward to sharing this beautiful Scottish/American wedding! As well as having stonking weather, this wedding ticked all the boxes for an incredible day.
Elizabeth is American, she married Gregor in his beautiful hometown of Elie in Fife. We were lucky enough to photograph Gregor’s brother’s wedding the year before, so we had met them both, and already knew it was going to be something out of the ordinary.

Elizabeth told me before the day that it *never rains* when she is in Scotland. Every time she has visited here, the sun has been out. Amazingly, this sunny spell continued for the whole time they were in Scotland for the wedding!
She has some kind of magic charm surrounding her and I begged and begged for her to stay here, to keep the blissful summer weather…
However, they went back to the States after their wedding, and I’m now typing this while the rain clouds are gathering outside my window. Grateful to have these images to remind me that summer might come back.

Elizabeth and Gregor, we can’t begin to tell you how much we loved photographing your wedding!
Thank you for being so welcoming and lovely to be with – and for bringing the gorgeous weather with you!

We wish you both a lifetime of happiness and fun together.

Elizabeth and Gregor’s wedding suppliers included:

• Church: Elie Parish Church
• Venue: Davaar 
• Photography: First Light Photography
• Brides dress: Reem Acra
• Brides shoes: Scotland Shop
• Make up: Eyecandy
• Hair: McKenzie Hair Design 
• Flowers: Red Petal Co 
• Catering: Wilde Thyme
• Marquee styling and decor: Get Knotted
• Band: Jam Hot

My top 7 Wedding Proposal Spots in Edinburgh

Over the last few years I have been extremely lucky to witness a number of beautiful wedding proposals in Edinburgh. Capturing the surprise, joy, love and happiness two people share in the moments they agree to spend the rest of their lives together is utterly wonderful.

Having lived and worked in Edinburgh for two decades I have come to know of so many wonderful places that offer an incredible setting for wedding proposals. Whether you would like a full Edinburgh Cityscape as your backdrop, or would prefer something a little more intimate, there is something to suit everyone here.

Here are some of the most romantic places to propose in Edinburgh

1 – Calton Hill

Historical and cultural landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh’s Old Town and Princes Street can all be seen from the top, creating a fantastic backdrop for a wedding proposal.
Calton Hill also offers fantastic views over Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags, if the city backdrop isn’t your thing.

2 – Arthur’s Seat

Want to have all of Edinburgh as your backdrop when you ask your partner to marry you? The views from Arthur’s Seat are unbeatable!
 An extinct volcano, proudly situated in the heart of Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat is one of the most beautiful places to propose in Edinburgh, and if you’re willing to put in the legwork, offers some amazing views, too.
If you and your other half aren’t keen walkers, then you can get to (near) the top by car (not on Sundays though, when all vehicle access to Holyrood Park is closed off).
If this is a little too wild and windy (there is little to no shelter), or hill climbing isn’t your bag, then I’d recommend looking at option 1 again (see above)

You can see some more images from Arthur’s Seat here

3 – Circus Lane

One of Edinburgh’s most charming streets, Circus Lane has become popular with the Instagram travellers and anyone looking for a beautiful backdrop. With its cobbled street, quaint little houses and Edinburgh’s New Town setting, it works brilliantly as a backdrop for a wedding proposal.

You can see some more photographs from a recent wedding proposal I photographed in Circus Lane here

4 – Edinburgh Botanical Gardens

Beautiful landscaping, ancient trees, colourful plants… Edinburgh Botanics is stunning year-round. I have done many photographs there over the years, and two shoots are never the same.
Added bonus, if it does rain the Glasshouse offers a Plan B to escape the rain!

5- Lauriston Castle

If you aren’t restricted to Edinburgh city centre, then a trip to Lauriston Castle in Cramond could offer a beautiful private setting with lovely views over the Firth of Forth.

6 – Edinburgh Castle

If you’re looking for a historical setting with added grandeur, then it doesn’t get any more impressive than an Edinburgh Castle wedding proposal. The castle offer a wedding proposal package, which allows you exclusive access to the Minstrel’s Gallery in the Great Hall.

7 – The Rain Plan (Plan B)

If the Edinburgh weather decides that somewhere slightly covered would be a better option, then I often suggest opting for somewhere in Edinburgh’s beautiful Old Town, such as City Chambers, Parliament Square or any of the the closes (alleyways) on the Royal Mile.
If it’s even worse, and we can’t do it outside at all, then Edinburgh has a plethora of museums, galleries, restaurants and bars that would make a gorgeous backdrop for your wedding proposal.

If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding proposal, then please get in touch – I would love to be there to capture the moment for you!

Scottish Summer Wedding – Alice and Robbie

..The one with not one but two Jenny Packham wedding dresses…

As a wedding photographer it’s rare to have repeat wedding clients. After all, most people only get married once…
However, it’s not unusual for us to meet couples again at other weddings, as we are lucky that many of our couples recommend us to their friends.
And every now and then a really special wedding comes along, where we are asked to come back to the same family to photograph another sister/ brother/ parent/child’s wedding.
It’s always a great feeling to return to the same family for occasions like this. You know the family liked what you did and trust you to create images, albums and memories they will treasure. It feels like walking into the house of friends.

Having photographed Alice’s brother Will’s wedding two years earlier, it was a joy being back at Prestonhall to capture another Callander wedding, this time Alice’s wedding to Robbie.
They had planned a beautiful wedding day at Crichton Church and in the grounds of Prestonhall, which (despite a little rain) was one of the best weddings we’ve attended.

Thank you Alice and Robbie for choosing us to capture your wedding, we wish you happiness and joy in your life together and hope our paths will cross again.

• Wedding dresses: Jenny Packham
• Photography: First Light Photography
• Videographer: Bowery Productions
• Florist: Thomas Maxwell
• Marquee: Arc
• Catering: Gingersnap

Photography shoots on Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh

Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh is such a great location for couple shoots, engagement sessions, wedding proposals and outdoor portraits.
For most of the year, and six days a week, the road that winds up the hill means it’s possible to access many parts of it by car. If you’re more adventurous and outdoorsy by nature, a wander up on foot is possible.

Please note, a photography licence is required for wedding photographs and bigger photoshoots.

Here are some photos we have captured on Arthur’s Seat.

Signet Library Spring Wedding – Megan and Callum

Ad infinitum: Forever, without limit of time

Signet Library Wedding Photography

What makes a perfect wedding? I guess we all have various ideals and standards of what would be the perfect wedding for us.
My idea of a perfect day is all about the celebration and honouring of the love a couple have found for each other, and found to be so strong that it will sustain them through hard times, boring times, long winters, wet summers.

If by the end of the day you are married, then it was a perfect wedding.

Megan and Callum’s wedding was *perfect* in every way. The weather was glorious, the service was moving, the guests were laughing and crying, the venue was jaw dropping, the food sublime. And yes, by the end of the day, they were married.
I love everything about this day, and hope you enjoy this little taster of what went down.

Megan admiring her make up by EyeCandy.

Every bride needs a loyal team of bridesmaids to help her with put on THE DRESS!

Something old…

The magnificent setting of the Signet Library has to be one of the most spectacular wedding venues in Edinburgh. The elegant cream and green floral decorations were created by Planet Flowers.

Thank you Megan and Callum for choosing us to capture your wedding day, we have loved every moment of being part of your wedding journey.

Megan and Callum’s wedding suppliers included:

• Venue: Ratho Parish Church
• Venue: The Signet Library
• Bride’s dress: Rachel Scott Couture
• Florist: Planet Flowers
• Photography: First Light Photography 
• Bridesmaids dresses: Pretty Woman
• Hair/Make-up: EyeCandy
• Kilts: MacGregor MacDuff
• Caterer: Heritage Portfolio
• Stationery: Lovat Press
• Car: Majestic Cars
• Band: Callanish
• Cake: Heather’s Cake

She said Yes! – Edinburgh Wedding Proposal Photography

Wedding Proposal in Circus Lane, Edinburgh

I love photographing wedding proposals! From the early emails with the proposer (usually the boyfriend) planning the details of the shoot, to the day of the proposal and even the editing – wedding proposal photography gives me goosebumps and butterflies and all the happy feelings!

Sean contacted me a while back, telling me he was planning to propose to his girlfriend. We discussed possible settings for this – Sean was keen to have an quiet, charming setting for his proposal, so we decided the beautiful Circus Lane in Stockbridge would be the perfect setting.
We were able to plan it for a weekday midmorning, which meant there weren’t too many other people around, so we had a quiet setting, just as we had hoped.

When it came to the day, Sean had it all perfectly under control. He had told Rachel he had heard of a beautiful part of Edinburgh where he would like to take some photos of her, so Rachel arrived in a great outfit, with beautiful hair and makeup.
As they looked at the street together (while I did my best to look like a tourist), he asked her to turn around so he could take a photo of her looking at the street, and when she turned back round, he was on his knee, with a ring in his hand! And she said Yes!

Those first few moments were a firework of emotions. Lots of “Really?? Really!!” moments, laughing and realising Sean had been planning this for months and a heady, wild delight that this was not a dream.

We then spent a little time capturing a few photos along the beautiful Circus Lane, interspersing some posed pictures with a whole heap of genuine bursts of joy and laughter.

Have a look at some of the photos from our lovely shoot below.

Is it any wonder this makes me happy?

Thank you Sean and Rachel for letting me capture this beautiful moment in your story. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and a marriage full of love and adventures.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding proposal in Edinburgh? Get in touch and let’s start planning!

Scottish MPA Photograpy Awards

We are feeling a little fuzzy around the edges this morning after a fab night at the The MPA Scottish Region awards last night. 
This was my first time submitting photos into the awards – I had submitted six photographs and was super pleased to have five of those nominated for an award!

Here are the images that won awards: one Award of Excellence and four Merits!

Happy World Book Day!

PRESS: Mel and David’s Gilmerton House wedding in The Times Newspaper

A year ago I had the pleasure of doing the wedding photography for Mel and David’s intimate wedding at Gilmerton House.

A little while after the wedding, The Times newspaper called me asking if I had captured any couples who would be interesting to feature in the paper. I immediately thought of Mel and David, who were happy to tell their story.

You can read the article below, and see some photographs of their very happy, intimate wedding day:

“Melanie Pumfrey, 60, who works in marketing, and Sir David Kinloch, managing director of Gilmerton Land Services, 66, were married on February 24, 2018, at Gilmerton House in East Lothian

Getting married to Mel in the upstairs drawing room of his childhood home was a watershed moment for David. “It was perfect,” he says. “It drew the line under what we have done here together.”

Mel and David have transformed Gilmerton House in East Lothian into a tasteful venue for private use, with all the trappings of a country pile. The Beckhams have been among the guests at the handsome Georgian mansion, which hosts about 14 weddings every year and has its own butler.

David was one of six siblings raised in Gilmerton, which has been in the Kinloch family for 600 years. He went to boarding school at Gordonstoun and then lived in Yorkshire with his first wife, with whom he has a son and daughter. He returned to live in Gilmerton with his second wife and turned it into a business.

Mel and David got to know one another through mutual friends. “It was quite a slow burner,” Mel says. She and her first husband, the father of her three sons, divorced in 2005. David’s second marriage ended in 2008. Mel was then running a B&B from her house in North Berwick. She is a cordon bleu-trained cook with a background in interior design.

As well as being general manager of Gilmerton, David is managing director of Gilmerton Land Services, which was inspired by a school project. The company clears disused underground former military and industrial sites, recovering lost assets. “My first lesson was cutting off a transmitter receiver site next to Gordonstoun and grounding all the aircraft.”

David fell instantly for Mel. “Her laughter,” he says. “Her smile. Even the way she speaks is gentle. There was a warmth there.” He appreciates her thoughtfulness and the calm way she resolves problems. “I actually do believe she is an angel,” he says.

Mel and David’s relationship took time to develop as they navigated their own lives independently of one another. He has two sons by his second wife. Over time, Mel became involved in the modernisation and marketing of Gilmerton. “I was actually quite resistant at first,” says David, who has a twin sister. “I would say, ‘That bathroom’s fine. Just leave it be. I did it up in 1980.’ I hate disruption. She very cleverly changed my mind by not reacting straight away. It took her a long time.”

Mel enjoys David’s zest for life. “He is a very charming man,” she says. “He’s quite eccentric. He gets extremely passionate about things. He has a massive love for life, which is very refreshing, and sees the positive in everything.

“He is crazy about recycling and has an amazing wood-burning boiler system. He is passionate about diggers and machinery and engineering. Anything to do with the war and he is happy.” She describes herself as more cynical. “I’m the doubting one.”

In 2010 David proposed to Mel with a ring in the drawing room at her house. She assured him that she wanted to be married, but the idea of getting married, “the whole show”, stalled any plans. “I didn’t look at it like an engagement,” she says. Her mother referred to the ring David gave her as a “friendship ring”.

Six years later Mel moved in with David, into a flat in the south wing of Gilmerton, which used to be his nursery. She felt cautious about giving up her “perceived independence”.

It was witnessing a couple, who had both been married before, in an intimate ceremony at Gilmerton last summer that made her realise the sort of wedding she wanted. “I wanted a lot of happy people and no awkwardness,” Mel says. “And nobody being there because they felt they should be there. I wanted it small enough for everybody to talk to each other.”

“I wanted everybody to be really chilled out,” David says. His youngest son, Matthew, was best man. Mel walked in on the arm of her eldest son, Jack. Her father died 32 years ago.

Mel’s elder sister went with her to London for the first fitting of her satin wedding dress by the British designer Suzannah. Only members of the family were invited to the humanist ceremony, for which the couple wrote their vows.

Canapés and champagne were served in the garden afterwards. The television was kept on in the snug for the Scotland rugby team’s victory over England in the Six Nations Championship. “I was mortified because I’m English,” says Mel, who grew up in Yorkshire.

Thirty-five guests, including staff at Gilmerton, sat down to afternoon tea in the music room. “Sitting at the table and watching everybody talking and laughing was so nice,” Mel says.

There was a fireworks display at dusk.”

Thank you to Morag Preston for the lovely article.

And thank you so much Melanie and David for choosing First Light to capture your day!

Mel and David’s suppliers included:

Venue: Gilmerton House
Dress: Suzannah
Florist: Secret Garden Events Florist
Catering: Heritage Portfolio
Stationery: Elise Rayment Creativeh
Fireworks: 21cc
Wedding Photography: First Light Photography

Mansfield Traquair Winter Wedding – Sheelagh and Jamie

Getting married in February doesn’t necessarily mean dark, wet, windy days. Sheelagh and Jamie’s wedding was filled with golden winter light, the most beautiful bespoke contemporary wedding gown, tons of fairy lights and lots of laughter.

Sheelagh and Jamie met whilst students at the University of Edinburgh and  wed after a decade together on a bright February day at the magnificent Mansfield Traquair. This stunning venue is a former church situated in Edinburgh’s New Town, and is filled with murals by Scottish artist Phoebe Anna Traquair, and yes a lot of golden hued fairy lights, which create a magical atmosphere for weddings.

The elegant handtied bouquets and magnificent floral arrangements decorating Mansfield Traquair, were created by Edinburgh florist-of-dreams  Planet Flowers. 

The bride’s exquisite gown was designed and created by Edinburgh based Freja Designer Dressmaking . Sheelagh worked in close collaboration with Mette at Freja, resulting in the the stylish two piece consisting of a sequinned lace cropped top and embellished flowing silk skirt.

You’d have to look far to find anything to beat the interior of Mansfield Traquair

Gorgeous candlelit table arrangements and floral centrepieces of cream and soft pink by Planet Flowers. 

Sheelagh left us this lovely review, we felt we just had to share:

“Ditte is incredibly passionate about her work and is very flexible and talented at capturing moments. She seemed to capture everything in our day yet was not intrusive. Jamie and I do not usually enjoy getting our photograph taken and it is a testimony to Ditte that our couples shoot was one of our favourite parts of the day. She is extremely professional and accommodating and ensures you have fantastic photographs to treasure forever.”

 

Thank you so much Sheelagh and Jamie for choosing us to capture your day, we laughed and smiled and laughed so much that day. Please please can we do it again??

Sheelagh and Jamie’s wedding suppliers included:

• Venue: Mansfield Traquair
• Photography: First Light Photography
• Florist: Planet Flowers
• Wedding dress: Freja Designer Dressmaker
• Bridesmaids dresses: Pretty Women
• Hair stylist: Dean Jones
• Make up: Rebekah McVitie
• Caterer: Heritage Portfolio
• Stationery: Jayne Coverley
• Cake: I J Mellis Cheesemongers
• Musicians: The Riffreshers