The First “I Do” of 2026:
Luke & Steph
There’s something so special about the first wedding of the year.
Luke & Steph’s day marked my very first wedding of 2026, and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful way to begin the season.
From the moment I arrived, there was such a calm, excited energy in the air — the kind of atmosphere that instantly reminds me why I love photographing weddings.
I was there from bridal prep right through to the evening reception, capturing every part of their day as it unfolded.
And I truly loved every single minute.
A full day of love, laughter and moments I feel so honoured to have captured.
To start the day, I headed over to Steph’s bridal prep.
From the moment I walked into the room, I could feel the love and excitement in the air. The whole bridal party — including the beautiful flower girls and junior bridesmaid — were full of smiles, giggles and so incredibly welcoming.
Steph was just getting her make-up done when I arrived, and she already looked absolutely radiant… and she wasn’t even finished yet.
One of my favourite parts of the morning is always the detail shots. I was taken upstairs where the dresses were hanging, and I got to photograph all those little elements that complete the look — the shoes, the purse, the flowers, the jewellery.
There’s just something so special about capturing those details. They might seem small in the moment, but they’re such a big part of the story of the day.
Back downstairs, the flower girls and junior bridesmaid were getting their hair done — not by a stylist, but by the bridesmaids themselves. It was so wholesome watching them all work together, making sure everyone felt beautiful and ready.
Steph had also bought each of the girls a little necklace to put on for the big day, and their reactions were just so sweet.
I overheard that the junior bridesmaid had requested Bridgerton-inspired hair, which I absolutely loved. There was even a careful count of the kirby grips going into her hair so Nana would know exactly how many to take out at the end of the night — such a small detail, but such a sweet one.
After about an hour and a half, it was time for me to head over to the City Chambers for the ceremony.
As I arrived at the City Chambers, it was a bit of a close call.
There was rugby on that day, and Edinburgh traffic at the best of times is unpredictable — but thankfully, when I pulled up, Luke and his best men had arrived at almost the exact same time. With around 15 minutes to spare before the ceremony, everything was just about perfectly timed.
One by one, guests began to gather outside, filling the entrance with anticipation and excitement.
And then Steph arrived.
Looking absolutely stunning.
There was a quick shuffle to keep her tucked away from guests so she could still make her proper entrance and surprise everyone in her gorgeous white dress. Those few moments before a ceremony always feel so full of anticipation — quiet nerves, final adjustments, deep breaths.
After a little bit of waiting for the remaining bridal party to arrive, it was finally time to head upstairs to the ceremony room.
I’ve photographed quite a few weddings at the City Chambers over the years, but using the upstairs ceremony room was a first for me — and it was absolutely gorgeous.
With its tall ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a beautiful ornate fireplace, it felt completely different from the spaces I’d worked in before. The natural light pouring into the room gave it such a soft, romantic feel — it honestly didn’t feel like the same venue at all.
Before guests fully settled, I took a moment to get my bearings and capture a few test shots — especially using my new wide-angle lens, which was perfect for showing off the scale and elegance of the room.
During those quiet few minutes, I caught Luke standing at the front. A little nervous, definitely. But more than anything, just so excited for the ceremony to begin.
And that’s always one of my favourite moments to capture — the anticipation right before everything changes.
The ceremony itself was beautiful from start to finish.
Watching Steph & Luke’s little ones lead the way for Steph to walk down the aisle was just so heart-warming. There’s something incredibly special about children being part of a ceremony — and seeing their little faces so focused on their important roles was such a lovely moment to capture.
All eyes were on Steph as she made her way towards Luke. The room felt still, full of admiration and emotion. They even had one of the little ones as a ring bearer, which was so sweet to witness — those small touches make a ceremony feel even more personal.
After the vows were exchanged and the register signed, it was time for one of my favourite parts of the day — the “Tunnel of Love”.
I directed guests outside into two lines and we waited for the official announcement of the new Mr & Mrs MacDonald. There’s always such a buzz in that moment — cheering, clapping, huge smiles — and it never gets old capturing that first walk out as newlyweds.
Next up were family photos.
At the City Chambers, this can sometimes feel a little chaotic — especially with tourists often stopping to watch what they consider a “proper Scottish wedding” happening right in front of them!
Thankfully, one of the bridesmaids helped gather everyone we needed for each photo, which made everything run so smoothly. I like to pride myself on being efficient when it comes to family group shots. There’s nothing worse than being a guest standing around for ages when all you really want to do is head to the reception for food and a drink!
Once we had all the family combinations captured, I stole a few quiet moments with just the bride and groom before we made our way to the reception venue.
Now, I have to say — the reception venue was absolutely stunning.
The photos truly speak for themselves.
The celebrations were held at the Sky Bar on Bread Street, with the most incredible views across the city and Edinburgh Castle from the top deck. The garden terrace, the skyline, the atmosphere — it was just beautiful.
And to think, this wasn’t even their original venue. Their previous one had cancelled — but honestly, it felt completely meant to be. Sometimes things work out exactly the way they’re supposed to.
Once everyone was settled at the Sky Bar and drinks were flowing, there was a lovely relaxed atmosphere before speeches began. And, in true Edinburgh fashion on a rugby day, a few phones were quietly propped up around the room so no one had to miss the score!
It was the perfect mix of celebration and real life — laughter, anticipation for speeches… and the occasional discreet glance at the rugby.
Then the speeches started.
They were such a joy to listen to — full of heartfelt words, funny stories, little inside jokes and so much love. There were tears, there were giggles, and plenty of moments that had the whole room smiling.
I never take for granted being trusted to capture days like this. I get to witness such meaningful moments, hear beautiful stories, and see families and friends come together — all from so many different walks of life. It’s genuinely such a privilege.
After the speeches, I took a short break to grab some food and put together a few sneak peeks for Luke & Steph — one of my favourite little rituals of the day. It’s always so special being able to send over a preview while the excitement is still fresh.
Then it was time to dive straight back in and capture the evening celebrations.
As the first dance song began, everyone rose to their feet as the bride and groom took to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple.
Guests watched in awe, gently swaying to the music, completely absorbed in the moment. It was such a beautiful thing to witness — that quiet pause in the evening where everything feels soft and meaningful.
I moved around the room as discreetly as possible, capturing every angle of this special moment.
For this part of the evening, I actually chose not to use flash — something I would normally bring out during the night reception. But the DJ lights filled the room with the most incredible colourful glow, and it felt far more authentic to let that atmosphere shine through naturally. It added so much to the mood of the dance floor.
Partway through the first dance, guests were invited to join them. Slowly the floor filled with partners, friends and little ones dancing together — such a wholesome and joyful moment.
As the evening continued, I captured those final candid moments — laughter, dancing, little portraits in between songs — before it was time for me to head off.
One of the lovely guests even asked if he could take a photo of myself with the bride and groom — something I’ve genuinely never been asked before! After a quick crash course in focusing and pressing the shutter (and a few attempts!), we managed to get the shot. It was such a thoughtful and unexpected gesture.
And just like that, the day came to an end.
Days like this are a reminder of why I do what I do.
Being invited into such meaningful moments — the nerves before the aisle, the quiet smiles during speeches, the joy on the dance floor — is something I will never take for granted.
Luke & Steph, your day was an absolute privilege to capture. Thank you for letting me be part of it.
@username
