Lou Rob Photo - Fun + Alternative Edinburgh Wedding Photographer

Looking for the perfect seaside venue for a Scottish elopement? I might have found it…

The Harbour Chapel, Dunbar

Friday the 13th may be unlucky for some, but not for L+G who wed in a relaxed and intimate celebrant-led ceremony at The Harbour Chapel in Dunbar. As relaxed Edinburgh elopements go, this one was special.

The day started at Melville Castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh, where L+G decided to buck tradition and get ready together! G donning a kilt of custom tartan and L a beautiful one-shouldered satin jumpsuit.

From the castle we set off on the short drive to The Harbour Chapel in Dunbar, East Lothian - me in my trust Mini, but L+G in the far more stylish silver taxi, Walter, from One Fare Day vintage taxi hire.

The Venue

The Harbour Chapel is a spectacular former church nestled next to the harbour in Dunbar. It’s been beautifully restored in a way that honours it’s rich history but also with an atmospheric and contemporary twist that allows the venue to adapt to the event it’s hosting with pews on wheels allowing it to be reconfigured to cater for weddings big and small as well as laid-back banquet style dining. Inside, the space is lit by magnificent stained-glass windows originating from St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh - I gasped!

The couple were piped up Victoria Street towards the venue by Glyn of Scottish Bagpipers. Tourists stopped to snap the arrival and we all felt a wee bit emotional, knowing the significance this moment held for the couple.

The Ceremony

Inside and ready for their ceremony by Andrew Scott Celebrant (who, according to his instagram, is the best in Scotland… as voted for by his Mum), and finally, after approximately 7000 years together, L+G wed with Fiona & Holly from the venue as witnesses. Their ceremony was tailored entirely for them with heart-warming anecdotes, hand tying, a tribute to their daughter and even a wee drink from the quaich before exchanging rings and doing the all important legals. G even surprised us all by reading a poem that he’d written!

The Cake

Then it was time for L+G to cut their cake by Jill’s Cakes Dunbar, and we all enjoyed a cheeky slice to toast the newlyweds before heading down to the harbour for pictures. The couple finished off their day by enjoying a meal at The Creel, a beautiful cosy restaurant by the harbour.

And then they were wed

This was a relaxed Edinburgh elopement, and came as a complete surprise to the couples friends and families when they dropped some pictures in the group chat after the ceremony and it really cemented to me that micro wedding still means maxi love! This wedding day was perfect - relaxed, full of joy and feeling and one I won’t forget for sure.