Sam & Jack | Edinburgh old town elopement
A fun Edinburgh City elopement
The day began at No.11 Brunswick Street, with that particular mix of excitement and “Wait… are we actually getting married today?” energy that makes elopements so special. Just Sam & Jack, getting ready together, soaking up the anticipation and enjoying the fact that this was their day, their way.
Once ready, we jumped in a cab and headed up to the Royal Mile, which is not for the faint hearted in August. Walking through Edinburgh during the Fringe means accepting that your journey from A to B may involve dodging a street performer, stopping to admire an impromptu act, squeezing through a crowd and wondering whether the person in front of you is a comedian, a tourist or simply very committed to their outfit.
And then came the main event at Edinburgh City Chambers. There is something wonderfully romantic about getting married right in the centre of Edinburgh. The architecture, the history and the atmosphere make the City Chambers feel incredibly special, but stepping outside afterwards during the Fringe takes things to an entirely different level. One minute you’re exchanging vows in a beautiful historic setting. The next, you’re back out in the middle of Edinburgh with the whole city carrying on around you. And honestly? That’s the beauty of an elopement – you don’t need a huge production for your wedding to feel like an occasion.
Now for possibly the best part of the whole story. Every wedding needs witnesses, most couples choose close friends or family.
These two? They picked random people from the Royal Mile.
The Royal Mile is probably one of the best places in the world to find willing participants in a slightly chaotic wedding adventure. Imagine casually wandering through Edinburgh, perhaps on your way to see a comedian or hunt down coffee, when someone approaches you with “Hi! Would you like to be our wedding witness?”
And just like that, two complete strangers became part of a couple’s wedding story. It’s difficult to imagine a more Edinburgh way of doing things.
August might be one of the busiest times to elope in Edinburgh, but that’s also exactly what makes it so much fun. Once the vows had been exchanged we headed out into the chaos. Rather than trying to escape the crowds, we embraced them. This wasn’t about creating a perfectly controlled wedding bubble. It was about being right in the heart of the city, experiencing Edinburgh as it really was that day loud, unpredictable and completely bonkers.
For couples who want a wedding day that’s relaxed, unconventional and completely their own, embracing that chaos can be incredible. You don’t have to wait for the city to quiet down. You can get married right in the middle of it. And if you’re brave enough, you can even ask a couple of strangers from the Royal Mile to sign the paperwork!
