Alright, bookish wedding lovers – gather ‘round for a wee tale of romance, books, winter light, and a cheeky little ring bearer named Arnie.

Aoife & Johnny hopped over from Ireland to celebrate their wedding in the heart of Edinburgh, and honestly, it was one of those days that just felt like a warm hug (in a room full of ancient books, no less). As their wedding photographer, I get to see a lot of magic — but this one? A quiet winter wedding wrapped in dark academia vibes? Total dream.

Why Edinburgh in the winter?

Forget big crowds and tourist chaos — Aoife & Johnny were all about that relaxed, low-key celebration. Winter in Edinburgh means quieter streets (hello, Old Town portraits without a million photobombers), cosier venues, and way better deals on accommodation. Win-win-win.

And let’s be real — this city wears winter well. Soft light, moody skies, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to light a candle and read poetry? That’s the vibe we were working with. And they nailed it.

Bookish library city wedding in Scotland

Let’s take a moment for the venue, shall we?

The New Library at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh is what happens when a Georgian manor and a dark academia Pinterest board fall madly in love. There simply isn’t a more perfect venue for a bookish wedding.

Think towering bookshelves, golden chandeliers, ornate wood details, and the kind of ambience that makes you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a historical novel. If you’ve ever dreamed of saying “I do” surrounded by old books and whispers of old-world stories — this place will be your dream come true.

Aoife & Johnny chose it because they’re self-confessed BookTok addicts with a soft spot for dark academia aesthetics. And honestly? The New Library delivered. It felt like the wedding version of curling up with a cup of tea and your favourite novel – except, you know – with actual vows and and a handfasting.

If you’re a book lover (or just like pretending you’re in a period drama), this is your spot. More information under this link.

Building of Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Close-up of the old book covers at RCPE New Library.
Close-up detail of vintage medical and science books in the New Library at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. Perfect for book lovers, this atmospheric image captures the rich textures of aged hardcovers with titles like "The Microscope" and "The Practice of Medicine" — showcasing the venue’s academic charm and making it an ideal setting for a book-themed wedding in Scotland
Left image: A groom stands in the New Library at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, surrounded by wood-panelled walls and towering bookcases. His classic dark green suit and vintage boutonnière blend perfectly with the historical, bookish vibes of the space. An ideal groom portrait for couples planning a literary wedding in Edinburgh. Right image: A young ring bearer in bow tie and button-down shirt strikes a playful pose with a red dinosaur toy at a library wedding in Edinburgh. This candid, quirky wedding moment in the New Library at the Royal College of Physicians adds a dose of personality to the elegant literary setting.
The bride, beaming with red lipstick and wild winter bouquet, stands beside her father before walking down the aisle at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. Surrounded by wood-panelled walls and vintage frames, this moment blends heartfelt anticipation with the old-world grandeur of one of Edinburgh’s most unique wedding venues.
Candid moments before the ceremony inside the New Library at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. A bridesmaid in a dramatic black gown, family members sharing smiles, and a little boy ring bearer confidently walks down the aisle holding a banner reading, “Daddy, it’s time to give Mummy our last name”.
A heart-melting moment between the groom and his son just before the ceremony begins in the New Library at RCPE Edinburgh. The little ring bearer walks up the aisle as guests smile on, and in the next image, the groom kneels down and kisses him gently on the forehead — a quiet, emotional pause before the vows.
The bride walks down the aisle arm-in-arm with her father, surrounded by the rich wood paneling and book-lined walls of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. Her satin gown, soft smile, and lush wild bouquet bring romantic elegance into the historic space as guests watch on with joy.
A wide-angle view of the wedding ceremony inside the breathtaking New Library at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. With soaring ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
Guests smile, clap, and laugh as they witness the emotional ceremony unfold. The groom’s son, ring bearer Arnie, sits with family proudly holding his banner, clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight. Natural reactions and joy fill the space.
The bride glows with joy as she exchanges vows with her groom, while their Scottish humanist celebrant Paul delivers the ceremony with charm and heart.
Guests seated in the New Library beam with happiness as they watch the ceremony. Laughter, clapping, and floral details all come together in this collage capturing the warm, personal energy of the day.
The couple holds hands and shares a big smile during their wedding ceremony, while celebrant Paul, dressed in traditional tweed and kilt, leads with personality and flair. The dark wood bookshelves provide a strikingly romantic setting for their vows.
A collage showing the groom’s guest delivering a heartfelt reading, the ring bearer smiling cheekily at his mum mid-ceremony, and a solo portrait of the groom, grinning as he stands beside his bride in the elegant library setting.
The couple shares a laugh mid-ceremony, hands clasped, as the officiant stands beside them in the atmospheric New Library. Bride's modern satin gown and veil flow elegantly against the backdrop of antique books and rich wood.
Left: Guests smile from their seats in the New Library, including the couple’s son grinning proudly between his stylishly dressed mum and grandmother. Right: Bride and groom hold hands during their ceremony, lit beautifully by antique sconces and surrounded by rich wood tones and endless shelves of vintage books.
Left: Guests listen intently during the ceremony, seated in the historic Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh New Library, beneath its golden gallery rails. Right: Humanist celebrant Paul reads from his leather-bound script, standing confidently in a traditional kilt and tweed jacket, framed by towering bookcases.
New Library at RCPE during the ceremony - perfect Edinburgh wedding venue for a bookish wedding.
A wedding guest gives a heartfelt reading while little boy, still wearing his boutonnière, sits nearby focused on his important ring bearer banner
Left: Little boy claps with pure delight, his joy lighting up the library aisle as guests look on. Right: Bride and groom participate in a traditional Scottish handfasting ceremony, binding their hands with colourful woven cords led by a family member — a meaningful nod to Celtic heritage.
Newlyweds share a smile as they hold opposite ends of their handfasting cord, officially “tying the knot” in a moment full of emotion and symbolism, surrounded by classic book spines and polished wood paneling.
Left: The bride places a ring on the groom’s finger while celebrant Paul looks on, clearly enjoying the moment. Joy, laughter, and love fill the space. Right: A solo close-up of the groom, smiling as he stands in his forest green suit with boutonnière and paisley tie.
Just married moment - newlyweds raise their joined hands triumphantly in front of the fireplace and mirror, surrounded by shelves of well-loved books and the delighted gaze of their celebrant. Perfect bookish wedding in Scotland.
Left: The bride throws both arms in the air with pure elation, hand-in-hand with her now-husband as the ceremony concludes. Right: A romantic first kiss in front of the fireplace, framed by rich wooden bookshelves and soft winter light reflecting off the grand mirror above.
Left: Groom signing the wedding register at an ornate wooden table in the New Library at RCPE Edinburgh, with a handfasting cord and whisky glasses in front of him. Right: Bride concentrating as she signs the marriage documents during a winter wedding ceremony, while the little boy beside her plays quietly.
Left: Bride in an ivory long-sleeved gown sipping from a traditional Scottish quaich in front of the fireplace at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. Right: Groom drinking from the ceremonial quaich during a Scottish wedding tradition, surrounded by old books and rich woodwork.
Left: Bride taking a drink from the quaich during a traditional Scottish wedding moment, while the little boy beside her watches dances funnily. Right: Two wedding guests smiling and clapping with joy during the intimate library ceremony in Edinburgh, both dressed in elegant winter wedding attire.
Bride and groom walking back down the aisle hand-in-hand after their ceremony, with the bride holding a bouquet and the groom carrying the little boy in the book-lined library at RCPE Edinburgh - bookish wedding.
Left: Bride and groom holding glasses of champagne and smiling with the little boy in their arms after their winter wedding ceremony in the Royal College of Physicians library. Right: Wedding guests enjoying a champagne toast, laughing and mingling inside the atmospheric New Library at RCPE Edinburgh.
Close-up of antique law books titled “Fraser on Husband and Wife” and “Master and Servant” displayed in the New Library at RCPE Edinburgh during a literary-themed wedding.
Left: Close-up of vintage medical textbooks on a shelf including titles on the heart and blood pressure, part of the New Library collection in Edinburgh. Right: Bride and guest in black dress laughing and holding champagne glasses at a relaxed reception inside a historic Edinburgh library.
Black and white image of bride and groom walking hand-in-hand down a wood-paneled corridor lined with leaded windows inside the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.
Bride and groom sharing an intimate moment as they look out the window together in the historic hallway of RCPE Edinburgh during their winter wedding.
Left: Bride standing thoughtfully by the window in soft daylight wearing a long ivory gown and veil in the corridor of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. Right: Full-length portrait of the bride gazing out the leaded window, bathed in natural light, during an elegant literary-themed wedding in Edinburgh.
Bride in a minimalist satin wedding dress sits on a deep red leather chesterfield sofa inside a historic Edinburgh library, holding a wild and textural bouquet of blush and white flowers, surrounded by vintage portraits.
Left image alt text: Bride in a long-sleeved silk wedding gown sits beside her bouquet on a green velvet chair, framed by vintage framed prints and golden light in an atmospheric library. Right image alt text: Bride smiles warmly while seated, wedding bouquet beside her, showing off pointed bridal heels in a cozy wood-paneled Edinburgh reading room.
Bride gazes pensively out of frame while seated in a dimly lit historic Edinburgh library, with soft natural light highlighting her classic satin gown and textured floral bouquet.
Wide-angle view of bride and groom standing together on the upper gallery of a grand historic library in Edinburgh, beneath an ornately detailed ceiling and surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
Left image alt text: Bride and groom stand side by side on the upper balcony of an opulent book-lined library in Edinburgh, framed by curved wood railings and natural light from above. Right image alt text: Close-up of red leather-bound antique books, including “Music: Its Laws and Evolution,” on display inside the historic wedding venue’s collection.
Bride in a faux fur coat and long veil steps into a white cab on a wintry Edinburgh street, clutching a beaded handbag, captured in timeless black and white.
Bride and groom walk hand-in-hand up the Vennel Steps in Edinburgh’s Old Town with the castle looming in the background
Left image alt text: Bride and groom smile at each other beneath Edinburgh Castle, holding hands on a cobbled staircase during their romantic Old Town wedding shoot. Right image alt text: Groom kisses the bride on the forehead as they embrace in front of Edinburgh Castle, surrounded by historic buildings and soft winter light.
Moody wide shot of Edinburgh Castle perched on Castle Rock, seen from the historic West Bow area, with slate rooftops and a single vintage streetlamp in the foreground.
Bride and groom pose joyfully outside Armchair Books, an iconic secondhand bookshop in Edinburgh’s West Port, the bride in a fur coat and veil holding her bouquet, perfect for a literary-themed wedding.
Close-up portrait of a groom in a dark green suit and bride in a satin wedding dress and faux fur coat, standing outside a bookshop in Edinburgh, holding a wildflower bouquet.
Historic sandstone architecture in Edinburgh’s Old Town with castle towers and chimneys rising against a grey winter sky
Newlyweds walking hand-in-hand along the vibrant cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Victoria Street, the bride in a faux fur coat and veil, the groom in a green suit.
Left: Groom smiling while holding the bride’s bouquet in the colourful heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Right: Bride laughing as she takes a candid photo with her phone, wrapped in a textured faux fur coat on their wedding day.
Vibrant shopfronts and historic upper buildings of Edinburgh’s Victoria Street — colourful backdrop for a romantic city celebration.
Bride and groom walking past the stone turrets of Edinburgh’s historic architecture near the Writers’ Museum
Candid moment of bride and groom laughing and holding each other closely in a quiet corner of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Left: Bride and groom sharing a kiss beneath a wrought-iron sign in the courtyard of the Writers’ Museum. Right: Close-up of the golden hanging sign of The Writers’ Museum, featuring a scribe at a desk — literary Edinburgh wedding inspiration.
Romantic image of bride and groom embracing in front of the turreted stone façade of the Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh — fairytale vibes in the heart of the city.
Bride and groom enjoying takeaway coffee outside The Milkman café in Edinburgh’s Old Town, seated at a rustic bench under vintage “Confection, Snacks, Cigarettes” sign
Bride and groom sipping takeaway coffees outside The Milkman café in Edinburgh’s Old Town, taking a break during their wedding photo walk.

A wee touch of tradition: handfasting & quaich ceremony

One of the most beautiful parts of Aoife & Johnny’s ceremony was how they wove in a bit of Scottish tradition — in the most heartfelt, unfussy way. Their humanist celebrant, Paul (who was equal parts wise, warm and brilliantly witty), led a handfasting and a quaich ceremony that had everyone either smiling or quietly reaching for tissues.

Family, feels & a tiny dinosaur wrangler

The guest list was short and sweet — just immediate family and their wee boy, Arnie, who completely stole the show with his bowtie, big grin, and very serious ring-holding duties. (You’ll spot him in the photos. You won’t be able to not smile.)

Aoife walked in looking like a 1930s screen siren in the softest satin gown, with flowing sleeves and a cathedral-length veil that gave us all the drama. Johnny kept it sharp and classic with a deep green suit and a paisley tie that added just the right amount of texture. Together they looked like characters from a very stylish romance novel.

Portraits in the Old Town (with no crazy crowds!)

After the ceremony, we wandered through the Old Town for photos — just the three of them (plus me and my camera, obviously). Winter weddings in Edinburgh are low-key amazing for portraits: empty alleyways, atmospheric skies, and no tourists in your frame shouting “Congratulations!” every five steps. It’s bliss.

They danced their way down Victoria Street, snuggled under arches, and took in the views like total pros. I honestly love photographing couples who are just in it — laughing, soaking up the moment, and forgetting the camera is even there.

A little wedding with a lot of heart

Aoife & Johnny didn’t want a huge wedding or a Pinterest-perfect day — but funnily enough, that’s exactly what they ended up with. The New Library’s old-world charm really does all the heavy lifting. With its grand bookshelves, soft lighting and rich, historic details, the space is already breathtaking without needing a single extra decoration. It’s the kind of venue that is the aesthetic — no styling required.

They wanted a quiet celebration filled with books, laughter, and love — and that’s exactly what they created. It was intimate, intentional, and full of those little moments that matter most.

And as a photographer, those are the kinds of days I live for – and love to photograph.

How to plan a bookish wedding in Scotland (for lovers of libraries, literature & the occasional tear-stained page)

If the idea of saying your vows surrounded by dusty old tomes and candlelight makes your heart flutter more than a grand ballroom ever could — welcome. You’re among fellow book lovers. Scotland, with its moody skies, gothic architecture and centuries-old venues, is basically the perfect backdrop for a wedding straight out of a romantic novel (or dark academia Pinterest board).

Here’s how to bring your bookish wedding dreams to life — whether you’re planning a micro-wedding in Edinburgh or an elopement in a Highland library.

Choose a venue with built-in bookish charm

Start with a location that already feels like a scene from your favourite story. Historic libraries, university halls, or Georgian venues with towering bookshelves are ideal. Places like the New Library at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh are perfect — it’s literary without trying, which means you don’t have to over-style or overspend to get the vibe.

Bring books into your details (literally)

Use vintage books for detail shots — stack them beneath your vow books, rings, or florals to create those dreamy flat-lay moments. Bonus points for bringing a copy of your favourite novel to include. You can even write your vows in custom book-style vow books or aged journals with torn edges and calligraphy-worthy paper.

Let your invitations set the scene

Think old library checkout cards, vintage bookplates, or invitations styled like chapter openers. Use literary fonts and wording that makes it feel like guests are being invited into a story.

Table names > table numbers

Instead of numbered tables, name them after your favourite authors, fictional couples, or literary places. Pride & Prejudice, The Secret Garden, Wuthering Heights.

Add vintage touches that whisper ‘academia’

You don’t need to go full costume drama, but textures and tones matter. Think velvet ribbons, antique brass candlesticks, typewriters as guest books, and florals in old teacups or stacked books.

Style your outfits with literary flair

Floaty, vintage-inspired wedding dresses, dramatic sleeves, cape veils, or even a nod to Victorian fashion can make your look feel straight out of a classic novel. For grooms or partners: textured suits (tweed, velvet, wool), layered neutrals, and small accessories like pocket watches or boutonnières with a literary quote tucked in.

Use literary quotes throughout

Scatter your favourite lines throughout the day — in ceremony signage, readings, table settings, or even stitched into your dress or suit lining. It’s subtle, but beautifully personal.

Skip the Pinterest perfection — embrace the moody magic

The best part? You don’t need to do much. Venues with character already look incredible without huge floral installs or heavy styling. Let the books, lighting and old architecture shine. A few thoughtful details will carry the theme beautifully without the stress of overdecorating.

A bookish wedding in Scotland doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to feel like you. Whether you’re eloping in an old Edinburgh library or planning a literary-inspired micro-wedding, there’s something wildly romantic about grounding your celebration in stories. And if you’re looking for an Edinburgh wedding photographer who gets all the moody, bookish, windswept energy you’re going for — you’re in the right place.

Planning a wee bookish wedding in Edinburgh?

Whether you’re dreaming of a moody winter elopement, a book-filled library ceremony, or just want to skip the stress and soak up the beauty of this incredible city — I’m here for it. Edinburgh has so many hidden gem venues, and I know all the best photo spots (even the secret ones 👀).

So if you’re on the hunt for a Scotland wedding photographer who’s equal parts hype-person, unofficial tour guide, and storytelling wizard — I’d love to hear from you. Let’s chat about your wedding!

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