Jackie & Aldo – Timberyard Elopement in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s crooked closes and whispering wynds feel one Alohomora away from Diagon Alley, so it’s no wonder Jackie and Aldo flew from Mexico to marry here. Timberyard, the city’s brick‑and‑beam restaurant, provided the candle‑lit ambience of the Great Hall on an autumn morning: flickering taper flames, time‑worn wood and potion‑bottle glassware turned their six‑guest ceremony into a pocket‑sized Hogwarts feast.

Add a wand‑wielding celebrant and vows tied in Slytherin‑green ribbon, and the wizarding romance felt real for these two fans.

Ceremony bagic at Timberyard Restaurant

Their humanist celebrant, Gillian Robertson, swapped a service book for a handmade elder‑wood wand, lifting it for blessings before the couple sealed their Unbreakable Vow‑style promises. Jackie and Aldo chose emerald cords for the handfasting, a nod to their matching Slytherin tattoos — his reads “After all this time?” while hers answers “Always.”

Chocolate Galleons from Gringotts shimmered on each plate, and a tiny vial of smoky Scotch stood in for Butterbeer to toast the newly bound hearts.

Rustic and atmospheric venue décor

Timberyard’s reclaimed timber tables and exposed brick needed little dressing. We scattered beeswax tapers in brass holders between vintage apothecary bottles and dripping pewter goblets. Lovecrumbs baked a single‑tier whisky‑caramel cake finished with gold splatter that caught the candlelight like floating snitches. The result felt less like a styled shoot and more like Professor McGonagall’s private dinner party.

Style inspiration

  • Jackie sprinted over cobblestones in her iconic green Manolo Blahnik Hangisis, the jewel buckle flashing Slytherin pride.
  • Aldo wore a charcoal tweed suit with a pocket‑watch chain — a subtle nod to Hogwarts time‑turners.
  • Both sported their “After all this time?/Always” wrist tattoos for a quick photo‑op that delighted every Potterhead on Instagram.
  • Candle‑lit tables framed by rough‑hewn shelves, stacked with potion‑like wine bottles, proved you don’t need floating candles to achieve wizarding ambience.

Kind words from the bride and groom

Our wedding day in Edinburgh was truly amazing. Since we are from Mexico and  have never been to Edinburgh or Scotland, the planning seemed overwhelming at first.

 We initially started planning our wedding in 2020. At that time we were researching wedding photographers in Edinburgh and that’s how we discovered Natalia’s work and we loved it. So we contacted her and immediately agreed that she would be our  photographer. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we postponed our plans until 2022.

We are so grateful for Natalia’s help. First of all, she worked with us to reschedule and find a new date for our celebration – she then assisted us with planning, recommendations and connecting us with local suppliers.

Her posing directions were incredibly helpful as we are both normally quite awkward in front of the camera, but she made everything look stunning and natural.

Natalia perfectly captured the most important moments of our day – including every kiss, hug and even every tear of happiness. Our Harry-Potter inspired wedding was spectacular and thanks to Natalia’s talent, we will cherish these memories forever.

Bride and groom sharing embraces and laughs whilst standing at the Vennel Steps with Edinburgh Castle on the horizon
Couple holding hands and walking down the Vennel Steps
Colourful buildings of Edinburgh's Victoria Street
Newlyweds walking down the West Bow with colourful buildings behind them, sharing a glance
Bride and groom sharing a kiss standing in the middle of a courtyard in front of the Writer's Museum
Collage of images: bride and groom sitting side by side on a lamppost platform holding hands; bride and groom standing closely shown from a perspective of a street tunnel
Matching wrist tattoos of bride and groom in black and white: “After all this time?” and “Always” in script
Kilted bagpiper plays on Edinburgh street as Jackie and Aldo stop by and kiss, emerald bouquet in bride's hand
Bride and groom sharing an 'almost-kiss' moment in front of St Giles' Cathedral
Jackie and Aldo pause beneath the stone arch of Advocate’s Close, Victorian buildings rising in the blurry distance
Bride and groom standing on Advocate's Close, with bride's head resting on the groom's shoulder, holding hands and looking towards Scott Monument; captured in black and white
Close-up of groom and bride's shoes: his black loafers and her green Manolos on weathered steps
Bride and groom running down an Old Town street, holding hands and smiling
Bride and groom running down an Old Town street, holding hands and laughing joyfully
Newlyweds walking down Edinburgh street with Armchair Books bookshop behind them
Jackie and Aldo picking up their wedding cake at the Lovecrumbs bakery
Bottled spirits, magazines, cocktail book and rows of wine glasses at Timberyard Restaurant
Groom giving the bride a kiss on the forehead
Couple sharing an embrace inside of Timberyard, in black and white
Pre-ceremony details (collage); wooden chairs set up outside for the guests; white candles lit up on a metal table in the venue courtyard
Father of the bride wearing a blue bow tie walking her down the aisle
Start of the ceremony: groom awaiting arrival of the bride at Timberyard courtyard
The humanist celebrant and newlyweds share a laugh
Ceremony commences with the incense being lit by one of the guests, bride smiling
Guest pouring red wine into two small glasses
Wide-angle view of the ceremony, couple facing each other and guests observing with ceremony booklets in their hands
Emotional reaction of the bride reading her wedding vows - crying and covering her mouth with her hand
Emotional vow exchange at the Harry-Potter themed ceremony in Edinburgh, groom smiling
Groom opens his arms towards the bride after the vow exchange, smiling
Couple sharing a close embrace with vow books still in their hands
Groom reading his personal vows
Couple sharing a close embrace, bride with tears in her eyes
Humanist celebrant raises wand over joined hands at start of the Scottish handfasting ceremony, in black and white
Handfasting wedding ceremony led by the humanist commences
Mother of the bride places a tartan handfasting ribbon over the couple's joined hands
Guests watching the handfasting ceremony
Couple tying the knot - the handfasting ritual concludes
Newlyweds share their first kiss
Joyful reactions of the couple to the end of the ceremony
Wedding guests smiling and clapping their hands to express their joy
Bride and groom receiving hugs and congratulations from their family members
Guests congratulating the newly married couple
Newlyweds sign the marriage register sitting at a table
Collage: groom lifts the bride up in the air; they both share a joyful laugh
Guests raising a toast to the married couple - everyone holding a glass of white wine and clinking glasses together
Bride and groom sipping wine in Timberyard courtyard
View at the surrounding buildings from Timberyard Restaurant courtyard
Timberyard dining room lit by long candles in a Hogwarts-esque glow
Close-up of groom's plate with a linen napkin and a knife on it, with chocolate Galleons on rustic timber table
Menus sitting next to the plates on the dining table, with a big antler centrepiece in the middle on the table, surrounded by lit candles
Chocolate Galleons rest on linen napkins beside beeswax candles
Candle-lit atmosphere of the reception room at Timberyard, rustic and Harry Potter-inspired atmosphere and decor

Elopement ceremony at Timberyard, Edinburgh

There were quite a few elements of Jackie and Aldo’s wedding ceremony. Conducted by the brilliant Gillian Roberston, the ceremony included handfasting and some more traditional elements as well. Every single one out of 5 wedding guests had a little role to play during the ceremony. It included breaking the bread, lighting candles and incense and pouring wine into two cups. For instance Jackie’s mum was helping the bride and groom with handfasting cords and Aldo’s father was responsible for filling glasses with wine to share.

Handfasting ceremony was a symbol of further binding their promises, their love and commitment for each other. So they tied the knot, following this beautiful Celtic tradition dating back to 7000 BC.

Today you are holding the hands of your best friend, young and strong, and full of love for you. As promise to love each other forever. 

Plan your own wizarding micro‑wedding in Scotland

Dreaming of a similarly spellbinding celebration? Remember, the cosy Hogwarts atmosphere can only truly be soaked up here in Scotland—after all, the books place the school right in these misty Highlands. Start with my Edinburgh Elopement Guide for logistics and legalities, then explore venue ideas in the Edinburgh Venue Guide to pick the perfect setting for your own wizarding tale.

Owl post is optional – though highly encouraged. Alternatively, shoot me a message via the contact form.

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