Cherry-Blossom Elopement on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile

From our very first video call, Hannah and John radiated easy humour and zero fuss. Scotland’s capital was already their “happy place,” so swapping a big party for a relaxed Edinburgh elopement felt right. Their only must-haves? Close friends, the family pup Pippa, and a joyful spin down the Royal Mile.

Trishaw Arrival & City Chambers Vows

Forget limos – these two rolled up in a bright-red trishaw pedalled by Lissa from Joy Rides. Pippa rode shotgun in a dog-wedding-attire, winning every tourist phone camera on the Mile. It was truly an awesome entrance.

Inside City Chambers’ oak-panelled room, the ceremony took ten heartfelt minutes. Confetti was biodegradable, nerves were minimal, smiles were max.

Hannah and John eloped in Edinburgh at the end of April – it was a rainy and a bit cold but a beautiful day.

Their wedding ceremony took place at Edinburgh City Chambers. They were surrounded by closest friend and their super cute dog – Pippa, who, let me add, was also wearing wedding attire! It was a short, but heartfelt and emotional ceremony.

I cannot stress it enough – if you’d like to have your dog as a part of your wedding day, you definitely should! Speaking as a total dog person, pups are always the most adorable wedding guests. And I truly love photographing them.

Cherry blossom finale at The Meadows

Late April meant the very last blush of sakura – the cherry blossom season in Edinburgh was coming to an end so we caught it at the very last day, when it still looked magical. Petals clung to damp hair, Pippa tried to eat one, everyone laughed. Worth the short walk from Grassmarket for candy-floss colour that felt like spring’s grand goodbye.

April in Edinburgh means the Meadows turn into a pink-and-white snow globe for about ten glorious days. Under each arching branch the light goes rosy – skin tones warm up, raindrops glow like tiny lanterns, and every breeze shakes down a slow-motion petal shower.

Joggers detour for selfies, cyclists ride a little slower, and you can actually smell the faint almond scent of the blossom if you pause long enough. Hannah kicked off her heels to feel the damp grass and John declared it “the prettiest rain we’ve ever stood in.”

When to aim for peak cherry blossom photos in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s spring warmth usually arrives 2–3 weeks after London; one cold snap or an early heatwave can nudge bloom time a few days (or weeks) either side!

Typical week peak is usually last week of April though (≈ 25 Apr – 2 May).

Rule of thumb: Book travel for the last full week of April. If you can, add a day or two on either side to hedge against weather swings.

Planning tips for blossom photos

1. Check local Instagram feeds – popular Edinburgh Instagram accounts post first-bloom stories; when they show pink buds.
2. Morning light wins – 06:30-08:00 gives soft side-light down The Meadows’ blossom tunnels and almost zero joggers. On sunny days Meadows get crazy busy.
3. Cloudy days are great – overcast skies work like a giant softbox; petals stay colour-true and you avoid harsh shadows.
4. Weekdays > weekends – Saturday picnics and graduation shoots crowd the trees; weekday mornings feel private.
5. Backup spots – If the Meadows are past peak – or you just want to avoid massive crowds, try:
   • Dean Village
   • Prices Street Gardens
   • St Andrew’s Square
   • St Bernard’s Crescent, Stockbridge
   • The Canongate

Follow these pointers and you’ll hit Edinburgh’s brief, candy-floss season at its photogenic best.

Dreaming of your own trishaw, dog-friendly wedding adventure?

Let’s plan your adventure – whilst trishaw and dogs optional, fun is mandatory!

And I’d really love to hear about your plans. Please use the contact form on my website to drop me a line about your dream day.

In the meantime, for more Scottish wedding inspiration, take a look at My comprehensive Edinburgh Elopement Guide – full of ideas and recommendations.