Wedding traditions of Edinburgh
Scottish weddings with kilts, a piper and a ceilidh, set against a castle skyline.
Edinburgh weddings often borrow the best of Scottish dress and music: the groom and male guests in kilts, a piper leading the party, and a ceilidh dance after the meal. Scots law lets couples marry in many places, including outdoors, with the approval of the celebrant.
A wedding here
Many couples marry in a church, a registered venue or a hotel on the Royal Mile or in the New Town. Religious and humanist celebrants are both recognised in Scotland, which makes a ceremony at a chosen outdoor spot possible.
Music and dress
The kilt in the family tartan is worn by the groom and often the groomsmen, and a Scottish reel or Strip the Willow is danced at the ceilidh. The sound of the bagpipe is traditional for a wedding walk and for welcoming the guests.
Wedding customs of Edinburgh
QuaichA two-handled cup used for a shared toast.
HandfastingA hand-binding ceremony included by some couples.Also part of it, and being written: Kilt (Worn with a sporran and the family tartan.), Ceilidh (The social dance at the reception.), Bagpipes (Played at the arrival and leaving.).
A wedding trail idea for Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Castle Esplanade area A popular backdrop for photographs.
- Dunedin and Greyfriars area Chapels and historic rooms for small weddings.
- Princes Street Gardens A frequent first stop for wedding photographs.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Quaich: Robin-wood, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Handfasting: Sander van der Wel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source