InterContinental Edinburgh The George Wedding Photographer

King’s Hall — The Heart of a George Hotel Wedding

The King’s Hall is the main wedding space at InterContinental Edinburgh The George and the room we’ve photographed more than any other at the hotel. It can host everything from your ceremony and wedding breakfast to speeches, cake cutting, first dance and evening celebrations.

The stained-glass dome, chandelier and tall columns give the room a very distinctive character, while its size means we can photograph the ceremony and celebrations from different positions without constantly being in front of you or your guests.

Our photographer’s view: the King’s Hall changes considerably throughout a wedding day. During the ceremony we’re looking for clean angles through the columns, reactions from guests and the light coming through the dome and windows. Later, once the tables are set and the evening begins, the same room becomes brilliant for speeches, dancing, ceilidhs and all the unscripted moments happening around the edges of the dance floor.

One thing we’ve learned after photographing so many weddings here is that there’s no need to rush away immediately after the ceremony. Give yourselves a few minutes to be congratulated before moving on to formal photographs — those hugs, reactions and happy chaos are often some of the best pictures of the day.

The Library — Brilliant for Drinks and Candid Photographs

The Library sits alongside the King’s Hall and is one of our favourite spaces at The George for relaxed, candid wedding photography. Its wood panelling, fireplace and more intimate scale give it a completely different atmosphere from the grandeur of the main hall.

It works particularly well when guests move here for drinks and canapés, because everyone naturally starts chatting, laughing and congratulating you rather than waiting for the next formal part of the day.

Our photographer’s view: this is exactly the kind of environment where we like to step back and let things happen. While you’re enjoying a drink with your guests, we can photograph the conversations, hugs and little reactions that would disappear completely if we immediately dragged everyone outside for photographs.

It’s also a useful indoor option when Edinburgh’s weather isn’t encouraging anyone to venture onto George Street.

Forthview & Terrace — Views Across Edinburgh

Forthview gives you something completely different from the historic ground-floor rooms, with plenty of natural light and an outdoor terrace high above Edinburgh.

We’ve used the space for wedding preparations as well as photographs of the newlyweds, and the terrace can be particularly good when you want a few portraits without leaving the hotel.

Our photographer’s view: the real advantage of Forthview is the variety it adds to a George Hotel wedding gallery. Within a few minutes we can move from the traditional interiors of the hotel to a much more contemporary setting with open sky and views across Edinburgh.

Of course, a rooftop terrace in Edinburgh comes with one obvious condition — the weather! We’ve photographed couples up there in beautiful light and even in a snowstorm, so we’ll always judge whether the terrace is worth using on the day rather than forcing a photograph simply because it was part of the original plan.

George Street — Right Outside the Hotel

One of the biggest advantages of getting married at InterContinental Edinburgh The George is that we don’t have to travel far to create a varied set of newlywed photographs.

George Street is literally outside the hotel, and we’ve photographed couples here in every kind of Edinburgh weather. The Georgian architecture, columns, shopfronts, traffic and city-centre atmosphere give the photographs a completely different feel from a traditional country-house wedding.

Our photographer’s view: we particularly like using George Street for relaxed walking photographs rather than standing you in one position and posing you endlessly. The traffic and people become part of the city atmosphere, and when the timing works we can create some brilliant photographs around the George IV statue and the central George Street junction.

Because we know the area so well, we can usually create plenty of variety here in 10–15 minutes before getting you back to your guests.

Queen Street Gardens — Greenery Minutes From George Street

Queen Street Gardens gives us something completely different just a short walk from The George. Within minutes, we can move from busy city streets to trees, pathways and greenery, giving your wedding gallery much more variety without taking you across Edinburgh.

We’ve photographed many of our George Hotel couples here over the years, and it works particularly well when you want natural, relaxed portraits away from the traffic and bustle of George Street.

Our photographer’s view: we don’t need long in the gardens. Around 15–20 minutes is normally enough for a varied set of photographs, and we’ll choose the exact areas depending on the season, light and conditions underfoot.

Queen Street Gardens are private, so access needs to be arranged for your wedding. We’d recommend confirming the current arrangements with The George as part of your wedding planning.

Forthview Terrace — Without Leaving the Hotel

If the weather is on our side, Forthview’s rooftop terrace gives us another outdoor option without leaving InterContinental Edinburgh The George.

It’s particularly useful when you want a handful of portraits but would rather stay close to your guests. The elevated position, open sky and Edinburgh views give these photographs a very different feel from both George Street and Queen Street Gardens.

We’ve photographed couples here in everything from beautiful sunshine to a full Edinburgh snowstorm, so we’ll always decide on the day whether the terrace is worth using rather than forcing it into the schedule.