Mansfield Traquair Wedding Photographer
25 Weddings at Mansfield Traquair — and Counting
Looking for an experienced Mansfield Traquair wedding photographer with genuine first-hand knowledge of the venue? We’ve photographed 25 weddings at Mansfield Traquair, giving us extensive experience of how this extraordinary Edinburgh venue works for ceremonies, receptions and evening celebrations.
Often described as “Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel”, Mansfield Traquair is a restored former church in the heart of the city, known for Phoebe Anna Traquair’s vast mural scheme, soaring architecture and dramatic interior.
Having photographed weddings here across seasons and lighting conditions, we know how to make the most of the Nave, Baldacchino, private garden, and surrounding city locations without turning your wedding into a lengthy photoshoot.
Our approach is relaxed and unobtrusive, combining genuine documentary moments with natural portraits that use Mansfield Traquair’s scale and character while keeping photography part of the day, not the focus.
Photographed at Mansfield Traquair
Photographing weddings since 2006
husband-and-wife photography team
Mansfield Traquair Wedding Photos
Here are some of our favourite photographs from the 25 weddings we’ve photographed at Mansfield Traquair, including ceremonies, newlywed portraits, family photographs, drinks receptions, speeches and evening celebrations throughout the venue.
Why Mansfield Traquair Works So Well for Weddings
Mansfield Traquair is unlike almost any other wedding venue in Edinburgh. The scale of the former church, its vast murals, stone arches, and high ceiling create an immediate sense of occasion without couples needing to add much decoration.
The Nave is the heart of the venue and can be used for different parts of the day, from the ceremony through to dinner and evening celebrations. That means guests can remain in one spectacular setting while the space changes around them.
The Nave and Baldacchino
The Nave gives us plenty of space to work discreetly during ceremonies, speeches, and evening celebrations.
At one end, the Baldacchino creates a natural focal point for ceremonies and portraits, while the room’s scale lets us photograph wider images that show the architecture, as well as closer documentary moments between you and your guests.
The Murals and Interior Light
Phoebe Anna Traquair’s murals are one of the defining features of Mansfield Traquair and give photographs here a look that simply can’t be replicated at another Edinburgh venue.
The light inside can change considerably throughout the day, so we adapt how we photograph the room rather than relying on one setup from the ceremony through to the evening.
The Private Garden
One of Mansfield Traquair’s less obvious advantages is its private garden.
It gives us somewhere outdoors for a few relaxed portraits or a quiet moment away from the main celebration without needing to put you in a car and disappear across Edinburgh.
That mix of dramatic interiors and a secluded outdoor space is especially useful when we want variety without taking you away from your guests for long.
Wedding Ceremonies, Dinner and Evening Celebrations
One of Mansfield Traquair’s biggest strengths is how flexibly the main space can be used across the wedding day.
The Baldacchino, Nave and secluded garden can all play a part in ceremonies and receptions, while the Nave can be transformed again for dinner and evening celebrations. Mansfield Traquair’s current wedding information continues to highlight all three as key wedding spaces.
Current Guest Capacities
Mansfield Traquair currently publishes capacities of up to 350 guests for dinner, 300 for a dinner dance and 700 for a standing reception.
For weddings, the exact layout will depend on how you want to use the Nave, whether you need space for a dance floor and how the ceremony and reception are configured, so it’s worth confirming the latest setup directly with the venue team.
From Ceremony to Evening Party
Photographically, having the ceremony, drinks, dinner and dancing all within the same venue works particularly well.
We can photograph each stage of the day without losing time travelling between locations, while changes to lighting and room layout give the photographs a noticeably different feel as the celebration moves from daytime into evening.
Best Wedding Photo Locations at Mansfield Traquair
After photographing 25 weddings at Mansfield Traquair, we’ve learned that some of the strongest photographs can be created without leaving the venue at all.
The Nave
The Nave is one of the most dramatic locations for portraits because it lets us use the murals, arches and scale of the building as part of the composition.
It works particularly well when we want photographs that clearly show where you were married rather than using a backdrop that could belong to almost any venue.
The Baldacchino
The Baldacchino gives us a strong architectural focal point for newlywed portraits and can work particularly well immediately after the ceremony, before the room changes for the next part of the day.
The Private Garden
The secluded garden is one of the most useful outdoor locations at Mansfield Traquair.
It gives us greenery, softer natural light and a completely different feel from the interior while still keeping you close to your guests.
Around Mansfield Place
If you’d like a few city photographs as well, the streets immediately around Mansfield Traquair can give us a more urban Edinburgh backdrop without turning the portraits into a separate excursion.
Whether we use them depends on the weather, traffic, available light and how much time you actually want to spend away from the celebration.
What We’ve Learned From Photographing 25 Weddings at Mansfield Traquair
After photographing 25 weddings at Mansfield Traquair, we’ve learned a few practical tips that can make the photography feel easier and more relaxed on the day.
The Interior Changes Dramatically With the Light
Mansfield Traquair can look very different from one part of the day to the next.
The Nave may feel bright and airy earlier on, then become much more atmospheric once the daylight fades and the event lighting takes over, so we adapt how we photograph the space rather than treating it the same way all day.
The Private Garden Is More Useful Than It Looks
The garden is easy to overlook when you first see the interior’s scale, but it gives you a quick outdoor option without taking you away from the venue.
That makes it particularly useful for a few relaxed portraits, especially if you only want to spend a short time away from your guests.
You Don’t Need to Leave Mansfield Traquair for Great Photos
The Nave, Baldacchino, murals and garden already give us a strong mix of indoor and outdoor locations.
If you want a few city photographs too, we can add them nearby, but there’s no need to turn the portrait session into a long trip across Edinburgh just to create variety.
Give the Room Time to Change Between Parts of the Day
Because the same main space can be used for the ceremony, dinner, and evening celebrations, the venue team often has periods when they’re transforming the room.
We work around those transitions rather than interrupting them, using the garden, surrounding spaces or candid guest photographs while the next part of the day is being prepared.
What Our Mansfield Traquair Couples Say
After photographing 25 weddings at Mansfield Traquair, we’ve been fortunate to receive some lovely feedback from couples whose weddings we photographed here. Here are three of their reviews.
We could not be more delighted with the pictures from our wedding day!
We could not be more delighted with the pictures from our wedding day! They are all just wonderful. Right from the beginning, Jonathon made us both feel so comfortable and at ease – the whole process was a joy. He knew exactly what he was doing and was very professional yet warm and helpful throughout the day. I would highly recommend Jonathon Fowler Photography, together with our friends and family we were all incredibly impressed. Thank you!
Went above and beyond to capture the most incredible photography.
Jonathon & Claire are unbelievable at what they do. They thought of everything, went above and beyond to capture the most incredible photography from our special day at the Mansfield Traquair. They are the loveliest couple and made us feel at ease every step of the way. Beyond grateful to this fantastic pair. We fully recommend them.
Each and every photo is perfect and we love them all
We booked Claire & Jonathon for our wedding on 29th February 2020 after seeing their previous work online. We are so glad we booked Love Wedding Photos & Films [now Jonathon Fowler Photography] to capture our wedding day, each and every photo is perfect and we love them all. They are both so friendly and made us feel relaxed and at ease during the photos on our big day. We recently received our wedding albums and they are absolutely beautiful. We could not be happier with the service we received and would 100% recommend Jonathon Fowler Photography. Thanks again guys.
Mansfield Traquair Wedding Photographer FAQs
Can we have both our ceremony and reception at Mansfield Traquair?
Yes. Mansfield Traquair can host the ceremony, dinner, and evening celebration in the same venue, with the Nave, Baldacchino, and private garden each playing a different role throughout the day.
How many guests can Mansfield Traquair accommodate?
The venue currently lists capacities of up to 350 guests for dinner, 300 for a dinner dance and 700 for a standing reception.
The exact setup depends on how you want to use the Nave and dance floor, so confirm the latest layout with the Mansfield Traquair team as you plan your day.
Where are the best places for wedding photos at Mansfield Traquair?
Some of our favourite locations are the Nave, Baldacchino, murals and private garden.
If you’d like a few city photographs as well, the surrounding streets can also work well without taking you far from the venue.
What happens if it rains on our Mansfield Traquair wedding day?
Rain isn’t a major problem here because the interior gives us so many strong photography options.
The Nave, murals and Baldacchino all give us plenty to work with indoors, while the private garden can be used whenever there’s a break in the weather.
Do we need to leave Mansfield Traquair for our wedding photographs?
No. The interior and garden already give us plenty of variety.
If you want a few Edinburgh street photographs too, we can add them nearby, but there’s no need to disappear across the city for a long portrait session.
Planning Your Wedding at Mansfield Traquair?
If you’re planning your wedding at Mansfield Traquair, we’d love to hear what you have in mind.
Having photographed 25 weddings at Mansfield Traquair, we know the venue, its main spaces and how to make the most of the Nave, Baldacchino, murals and private garden without turning your wedding into a lengthy photoshoot.
Tell us your wedding date, the kind of celebration you’re planning and a little about your day below, and we’ll check our availability.
Tell us a little about what you’re planning, and we’ll check our availability, answer any questions and help you work out what suits you best.There’s no pressure or obligation, and we usually reply within 24 hours.
Mansfield Traquair Wedding Team Contact Details
For current wedding availability, capacities, packages and venue information, contact the Mansfield Traquair team directly:
Mansfield Traquair
15 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6BB
Telephone: +44 (0)131 524 7280
Email: [email protected]
Visit Mansfield Traquair’s official wedding website
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- Best Edinburgh Wedding Venues – Explore more of our favourite Edinburgh wedding venues if you’re comparing Mansfield Traquair with other city-centre options.
- Edinburgh Wedding Photography Prices & Packages – See our photography coverage, prices and package options for weddings at Mansfield Traquair and throughout Edinburgh.
- Best Photo Locations in Edinburgh – Discover some of our favourite nearby photography locations if you’re considering a short portrait session outside the venue.
