Why Micro-Weddings in Edinburgh are the Ultimate Love Story Trend in 2025
Does size really matter?
Not in this storybook city.
In a post-COVID world where every invite, detail and dollar counts, Australian couples are reimagining what the traditional ‘perfect wedding’ really looks like. For more and more lovers, it is no longer a sprawling guest list or a highly curated reception. It is now something smaller, something more personal, something more them. Introducing the micro wedding: an intimate celebration with 10 to 20 of your favourite people, designed to feel more like a long, joy-filled weekend away than a high-stress media production. With less stress for the actual day, many are taking their special moment overseas (because why not turn your wedding into the ultimate honeymoon). One city quietly stealing the hearts of Aussie romantics everywhere: Edinburgh.
Old World Romance Meets Modern Luxury
Complete with storybook castles, cobblestone streets and hidden whisky bars, Edinburgh is everything you could wish a wedding destination to be. It’s romantic, dramatic and incredibly photogenic, merging old-world charm and modern indulgence. It is this combination that provides a space where your love story can unfold in the kind of setting that feels like a movie (yes we are thinking of Made of Honour with Patrick Dempsey). If Paris screams romance, Edinburgh itself feels like an understated love letter to couples.
The city’s historic twisting streets and moody weather propose an element of magic in the air, whilst Edinburgh Castle and many manor houses interlink your romance with a city that has offered love stories for generations. Whilst many will recognise Edinburgh as the birthplace of Outlander or Harry Potter (hit up Victoria Street for a real taste of the city that inspired Diagon Alley), few will realise that the city also offers some of the best food offerings in the world (aside from haggis which is definitely an acquired taste), delivering world-class boutique experiences without the price tag of its British cousins in London or Manchester.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh For You (and your Inner Circle)
Edinburgh has no shortage of hotels but few are suitable for small groups or provide the ‘wow-factor’ suited to a well executed micro-wedding. Here are our picks:
House of Gods, Edinburgh
For couples seeking something bold, extravagant, and unapologetically over-the-top for their micro-wedding, House of Gods in Edinburgh’s Old Town delivers an experience where fantasy meets reality in the most indulgent way. This boutique hotel blends the opulence of royal palaces with the energy of a nightclub and the drama of gothic romance. With just 22 richly designed rooms, it’s intimate enough for a full buyout, allowing your inner circle to take over for a truly unforgettable celebration. Think
velvet-draped four-poster beds, brass bathtubs at the foot of your bed, jewel-toned walls, and gold accents throughout, it’s an immersive escape where every detail is designed to dazzle.
What truly sets House of Gods apart is its commitment to over-delivering on indulgence. From the famous 'Push for Prosecco' buttons in-room to the lavish ‘Treat Me Like I’m Famous’ package (complete with a personal butler, bubble baths on demand, and nightly surprises), everything here feels cinematic and surreal. Add a pre-wedding toast or post-ceremony nightcap in the lobby cocktail bar, and you have a setting that’s not just romantic, but irresistibly wild, perfect for elopements, exclusive takeovers, or
a wedding night to remember.
Visit houseofgodshotel.com
RIGH Residences, Edinburgh
For couples and groups seeking understated luxury with all the comforts of home and enough space to relax and unwind in style, RÌGH Residences is the perfect base for a micro-wedding celebration. Located on the iconic George Street in Edinburgh’s New Town, this boutique-style property offers fully serviced one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, ideal for accommodating close friends, family, or bridal parties in style (interconnecting suites can accommodate up to 7 guests. Each apartment features sleek interiors, full kitchenettes, and interconnecting options that make pre-wedding breakfasts and in-room cocktail hours feel effortless and intimate.The location places Edinburgh’s best dining, shopping, and cultural attractions right on your doorstep, while RÌGH’s concierge team can curate private tours to help you and your guests explore the city and beyond. Many suites boast breathtaking views of Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument, anchoring you firmly in the heart of this storybook city.
For those wanting to level up, the RÌGH Penthouse is a true standout, perched atop the heritage-listed Edwardian building, with sweeping views of the city skyline, the Firth of Forth AND the Kingdom of Fife. With four private balconies, a designer kitchen, and in-room smart tablets to control lighting and entertainment, it offers a luxurious, high-tech haven for your most memorable moments.
Visit righproperties.com
Where to Dine | Micro-Wedding Feasts Worth Remembering
As the saying goes, guests may forget the vows, but they’ll remember the food. One of the best parts of planning a micro-wedding is the flexibility it brings, especially when it comes to dining. With fewer people to cater for, you’re free to opt for a more intimate, elevated experience. And in Edinburgh, you're spoilt for choice.
Hawksmoor, Edinburgh
If your dream wedding dinner is more romantic-dinner-party than formal banquet, Hawksmoor delivers in every way. Located in the heart of New Town, this acclaimed steak and seafood restaurant is far more than a traditional chophouse, it’s a masterclass in thoughtful hospitality and culinary craftsmanship. With an ethos centred around local, seasonal produce, the menu showcases everything from sustainably sourced seafood and grass-fed British beef to heirloom vegetables and exceptional British cheeses. The bone-marrow served with onions and sourdough is simply a must-try.
The ambience is dark and moody in all the right ways, think wood panelling, rich tones, and a distinctly Scottish sense of grandeur that makes the entire experience feel both intimate and timeless. For private celebrations, Hawksmoor offers two stunning private dining rooms accommodating between 13 and 46 guests making it perfect for hosting your nearest and dearest in a space that feels as special as the occasion itself. (And a personal tip: don’t miss the Guinness or their expertly crafted cocktails, both are truly memorable.)
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Edinburgh
For a celebration steeped in character (and a good measure of cask-strength charm), The Scotch Malt Whisky Society on Queen Street offers an unforgettable setting for a micro-wedding dinner. Housed in a stunning 300 year old renovated Georgian townhouse, this world-renowned members’ club is the ultimate spot for whisky lovers, boasting exclusive access to rare single cask, single malt whiskies sourced from over 170 distilleries worldwide. Founded in Edinburgh in 1983, the Society doesn’t just offer exceptional drams, it also delivers warm hospitality and refined Scottish fare. From intimate dinners in The Library Room (seating 8) to larger celebrations on the top floor (hosting up to 35 guests), the venue combines private club elegance with a relaxed, celebratory spirit. It’s the kind of place where your guests will toast your love with something genuinely one-of-a-kind, and likely tell stories about it for years to come.
Where to Tie the Knot | Fairytale Venues with a side of WOW
In a city that serves romance and mystique on every corner, Edinburgh has no shortage of incredible locations for couples to tie the knot in style. From Edinburgh Castle, that's right you can actually marry your spouse in a castle, to Prestonfield House, Edinburgh has no shortage of spaces to make your special day that touch more ‘magical’.
As the term micro-wedding suggests, with smaller guest lists couples are actually able to utilise spaces regularly unavailable to traditional wedding ceremonies. St. Margaret’s Chapel for instance at Edinburgh Castle, built by David the First in 1130 once solely reserved for royal weddings is available to couples with less than 20 guests. As Edinburgh's oldest surviving building, you could quite literally declare your love for the ages in a space that has stood the test of time. A note to the wise; most venues in Edinburgh are willing to marry you and your beloved 365 days a year, but some like the aforementioned Edinburgh Castle do have blackout dates (Edinburgh castle is unavailable from the 1st of June until the 30th of September) to accommodate the influx of tourists during the summer months.
The Fine Print and Some Tips for Aussie Couples Planning a Scottish Micro-Wedding
The summer months do tend to be busy with tourists with some venues carrying blackout dates (see above) so best times to attend are March-May. The weather will sit around 20-25 degrees with showers in mornings/evenings but clearer skies during the day.
Legal ceremonies are allowed almost anywhere in Scotland. Parks, bridges and public spaces are all on the list of places you can wed. There might be some applications required but the Scots just love love.
If your intended spouse seems uncomfortable with the term ‘micro’ for subtly obvious reasons, we recommend rephrasing it to them as a “VIP-only, no-stress, maximum-romance celebration of love" wedding.
To re-emphasise, a micro wedding is not small, it’s intimate. Smaller weddings, whilst being friendlier on the pursestrings allow couples to focus on what really matters. Them. Edinburgh, as a city that feels like a romance novel brought to life, celebrates this ethos. Because sometimes, all it takes is you, your person, a few castles and a city that has come quite truthfully, out of a story book.
Story by Mathew Iozzi | Hero Photo Adam Wilson