Describe the best wedding that happened at your venue?
It's so hard to choose, but during COVID we had the honour of hosting a wedding for a doctor for the NHS. We had been working with the couple for well over a year, through postponements and Zoom calls on the brink of tears. Though the day arrived and they could only invite their two witnesses, we had the absolute pleasure of sitting in on the ceremony to livestream it to their guests and it was one of the most emotional weddings we've had at the building.
All of our COVID weddings were particularly special because they were so intimate, and due to livestreaming we were more involved in the ceremonies than ever before. As difficult a time as it was, they aren't weddings we'll forget easily.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Make the planning process fun, prioritise what you want to do and don't get bogged down by tradition! Don't book yourself in to create 70 DIY favours and invitations if you hate crafting, and don't stress about a first dance or cake cutting if it's not for you. Try to keep optimistic and plan for things that will make you happy. Once you realise that there's no 'one way' to have a wedding, it makes everything so much easier!
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
One of our recent brides was an illustrator, and she created a beautiful print of her and her partner with their cat against the skyline of Edinburgh - and hung it above the door to the reception!
Describe your venue in 5 adjectives.
Atmospheric, quirky, historic, intimate, unforgettable!
Where’s the best photo spot at your venue?
Definitely our romantic external staircase - it's the showstopper as you come off the Royal Mile!
Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at your venue?
Not at one of our weddings, but Riddle's Court has seen its share of famous faces over the years - from King James IV and the Duchess of Buccleuch to Maggie Smith, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.
What’s your favourite canapé?
The mini potato scones with chive cream cheese and sun-dried tomato from our onsite caterers is a winner - though we've seen so many delicious canapes over the years, it's impossible to choose.
What’s your favourite midnight treat?
Any kind of ice-cream - but impartial to mint choc-chip!
What is your venue's most unique feature?
This is a difficult question as there are so many unique features from throughout history at Riddle's Court. There is a spectacular painted ceiling that was commissioned in the 1890s that ties together the history of the building, the city, and the University of Edinburgh. In our onsite apartment, there are painted beams from a royal banquet held there in the 16th century - and not to mention our destination loo and great glass lift that you can only truly appreciate in-person!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is the charity who restored and who manages Riddle's Court - their mission is to restore at-risk buildings throughout Scotland for the benefit of the community and so they're sustainable and suitable for contemporary use. This means that all the profits from our weddings and venue hire go back into the charity - so a wedding with us is an investment into Scottish heritage. It doesn't get much better than that!