Back at the end of last August, I had an amazing time as the wedding photographer for Ghazal and Nick. Their elegant multicultural wedding was at Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. This was an absolutely fabulous occasion as two wonderful families and cultures came together to celebrate their union!
NICK & GHAZAL’S MANSFIELD TRAQUAIR WEDDING
I love when I get the chance to shoot a wedding like this—two very different families with very different wedding traditions.
Nick is from Edinburgh and Ghazal is from Iran. When I told them about my documentary-style approach to wedding photography, they were completely on board! These two families were such a blast to capture on film. The venue, which I have worked at many times before, was nothing short of spectacular as always.
Edinburgh Sistine Chapel
Mansfiled Traquair has often been referred to as Edinburgh’s Sistine chapel and is a former Catholic Apostolic Church. The building features an outstanding mural scheme painted by Phoebe Anna Traquair between 1893 and 1901. And though the building has been renovated throughout the years, it was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson in the late 1800s.
Needless to say, the ceremony was gorgeous. Ghazal and her father appearing from behind the giant red doors at the beginning of the nave took everyone’s breath away—including Nick’s. The room was filled with so much love!
Being late in the summer, it was a bit chilly, so we didn’t spend too much time outside. As soon as I took Nick and Ghazal outside for some post-ceremony portraits, Ghazal’s veil blew right over her face! But they weren’t too concerned—there was plenty of fun and warmth taking place inside!
Blending of Traditions – Persian and Scottish
I thoroughly enjoyed the clever blending of traditions at this wedding reception. For instance, before the cake cutting, the bride and groom enjoyed the Persian wedding tradition of the Cake Knife Dance. When Nick and Ghazal were ready to cut the cake, they had to earn the knife. Family members and friends took turns dancing and taunting them until Nick handed over money for the blade.
There was also a new take on the old Scottish tradition of sharing a dram of whisky from a quaich. Ghazal and Nick gave it a Persian twist and dipped their fingers into Honey instead. In a Persian wedding, many food items are sweet to represent the sweetness of the moment. Also wishes for a sweet life for both the bride and groom.
All in all, this was an absolutely incredible wedding to be a part of. I’d like to give a quick shout out to the wedding videographer Adam Troupe for his excellent work that day.
And to Ghazal and Nick, may you’re lives be filled with as much happiness and sweetness as you can handle. Thank you so much for hiring me to photograph your beautiful Mansfield Traquair wedding. Cheers, you two!
