ONE year on from the opening of the Prince Phillip building and wedding experts at Surgeons’ Hall are hailing its impact on Edinburgh’s already renowned wedding scene.
With customised and DIY weddings fast becoming the most popular option for couples tying the knot, the recent revamp has enabled the Edinburgh institution to offer the creative space and flexibility just in time to match expanding imaginations for the big day.
Surgeons’ Hall has seen a surge in the number of loved-up partners making a departure from the traditional aspects of weddings as they look to ensure they have the most memorable and unique celebration possible.
Bethany Hutchison, Wedding and Social Events Coordinator at Surgeons’ Hall, said: “It all comes down to making their big day as personal as possible.
“Choosing the right venue is only the beginning when planning your wedding and we have seen couples adding little things to the décor which turn our beautiful halls into spaces that hold real meaning to them and their relationships. Choosing a Unique Reception Venue is extremely important as the number of people who can be invited and your wedding pictures, it all depends on the venue you choose.
“Gone are the days when couples would shell out for an anonymous hotel suite, they understandably want every aspect to reflect what means most to them and their loved ones.
“Thankfully we now have real scope – with the Prince Phillip building in particular offering an ideal option complete with side rooms perfect for those modern must haves – photo booths and caricaturists.”
Cakes have been the most prominent aspect to undergo an overhaul with couples opting from small, a tower of cupcakes, to rather larger departures from the norm, with tiers of cheese providing a post-meal buffet for guests.
Macaroons have also proved popular as the majority of couples now make a departure from the three-tier traditional wedding cake.
Even wedding dresses aren’t completely safe from this new desire to be individual.
Bethany added: “With the popularity of vintage and retro couture at the moment, pure white gowns are a bit of a rarity. Off-whites and bows make an appearance at a lot of our weddings, often linking up with the broader style of the day.”
In the grand setting of Surgeons’ Hall, the nostalgia for vintage has seen a boom in rustic decorations with guests opting for hessian-backed chairs and watering cans full of flowers
This home-grown attitude extends even further, as brides and grooms are even taking on the decorations and entertainments themselves.
The explosion in the popularity of photo booths has seen a price spike that has been met with homemade booths popping up at a number of weddings at Surgeons’ Hall. Couples and their friends are putting in the leg work, drawing together photo backgrounds, props and camera equipment to ensure their wedding album is full to bursting.
Candy Buffets have also recently seen a boom with couples and their families choosing their favourite sweets to let their guests dig into.
Having recently undergone a major refurbishment, Surgeons’ Hall has broadened its capability for hosting weddings to suit a range of tastes.
This has allowed couples to choose not only what decorations will feature in their big day but also take their pick from several venues, the Playfair Hall, the Prince Philip Building, the Wolfson Hall and the King Khalid Building.
The college’s Commercial Enterprises promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the College Campus, which include the four-star, 77-bedroom hotel, Ten Hill Place. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgery.
