Lockdown wedding: Cool couple tie knot in the Edinburgh rain with ice cream cones

An Edinburgh couple who had to put off their dream wedding twice due to the pandemic has spoken of their joy after tying the knot – in the rain with ice cream cones.

Melting hearts: Kevin and Kelly Edie tie the knot in Princes St Gardens. Picture: Iris Art Photography

Kelly and Kevin Edie were broken-hearted that they couldn’t have their dream wedding with their families by their side on the big day.

But after a small, wet ceremony on Saturday in Princes St Gardens, the pair said they couldn’t be happier to finally wed.

After Kevin proposed in June 2019 they had originally planned to get married in June last year but ended up doing a livestream mock ceremony on Facebook.

Kevin and Kelly Edie. Picture: Iris Art Photography

The couple, who met a few years ago through their amateur dramatics hobby, were determined to make it official despite “frustrating” restrictions on numbers of guests attending ceremonies.

After postponing twice due to Covid-19 restrictions, the pair weren’t going to let a rainy February day put them off.

Mrs Edie, 24, said they were over the moon when they were granted permission for the ceremony at short notice.

“We wanted to get married on the 6 June because this was my great grandparents anniversary. And it marked the date my parents first met. But with the pandemic, we had to put it off. Then in October when things relaxed again we set a new date for this month and found a new venue. Then that shut down and we went into lockdown again. We were losing hope when our celebrant suggested the Gardens and we thought it would be so lovely to get married outside. It’s a beautiful, romantic spot. We were so happy when we got the permission back from the council especially at short notice. We had applied just three weeks before Saturday’s date.”

Hearts melting: Mr and Mrs Edie after they tied the knot. Picture: Iris Art Photography

“It wasn’t the big wedding we had planned. But my mum got to come to the ceremony as Kevin’s best friend couldn’t make it. She was so happy to be there. I’m the youngest of three, with two older brothers.

I’m just so happy to finally marry this man! And I’ll never forget after it my Dad asking me did I want an ice cream cone. Why not, I just went for it!”

Couples who have plans to get married in the next few months have been left in the dark, after Nicola Sturgeon warned that a return to normality for the wedding industry looks unlikely in the foreseeable future.

Under current rules only five are allowed at a ceremony in total, meaning only two guests in addition to the couple and celebrant. But Mr and Mrs Edie hope to be able to throw a big party in a year and make it a chance to renew their vows.

Mr Edie, 40, said: "We’ve both got big families so it was heart-breaking and frustrating most could only be there on zoom. My Dad is one of 11. We understand the need for limits just now and really hope to be able to renew our vows in a year and throw a big party then.

"The ceremony was short but sweet. We said our own vows and a Burns poem. I’ll always remember looking over into Kelly’s eyes and seeing a tear drip down her cheek. We didn’t care about the weather, it is just amazing to finally be husband and wife.”

- This article was originally published online without full credit given to Iris Art Photography for the supplied images. The credit was added on February 26, 2021. The Edinburgh Evening News apologises for this error.

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