I proposed to my girlfriend in the same Edinburgh spot where my grandparents got married 66 years ago
An Edinburgh man is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his grandparents after proposing to his girlfriend at the very same spot they wed more than 60 years ago.
Ben Brown’s grandparents Annette and Paul Kavanagh were married at the Lady Glenorchy Church, now the Glasshouse Hotel, in Edinburgh’s Calton Square 66 years ago.
And after proposing to his girlfriend of six years, Georgie Newton, at the same place, Ben is hoping that they too can look forward to a long and happy marriage.
“I knew I wanted to propose but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. It was my mum who told me about my grandparents and I just thought that would be really nice to do it in the same place,” said Ben.
Ben and Georgie, both 26, booked to stay a night at the hotel on December 20, after arranging to join friends for a night out in the city centre. But little did Georgie know that Ben had a much bigger celebration in mind.
“I basically went and scoped the hotel out beforehand because I didn’t really know what it was I wanted to do,” said Ben, who works in the building industry.
“To get to our room, we had to walk through the rooftop area at the hotel which looks out to Calton Hill so I knew that would be the perfect place to do it. The rooftop bit was closed at the time so it was quiet and there weren’t a lot of people around which made it even better.”
It was at that exact spot a short time later, as the couple headed out for a night on the town, that Ben got down on one knee and asked Georgie to marry him.
“We were both crying so much. I’m terrible with tears so I started crying straight away and then she started crying,” said Ben. “It was an instant yes. I was so ecstatic, it’s definitely the best moment of my life.”
The couple went to The Newsroom in Leith Street for drinks before enjoying a celebratory dinner at Tattu in West Register Street.
The following morning saw them make the all important visit to Ben’s grandparents to share their incredible news.
“They were so happy for us and I think it was really special that it had happened where they got married,” said Ben.
Georgie added: “We’ve been visiting family and telling everyone over the last few days and everyone is well chuffed and over the moon for us. It’s a really exciting time.”
Ben and Georgie, who met while out at a nightclub in Dunfermline, are now looking forward to an extra special Christmas - their first as an engaged couple - before they begin wedding planning in the New Year.
Georgie said: “I’ve always had a section on my notes app where I write down ideas and things for my wedding and now I can put them to good use.”
She added: “It’s just been a surreal few days because I wasn’t really expecting it. But now it’s happening - I get to marry my best friend.”