Saturday 4th July was a lovely one to be out at work — The Harbour Chapel in Dunbar, a venue that’s less than 30 minutes from home and one of my favourite kinds of booking: small, personal, and genuinely local. This 1764 former chapel, restored right down to its stained-glass windows, is a beautiful and unusual space for a wedding, and the team there are every bit as good as their reputation suggests.
I was booked by Suzie and Cameron for their wedding DJ, and it was a brilliant, relaxed day from start to finish.
A Short Wait, and Straight Into It
As is often the way, I had a short wait for the wedding breakfast to end before I could get set up ready for the evening. Nothing unusual there — it’s part and parcel of the job, and I always build the flexibility in.
The First Dance — Lifehouse’s “You and Me”
Suzie and Cameron chose You and Me by Lifehouse for their first dance. It starts slowly and gently, then builds into a lovely bouncy little track that the whole room enjoyed watching. A great choice, and one I don’t get asked for nearly often enough.
A Bar Room Apart, and a Seafront Evening
One quirk of The Harbour Chapel that’s worth knowing about: the bar sits in a separate room, a fair distance from the main party space. With the decent weather on the day, a good number of guests were happy to drift outside for a bit of fresh seafront air between drinks — Dunbar’s harbour setting makes that an easy sell on a warm evening.
None of that stopped the party getting properly started, though — the dancefloor was busy for most of the night.
A South African Contingent — and the Scots Joined Right In
Cameron is originally from South Africa, so there was a good number of guests over from there, and a few tunes played especially for them during the evening. The Scots in the room, being the party animals they are, weren’t going to be left out and joined in enthusiastically throughout — exactly the kind of mixed, warm crowd that makes for a great night.
Wrapped Up by Midnight — and a Proper Local Bed Time
Everything was wrapped up by midnight and I was home by 1:30am. I really like local weddings for exactly this reason — a decent bed time makes all the difference. I woke up fully rested on the Sunday after a busy week, ready to catch up on admin. It’s honestly what I live for.
Congratulations to Suzie and Cameron — a brilliant, relaxed wedding, and The Harbour Chapel is a genuinely special local venue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cover weddings at The Harbour Chapel Dunbar?
Yes — I’ve worked at The Harbour Chapel and know the venue well, including how the separate bar room and main space work together across the evening.
Is The Harbour Chapel a good venue for a smaller, personal wedding?
Absolutely — it’s one of the best examples of that kind of venue I work at. Small, intimate, beautifully restored, and the staff are excellent. It suits couples who want something personal rather than a big hotel function suite.
What if guests want to go outside during the evening?
It happens naturally at a seafront venue like this, especially in good weather. I keep the atmosphere going for whoever’s on the floor and I’m always ready to build the energy back up as people drift back in.
Do you cover local East Lothian weddings?
Yes, and I particularly enjoy them. The Harbour Chapel is less than 30 minutes from my base, which makes for a straightforward day and — just as importantly — a reasonable bed time afterwards.
How do I book a wedding DJ for my wedding?
The best starting point is to get in touch via the contact page with your date and venue. I’d recommend reaching out as early as possible to check availability.
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