Two Americans have made Scottish history as the country’s first same-sex Jewish wedding couple.

Jennifer Andreacchi and Han Smith married in a ceremony in the Lower College Hall of St Andrews University conducted by Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Mark Solomon.

The couple are both in their mid-20s and originally from New Jersey. They met at university in the States seven years ago but fell in love with Scotland after spending a semester at St Andrews, returning for postgraduate programmes at St Andrews and Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle was the backdrop for their marriage proposal last year.

“Marrying Jen was always going to be one of the most magical days of my life,” Smith told the JC. “The significance of the day for other queer Jews made it feel that much more beautiful. I hope we see more events like this in the coming years.”

Andreacchi added: “This day is something we looked forward to for a long time. A wedding was an important day in any circumstances. But the fact that it was also a history-making event in Scotland makes it all the more special for us.”

Smith has a Jewish parent. Andreacchi has Jewish ancestry going back to a grandparent.

However, as neither had Jewish religious upbringings, they went through a formal conversion process with Rabbi Solomon as their sponsor.

They are members of Edinburgh Liberal congregation Sukkat Shalom. “Such a welcoming Jewish community that has supported and celebrated us,” Andreacchi said. “And being married by Rabbi Mark just felt all the more meaningful.”