Where in Scotland to have a small destination wedding or elopement

The possibilities are really endless - depending on the vibe you are after and how many guests you might want anything from an iconic landmark in the capital Edinburgh (if you like, Harry Potter land), to a rugged Scottish castle or grand country home, or a more quirky venue (or even getting married outside as Scottish law is unusual in allowing this), to getting into the Highlands and Islands and maybe hiring a house or cottage (or again, castle - Scotland has no shortage of castles).

We’ve put in a mix of some of the more smaller intimate venues, as well as a few grand venues that still cater for smaller wedding parties (perhaps even as small as two, ie. an elopement). Probably most of the large hotels would also cater for a small wedding, but the ones we’ve picked out here are ones that we’ve seen being effectively used for more intimate weddings. We’ve included links to some of our weddings, portrait shoots and films in those locations, so you can see how the venues look in practise. The list is very far from comprehensive but it’s a pretty good starting point.

We’ve assumed you’re planning a relatively intimate destination wedding of, say 2 to 20 guests, but if you have many guests coming over and/or want a grand setting you might like to look also at some of the beautiful grand country houses that we’ve left out from this list on the basis of size (Hopetoun House, Gosford House, Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute etc.) and venues that are amazing and we really love but we see them as more likely for larger weddings (the grand interior of the Signet Library, the Royal College of Physicians, Principal Hotel etc.)

Covering below: 

1. Castles & Grand Country Houses

2. The Great Scottish Landscape - small hotels/houses and open air weddings

3. The Quirky

4. Larger Stylish City Hotels

Castles & Grand Country Houses

If you think of Scotland the chances are you may be thinking of history and castles set in spectacular landscape. Needless to say, there are castles all over Scotland, and quite a few of them are geared up for weddings. 

Most of the castles below (with the odd exception, such as Dalhousie) aren’t run as hotels and it’s assumed you’ll be hiring the whole castle for a day or two or more for you and your family. If you’re on more of a budget or just want a less castle-y setting, then you might want to scroll straight down to the next section

It can sometimes be possible to use some castles just as the background for a photoshoot, and in that case there are plenty of other castles that you might look at - it might be worth browsing the National Trust for Scotland website for starters.

Most grand homes and castles of this type tend to be located in the areas where the grandest families mostly hung out, or which had the most border conflicts, that is, more in the central belt and south Borders area, or the North East, while castles in the slightly harder to access (but wildly beautiful) North West Highlands tend to be of the more rugged keep-out-marauders - or ruined (failed-to-keep-out-marauders) - variety.

near Edinburgh

Winton Castle is one of our favourites - it has original Jacobean detailing in the interiors and an amazing collection of works of art on the walls, you’re surrounded by Van Dykes and Canalettos and Durer’s not to mention a collection of family portraits that have been passed down over the centuries. And the gardens are so lovely - with terraces leading down to a small lake. The place has the homely feel of an ancestral family home, which is what it is, and the team who run it couldn’t be more helpful. They can also organise lots of outdoor activities, like clay pigeon shooting and highland games.

A similar distance from Edinburgh (actually slightly closer) but in the other direction is another of our favourites, Dundas Castle. With a grand facade, and set in a gently rolling landscape (don’t miss their collection of llamas in the field opposite). Ceremonies are often held in the medieval keep tower, at the top of which there are fantastic views out over the Firth of Forth with its iconic bridges. The proximity to Edinburgh airport is really handy too, but watch out if you want to use a drone - you’ll need permission in advance from Air Traffic Control at the airport (and be a qualified drone pilot). Again, there are plenty of outdoor activities possible, with squash and tennis courts, a snooker room, a golf course adjacent etc.

Another elegant period country mansion in East Lothian not so far from Winton is Archerfield House, second home of the Duke of Hamilton. It’s just next to some of Scotland’s finest golf courses, and close to the coast. The house itself has elegant eighteenth century interiors with especially lovely rooms upstairs on the first floor. Lots of nice architectural details and paintings, pretty gardens, and the possibility of using rocks on the coast for pictures.

Also close to Edinburgh is Dalhousie Castle, which has the flexibility of allowing you to rent rooms there without renting the whole castle, as it is in effect run as a hotel and a spa. It has some beautiful landscaping around it which are great for photos, and the awesome possibility of your wedding rings being delivered by owl.

Borthwick Castle is a really medieval castle with slit windows optimised for archers and a large dent of a cannon ball in the side. As you approach it from the outside you really feel like you might be seeing what Mary Queen of Scots saw when she approached it on horseback in the 16th century - which is what she did, because she was great friends with the Earl of Borthwick. It has a medieval dining hall, and has recently been renovated inside with interesting interior details and to a five star quality. Downsides are that not much natural light penetrates those arrow slit windows, so don’t expect bright and airy pictures inside, and to get to the main rooms upstairs you need to negotiate several floors of narrow spiral staircase designed for hand-to-hand combat and not for the faint hearted. There’s no possibility of installing a lift amongst those walls designed to withstand cannonballs, so you’ll develop either thighs of steel, or a heart attack.

Carlowrie Castle is about as close to Edinburgh airport as it’s possible to get without actually being on a plane, so that is pretty convenient if guests are flying in. It has lovely gardens and a contemporary interior which bounces light around in a nice way. Proximity to the airport means use of a drone for filming is unlikely to be possible (certainly not without specific permission from Air Traffic Control and a suitable licence). 

Broxmouth Park near Dunbar is more country house than Scottish castle - it is a lovely relaxed location with nice walks in the woods, with blossoming wild garlic in the Springtime, together with a boating lake, and the gentle countryside around is lovely. Weddings are held in the marquee, and often the house is used for drinks. 

Between Edinburgh and Glasgow is the incredibly lavish palace where Mary Queen of Scots was born. Linlithgow Palace has stunning architecture and setting on a picturesque lake, and it’s readily accessible in perhaps 20 minutes or so from Edinburgh. There is only one small catch - it’s a ruin, and open to the skies. All is not lost however as they have a room with a roof where ceremonies can be held, and if it’s fine weather the ceremony can be held outside in the Great Hall. Alternatively you can have your ceremony and/or reception elsewhere (St Michael’s Church is 20 secs walk away, and around 100 yards further on are the Town Burgh Halls where you can hold civil ceremonies), and then use the Palace for a portrait shoot or open air drinks - obviously you need to arrange the latter with Historic Environment Scotland first! Unless you’re banking on an outside ceremony in the Great Hall, we’d actually suggest holding the ceremony in one of the other two places we mention as the ceremony room in the Palace has little natural light - the ceremony room is a good back up for bad weather though.

NorthEast Scotland

Drumtochty Castle is set in a pleasant glen with plenty of spots for photography. The castle itself has rooms with plenty of light (we’re always thinking of light as photographers) and a particularly nice ballroom with plenty of space for dance moves. There is a church/chapel at the bottom of the glen which is often used for ceremonies. One of our favourite Scottish film stars James McAvoy got married there too!

Dunnotar Castle is one of the classic wild Scottish fortifications perched on sea cliffs, the stuff of legends. If you would like wedding photos that looks awesomely Braveheart, then this is the place to come. We haven’t shot a wedding there (yet!) but have visited and it’s a stunning backdrop. They do also host small wedding receptions there. Access involves a lot of walking and steep steps, so it’s not a place to think of taking elderly relatives with mobility issues.

Southwest Scotland

About 40 minutes south of Glasgow is Rowallan Castle. It’s actually two castles - the one up the hill is the comfy 19th century castle built in a romantic style (complete with mini-Romeo & Juliet style balcony in the library, and the family’s former pet Highland coo hangs over the main doorway. The interiors have nice elegant large windows that let in plenty of light. And down the hill, a few minutes walk, is the original medieval castle, perfect for photo shoots especially on the outside, and recently the inside of that has been renovated too so it is possible for guests to stay there as well as at the top-of-the-hill castle.

Blairquhan Castle (the challenge is to pronounce it properly, best to ask a local, but we think it’s something like (“Blair-hoo-wan”) has lovely interiors again with nice big windows with plenty of light and a baronial hall, inside and outside are great, but we especially love the imposing setting looking out over a wide open valley (somehow, it’s more of valley than a glen). The gardens are also perfect to wander round - with a beautifully kept walled gardens amongst other attractions.

Culzean Castle is so grand that for a long time it was on the Scottish five pound note. The house itself may be more suited to big weddings (though do ask - probably no reason why a smaller wedding shouldn’t be held there too), but for a smaller wedding there is the Orangerie - which is an elegant glass pavilion, just a perfect setting for a wedding. Another plus is that Culzean’s ground are enormous and have all sorts of different possibilities - a walled garden, and the grand setting in front of the main house, as well as some awesome coastline for starters. If you would like to explore them for a portrait shoot, it might be worth leaving a decent amount of time for that.

Glenapp Castle - this is a new one for us, it looks great and we’re about to photograph there, watch this space!

Argrennan House is a lovely large country house. It has the plus of being set in rolling Dumfrieshire countryside. This is another country house with a lovely walled garden. A possible minus (though you may regard it as a plus depending on priorities) is that it is quite a long way from Glasgow or any other large city, so takes a while to access if flying in.

The Quirky

For a spot of industrial chic, it is hard to beat the National Mining Museum at Newtongrange, just outside Edinburgh. The diningroom-cum-ballroom where dinner & dancing happens is pretty smart, and outside that is a fascinating playground for guests and a simply awesome set of possibilities for your photographer.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh have two separate halls at opposite ends of the gardens that host functions. But weather permitting the real attraction is to get married amongst the sequoias and other botanical delights of the gardens. A wedding here just oozes a sense of well-being, with the sounds of rustling leaves. Perhaps add a string quartet or harpist too.

Edinburgh Zoo. Pretty much what it says on the tin. In a good way. In the middle of the zoo is a mansion house that houses the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland but also hosts weddings. The mansion house is very nice but of course the real attraction is the opportunity to wander round the zoo and get to know all the animals. Watch out for the special penguin parade happening everyday at 1 pm!

Summerhall. Well we’re biased, as we have our office studio there, but Summerhall is actually one of the most awesome quirky venues. It used to be the Royal Veterinary College (Dick Vet) before it became one of the UK’s leading art venues. This means it has all sorts of quirky and interesting spaces left over, such as a couple of dissection halls, which sounds a bit gruesome but actually are incredibly interesting spaces turned into concert and performance venues. Plus you’ll be surrounded by all sorts of art exhibitions and - it’s a key centre of gin production in Scotland (Pickerings Gin is made here), so what’s not to like?

For lovers of iconic design, House for an Art Lover in Glasgow is now almost the only remaining building designed inside and out by the creative genius of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The interiors are full of his wonderful detailing, and there are some nice gardens on the outside too.

Another option just outside Edinburgh is the Secret Herb Garden, nestled at the foot of the Pentlands just to the south of the city.

Dalduff Farm is just one hour south of Glasgow and give the opportunity for a wedding in a traditional Scottish farm with barn vibe - though like most barn venues, like Comrie Croft, or Kinkell Byre it may be ideal if you have the chance to spend some time creating and setting up your own detailing and making the venue your own.

The Great Scottish Landscape - small hotels/houses and open air weddings

The possibilities here are really endless, as Scotland allows ceremonies to be conducted pretty much anywhere, you just need to find a celebrant who covers your chosen spot. There are not only the Highlands but also the Islands - that is, the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Those are a whole world in themselves, but we’ve assumed for the present that you’re planning on a wedding on the relatively accessible mainland.

Especially in the Highlands, do a bit of research on (a) midges and (b) bad weather options. Because both of those do happen in Scotland. Many might say that the former are worse than the latter. These can really spoil an outdoor ceremony or portrait shoot, and it’s worth doing a bit of googling when they are most likely to appear in the area you’re thinking about.

The Highlands and Islands

Particularly popular areas, partly because of their spectacular landscape and relative accessibility, are Glencoe, and the Isle of Skye. On the mainland, Torridon and Applecross are particular favourites.

Glencoe has a number of great options for holding a ceremony & reception, especially Glencoe House, the Kings House Hotel (where deer often hang out) and Holly Tree Hotel.

On Skye there are popular beauty spots which are great for portrait shoots, notably the Quirang, the Cuillins, and the Fairy Pools. But honestly, you would be hard put to find any location on the West Coast of Scotland that wasn’t stunning.

Another part of Scotland that is popular is the Cairngorm National Park. Here you don’t have the sea, but as always in Scotland there is always a beautiful loch not far away. Glen Tanar is a venue that was a hunting lodge with a spectacular hall lined with antlers, and a tiny intimate chapel, surrounded by forests and a loch.

Another beautiful location, this one quite a grand hall in the Cairngorms but within easy striking distance from Aberdeen, is Mar Lodge Estate, which is run by the National Trust for Scotland.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs

A little closer to the central belt (and therefore accessible) there are lovely houses overlooking gorgeous settings in [Perthshire]. Monachyle Mhor in particular is well known by foodies for its great high end cuisine and the location is beautiful.

Not far from there also is Stucktaymore, which is more of a self-catering house, but has the most gorgeous views down Loch Tay.

Loch Lomond is close to Glasgow and has plenty of hotels on the lochside. The west of the loch is quite busy as it’s the main road North from Glasgow, it has some great options especially for larger weddings but if you’d like to get away from things a bit more with a small wedding party, we’d suggest looking at places like Ardoch House, which is higher up in the hills and has great views across the loch, or Fruin Farm among the hills to the west of the loch.

To the East of Loch Lomond are the Trossachs, which are famously beautiful, especially in the autumn when the leaves become a golden riot. Altskeith House is on the banks of Loch Ard, and has the possibility of having a ceremony with panoramic full length doors that open out to give the view down the loch but without the risk of having the ceremony interrupted by the weather.

Also on Loch Ard, Kinlochard Village Hall is at the head of the loch. Not far away on Loch Venachar, is Venachar Lochside, which as a restaurant that also caters for small weddings.

Beach weddings in East Lothian

Closer still to Edinburgh, you can also have a ceremony on a beach, or (less sandy) on a cliff overlooking a beach, and East Lothian has some of the finest beaches in the UK. Ravensheugh Lodge at Tyninghame has wonderful views down the coast, and overlooks the beach which is readily accessible. The lodge is really nothing more than a wooden hut, but can host a small ceremony with a few guests in case the weather isn’t good enough to hold the ceremony outside, and from there it is a matter of self-catering, bringing in outside caterers, or moving on for the meal.

There are several other super beaches along East Lothian too which could be used for informal ceremonies - Belhaven Beach is readily accessible from the road with a  shortish walk over a bridge, and Yellowcraigs offers a beautiful expanse of sand dunes and beach, though you have to walk a little further. so not so good for elderly guests/with mobility issues. Having Plan B for inclement weather though would be pretty important no matter how mobile you are.

With beach weddings, if you want to avoid unpleasantness and depending on what you’re planning to do there, it’s worth checking with whoever owns the adjacent land and/or if it’s a national park area (like Yellowcraigs[?] the rangers, to make sure if there are rules for holding celebrations there. Certainly, for access to the likes of Ravensheugh Lodge, you need to hire this well in advance.

The Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders south of Edinburgh offer a different kind of wild landscape than the Highlands - more gently rolling hills with sheep than mountainous crags, but no less pretty for that. Cringletie House near Peebles is a good one for a smallish wedding party, and not only has lovely views but also extensive gorgeous gardens to play with.

A little (but not much) further South, Windlestraw is also a good option. The glen that it’s set in is a broad and sweeping one, with lovely walks along the river.

Larger Stylish City Hotels

Prestonfield House Hotel is an interesting high-end boutique hotel, a 17th century house on the outskirts of Edinburgh that has a quirky redesigned interior with plenty of nooks and crannies for photo opportunities - and they handle both larger weddings and smaller more intimate ones.

Edinburgh also has the two large iconic hotels at either end of Princes Street, each one was a former railway hotel located at the end of the railway lines up from the South. The Balmoral and the Waldorf Astoria (formerly known as the Caledonian) both cater for weddings large and small - the Balmoral in particular has plenty of function rooms where ceremonies and/or receptions can be held, and there are views out over towards Edinburgh Castle. As for opportunities for photo shoots, well you’re in the centre of Edinburgh with all the opportunities that presents.

In Glasgow, One Devonshire Gardens is a good one for weddings - it’s in a Victorian part of Glasgow with classical buildings with columns, but also plenty of little lanes where you can take pictures - and there are also Glasgow Botanic Gardens nearby.

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For family and friends who can’t attend, live streaming your wedding

It’s often the case that you will have close members of your family who can’t be at the wedding. A great solution is to live stream your ceremony and/or speeches, and maybe even other parts of the wedding eg. from the reception party. Putting an iPad on a chair with terrible audio and a worse view doesn't quite cut it. It is possible to get the best of both worlds by creating a beautiful film of your wedding day, while creating a private live stream of sections of the day to folk abroad. Have a look at our sister brand’s offering from Wild Call Films for more details.

*** A note on weddings in Scotland during Covid ***

During summer 2020, like much of the rest of the world, wedding ceremonies were pretty much put on hold in Scotland. That situation is changing - it is now (early Sept 2020) possible to hold socially distanced wedding ceremonies for not more than 20 people in Scotland. This is changing all the time however (in England, for example, weddings with 30 people are allowed, and the Scottish number is expected to increase soon). You can get the latest guidance here.

For a small destination wedding, the restrictions on numbers isn’t so much of a problem - most probably have less than 20 guests anyway. Of course, you have to check that there aren’t quarantine restrictions from the country that you and your guests are travelling from and will be returning to. In Scotland, the list of quarantine countries is a little different from England, and you can find the latest list here.

A possible solution: live streaming your wedding

Just because some family and friends may be unable to travel to be there doesn't mean they can't take part!