Dalhousie Castle wedding venue is one of the oldest and most historic wedding venues in Midlothian. Located near the village of Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH19 3JB, Dalhousie Castle is a 13th-century fortress which can boast the title of ‘Scotland’s oldest inhabited castle’.
Dalhousie Castle is only 8 miles from the city of Edinburgh, yet feels a million miles away due to its wooded parkland setting on the banks of the River Esk.
Dalhousie Castle wedding venue was once the seat of the Earls of Dalhousie, the chieftains of Clan Ramsay.
I’ve photographed and filmed more weddings at Dalhousie Castle than any other wedding venue outside of Edinburgh and I love that every wedding always feels unique.
There are many rooms available for use during your wedding at Dalhousie Castle, with the bonus of various rooms and suites for you and your guests to retire to during your stay.
The Chapel at Dalhousie Castle is a beautiful space for your wedding ceremony. Available for religious, civil and Humanist wedding ceremonies, this is where the most important part of your day will take place.
Did you know that Dalhousie has a falconry? A highlight of many wedding ceremonies is having your wedding rings delivered by a bird of prey. Your wedding rings are placed in a small bag hooked onto the bird’s claws. The Groom or Best Man usually has the role of wearing a gauntlet and the bird flies across the room, over the heads of your family and guests, and delivers the rings on cue. Quite a thrill to watch, and I’ve mastered the art of capturing a photo of the bird in flight!
There are French doors which open directly from The Chapel onto the patio, where you can enjoy a celebratory glass of champagne with your guests. If the weather is favourable, the patio is my favourite place for shooting the family and friend ‘formal photos’.
The grounds at Dalhousie are beautiful, in fact, some of the best available, for newly-wed photos. Lots of space, greenery, a magnificent arched bridge and easy access to a field which, during the warmer months and especially harvest time, offers a beautiful backdrop for some exquisite newly-wed photography.
Inclement weather means indoors for your wedding reception and photos. Dalhousie Castle has a brilliant selection of rooms and places for you to relax, have fun and shoot a few pictures.
When you enter Dalhousie Castle, the first thing you see is the mural staircase and landing, my favourite location for newly-wed interior photos. Featuring a grand throne, mural, historical and hunting artefacts, it’s a great spot for newly-wed photos.
The Sir Alexander Room is where most of the evening celebrations take place. With beautiful views over the estate, Sir Alexander Room has a dance floor for you to party the night away.
The Dalwolsey Suite is like a comfortable living room, ideally suited to an intimate dinner or drinks reception. The Dalwolsey Suite has comfortable seating around a fireplace – the perfect room for a wee dram!
The Ramsay Suite is the largest function suite at Dalhousie Castle. Featuring vaulted arch windows, beautiful chandeliers, antique fireplaces and castle Thrones, it’s an excellent room for your wedding meal. While there, see if you can spot the secret staircase leading down to the dungeon!
The Dungeon Gateside at Dalhousie is the perfect space for an intimate wedding dinner. Surely a castle isn’t complete if it doesn’t have a dungeon? With suits of armour and historical weapons adorning the walls, it’s hard not to feel the sense of history enveloping you in the dungeon! It’s also a great spot for a few photos of the newly-weds!
The Library is the perfect place for relaxing. Order a drink from the bar, sit back on the comfortable seating and relax in front of the large open fire.
Your Dalhousie Castle wedding is guaranteed to be memorable and unique!
Dalhousie Castle Wedding Photos
A few photos from my favourite Dalhousie Castle weddings. Click on the names to view.
