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At Wildling Weddings, we love nothing more than a fabulous castle wedding, and although we’ve photographed innumerable Scottish chateaus, the award-winning Duns Castle is a special kind of magic.
Located in the mystical Scottish Borders, there is something otherworldly about tying the knot in this area of the country, so for those planning a Duns Castle Wedding, feel free to sneak an idea or two from Kalyn and Matthew’s beautiful day.
Where is Duns Castle?
Duns Castle is located in Dun, Berwickshire, which is in the Scottish Borders region of the country, making it super accessible for couples travelling from anywhere in the UK.
Like so many areas in Scotland, the Scottish Borders are full of stunning rural scenery and Gaelic history – and it is also home to one of the most romantic places that couples flock to every year!
Duns Castle Address
Pop the following into your Sat-Nav to avoid getting lost!
Duns Castle
Duns
Berwickshire
TD11 3NW
Scotland
How to Get to Duns Castle From Edinburgh
In order to get to Duns from Edinburgh in a timely manner, we recommend driving. You can get there via public transport (train or bus), but you’re looking at several hours of travelling. By car, you’ll be there in under an hour.
So, let’s cut to the chase and get to the good stuff. Whether you favour the stunning manicured grounds or the interior of the castle for your special day, here’s everything you need to know.
Ceremony
Scottish weather is nothing if not unpredictable, so those who don’t enjoy the occasional drizzle or a gust of northern wind may wish to opt for an indoor ceremony.
A popular ceremony suite inside Duns Castle is the deliciously gothic Drawing Room, which boasts some seriously romantic views of Duns Lake. This room provides an altar table and enough seating for a medium-sized wedding.
Those looking for something more intimate can indulge in either the 14th-century dining room, AKA, the Great Hall (don’t be misled by the name – this venue is specifically for smaller ceremonies).
If you want to go all-out with over 100 guests, you are best suited for an outdoor ceremony. There are plenty of gorgeous spots to hold your wedding including by the lake or under a marquee on the expansive lawn.
Unfortunately, a religious ceremony isn’t an option at Duns, but there are a handful of churches nearby, allowing you to say your vows and then head back to the castle for the celebration.
Reception/Dinner
This medieval castle has plenty of room in its gothic Dining Hall for a lavish post-ceremony supper and celebration. This impressive part of the venue features 10-ft thick window recesses that overlook the picture-perfect lawns.
The venue can provide on-brand candelabras that suit the gothic mood, and for a truly Scottish feel, a piper can be arranged for the dinnertime celebrations.
Couples have the option of using the in-house caterers or hiring an external company to whip up a delicious spread.
Oh, and there’s even an on-site butler at your beck and call!
Photo by Wildling Weddings at Duns Castle.
Bar & Dancefloor
The castle is fully licensed, so the drams of whisky can be poured and the fizz corks can be popped well into the night!
Downstairs from the Dining Hall is the Servants’ Hall, which is where you and your guests can strut your funky stuff! With plenty of room for a band, DJ, or ceilidh, a good time will be had by all.
Capacity
Different areas of the venue cater to different-sized celebrations, but here are the numbers:
- The Drawing Room – Aisle seating for up to 60 guests
- The Dining Room – Seating for up to 40 guests
- The Great Hall – Seating for up to 40 guests
- Open-Air – Outdoor capacity for up to 500 guests
- Overnight Accommodation – Suites for the happy couple & up to 23 guests (in the castle) and 7 on-site cottages for up to 33 guests.
Cost
Information for the varying cost/package options can be found here. Couples will be expected to pay a 50% deposit upon booking the venue.
Accommodation
Those wanting every aspect of their wedding – including some shut-eye – under one roof will be delighted to know that Duns Castle offers some excellent accommodation options.
The castle has stunning period suites for yourselves and up to 23 guests, with many of the rooms featuring four-poster beds; each one bursting with character and historical beauty.
As well as this, there are 7 quaint self-catering cottages on the castle grounds, which can accommodate a total of 33 guests, and are particularly ideal for families, couples, and larger groups.
Booking
You can find out more information or book Duns Castle here.
Scottish Borders
Why not make a vacation out of your wedding week and enjoy some of the incredible scenery of the Scottish Borders?
Some things to do in this neck of the woods include:
- Visit the Abbotsford home of Sir Walter Scott
- Tour Jedburgh Abbey, Dryburgh Abbey, and/or Melrose Abbey
- Spend an afternoon at Dawyck Botanic Garden
- Stop by Traquair House in Innerleithen
- Buff up on your royal knowledge at the Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre Museum
- Take in the sights of Jedburgh Castle, Jail, and Museum
- Make some fluffy friends at Beirhope Alpaca Farm
- Become a history buff at the Great Tapestry of Scotland
- Do some wildlife spotting at Glentress Forest
- Sample a dram of Scotch whisky at the Borders Distillery
- Enjoy a round of golf at Peebles Golf Course
Photo by Wildling Weddings at Duns Castle.
Castle Wedding in Scotland
Duns Castle is a popular wedding venue and like most popular wedding venues, it can get snapped up pretty fast.
If Duns Castle isn’t available for the day you plan on tying the knot, despair not! There are plenty of other incredible castles in the Scottish Borders to house your big day, including:
Thirlestane Castle
Arguably the most famous chateau in this area of Scotland is Thirlestane Castle in Lauder – and it is just a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh.
This stunning 16th-century palace is as luxurious as it is enormous, and naturally, with this much space, there are plenty of romantic areas to host your ceremony and ample accommodation for you and your guests to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep – and wake up feeling like sheer royalty!
Unlike many Scottish castles, you get exclusive use of the entire palace – including the pristine gardens and grounds. As for capacity, options are for as little as 2 guests to as many as 1000 – so whatever sized wedding or elopement you desire, Thirlestane will accommodate you.
Wedderburn Castle
Featuring 4 elegant reception rooms, a spacious ballroom, ample outdoor space, and a handful of rustic barns, Wedderburn Castle in Duns is ideal for couples who have their hearts set on the Duns area.
The fabulous ballroom can hold up to 80 people, but for those with a bigger guest list, the barns will facilitate up to 150 guests. The castle also offers a panel of caterers to ensure the food side of your day is mouthwateringly delightful.
Borthwick Castle
The formidable Borthwick Castle towers over the rural landscape of Gorebridge and has a fantasy novel/fairytale feel to it.
This magical chateau is steeped in both history and mystery in abundance and offers everything you could ever need for a romantic wedding, including rural surroundings, cosy bed chambers, luxurious reception rooms, and so much more.
Branxholme Castle
Nestled into the quiet Hawick scenery, Branxholme Castle unites the perfect wedding combo of rustic charm and classic elegance.
Also, unlike many of Scotland’s large castles, Branxholme specialises in smaller-scale weddings for headcounts of no more than 38 – and coupled with an elopement package – can make for the ideal venue for intimate ceremonies.
Auchen Castle
Tucked nicely away into the magical Moffat Hills, Auchen Castle is quintessential Scottish Borders peacefulness (and is half an hour away from the famous Gretna Green), while being conveniently close to cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Newcastle.
The castle is in the heart of ‘Robert Burns country’, making it a cultural, historical gem, and the venue itself is opulent and grand and is known for its award-winning gins and whiskies.
It also features 34 acres of Italianate grounds for those looking for a spectacular open-air castle wedding.
Duns Castle Photography
As you can see, the lovely Kalyn and Matthew experienced a seriously magical Duns Castle wedding, which I had the privilege of documenting.
Photo by Wildling Weddings at Duns Castle.
Duns Castle Wedding FAQs
The current owner of the Duns Castle Estate is Alexander Hay of the Hay family. Alexander is the descendent of the first Earl of Tweeddale, who owned the property back in the 1700s, before passing it to his son, William, as a gift. William is the ancestor of Alexander, so the castle has stayed within the family for several centuries.
The current residents of the castle are Alick and Aline Hay, who live in private quarters of the property, while the rest of the castle is open for the public to visit.
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