Edinburgh is one of the most sought-after cities to tie the knot in owing to its stylish hotspots, Georgian buildings, cobblestone streets, and a vast and impressive array of incredible wedding venues.
So much so, that you’re spoiled for choice!
There’s no shortage of luxury Edinburgh wedding venues to choose from, so to make it easier for you, we’ve dialled down our 15 favourite picks to help you find the right one.
Luxury Edinburgh Weddings Venues
One of the challenges of finding an ideal Edinburgh wedding venue is narrowing down the right one out of all the fabulous options available.
So, with this in mind, we hope these 15 choices help steer you in the right direction.
Edinburgh City Centre
Edinburgh oozes urban decadence, and some of our favourite city centre-based venues include:
The Royal College of Physicians
Okay, you’d be forgiven for reading the words ‘Royal College of Physicians’ and thinking, “whaaaaat?”.
Getting hitched inside a college may not sound very romantic or luxurious, but on the contrary, nothing could be further from the truth. And if a dark academia aesthetic is your cup of tea, you will LOVE this venue.
Featuring three rooms for you and your guests to make use of (the Cullen Suite, the New Library, and the Great Hall), this venue screams Victorian opulence, and it even features wedding packages, as well as recommended caterers, to make it an all-inclusive affair.
As for the setting itself, we can’t get enough of the old-school scholarly vibe that comes with the book-lined walls, impressive balconies, polished woodwork, and the grand hall (hello, Hogwarts?!).
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Virgin Hotels in Edinburgh gives a whole new meaning to a “hotel wedding”. Complete with a stone church that’s used for the ceremony before being flipped for dinner and dancing, a rooftop with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle, and a private bar for use – you’d hardly know you were in central Edinburgh.
Photography by Wildling Weddings
Village Hotel Club Edinburgh
Lavish hotel weddings combine glamour with the practicality of having everything and everyone under one roof, and the Village Hotel Club in Edinburgh specialises in making your day magical (as well as practical).
As well as in-house catering, the venue features day and evening packages and allows for all types of ceremonies – however big or small. And in terms of ceremonies, the Village Hotel Club is licensed to perform religious, humanist, and civil partnerships of all sizes.
Not only that, the venue hosts an array of wedding fairs throughout the year for couples to attend and check out everything that’s on offer before committing.
Waldorf Astoria - The Caledonian
As well as being one of the city’s best-loved landmarks, the Caledonian is famed for being a seriously stylish wedding venue that boasts some incredible views of the historical city (including Edinburgh Castle).
This 5-star hotel features various function rooms for couples to enjoy both the ceremony and the reception and can facilitate up to 150 guests. You get to choose from a number of stunning suites to host your special day (including the Pompadour Suite, the Versailles Suite, and the Castle Suite), and the overall glamour of the location ensures some fabulous photography opportunities.
Oh, and did we mention that the Calendonian is home to the one and only Guerlain Spa in the whole of the UK? Get ready to have the most pampered wedding ever!
How to get the BEST wedding photos – tell me where to send these tips!
Dynamic Earth
Scotland is renowned for offering wedding venues that date back as early as the 13th century, but there’s no shortage of modern options either.
Those who view contemporary chic as a must-have for their big day will love everything that’s up for grabs from Dynamic Earth, which guarantees sleek and stylish decor, coupled with its scientific personality for added quirkiness. One of the awesome suite options includes the Biosphere, which is just one of several full-licensed options within these epic glass walls.
This unique venue is located in the city’s beloved Holyrood Park and provides couples with everything they need for a fabulous wedding day, including an in-house chef, events co-ordinator, colourful lighting, a free car park, and a private terrace.
The Witchery by the Castle
The Witchery by the Castle is well-known and well-loved for its Michelin-star restaurant and incredibly lavish gothic suites, but did you know you can also tie the knot here?
If gothic opulence is right up your alley, then the Witchery is the spellbinding treat you’ve been waiting for. Boasting enchanting dining halls and large gothic windows, The Witchery guarantees star treatment – and then some. Not only is the decor simply breathtaking, but the hotel (which is right in the heart of the Royal Mile) serves award-winning food that is simply TO DIE FOR!
The hotel rooms of the Witchery are a paradigm of otherworldly romance and include a complimentary bottle of champagne and princess-worthy clawfoot bathtubs for some serious post-nuptials pampering!
The Merchant’s Hall
The Merchant’s Hall can be found on Hanover Street, which is about as central as it gets, and it prides itself in offering luxury and decadence in a relaxed atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy your special day with everything being taken care of for you by the venue’s dedicated on-hand team.
Featuring decadent art and sculptures adorned everywhere, this swanky venue is the epitome of class and ensures guests and the happy couple feel like royalty throughout the duration of their stay.
The venue can cater for up to 150 guests and comes with:
- Room set-up/clear-away.
- A concierge.
- Tables, chairs, and a bar unit.
- A PA system & microphones.
- A wooden stand for your table plan.
Signet Library
The Signet Library can be found in the heart of the city’s romantic and well-loved Old Town district and boasts timeless elegance.
Those who wish for their wedding to bubble with old-time extravagance, coupled with the convenience of being in the bustling city, will love everything the Signet Library has to offer, which includes a hands-on sister company, the Heritage Portfolio, that works with the venue and the couples to create the wedding they’ve always dreamed of.
This spacious and flexible venue features a stunning staircase that leads to the Upper Library, which is just one of the many memorable (and photogenic) elements of the building. Think fairytale grandeur and that’s the Signet Library all over!
Castle Wedding Venues
One of the biggest appeals of getting married in Scotland is undoubtedly the abundance of castles you can tie the knot in, and just some of the fabulous offerings include:
Dundas Castle
First things first: Dundas Castle is less of a castle and more of a mighty fortress. To describe it as ‘epic’ would be an understatement… it’s pretty spectacular!
Nothing comes close to fairytale magic like a castle wedding, and Dundas Castle (which is located in South Queensferry, a forty-minute drive from Edinburgh) is every bit #weddinggoals.
Serving up 5-star dining, accommodation, and of course, a spectacular castle backdrop, Dundas Castle, which dates back to the 15th century, features 17 bedrooms, a great, vaulted hall, a croquet room, a courtyard, the ‘stag chamber’, and a pavilion marquee, and serves up incredible wedding breakfasts and dinners.
The best part of Dundas Castle is, despite its size, you don’t need to have a huge guestlist to book this venue. Intimate weddings and elopements are perfectly welcome, and there are plenty of different-sized rooms to choose from to suit your ceremony size.
Oh, and the 1,500 acres of surrounding grounds are pretty spectacular too, if you fancy an al fresco wedding instead!
Carlowrie Castle
The award-winning Carlowrie Castle is teeming with serene countryside beauty and mystical fantasy-book charm… plus with the added benefit of being a mere 20-minute drive from Edinburgh.
Featuring a capacity of up to 275 for dining and 450 for the reception, you get to choose from the venue’s Orangery or the bespoke marquee to host your ceremony, all captured within the 32 acres of surrounding grounds.
The outside area of the venue can make a stunning ceremony spot, and if Scotland’s infamous unpredictable weather is a concern, heading indoors will absolutely present the wow-factor. Think marble bars and crystal chandeliers and you’re there!
The venue also offers an on-site team to ensure your magical day is perfect.
Winton Castle
This dreamy East Lothian castle, which dates back to the Scottish Renaissance era, prides itself on offering ‘intimacy on a grand scale’ and lets budding newlyweds see for themselves via the venue’s virtual tour, providing the confidence of booking the castle without having to see it in the flesh first.
International guests can breathe a sigh of relief, as Winton Castle is less than a half-hour drive from Edinburgh’s international airport, but despite being so close to the city, the castle is situated within the countryside and has a serene, peaceful feel to it, allowing guests and couples to enjoy their special day without the noise, hustle, and bustle that comes with city weddings.
It also hosts some super fun activities, such as archery, 4×4 driving, hovercraft driving, golf, and whisky, wine, and champagne tasting.
Borthwick Castle
Happy couples have been tying the knot at Borthwick Castle since 1458, so it must be doing something right!
Nestled into the Midlothian countryside, the 600-year-old Borthwick Castle is ideal for small-to-medium-sized weddings (80 guests, or less) and is brimming with romantic Mediaeval charm.
The castle’s bed chambers are saturated with storybook charm from yesteryear and can accommodate up to 28 guests. These rooms are bursting at the seams with old-fashioned Scottish comfort, as well as delicious rural surroundings for ultimate peace and tranquility.
On the day of the wedding itself, a friendly team will greet you to ensure you have everything you need (as well as a glass of champagne!).
Incredible Wedding Venues
Hopetoun House
Located in the idyllic town of South Queensferry, just north of Edinburgh, Hopetoun House is less of a house and more of a vast manor and features in-house caterers, a wedding manager, and an events director to orchestrate the perfect day for you and your spouse.
Despite being so close to the city, you’ll feel like you’re in the heart of the countryside with this peaceful manor. Not only can you tie the knot in the repurposed Adam Stables (which can house up to 200 guests), you can then dance the night away in the Adam Ballroom. Yes. It has a ballroom, which is fully licensed, just FYI.
Enjoy everything this stately home has to offer in style and comfort (and space!), but be mindful that weddings at this venue are restricted to provide you with a smooth and unhurried experience.
Those looking to spend a few nights within their wedding location can bask in the beauty of the holiday accommodation that Hopetoun offers, which includes a stunning thatched cottage.
Photography by Wildling Weddings
The Old Dr Bells Baths
If, like us, you love an unorthodox wedding venue that has its own unique charm, then the Leith-based Old Dr Bells Baths is ideal.
Featuring vaulted ceiling windows and period features from its Victorian heyday, this venue is a fully-restored former bathhouse that holds up to 120 wedding guests (150 for the evening reception) and features a fully-licensed bar and an on-site team, allowing you to enjoy your day with seamless structure.
Oozing with beautiful natural light that is amplified by the all-white interior, this central Edinburgh venue guarantees Insta-worthy aesthetics, coupled with the added Victorian quirkiness that gives the venue its incredible personality.
You can opt for either a venue package deal (for added smoothness of the wedding planning process) or you can go for their ‘dry-hire’ option (DIY).
Blackhouse Forest Estate
Fancy something more off-the-beaten-track for your big day? No problem.
This homely estate is a stylish and eco-friendly lodge that houses 5 stunning and peaceful bedrooms and is nestled comfortably into its Yarrow Valley acreage. The surrounding woodland and hills ensure peace and privacy are key and the fully-sustainable off-grid energy system ensures you have every you need – all without any expense of the environment.
As for the decor, the Blackhouse Forest Estate effortlessly blends a mix of modernity with quaint rustic charm from the days of yore. Those looking to have a smaller affair, such as a microwedding, needn’t be put off by the ‘estate’ part of the venue; the fully restored barn makes a great ceremony option for weddings featuring no more than 50 guests.
This secluded location is four miles from the main road, so guests will need to be mindful of this when travelling to the wedding.
Carberry Tower Mansion House & Estate
Featuring 40 acres of Scottish countryside beauty, this 4-star bistro and venue unites royal grandeur with traditional family home comfort.
Dating back to 1480, Carberry Tower is aesthetically delectable, spacious (plenty of room for guests to stay the night), and is well-placed among a plethora of Scottish treats, including luxury golf resorts, beautiful sandy beaches, and Foxlake Woodland Adventures (to name but a few), all of which will make it very hard to leave!
This centuries-old building encapsulates all the feels of being Lord/Lady of the Manor and even has a chapel, which features some seriously jaw-dropping floor-to-ceiling windows that guarantee incredible lighting and a photogenic backdrop for your big day.
Our favourite features? The Chapagne Terrace and Banqueting Pavilion, to name but a few….
Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
Last but not least is the Dalmahoy Hotel, which is a mere seven miles from Edinburgh. The country estate is famed for its luxury golf courses, rolling parkland, nature trails, and scenic woodland.
Boasting sweeping staircases, incredible views, private grounds, and enchanting rooms, the venue is a swoon-worthy manor house, conveniently located close to Edinburgh Airport, making it ideal for guests coming from overseas.
The Dalmahoy is perfect for weddings, owing to its on-site church and botanical gardens, as well as numerous other historical and picturesque options within this 18th century building’s walls and grounds.
Wedding size is no issue here, as the venue features multiple function suites to cater to party sizes ranging from 20 to 250.
Photography by Wildling Weddings
Luxury Edinburgh Wedding Venues: FAQs
To go all-in for a lavish Edinburgh wedding, you’re likely to be looking at a sum of around £30,000 in total, depending on the guest-size.
Bear in mind the average head cost of a guest is £40 per person, so the bigger the guestlist, the pricier the wedding.
We have included some of the most lavish wedding spots within this article, but for more inspiration, have a browse here.
Yes, you certainly can. The city’s most historical feature allows wedding venue hire for a maximum of 120 guests.
The castle features several grand function suites for couples to get hitched, as well as its very own chapel. You’re also welcome to host your reception at the castle too.
