Nestled within the serene countryside just outside Edinburgh, Dalhousie Castle is a magnificent setting for a wedding celebration. Rising from private parkland beside the River Esk, our 13th-century fortress is steeped in centuries of Scottish history. From winding spiral staircases to elegant four poster beds, every space tells a story. We invite you to experience a true piece of Scottish heritage: where history, luxury and modern comfort come together like never before. Let our timeless surroundings set the stage for unforgettable memories.
While the castle is rich in history, its interiors are defined by luxury and thoughtful modern design. The castle is home to 35 beautifully refurbished bedrooms, including elegant suites and romantic four-poster rooms. Each room has been carefully updated with luxurious amenities, while all retain original castle features that pay homage to its storied past. Unwind and prepare for the big day in comfort, dine in style at our award-winning dungeon restaurant or get lost in our historic grounds - all while enjoying a warm and attentive Scottish welcome.
Our wedding packages have been carefully designed to showcase the finest experiences Dalhousie Castle has to offer. Organised by guest size, they combine our most sought-after spaces, dining and services into a seamless experience. Each package offers you the freedom to personalise your day while enjoying the very best of the castle. From intimate celebrations to larger occasions, every element reflects our commitment to quality, elegance and service. Explore your options and design your perfect castle wedding
We are very fortunate at Dalhousie Castle as our grounds lend themselves to creating a spectacular backdrop and the castle itself is so awesome and atmospheric, with its rich history extending seven centuries or so. Befitting a castle – we have our own Falconry, where Guests can get up close to the most amazing birds of prey and get a ‘hands on’ experience with them. It’s even an option to have Scout the Barn Owl flying in to deliver their rings in the chapel.
We have organised Mini Highland Games with Tossing the Caber and Bagpipe playing, to the Castle being taken over for a Harry Potter themed Wedding, which of course was magical - that was possibly one of my favourites, though it's hard to choose one!
Trust us and enjoy the process of planning your special day. We are here to take the stress away so you can enjoy the whole experience, as well as the wedding day itself.
And remember to take in every moment of your day, it goes past so quickly.
There have been ‘Surprise Singers’ who look like regular waiting staff, serving canapés and drinks, then halfway through the Wedding Breakfast burst into song, that is wonderful to witness.
Recently a Bride surprised her Guests and Groom with a 16 strong Pipe Band marching up the drive at dusk to the front of the Castle, finishing the night off with Fireworks. Dalhousie was certainly the right setting for that spectacular procession!
Luxurious, atmospheric, historic, welcoming, flexible.
On the bridge over the South River Esk is an extremely popular spot, although I have seen some fantastic Braveheart-themed photos with groomsmen running through the castle estate in their kilts! Very entertaining!
That's not for us to divulge I'm afraid!
This is a hard one to pick! Chef does an amazing goats cheese croquette. Very moreish.
It's got to be the Haggis Clapshot for me, served with crusty bread.
Dalhousie Castle is a 13th century castle - Scotland's oldest inhabited castle - so we are fortunate to have many truly unique features. The atmospheric Dungeon Restaurant is particularly special, after all it's not every day that you get to dine surrounded by suits of armour deep within the castle vaults. Then there's the option to have your weddings rings delivered by one of the castle's owls, or to be welcomed to the castle by a skirl of bagpipes. There are lots of little extra details we can suggest to make your wedding day stand out.
Our relationships with our couples. All couples are different, so we are flexible to suit their individual needs. At Dalhousie we work as a team in the Wedding Department, with each of us knowing about all our weddings and will have personally met with every bride and groom. We feel that this gives our couples peace of mind, so that whenever they contact us or visit, there is someone there 7 days a week who can answer their questions. We always strive to build a good relationship with our couples, and hope that couples feel relaxed in talking with us, so know their wedding is in good hands. However, if they want to speak to us every day, that’s ok too. Their wedding day is one of the biggest days of their life and they want it to be perfect, so do we.