There are so many decisions to make when planning a wedding and one of the most important is the right venue. This is obviously easier said than done, so we’ve compiled a list of our top ten wedding venues in Edinburgh and the surrounding area to help you make the right decision for you.
Signet Library
Hidden in plain view on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, The Signet Library has two exquisite spaces for celebrations allowing the ceremony and the wedding reception to take place under one roof.
The lofty pillared elegance and long sweep of the Lower Library make it ideal for the wedding ceremony itself, while the upper library, reached by a stunning staircase, offers an dazzlingly sophisticated venue for a wedding breakfast and dancing for up to 220 guests.
Both libraries have a gallery, which is ideal for a small orchestra during the wedding breakfast and the clever use of lighting to creates a truly magical atmosphere.
Transport: the venue is in the city centre and therefore easily reached by private or public transport.
Contact Details
The Signet Library
Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH1 1RF
Telephone +44 (0)131 225 0651
Website The Signet Library
Winton Castle
Half an hour’s drive outside the city centre, Winton Castle, steeped in history, has the fairy tale elegance of a castle location while offering the warmth of a family-owned home.
Because it’s set in its own grounds Winton Castle can offer options not always available to other venues. These range from a sophisticated outdoor champagne reception to a fully catered barbeque, as well as a traditional wedding breakfast in the main house or on-site marquee.
The venue has accommodation for up to 16 guests in the castle itself. In addition, luxury self-catering can accommodate up to a further 26 guests.
Winton Castle has a motto of Intimacy on a Grand Scale and we have to say that it sets its own high standards and goes beyond them.
Transport: the venue is in the countryside and therefore private transport would be recommended.
Contact Details
Winton Castle
Pencaitland
East Lothian
EH34 5AT
Telephone + 44 (01875) 340222
Website Winton House
Gilmerton House
This secluded country house strikes a wonderful balance between traditional and modern, with exceptionally manicured gardens and an impressive façade in a tranquil setting.
The function rooms in the mansion range from the cosy and inviting drawing rooms and a rather snug library to the relaxed splendour of the dining room and the magnificent wood paneled rococo style music room.
In addition to the house itself, the beautifully tended gardens and patio areas make an ideal setting for a sunset champagne reception and offer a wonderful backdrop for bridal photographs at any time of year.
There’s a choice of ten luxurious recently modernised double bedrooms for bridal and guest accommodation.
Transport: the venue is in the countryside and therefore private transport would be recommended.
Contact Details
Gilmerton House
Athelstaneford
North Berwick
East Lothian
EH36 5LQ
Telephone + 44 (01620) 880342
Website Gilmerton House
Royal College of Physicians
Because of its central location on the city centre’s Queen Street The Royal College of Physicians is an easy venue for guests to reach, yet it remains something of a hidden gem amongst wedding venues in Edinburgh.
The majestic atmosphere of The Royal College of Physicians is set as soon as you arrive in the entrance hall, which features a highly decorative staircase leading to the Great Hall and beyond.
The handsome wood paneled New Library is the perfect setting for a stylish wedding ceremony, before moving through to the ornate Cullen Suite for an elegant wedding breakfast for up to 40 or the pillared grandeur of the stately Great Hall.
In addition to the indoor areas, a fine day gives the opportunity for fabulously romantic photographs taken in either Queens Street Gardens or the venue’s own private garden.
Transport: the venue is in the city centre and therefore easily reached by private or public transport.
Contact Details
Royal College of Physicians
9 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JQ
Telephone +44 (0131) 225 7324
Website Royal College of Physicians
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Set in 70 acres of stunning gardens in the city centre, The Royal Botanic Garden has function suites accommodating up to 250 people for a seated meal and, unique among wedding venues in Edinburgh, offers the opportunity of a ceremony under soaring Californian Redwood trees.
The Victorian Caledonian Hall, with views over the rock garden and waterfall, is an elegant setting for any part of a wedding, with a capacity of 100 for dinner or 120 for a drinks reception.
Another string to the Royal Botanic Garden’s bow is the smaller Terrace Café, which has views across the Edinburgh skyline, creating an ideal setting for a more intimate celebration. The adjoining patio area creates the perfect setting for a sophisticated soiree under the evening stars, therefore allowing guests to make the most of this stunning location.
Transport: the venue is in the city centre and therefore easily reached by private or public transport.
Contact Details
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum Place
Edinburgh
EH3 5NZ
Telephone +44 (0131) 552 1974
Website Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Dundas Castle
Dundas Castle strikes a wonderful balance between grandeur and warmth, with a cosy library and a wood paneled dining room inside the Castle itself, all surrounding by acres of lush parkland.
But the main building is not all the Castle has to offer. Having climbed the twisted stone staircase of the 600 year old keep, The Great Hall, with its vaulted ceiling and minstrel’s gallery sparkles with fairytale magic for ceremonies of up to 110 people.
While the main buildings are steeped in history, the vast permanent marquee, where up to 200 guests can be wined and dined before dancing the night away in celebration, creates a more modern twist.
Dundas Castle has seventeen bedrooms to accommodate the bridal party in the Castle itself, as well as a romantic boathouse or glamping in a canvass village.
Transport: the venue is in the countryside and therefore private transport would be recommended.
Contact Details
Dundas Castle
South Queensferry
Edinburgh
EH30 9SP
Telephone: +44 (0) 131 319 2039
Website Dundas Castle
Mansfield Traquair
Known as Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel, this former Catholic church has been restored to create an opulent wedding venue with the flexibility that easily transforms it from the traditional to the contemporary, quite literally at the flick of a switch.
The breath taking architecture of the vaulted nave is nothing short of ethereal when decorated for a wedding ceremony. Guests can also enjoy the secluded grounds, which can host a marquee for a drinks reception of up to 300 whilst the super efficient staff make full use of the state of the art lighting and audio systems as they redress the nave for even more dazzling evening celebrations.
Transport: the venue is in the city centre and therefore easily reached by private or public transport.
Contact Details
Mansfield Traquair
15 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6BB
Telephone +44 (0)131 474 8013
Website Mansfield Traquair
The Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel, at the east end of Princes Street, has a choice of eight elegant rooms in which to hold your wedding ceremony or reception.
The choice of suites makes the hotel suitable for either an intimate or grand celebration or a transition from one to the other within the same building and, of course, there’s plenty of room for guest accommodation. Unusually for wedding venues in Edinburgh, the hotel has bars and restaurants as well as a spa on site.
Many of the suites have stunning views across the city, which create a wonderful background for wedding photographs, but for a truly unforgettable image the wedding party can have access to the roof of this famous building.
Transport: the venue is in the city centre and therefore easily reached by private or public transport.
Contact Details
The Balmoral Hotel
1 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2EQ
Telephone +44 (0131) 622 8808
Website The Balmoral Hotel
Kirknewton House Stables
Due to its chic simplicity of timbered ceilings and stone walls Kirknewton Stables, set in the grounds of Kirknewton Estate, offers carte blanche to paint your own unique canvass.
In addition to the main building, which holds up to 110 for a wedding ceremony, a marquee in the adjoining courtyard creates a separate setting for a wedding reception.
For those who prefer a rather more natural theme, the large glass doors of the stables open onto a tree lined avenue in the centre of a lawned garden. This area can host the ceremony itself or evening celebrations during fine weather.
Transport: the venue is in the countryside and therefore private transport would be recommended.
Contact Details
Kirknewton House Stables
Kirknewton
Midlothian
EH27 8DA
Telephone +44 (01506) 881235
Website Kirknewton House Stables
The Hub
Dominating the skyline of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, this Grade A listed venue has cleverly combined Victorian architecture with contemporary design to rather spectacular effect.
The soaring timber framed ceilings of the wood paneled Dunard Library create a tranquil atmosphere, lending a feeling of serenity to a wedding ceremony for up to 70 guests.
The resplendent Main Hall, with its surrounding gallery and pulpit is elegant and charming when formally set, yet transforms to become vibrant and contemporary for evening celebrations. The entire floor is sprung making it ideal for dancing, which will almost certainly be a welcome for tired feet.
Transport: the venue is in the city centre and therefore easily reached by private or public transport.
Contact Details
The Hub
Castlehill
Edinburgh
EH1 2NE
Tel +44 (0131) 473 2015
Website The Hub
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