Best Midlothian Wedding Venues: A Photography Guide
Midlothian offers a varied mix of wedding venues just south of Edinburgh, from historic castles and country estates to converted steadings, churches and more unusual ceremony spaces around Dalkeith, Penicuik, Bonnyrigg, Lasswade and Gorebridge.
We’ve photographed weddings throughout Midlothian over many years, so this guide is based on venues we know from real weddings rather than places we’ve simply researched online.
Below you’ll find the Midlothian wedding venues we’ve actually photographed, along with our own photographs and, where available, links to full venue guides and real wedding galleries. We’ve included the practical photo opportunities we’ve found useful at each location, as well as what makes each venue different.
If you’re comparing venues, we aim to help you narrow down which setting suits your plans — whether that means an exclusive-use castle, a countryside celebration, a historic church ceremony, or something less traditional.
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Midlothian Wedding Venues Map
Use the interactive map below to explore the Midlothian wedding venues and photo locations featured in this guide.
Click any venue or location name in the list to zoom in on its position, or use Jump to venue ↓ to go straight to our notes and photographs further down the page.
Historic Castles
Dalhousie Castle
We’ve photographed 30+ weddings at Dalhousie Castle, making it one of the Midlothian venues we know particularly well.
Set near Bonnyrigg beside the River Esk, the castle combines historic interiors, a private chapel and surrounding parkland. Having worked here through different seasons and weather conditions, we know how to make the most of the castle, terrace, staircase and grounds without taking couples far from their guests.
One of the venue’s more unusual features is its on-site falconry, and couples can also arrange for an owl to deliver the wedding rings during the ceremony.
Melville Castle
We’ve photographed 20 weddings at Melville Castle, making it one of the Midlothian venues we know particularly well.
Melville Castle near Lasswade is a historic country-house hotel set within extensive woodland and grounds. We’ve found the contrast between the castle interiors, surrounding lawns and wooded areas particularly useful, with several portrait options within a short walk so couples can get variety without spending long periods away from their guests.
The grounds also work well in changeable weather, with open areas, mature trees, and the castle itself providing different backgrounds close to the main celebration.
Borthwick Castle
Borthwick Castle near North Middleton is an exclusive-use historic castle with a very different atmosphere from the country-house hotels elsewhere in Midlothian.
We’ve photographed a wedding here and found the contrast between the imposing stone exterior, Great Hall and surrounding countryside particularly useful. The castle has a strong sense of place, so portraits can feel varied without taking couples far from the main celebration.
The interior spaces also give photographs plenty of character when the weather keeps everyone indoors, while the grounds provide a completely different backdrop when conditions allow.
Oxenfoord Castle
Oxenfoord Castle near Pathhead is a private country-house venue set within extensive parkland and gardens.
We’ve photographed a wedding here and found the combination of formal architecture, open lawns and surrounding grounds particularly useful. The different areas around the house give us plenty of portrait options without taking couples far from the main celebration.
Inside, the historic rooms provide a very different look from the grounds, which helps create variety when the weather changes or couples want a mixture of indoor and outdoor photographs.
Country Estates, Barns & Unique Venues
Glencorse House
Glencorse House near Penicuik is a private country-house venue set within landscaped grounds, with Glencorse Kirk located on the estate.
We’ve photographed weddings here and found the combination of the house, kirk, gardens and surrounding countryside particularly useful. Couples can move between very different settings during the day without needing to travel elsewhere for photographs.
The grounds provide plenty of space for relaxed portraits, while the kirk gives ceremonies a more intimate, historic feel than larger castle venues elsewhere in Midlothian.
National Mining Museum Scotland
National Mining Museum Scotland in Newtongrange offers a very different wedding setting from Midlothian’s castles and country houses.
We’ve photographed a wedding here and found the former colliery buildings, exposed brickwork, industrial architecture and large interior spaces particularly distinctive. They give photographs a strong sense of place without needing to manufacture anything around the setting.
The contrast between the historic industrial interiors and the outdoor areas around the museum also provides useful variety throughout the day, particularly for couples looking for something less traditional.
Rosebery Steading
Rosebery Steading near Temple is a converted steading venue set in the Midlothian countryside.
We’ve photographed weddings here and found the combination of the stone buildings, courtyard and surrounding rural setting particularly useful. The venue feels more informal than the castles and country-house hotels elsewhere in Midlothian, while still offering couples several different areas for photos close to the main celebration.
The courtyard and exterior stonework work particularly well for relaxed portraits and candid photographs, while the indoor spaces provide a useful alternative when the weather changes.
Churches & Religious Ceremonies
Glencorse Kirk
Glencorse Kirk sits within the grounds of Glencorse House near Penicuik and provides a much more intimate ceremony setting than the larger Midlothian castles and hotels.
We’ve photographed weddings here and found the historic stone interior and compact layout give ceremonies a very distinctive atmosphere. Because the kirk is within the Glencorse House estate, couples can move straight from the ceremony to the gardens and reception without extra travel.
The kirk is also known as the filming location for Jamie and Claire’s wedding in Outlander, but for us, its real value is the character it brings to photographs and how naturally it fits into a wedding at Glencorse House.
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin is one of Midlothian’s most distinctive historic ceremony locations, known for its elaborate stone carvings and highly detailed interior.
We’ve photographed a wedding here and found the architecture gives the ceremony a very different atmosphere from the larger castles and country houses elsewhere in Midlothian. The exterior and surrounding village also provide useful opportunities for photographs before or after the ceremony.
Rosslyn Chapel is still an active church, and weddings are generally only available to members of its congregation. The Chapel also restricts wedding photography to couples being married there.
For current wedding arrangements and eligibility, contact Rosslyn Chapel directly.
St. John’s & King’s Park Church, Dalkeith
St John’s & King’s Park Church is a historic Church of Scotland building in Dalkeith, close to King’s Park.
We’ve photographed a wedding ceremony here and found the traditional church interior, stained-glass windows and long central aisle give the photographs a distinctly different feel from Midlothian’s castles and country-house venues.
Its Dalkeith location also makes it practical for couples holding their ceremony separately from their reception, with several wedding venues within a relatively short drive.
St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church, Dalkeith
St Mary’s is a historic Scottish Episcopal church set within Dalkeith Country Park.
We’ve photographed a wedding ceremony here and found the Gothic stone architecture, stained-glass windows and traditional church interior give photographs a strong sense of place. The setting feels very different from the larger castles and country-house venues elsewhere in Midlothian.
Its position within Dalkeith Country Park also gives couples access to a much broader landscape immediately outside the church, which can be useful for photographs before or after the ceremony.
Best Midlothian Engagement & Pre-Wedding Photo Locations
We’ve also photographed engagement and pre-wedding sessions around Midlothian, using locations that give couples space to walk, relax and get comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day.
Penicuik Estate
We’ve photographed an engagement session at Penicuik Estate, where the mix of historic architecture, woodland, open countryside and estate paths gives us plenty of variety within one location.
The estate works particularly well for relaxed sessions where we can walk between different settings rather than stopping for a long sequence of posed photographs.
Roslin Glen Country Park
We’ve also photographed an engagement session at Roslin Glen Country Park, close to Roslin.
The wooded paths, river valley and historic landscape give photographs a very different feel from the more formal wedding venues elsewhere in this guide. It works particularly well for couples who want a relaxed outdoor session with plenty of natural variety as we walk through the glen.
What Couples Say About Working With Us in Midlothian
We’ve photographed 70 weddings across Midlothian, from historic castles and country houses to churches and more unusual venues. Here’s what some of our couples have said about having us photograph their wedding in Midlothian.
Jonathan and Claire did the photos/video for our wedding. We are so pleased with their work. We’re not naturally very posey people but they really helped put us at ease to get some fantastic shots. During the day, so many of our guests commented that they barely even noticed them, which goes to show how well they blended in to capture the key moments as well as get great candid shots. They were both very friendly yet professional, they were well organised, and they were not pushy in the slightest and took the lead from us on the day. Thank you both again for doing such a fantastic job!
I recently had the pleasure of working with Jonathon who exceeded all my expectations. From start to finish, his warm and welcoming nature made me feel completely comfortable on the big day. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment we met, it was evident that Jonothan truly cared about capturing the essence and emotion of our special day. Jonothan took the time to understand our vision, preferences, and the style of photography we desired. His attention to detail and dedication to his craft were truly impressive. On the wedding day itself, Jonothan’s calm and reassuring presence instantly put me at ease. He seamlessly blended into the background, capturing candid moments and emotions without ever feeling intrusive. Jonothan’s ability to capture the joy, love, and excitement in each shot was remarkable. Not only did Jonothan have a keen eye for composition and lighting, but he also had a knack for capturing the small, intimate moments that often go unnoticed. When I received the final collection of photographs, I was blown away by the quality and beauty of each image. Jonothan perfectly captured the essence of our wedding day, preserving the precious memories we’ll cherish for a lifetime. The attention to detail in editing and post-processing was evident, as each photo had a magical touch that enhanced its beauty without appearing overly edited. Beyond Jonothan’s exceptional talent, Jonathon’s genuine passion for his work was evident in every interaction. His professionalism, responsiveness, and commitment to delivering the best possible experience made the entire process enjoyable and stress-free. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who not only takes amazing photos but also creates a comfortable and welcoming environment, I wholeheartedly recommend this extraordinary artist. Jonathon will capture your special day in a way that exceeds your expectations and leaves you with breathtaking memories to treasure forever.
Planning an overseas wedding can be stressful but working with suppliers like Jonathan Fowler put my mind at ease and allowed me to enjoy the entire experience. He was very familiar with the property we chose for our venue and knew exactly where to capture the best shots. I gave him a small window of time to work with and he was able to maximise it and put together a beautiful selection of images that really capture the magic of the day. He was a pleasure to work with and all of our guests were very comfortable working with him. I highly recommend Jonathan Fowler’s services.
Planning a Wedding in Midlothian?
We’re Claire and Jonathon, a husband-and-wife photography team with more than 700 weddings of experience since 2006, including 70 weddings across Midlothian.
If you’re planning your wedding in Midlothian and our mix of natural documentary photography and relaxed editorial portraits feels right for you, we’d love to hear what you’re planning.
You can also read more about our editorial and documentary wedding photography.
Tell us a little about what you’re planning, and we’ll check our availability, answer any questions and help you work out what suits you best.There’s no pressure or obligation, and we usually reply within 24 hours.
Related Reading
- Dalhousie Castle wedding photography — see real weddings from one of the Midlothian venues we know best.
- Borthwick Castle wedding photography — photographs and first-hand experience from this historic castle.
- Wedding photography prices & packages — see our current photography options and what’s included.
- Editorial and documentary wedding photography — more about how we combine natural moments with relaxed portraits.
