Best West Lothian Wedding Venues: A Photography Guide

Cairns Farm

Cairns Farm near Kirknewton is a contemporary barn venue overlooking Harperrig Reservoir and the Pentland Hills.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the combination of large windows, open countryside and reservoir particularly useful for creating variety without taking couples far from their guests. The venue’s ceremony and reception spaces also feel much more modern than a traditional converted barn.

The surrounding farm and reservoir give us plenty of outdoor options for portraits, while the large glazed areas inside provide useful natural light when the weather changes.

See our Cairns Farm wedding photography.

Harburn Barn

Harburn Barn near West Calder is a relaxed countryside venue set within the wider Harburn Estate.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the mix of converted barn spaces, surrounding grounds and quieter estate areas particularly useful. The venue feels much more informal than a traditional hotel or country house, which suits couples planning a relaxed celebration.

From a photography point of view, the grounds give us plenty of space for portraits without taking couples far from their guests, while the barn interiors provide a very different look once the light changes later in the day.

See our Harburn Barn wedding photography.

Hilly Cow Wigwams

Hilly Cow Wigwams near Kirknewton offers a very different kind of West Lothian wedding, with a working-farm setting, marquee celebrations and glamping accommodation on site.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the open countryside and informal layout particularly suited to candid photography. Guests can move easily between the marquee, outdoor areas and accommodation, which helps the day feel relaxed rather than tightly structured.

The surrounding fields and views towards the Pentland Hills also give us plenty of space for portraits without taking couples away from the celebration for long.

Kirknewton House Stables

Kirknewton House Stables is a private countryside venue set within the grounds of Kirknewton Estate, with restored stables opening onto a large walled garden.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the combination of stone interiors, large windows, gardens and surrounding woodland particularly useful. The venue feels relaxed and self-contained, while still offering several very different backdrops within a short walk.

The walled garden works well for drinks, outdoor ceremonies and portraits, while the Stables provide a more rustic indoor setting when the weather changes.

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club near Kirknewton is one of the West Lothian-area venues we know particularly well, with 22 weddings photographed there.

Its country-club setting gives couples extensive parkland and golf-course surroundings while also providing hotel accommodation and the main wedding spaces in one location. That can make the day particularly straightforward when guests are travelling from both Edinburgh and further west.

Having photographed so many weddings at Dalmahoy, we know how to make use of the grounds in different light and weather without turning portraits into a long trip around the estate.

See our Dalmahoy Hotel wedding photography guide and real wedding photos.

The Hilcroft Hotel

The Hilcroft Hotel in Whitburn is a straightforward hotel wedding venue with flexible function spaces and easy access from both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the main advantage is how self-contained the day can feel, with the ceremony, reception, and evening celebrations all taking place in one location.

From a photography point of view, we tend to make the most of the available indoor spaces and nearby outdoor areas, keeping portrait sessions short so couples can spend more time with their guests.

Houstoun House

Houstoun House in Uphall is a historic country-house hotel set within 22 acres of woodland and grounds.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the contrast between the older tower-house character, the ballroom and the walled garden particularly useful. It gives couples a great mix of indoor and outdoor options without leaving the venue.

The grounds also provide plenty of space for portraits, while the hotel setting makes it practical for couples who want accommodation and the main parts of the wedding day all in one place.

Linlithgow Burgh Halls

Linlithgow Burgh Halls sits in the centre of Linlithgow, immediately beside Linlithgow Palace and close to the loch.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the location particularly useful because couples can move from the indoor celebration to very different historic and outdoor settings within a short walk.

The building itself gives photographs a more formal, historic feel, while the nearby Palace, town centre and surrounding greenery offer plenty of contrast without needing to travel elsewhere.

West Kirk of Calder

West Kirk of Calder is a historic Church of Scotland building in the centre of West Calder.

We’ve photographed a wedding ceremony here, and the church gives photographs a very different feel from the barns, hotels and country estates elsewhere in this guide. Its traditional stone architecture and church interior provide a strong sense of place, while its West Calder location makes it practical for couples continuing their celebrations elsewhere afterwards.

When we photographed here, the ceremony was followed by a reception at Cornhill Castle, showing how the church can also work for couples planning separate ceremony and reception locations.

Orocco Pier

Orocco Pier sits on the waterfront in South Queensferry, with views across the Firth of Forth and the bridges forming a large part of the setting.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the combination of the waterfront, historic High Street and nearby shoreline particularly useful. Couples can get a varied set of portraits within a short walk without spending long periods away from their guests.

The dedicated Fuchsia wedding space also looks directly towards the water, giving the celebration a strong connection to the South Queensferry setting.

See our Orocco Pier wedding photography.

Thirty Knots

Thirty Knots is a contemporary waterfront venue beneath the Forth Bridge in South Queensferry, with a private event space and views across the Firth of Forth.

We’ve photographed a wedding here and found the location particularly useful for combining the celebration with photographs around South Queensferry. The waterfront, harbour and bridges give us several very different backgrounds within a short distance of the venue.

Its more informal restaurant and event-space setting also gives the day a different feel from the larger hotels and country estates elsewhere in this guide.

Dundas Castle

Dundas Castle near South Queensferry is one of the larger exclusive-use estates couples often consider when looking at wedding venues around West Lothian and the western edge of Edinburgh.

We’ve photographed 20 weddings at Dundas Castle, so we know how differently the estate can feel depending on the season and the way the day is planned. The historic Auld Keep gives ceremonies a very different atmosphere from the main castle and Pavilion, while the grounds provide plenty of room for portraits without needing to leave the estate.

For couples based around West Lothian, it offers the scale and privacy of a country estate while remaining easily accessible from the Edinburgh side of the region.

See our Dundas Castle wedding photography guide.

Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House sits near South Queensferry on the western side of Edinburgh and is often considered by couples looking for grand wedding venues around West Lothian.

We’ve photographed weddings here and found the scale of the house and estate particularly useful when couples want a traditional country-house setting with plenty of outdoor space. The formal architecture, sweeping grounds and views towards the Firth of Forth give the photographs a very different feel from the barns, hotels and smaller venues elsewhere in this guide.

Despite the size of the estate, there is plenty of photographic variety close to the main house, so couples do not need to spend a large part of their wedding day travelling around for portraits.

Beecraigs Country Park

Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow is one of the West Lothian locations we’ve used for engagement and pre-wedding photography.

The woodland, loch, open paths and higher viewpoints give us several different backgrounds within a relatively compact area. We particularly like the quieter forest sections, where couples can walk and talk rather than stand in one place posing for photographs.

It works well for couples who want a relaxed outdoor session and plenty of natural scenery before their wedding day.

South Queensferry

South Queensferry is one of the locations we’ve used regularly for engagement and pre-wedding photography.

The waterfront, harbour, cobbled streets and views towards the Forth Bridges give us plenty of variety within a relatively small area. Couples can move between the historic town and the shoreline without driving between locations.

It works particularly well for relaxed sessions where we can walk through the town, stop at quieter sections of the waterfront and use the bridges as part of the background without every photograph looking the same.