Carlowrie Castle Wedding Photographer
25 Weddings at Carlowrie Castle — and Counting
Looking for an experienced Carlowrie Castle wedding photographer with genuine first-hand knowledge of the venue? We’ve photographed 25 weddings at Carlowrie Castle, giving us extensive experience across seasons, weather conditions, and celebration styles.
Carlowrie is an exclusive-use wedding venue near Edinburgh, combining its historic baronial exterior with contemporary interiors, a walled garden and 32 acres of private grounds. That contrast gives us enormous photographic variety without taking you away from your guests for long.
Having photographed summer, autumn and winter weddings here, we know how dramatically the venue changes throughout the year — from outdoor celebrations and colourful gardens to darker winter afternoons when the castle interiors become particularly useful.
Our approach is relaxed and unobtrusive, combining genuine documentary moments with natural portraits that make the most of Carlowrie without turning your wedding into a lengthy photoshoot.
Photographed at Carlowrie Castle
Photographing weddings since 2006
August 2026
Real Weddings at Carlowrie Castle Through the Seasons
One of the things we love about photographing weddings at Carlowrie is seeing how much the venue changes throughout the year.
Summer weddings can make full use of the gardens and outdoor spaces, autumn brings richer colour to the grounds, while winter celebrations rely much more on Carlowrie’s interiors and changing natural light.
The three weddings below show how differently the same venue can photograph depending on the season.
Manari and Andrew’s Summer Wedding
Manari and Andrew’s summer wedding showed Carlowrie at its greenest, with the gardens and grounds becoming a big part of the day.
Their celebration brought together Scottish and Japanese cultures, with family and friends enjoying the outdoor spaces in the summer sunshine.
From a photography point of view, summer gives us plenty of opportunities around the gardens, but the strongest locations still depend on the direction and intensity of the light, not just on heading outside because the weather is good.
Their wedding is a great example of how relaxed and colourful a summer celebration at Carlowrie can feel.
View Manari and Andrew’s summer wedding at Carlowrie Castle here.

Kelly and Shaun’s Autumn Wedding
Kelly and Shaun’s autumn wedding showed a very different side of Carlowrie, with the changing foliage bringing warmer tones to the grounds and the castle exterior.
The cooler weather and softer autumn light gave their portraits a more atmospheric feel, while the contrast between the outdoor colours and the warmer interiors worked particularly well throughout the day.
We also used the castle exterior and surrounding grounds, adapting locations as the light changed rather than relying on one fixed portrait spot.
Their wedding is a great example of how Carlowrie’s character shifts in autumn without losing the day’s relaxed feel.
Taylor and Brett’s Winter Wedding
Taylor and Brett’s winter wedding showed how well Carlowrie works when daylight is limited and most of the celebration naturally moves indoors.
The castle interiors, fireplaces and warmer evening lighting gave their photographs a very different feel from the summer and autumn weddings above.
Winter weddings here benefit from planning portraits around the available daylight, then using the interiors once the light begins to fade rather than trying to force everything outdoors.
Their wedding is a strong example of how Carlowrie can still produce a varied gallery in winter, even when the weather and daylight are working against us.
Best Wedding Photo Locations at Carlowrie Castle
After photographing 25 weddings at Carlowrie, we’ve learned the venue offers plenty of variety without leaving the estate.

The Tree-Lined Drive
The long entrance drive is one of Carlowrie’s most distinctive outdoor locations.
It works particularly well for wider portraits and gives a strong sense of scale, especially when the trees are full of colour or the light filters through them.

The Walled Garden
The walled garden is one of our favourite locations in the warmer months.
Its lawns, planting and castle backdrop give us plenty of options for relaxed portraits, and it can also be used for outdoor ceremonies when the weather cooperates. Carlowrie continues to promote the walled garden as one of its main outdoor wedding spaces.

The Glasshouses and Grounds
The historic glasshouses, lawns, and wider 32-acre estate offer different views year-round.
Rather than using the same route at every wedding, we choose locations based on the season, weather, and available light on the day.

The Grand Staircase and Castle Interiors
When the weather changes, Carlowrie’s interiors give us plenty to work with.
The staircase, corridors and surrounding architecture provide a more traditional castle backdrop, while rooms such as the Piano Room and Marble Room offer something much more contemporary. Both remain part of Carlowrie’s current ground-floor wedding spaces.

The Orangery
The Orangery is particularly useful for its large windows and direct access to the lawn.
That makes it easy to move between indoor and outdoor portraits without disappearing from the wedding for long.
What We’ve Learned From Photographing 25 Weddings at Carlowrie Castle
After photographing 25 weddings at Carlowrie Castle, we’ve learned a few practical tips that can make the day feel easier and more relaxed.
The Best Outdoor Locations Change With the Season
Carlowrie looks very different in summer, autumn and winter, so we don’t follow the same portrait route at every wedding.
The walled garden, driveway, and wider grounds can all work beautifully, but the best location depends on the light, weather, and how the estate looks at that time of year.
The Orangery Is Especially Useful in Changeable Weather
The Orangery gives us a bright indoor space with easy access to the lawn, which makes it particularly useful when the weather is unpredictable.
If a shower passes through, we can work inside for a while and step outside as soon as conditions improve rather than forcing the schedule around the weather.
Winter Weddings Need a Different Portrait Plan
In winter, daylight disappears quickly, so we normally plan outdoor portraits earlier in the day and make greater use of the castle interiors later on.
That approach works far better than trying to recreate a summer timeline when the available light is completely different.
You Don’t Need a Long Portrait Session
Because the castle, grounds, walled garden, Orangery and interiors are all close together, we can usually create plenty of variety in short bursts throughout the day.
That means you can spend more time with your guests while still getting a varied set of newlywed photographs.
Accommodation and Wedding-Day Flow at Carlowrie Castle
One of Carlowrie’s practical strengths is that the wedding can unfold across several different spaces without guests needing to leave the estate.
The castle has 9 bedrooms sleeping up to 18 guests, with additional accommodation available elsewhere on the estate. This can be particularly useful for close family and members of the wedding party who want to stay on site.
Morning Preparations
The bedrooms and larger suites give couples plenty of space for morning preparations before the ceremony.
From a photography point of view, having preparations, the ceremony, and the reception on the same estate means we can move between different parts of the day without losing time travelling between venues.
The Orangery
The Orangery is one of Carlowrie’s main wedding spaces and currently accommodates up to 100 guests for dining.
Its large windows and direct access to the lawn make it particularly useful for photography, as we can move easily between the bright interior and the grounds.
The Marquee
For larger weddings, Carlowrie’s Marquee currently accommodates up to 275 guests for dining and 450 for an evening reception.
Its position overlooking the lawn and castle creates a very different atmosphere from the historic rooms inside the main building and gives larger celebrations plenty of space for dinner and dancing.
Exclusive Use Keeps Everything Together
Carlowrie is offered as an exclusive-use venue, which means the castle and grounds can feel much more private than a hotel shared with other guests.
That also helps the photography flow naturally because we can move between the castle, gardens, Orangery and reception spaces without repeatedly stopping the day to relocate everyone.
What Our Carlowrie Castle Couples Say
After photographing 25 weddings at Carlowrie Castle, we’ve been fortunate to receive some lovely feedback from couples whose weddings we photographed here. Here are two of their reviews.
Carlowrie Castle Wedding Photographer FAQs
Can we have an outdoor wedding ceremony at Carlowrie Castle?
Yes. Carlowrie offers outdoor ceremony options including the Walled Garden, giving couples the castle and grounds as a backdrop when the weather allows.
As with any outdoor Scottish wedding, it’s worth having an indoor alternative agreed with the venue in case conditions change.
How many guests can Carlowrie Castle accommodate?
Carlowrie currently lists the Orangery for up to 100 guests for dining. For larger celebrations, the Marquee can accommodate up to 275 guests for dining and up to 450 for an evening reception.
For the latest layouts and capacities for your date, contact the Carlowrie wedding team directly.
Where are the best places for wedding photos at Carlowrie Castle?
Some of our favourites are the tree-lined drive, Walled Garden, glasshouses, castle exterior, grand staircase, Piano Room, Marble Room and Orangery.
After photographing 25 weddings here, we choose between them based on the season, light, and weather rather than following the same route at every wedding.
What happens if it rains on our Carlowrie Castle wedding day?
Carlowrie gives us plenty of indoor options, including the castle interiors and Orangery, so rain doesn’t mean the photography has to stop.
We can work indoors and use short dry spells for photos around the grounds, rather than forcing you outside in poor weather.
Can wedding guests stay at Carlowrie Castle?
Yes. The castle itself has 9 bedrooms sleeping up to 18 guests, with additional accommodation available elsewhere on the estate.
If accommodation is important to your plans, check the latest room availability and sleeping arrangements directly with Carlowrie when booking.
Planning Your Wedding at Carlowrie Castle?
If you’re planning your wedding at Carlowrie Castle, we’d love to hear what you have in mind.
Having photographed 25 weddings at Carlowrie Castle, we know the venue, its main wedding spaces and how to make the most of the grounds and interiors without turning your wedding into a lengthy photoshoot.
Tell us your wedding date, the spaces you’re considering and a little about your plans below, and we’ll check our availability.
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.
Carlowrie Castle Wedding Team Contact Details
For current wedding availability, packages, accommodation and venue information, contact the Carlowrie Castle team directly:
Carlowrie Castle
Boathouse Bridge Road
Kirkliston
West Lothian
Scotland
EH29 9ES
Telephone: +44 (0) 131 335 3184
Email: [email protected]
Visit Carlowrie Castle’s official wedding website
Related Reading
- Best Castle Wedding Venues in Scotland – Explore more Scottish castle wedding venues if you’re comparing Carlowrie with other historic settings.
- Edinburgh Wedding Photography Prices & Packages – See our photography coverage, prices and package options for weddings at Carlowrie Castle and throughout Edinburgh.
- Manari & Andrew’s Summer Wedding at Carlowrie Castle – See a complete summer wedding at Carlowrie Castle, including a colourful celebration blending Scottish and Japanese traditions.






























































































































































































































