Carlowrie Castle wedding photography highlights by Edinburgh wedding photographers. Carlowrie Castle wedding photographer: A bride in a white dress and veil stands next to a groom wearing a kilt and vest, both smiling, in front of a lush garden backdrop.

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.

25 Weddings

Photographed at Carlowrie Castle

20 Years

Photographing weddings since 2006

Last Updated

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.

A couple in wedding attire stands embraced in front of an ivy-covered building with large windows and a black door. The groom wears a kilt, and the bride is in a long white dress with a train.

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.

A couple in wedding attire walks hand in hand down a tree-lined drive at Carlowrie Castle. The bride holds a red bouquet and wears a white dress with a veil, while the groom wears a suit with a red tie, featured on a page about Carlowrie Castle weddings.

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.

Bride in a detailed white gown with a veil touches greenery in the walled garden at Carlowrie Castle, surrounded by blooming flowers.

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.

A smiling bride in a sleeveless white dress and veil stands beside a groom in a dark suit with a kilt and blue tartan sash. They pose outdoors in Carlowrie Castle's Glasshouse framed by yellow autumn leaves. Both look happy and close together.

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.

Carlowrie Castle bride descends the staircase in a white dress and veil, holding a bouquet. She is next to large windows with decorative glass panels.

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 set up for a wedding

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.

  • A bride and groom kiss outdoors. The groom is wearing a blue suit and the bride is in a white dress with a veil during their summer wedding at Carlowrie Castle.

    We were absolutely blown away by the wedding photos.

    They have an incredible talent for capturing emotions and all the special details, which has allowed us to relive our wedding day in the most magical way. The photos are simply stunning, and we couldn’t be happier with how they turned out.

    From the very beginning, Jonathon and Claire made us feel comfortable and supported. Their professionalism and creativity shone through in every shot, and they even did a special edit for us at no extra charge, which was truly above and beyond. This extra effort made the photos feel even more personal and meaningful.

    Thank you for being such an important part of our special day! Highly recommend!
    Manari and Andrew
  • A couple dressed in formal attire stands outdoors holding hands. The man wears a dark suit with a red tie, and the woman wears a white wedding dress and holds a red bouquet. A building is in the background.

    Jonathon and Claire were absolutely wonderful on our wedding day and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough

    Jonathon and Claire were absolutely wonderful on our wedding day and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. They were both so professional, accommodating and approachable. Their correspondence before the wedding was also fantastic, getting back to me about all my questions and making sure they knew everything they needed to know before the big day. They are a fantastic team and I am so pleased we chose them to capture our special day.
    Taylor and Brett

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.

Sometimes our reply gets shy and hides in your junk folder. Leave your number, and we’ll text to let you know we’ve replied—no calls, unless you request one!
Include your venue or location if you know it, anything you’ve planned so far, and any questions you’d like us to answer.

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

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