Dalhousie Castle Wedding Photographer
30+ Weddings at Dalhousie Castle — and Counting
Looking for an experienced Dalhousie Castle wedding photographer with genuine first-hand knowledge of the venue? We’ve photographed more than 30 weddings at Dalhousie Castle, giving us extensive experience of how the castle, Chapel, function rooms and grounds work throughout a wedding day.
Dalhousie is a historic castle wedding venue in Midlothian, around eight miles from Edinburgh, surrounded by parkland and woodland beside the River Esk.
Having photographed weddings here through different seasons and weather conditions, we know how to make the most of the castle interiors, staircase, terrace and grounds without taking you away from your guests for long.
The venue’s historic character also creates some very different photography challenges and opportunities, from the intimate light inside the Chapel to brighter rooms and outdoor locations around the estate.
Our approach is relaxed and unobtrusive, combining genuine documentary moments with natural portraits that use Dalhousie Castle’s character while keeping photography part of the day, not the focus.
Photographed at Dalhousie Castle
Photographing weddings since 2006
August 2026
Dalhousie Castle Wedding Photos
Here are some of our favourite photographs from the 30+ weddings we’ve photographed at Dalhousie Castle, including ceremonies in the Chapel, newlywed portraits around the castle and grounds, candid moments with family and guests, and evening celebrations in the function rooms.
Why Dalhousie Castle Works So Well for Weddings
Dalhousie Castle offers couples something distinctive: a genuinely historic Scottish castle, private grounds, on-site accommodation and several very different wedding spaces all within one venue.
The 13th-century castle has a strong sense of character throughout, from the Chapel and spiral staircases to the larger function rooms and quieter interiors. The venue has also undergone a substantial refurbishment, pairing historic architecture with newly updated rooms and guest spaces.
From a photography point of view, that variety is one of Dalhousie’s biggest strengths. We can move between atmospheric interiors, the staircase, terrace, lawns, woodland, and wider castle exterior without leaving the estate.
Dalhousie also offers exclusive-use weddings, giving couples access to the castle, its grounds and its 35 bedrooms for a much more private celebration.
Because everything is in one place, the day can flow naturally from preparations and ceremony through dinner and evening celebrations, without guests needing to travel between venues.
Wedding Ceremony and Reception Spaces at Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie offers several very different spaces for ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and evening celebrations, ranging from the historic Chapel to larger function rooms with their own bars and dance floors.
The Chapel
The Chapel is one of Dalhousie Castle’s most distinctive ceremony spaces.
It can be used for religious, civil, or humanist ceremonies and currently accommodates up to 100 guests. The French doors open directly onto the terrace overlooking the parkland and River Esk.
Photographically, the Chapel can be challenging because of the strong light coming through the doors, but after photographing many ceremonies here, we’re very familiar with how to work with that contrast without disrupting the ceremony.
The Ramsay Room
The Ramsay Room is the castle’s largest function room and is well suited to larger wedding breakfasts.
Dalhousie currently lists it for up to 100 guests for a banquet and up to 120 for a reception. Its large arched windows give the room much more natural light than many of the castle’s smaller interiors.
The Sir Alexander Room
The Sir Alexander Room has its own bar and dance floor, making it particularly useful for evening celebrations.
It currently accommodates up to 60 guests for a banquet, around 80 for a ceremony, and up to 100 for a reception.
The Dalwolsey Room
The Dalwolsey Room is a smaller, more intimate space with antique furniture and a fireplace.
Current function-room information lists it for up to 16 guests for a banquet or around 22 for a reception, making it better suited to smaller gatherings.
The Dungeon Gateside
For something completely different, the Dungeon Gateside provides a private dining space within the castle vaults.
Dalhousie’s current wedding brochure lists it for up to 18 guests, so it works best for very intimate dinners rather than larger celebrations.
Best Wedding Photo Locations at Dalhousie Castle
After photographing 30+ weddings at Dalhousie Castle, we’ve learned that the venue offers plenty of photographic variety without needing to take couples far from their guests.
The Castle Exterior
The historic castle exterior is one of the strongest locations for photographs that immediately establish where you were married.
We particularly like using it for wider portraits that show the architecture while keeping the couple prominent in the frame.
The Main Staircase and Landing
The staircase and landing are among our favourite indoor locations at Dalhousie.
The historic woodwork, stone walls, and changing natural light give us a strong alternative when the weather outside isn’t cooperating, and a very different look from portraits in the gardens.
The Chapel Terrace
The terrace immediately outside the Chapel is particularly useful after the ceremony.
It works well for congratulations, drinks and family photographs, and because it’s right beside the ceremony space we can organise a few group photos without moving everyone across the estate.
The Gardens and Lawns
The lawns and gardens around Dalhousie give us plenty of outdoor options throughout the year.
Rather than using the same spot at every wedding, we choose locations based on the season, weather, and direction of the light.
The Woodland and River Esk
The woodland surrounding the castle and areas closer to the River Esk give photographs a softer, more natural feel than the castle itself.
When conditions are right, we can use these locations for a few portraits before returning you to your guests.
What We’ve Learned From Photographing 30+ Weddings at Dalhousie Castle
After photographing more than 30 weddings at Dalhousie Castle, we’ve learned a few practical tips that make the day feel easier and more relaxed.
The Chapel Needs a Different Approach
The Chapel has a lot of character, but the strong light from the doors can create a very different exposure challenge from the rest of the castle.
Because we know the room well, we can work quietly around that contrast without moving around unnecessarily or distracting from the ceremony.
The Terrace Is Useful Immediately After the Ceremony
The terrace outside the Chapel is one of the venue’s most practical spaces.
It gives guests somewhere to gather, works well for congratulations and drinks, and lets us organise a few family photographs without taking everyone far from the ceremony space.
Indoor Locations Matter
Dalhousie has plenty of strong indoor options, including the staircase, landing and historic interiors.
That means poor weather doesn’t force us into one repetitive location or make the photography feel compromised.
The Grounds Work Best When We Follow the Light
The lawns, woodland and areas around the River Esk can look very different depending on the season and time of day.
Rather than deciding in advance that we’ll use one particular location, we choose the areas that are working best when the time comes.
You Don’t Need a Long Portrait Session
There’s enough variety around the castle and grounds that we can create portraits in short bursts.
We’d rather photograph for a little while, return you to your guests and use another opportunity later if the light or weather improves than disappear for one long photoshoot.
Accommodation and Wedding-Day Flow at Dalhousie Castle
One of Dalhousie Castle’s practical strengths is that couples can keep the entire wedding day — and often much of the wedding weekend — in one place.
Dalhousie currently has 35 en-suite bedrooms, and exclusive-use weddings give couples and guests private access to the castle and its grounds.
Morning Preparations
On-site accommodation makes the morning much easier to photograph because preparations can happen within the castle without anyone needing to travel before the ceremony.
The bedrooms and suites also offer different settings for candid preparation photos before everyone gathers for the wedding.
Staying at the Castle
For exclusive-use weddings, the castle’s 35 bedrooms allow a substantial number of family members and guests to stay on site.
That helps the wedding feel more like a private house celebration than a conventional hotel event, with everyone remaining together throughout the day and evening.
Keeping the Day in One Place
From a photography point of view, having preparations, the ceremony, the drinks reception, dinner, and evening celebrations all within the same estate helps the day flow naturally.
We spend less time travelling between locations and more time photographing what is actually happening.
What Our Dalhousie Castle Couples Say
After photographing 30+ weddings at Dalhousie Castle, we’ve been fortunate to receive some lovely feedback from couples whose weddings we photographed here.
Really helped put us at ease to get some fantastic shots.
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!
Put together a beautiful selection of images that really capture the magic of the day
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.
Captured the wedding beautifully
Jonathon photographed our wedding and we couldn’t have been happier with his work. He was always available via phone, Skype and email during the planning process, put everyone at ease on the day and captured the wedding beautifully.
Dalhousie Castle Wedding Photographer FAQs
Can we have our whole wedding at Dalhousie Castle?
Yes. Dalhousie can host preparations, the ceremony, the drinks reception, the wedding breakfast, and evening celebrations all within the castle and grounds.
For couples choosing exclusive use, the venue also includes its 35 bedrooms and private use of the estate.
How many guests can Dalhousie Castle accommodate?
It depends on the room and setup.
The Chapel can host up to 100 guests for a ceremony, while the Ramsay Room can accommodate up to 100 for a banquet and 120 for a reception.
Where are the best places for wedding photos at Dalhousie Castle?
Some of our favourites are the castle exterior, main staircase and landing, Chapel terrace, gardens, lawns, woodland and areas near the River Esk.
After photographing more than 30 weddings here, we choose locations based on the light, weather, and season rather than using the same route every time.
What happens if it rains at our Dalhousie Castle wedding?
Rain doesn’t mean the photography has to stop.
The staircase, landing, Chapel and other historic interiors give us strong indoor alternatives, and because everything is close together we can adapt quickly if conditions change.
Can Dalhousie Castle deliver the wedding rings by owl?
Yes. Dalhousie currently promotes owl ring delivery as one of its wedding options, and some wedding packages also include a falconry meet-and-greet during the drinks reception.
We’ve photographed this at Dalhousie before, so we know how quickly the moment happens and where to position ourselves to capture it without interfering.
Do we need to leave Dalhousie Castle for our wedding photographs?
No. There is already plenty of variety within the castle and its 11 acres of parkland and woodland beside the River Esk.
We normally create portraits in short bursts so you spend more time enjoying your wedding and less time disappearing for photographs.
Planning Your Wedding at Dalhousie Castle?
Having photographed 30+ weddings at Dalhousie Castle, we know the castle, Chapel, function rooms and grounds, and how to make the most of the venue 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.
Dalhousie Castle Wedding Enquiries
For current wedding availability, packages, guest capacities and venue information, contact the Dalhousie Castle wedding team directly.
Dalhousie Castle
Bonnyrigg
Edinburgh
Midlothian
EH19 3JB
Telephone: +44 (0)1875 820153
Email: [email protected]
Make a Dalhousie Castle wedding enquiry
Visit the official Dalhousie Castle weddings page
Related Reading
- Best Midlothian Wedding Venues – Compare Dalhousie Castle with other wedding venues we’ve photographed across Midlothian.
- Best Castle Wedding Venues in Scotland – Explore more Scottish castle wedding venues if you’re comparing different historic settings.
- Edinburgh Wedding Photography Prices & Packages – See our photography coverage, prices and package options for weddings at Dalhousie Castle.
