Dundas Castle

Our wedding at Dundas Castle exceeded all our expectations and was truly a day we will never forget! We planned our wedding from overseas at home in Toronto, Canada. The planning took place the pandemic, which was quite daunting at first. However, we are so grateful to the staff at Dundas Castle and all our suppliers who made the planning experience easy and stress-free. We had 105 guests who travelled from around the world to be with us, so we made sure to give them an experience they wouldn’t forget, including a week of activities and events in Edinburgh, highlighting some of the best of Scotland. Our guests are still talking (a year later) about how beautiful, unique, and one-of-a-kind experience it was to celebrate our 2-day wedding in a Scottish castle. Dundas Castle is now a part of our love story, and we are so fortunate for the lovely memories we created there.

Dundas Castle was simply the most amazing experience of our lives. The 2-day wedding event was simply breathtaking. The staff, the grounds, and the entire experience was magical. I had been to many castle locations in Scotland, but Dundas had everything – my guests commented over and over again that our two-day wedding at Dundas was the best event they had ever been to. Thanks for everything!

When we started to plan our wedding, we knew we wanted to get married in a castle in Scotland and throw a celebration which reflected us personally. It was also important for us that the venue would be easily accessible for all our family and friends, with many flying in from abroad. Dundas Castle was the first venue we visited, and the feeling it gave us unmatched anywhere else. We could instantly see ourselves gathering with everyone on the castle grounds, getting married in the courtyard and celebrating the night away with the backdrop of the spectacular scenery of Dundas Castle. We also felt connected with the team at Dundas and confident they would not only allow us to bring our vision to life but also help us to get there. We didn’t have too many traditions in mind but rather wanted to bring our own twists in to make it truly personal to us – from incorporating sports into our celebrations, working with Heritage to build a menu which reflected our backgrounds, allowing for alternative bridal party entrances and bringing full party vibes to the castle, Dundas were open and supportive as we brought our personal flavour to the wedding. Annina is German. Steven is Scottish but grew up in France. We met in Spain. Our friends and family are fairly spread out, and many had never met before, so we saw our wedding not only as a celebration of love but also as a one-off opportunity to bring our closest people together and have the best party of our lives. We had a two-day celebration in mind, with the first day being a mixer in the form of a Team Bride vs. Team Groom sports day to break the ice and get everyone connected and relaxed. Team Groom took the win on home turf, but the most important thing was by the end of the day, language barriers and any other walls were falling down – even the younger guests were using their phones to communicate via Google Translate. So, we were all set up for the wedding to get going and the party to unleash! Dundas was extremely versatile, and we were determined to make the most of the opportunities it presented – Steven and his boys played golf, or at least tried to, the morning of the wedding before taking to the Billiards Room for plenty of posing whilst Annina was able to enjoy her wedding preparations in the beautiful Winter bedroom. After many rain dances, it couldn’t have been a better day, and the courtyard ceremony was everything and more than we had hoped for – from fun side entrances to long, romantic, and dramatic entrances from the main gates. There is so much to enjoy at Dundas, especially on a sunny day. After the wedding ceremony, the party was able to get started, and Steven had kept a surprise up his sleeve. After our grandiose staircase introduction as a married couple, we headed outside to soak up the sunshine where Clann an Drumma, a tribal band Steven and his brother had seen at a Scotland game some months prior, were waiting to kick celebrations off with a bang! It set the tone for the rest of the day perfectly, and the party continued in the Pavilion, where everyone danced and danced, especially Annina until the perfect day and night came to a close with a little bit of tradition and the sound of the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.

When we got engaged, we knew Edinburgh was where we wanted to tie the knot – however, we didn’t know where to start with choosing a venue. We arrived at Dundas on a cold, wet day in January, and the team had opened the doors, especially for us on a bank holiday. Everyone was so welcoming and took the time to walk us through our wedding vision to give us a real sense of excitement about the day before we had even booked. It was clear Dundas was the wedding venue for us – aside from the gorgeous setting, it was the team at Dundas that swung our decision. In the lead-up to the wedding, the team were so organised and left no stone unturned for the plans. We worked closely with many of Dundas’ recommended suppliers, which made the planning and communication seamless as they have such good relationships with each supplier. We clearly remember being told, “Treat Dundas as your home for the weekend,” when we arrived for the wedding. This put us at ease ahead of the celebrations, and we spent the Friday night enjoying the castle with our wedding party, having pre-wedding drinks in the Billiard Room and dinner in the Auld Keep. On our wedding day, everything went perfectly to plan. If there was an issue, you can be sure the Dundas team sorted it before we even knew! This led to a stress-free wedding morning, enjoying our respective plans (golf for the guys, fizz for the gals!) and getting ready for the big day. We had 135 guests, so we held our ceremony in the Pavilion, which we had decorated with beautiful flowers from The Stockbridge Flower Co, and some gorgeous drapery from Beautifully Covered. We then had our drinks reception back in the castle before dinner, speeches and dancing in the Pavilion, with the illuminated backdrop of the castle behind us. There’s no denying Dundas is a spectacular setting for a wedding. Many of our guests commented on how special the castle was – traditional yet homely. We were lucky to have the venue the whole weekend, allowing us to bring our guests back on Sunday for coffee, cake and a debrief – and a healthy dose of fresh air on the roof of the keep! The day went by in an absolute flash, so we are incredibly grateful for the support from the Dundas team and our suppliers in creating the memorable day we imagined. It really did feel like home!

On August 4th, 2023, the pages of our love story unfolded against the breathtaking backdrop of Dundas Castle. It was a day that felt straight out of a fairy tale, where the excitement and planning were so worth it as we embarked on a journey that would forever shape our lives. As the sun so thankfully and surprisingly appeared, we couldn’t help but pinch ourselves. Surrounded by the love and laughter of our nearest and dearest, every moment felt like a dream come true. We had often talked about this day, but being there, in that moment, was something entirely surreal. The planning had been impeccable, every detail thoughtfully considered, all thanks to our incredible wedding planner, Aileen. Her calm and reassuring presence was like a guiding light throughout the whirlwind preparations. She transformed our dream into a reality with her expertise, organisation skills, and just genuinely being the person we could always rely on. We were so grateful to be able to have our ceremony in the beautiful courtyard of the castle. The area seemed to look even more incredible than we remembered as we exchanged vows surrounded by the hearts of our loved ones. The transition from ceremony to celebration was flawlessly orchestrated by Aileen and her dedicated team, along with our suppliers. The staff at Dundas Castle ensured that every guest felt like a cherished part of our day. Glasses were raised, plates were cleared, and the air was filled with laughter and joy. It was a day made perfect by everyone involved. As we looked around at the smiles and tears of happiness around us, we knew that this was just the start of our incredible journey to follow.

With the help of the entire Dundas Castle team, we truly had the fairytale wedding of our dreams. The exquisite venue was the most magnificent backdrop for our weekend, full of love and laughter. Our Dundas team, led by Vhairi, ran the entire operation so smoothly, and we received countless compliments from guests saying the schedule and pace of the day was the best of any wedding they had been to. The accommodations were extremely comfortable to top it all off, and we really felt like the Castle was all ours to enjoy during our stay. We wholeheartedly recommend Dundas Castle for celebrating any of life’s important moments. We will treasure the memories we made at Dundas Castle for the rest of our lives.

Living local to Dundas Castle and walking around the grounds many times, I dreamt that one day I would get married there, and on 21st September 2023, that dream became a reality! It was the first venue we visited after getting engaged, and we knew straight away it was the one for us. It is absolutely stunning and has something for everyone. We made full use of the Castle as we were married in the Auld Keep, which is incredible. We had our wedding breakfast in the Croquet Room and our evening reception in the Pavilion; every part of the Castle is unique and special in its own way. The team at Dundas were extremely helpful and always there to answer any questions we had. On the day, the team could not have done enough to ensure everything went seamlessly. Ellice made us feel so at ease and even helped me with my dress whilst moving from one part of the Castle to the next. We cannot thank them enough. We had the most amazing day with our families and friends, one we will treasure forever! I cannot recommend Dundas Castle enough to anyone looking to get married here, I only wish we could do it all over again!

Thanks so much from the bottom of our hearts for a spectacular experience at Dundas. We were so pleased we chose Dundas to help us celebrate this huge milestone in our lives. With impeccable care and consideration for detail and the professionalism shown from each and every staff member, Dundas exceeded our expectations.

We had the most perfect Wedding Day at Dundas Castle and are so grateful to all of the team for helping make our day so special. From our very first contact with the team at Dundas all the way through to our special day, they were organised, efficient and welcoming. Dundas’ detailed itinerary and comprehensive Approved Suppliers listed were incredibly useful and helped simplify the process of planning our special day. On our Wedding Day itself the team were incredibly attentive which meant we did not have to worry about a single thing and allowed us to focus entirely on enjoying what was truly the perfect day. All of our guests were blown away by how stunning the venue was, the quality of the food and the service.   It is a day we will treasure forever and it would not have been possible without the amazing team at Dundas.

We first visited Dundas Castle on a very cold, wet day in early January and instantly fell in love with it. We thought if it could look that spectacular on a miserable morning, then it would be a perfect wedding venue for any day of the year. We were lucky enough to spend two nights at the castle for our wedding in March and, though the rain stayed away, our families and friends were appreciative of the warm, cosy vibes created by the fireplaces in communal areas. The day itself was magical from start to finish with the venue staff running things seamlessly. They make it look effortless, though we’re sure it isn’t! Their attention to detail is excellent and no doubt contributed to the success of the day. We are still basking in the glow and have had countless comments from guests on how special it was. Thank you to all the Dundas team for helping us create lifelong memories!