Wedding planning guidelines

Everything you need to know about hiring one of our sites as a wedding venue for your big day.

Make a wedding enquiry

The charging structure varies for wedding venues that can also host your reception, as a full service including catering will be provided.

Wedding receptions are offered at:

Types of ceremony

Only religious wedding ceremonies can be held at St Margaret’s Chapel (Edinburgh Castle) and Iona Abbey.

All other sites offer:

  • humanist wedding ceremonies
  • civil weddings and civil partnerships with the agreement of a Registrar
  • religious ceremonies by agreement of your Celebrant

Roman Catholic wedding ceremonies can’t be held at Rothesay Castle.

Public use of the venue

The site will remain open to daytime visitors while your wedding is in progress, although people will be asked to respect your privacy. Similarly, your special day shouldn’t cause inconvenience to other visitors.

You can have exclusive use of:

  • Edinburgh Castle – Gatehouse Suite
  • Edinburgh Castle – Queen Anne Room
  • monuments available for evening reception hire

Monuments host only one wedding party per day, with the exception of Edinburgh Castle. Stirling Castle can only accommodate weddings once the site is closed to the public at 5pm in winter and 6pm in summer.

Venue capacity

Each of our wedding properties lists the total capacity per available venue. This number is to include everyone in attendance: bridal party, minister, musicians and wedding guests.

Room set-up

At almost all of our venues, the wedding party should set up any equipment needed for the ceremony. You should check with the monument manager what equipment is supplied on site.

You should get the room ready least 30 minutes before the ceremony. It may not be possible to set up the day before as the venue may be in use. You should leave the area clean and tidy after use.

The on-site Events Team will set up at:

Catering

Our catering partner will suggest a menu for your wedding reception. Wedding parties may not arrange an alternative caterer.

Candles and confetti

Use of candles and confetti (including biodegradable products and rose petals) is not permitted at any of our sites. Bubbles can make a good alternative to confetti.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any of our properties.

Contact

We will be delighted to discuss your requirements and how we can help you to make your special event a memorable occasion.

Weddings Team
Historic Environment Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH

Email: weddings@hes.scot

Submit a wedding enquiry online