When I approached my family with the idea of getting married in Scotland, I had no idea how they would respond. No one in our family had ever even been to Scotland or any other part of the UK. I thought for sure that my in-laws would think I was insane (they probably do, but they’re too nice to say so). Somehow though, I convinced 11 of my family members to fly from Atlanta to the United Kingdom for my fairy tale wedding at Dalhousie Castle.

If you’re thinking about a destination wedding, Scotland is bursting with romantic venues. You can have the Isle of Skye serve as the backdrop for an elopement like no other or feel like royalty by having your wedding at a medieval castle as I did.

The Legal Stuff

As a foreigner getting married in Scotland, there are strict guidelines to follow that you can find HERE. I would give yourself at least 4 months to plan as you must mail in some legal documents to the appropriate registrar office and you want to be sure they receive it no later than 29 days before your wedding. The packet is lengthy and time consuming, but you must follow each step laid out by the National Records of Scotland to ensure your wedding day goes off without a hitch.

You must also meet in person at the registrar office before the ceremony to confirm the details you’ve provided and turn in your signed marriage certificate following the ceremony. Make sure you plan your trip dates accordingly!

The Details

The days leading up to the wedding were rather eventful. If you read my Facebook post from when I returned home from our trip, you’ll see why!

Other than when we were acting like a bunch of buffoons, my family had a wonderful time exploring Edinburgh. The extra time before the wedding also allowed me to meet with some of my wedding vendors. With the exception of my photographers who were Atlanta based, I used Scottish vendors. I had a very clear image of how I wanted my wedding day to look and narrowed down who I wanted to use through online research and reading reviews for each company. I was immensely pleased with the businesses listed below who helped make my day so special.

• City Brides Hair and Makeup Artists – My stylist was so incredibly sweet and fun. She had a wedding playlist that we listened to while we were getting ready, and my sister and I absolutely loved our hair and makeup!
• Stockbridge Flower Company – My flowers were GORGEOUS and Brandon’s boutonnière was equally stunning.
• Liggy’s Cake Company – My cake was yummy and had lovely sugar roses and scrolly piping along the sides. Brandon and I had leftover cake the next morning as we waited for our flight to Italy, where we honeymooned. I appreciated Liggy’s well thought out website design and their many cake design options pictured there.
• Worldly Nomads Films – I went back and forth about whether I should have a videographer. With such a small number in attendance, I was worried it may be awkward or that there wouldn’t be any “worthy” footage. Barry truly is a film ninja though. He is funny and personable, and he captured my wedding day so thoughtfully. My family cries every time we watch the videos because they are so beautiful.
• Brides & Dolls Photography – Meagan and Kelly were a blast to work with and are the type of people you instantly feel comfortable around. All of the incredible pictures in this post are their work.

The Venue

Dalhousie Castle is located just 9 miles away from Edinburgh’s city center. It is unique to other castles in the area, because it has been renovated into a hotel. Elegant rooms and modern amenities do not take away from the castle’s 13th century charm though. The castle boasts an orangery where you can enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea while looking out at the castle grounds, a falconry where you can see some of Scotland’s birds up close, a DUNGEON RESTAURANT complete with weaponry adorning the walls, and an archery range where you can get in a little target practice. Now you know why Dalhousie Castle made my list of The Best Places to Stay in Edinburgh!

It was tough planning a wedding having never visited the venue in person. However, the staff at Dalhousie went above and beyond to make sure I had an unforgettable experience. They stayed in constant contact leading up to the wedding, answering the plethora of questions I had and making sure I understood all the options available to me for my wedding day. There are several package options available depending on your budget, and Dalhousie customized an option for me that worked out perfectly for my small audience. It was cheaper for me to get married in a 13th century castle than any of the boring local venues I was originally considering.

I highly recommend staying in one of Dalhousie Castle’s themed rooms the night before your wedding. Ours was cozy and beautifully decorated, providing the perfect spot for me to get ready and spend some time with my family before the ceremony. The rooms are flooded with natural light through large windows, making for some pretty pictures. Also, it’s super convenient for you and your guests to wake up and already be at the wedding venue!

If you would have told me when I was a little girl dreaming about my wedding day that a bagpiper would play traditional Scottish music on my wedding day or that an owl would fly my rings down the aisle Harry Potter style, I would have never believed it. BUT IT HAPPENED! Andrew, the castle’s piper, was an absolute sweetheart. He came and met me before the ceremony and gave me encouraging words of congratulations. He piped me down the castle’s winding staircase, and we made quite the grand entrance. While I was getting ready, Brandon was at the falconry, training with a snow white barn owl named Bonnie. When it was time to exchange rings, Brandon donned a falconry glove and Bonnie swooped down from the stairs and landed on his hand with the rings clutched in her talons. I then got to pet her!

Following the ceremony we took a gazillion pictures around the castle and its grounds. The night ended with a delicious multi-course meal in the dungeon restaurant and I got to cut the cake with the piper’s dagger!

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If you’re contemplating a destination wedding in Scotland, do it. I have no regrets about my intimate ceremony at Dalhousie Castle. It was everything I could have hoped for and more.

All photographs by Brides & Dolls Photography