9 Edinburgh Wedding Venues I Know Well
Edinburgh's got no shortage of beautiful wedding venues, and after over a decade of photographing here, I've got my favourites — the ones where I already know the best light, the quiet corners, and the bits your guests will love.
Here's my guide to the venues I know well, plus a quick-reference list if you're still weighing up your options.
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Who This Guide Is For
Whatever kind of Edinburgh wedding you're picturing — dramatic underground vaults, a grand hotel ballroom, or a tucked-away historic close — this guide's a good place to start.
You’re planning an Edinburgh or city-centre wedding
You want a photographer who know a venues light, layout and quirks
You’re still choosing venues or looking for a photographer’s insight
You want a venue which lets your guests really enjoy the city
You're planning an elopement or an intimate wedding under 150 guests.
Venues Comparison Table
Cobbled courtyard, Old Town, budget-friendly
Main Spaces: Modern suite or Grand Chambers*
Area: Royal Mile, Old Town
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 36 or 110*
Accessible ✓
Bedrooms: ✗
Hidden 16th-century close near the Castle
Main Spaces: Historic rooms & courtyard
Area: Royal Mile, Old Town
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 60
Accessible ✓
Bedrooms: 1
Art deco, North Bridge, all-in-one hotel
Main Spaces: Suites, Art Deco stairs, Cinema
Area: Royal Mile, Old Town
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 100
Accessible ✓
Bedrooms: 82
Converted church, gothic, ceilidh energy
Main spaces: Dark Vaulted Room
Area: West New Town
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 120
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: ✗
Tapestry studio, colourful, artistic
Main spaces: Balcony or Weavers Floor*
Area: Old Town South
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 100 or 250*
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: ✗
Underground vaults, dramatic, Old Town
Main spaces: Very dark moody vaults
Area: Cowgate, Old Town
Small weddings from 40 ppl
Guests: up to 150
Accessible: Limited
Bedrooms: ✗
17th-century mansion, gardens, fine cuisine
Main spaces: Romantic rooms, stables*
Area: South Edinburgh
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 50/500*
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: 23
Art-deco-infused Georgian hotel, epic round stairwell
Main spaces: Georgian Rooms, Art-deco atrium
Area: East New Town
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 50
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: 50
Boutique Victorian townhouse and private garden
Main spaces: Victorian Rooms, private garden
Area: West End
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 40
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: 49
Riddles Court
Hidden down a little close next to Edinburgh Castle, you'll find Riddles Court. With it's beautiful 16th century orange façade & pentice stair for romantic portraits Riddles Court is a stunning option for an intimate city centre wedding.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 60
Accessible ✓
Bedrooms: 1
Ali's Insight
Riddles Court is tucked away, hidden from the busy area by the castle. People walk past not knowing they are missing this beautiful 16th century building which hosted banquets for the king. Recently restored by SHBT, the rooms are stunning with features like cute little booths in the Seton Room where you can snuggle up to sign the register. There are various spaces you can book — the intimate Seton Room, the majestic Geddes Room & the light airy library. If you want to stay over, you can book the very exclusive King Chamber as your honeymoon suite.
Access & Parking
Good wheelchair access from the main Royal Mile and a feature glass lift to the main rooms; cars/taxis can drop off at the Upper Bow to avoid the steep curbs. There is no parking — the nearest car park is about 5 minutes' walk, and it's a 10-minute up hill walk from Waverley Station.
The City Chambers
An amazing location & fantastic if you're on a budget! Nestled in a beautiful cobbled courtyard in the heart of the hustle & bustle of the Royal Mile. The Alexander Suite is perfect for a simple small weddings and elopements or go bigger & book the opulent European Room or Council Chamber
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 36 or 110*
Accessible ✓
Bedrooms: ✗
Ali's Insight
I love photographing at the city chambers, one minute you are in the midst of the Edinburgh crowds capturing the atmosphere but then a moment later I can take you to a quiet area where you can have some more intimate photographs. If you have guests who are not from Edinburgh, they may enjoy exploring the city as part of your day, perhaps by foot, taxi or tour bus. Our famously unpredictable weather can be frustrating but the city chambers has lovely areas to explore and keep you under cover if needed. As it’s the registrars office, the Chambers has many weddings each day so if you want exclusivity, please bear this in mind as it won’t be for you.
Access & Parking
Wheelchair-accessible entrance and lift between floors; there are 2 disabled parking spaces in the courtyard and taxi’s can drop off there but do call ahead to organise. There is no parking — nearest options are NCP Holyrood or on street parking — it's a 5-minute up hill walk from Waverley Station.
The Scotsman Hotel
Built in the 1900s, the 190ft high Scotsman Hotel used to be the newspapers office and is full of original features. I love the art deco feel, the great food & the location. It's Fettercairn suite is a clever addition. It's a great venue if you want everything in one place & like beautiful architecture.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 100
Accessible ✓
Bedrooms: 82
Ali's Insight
The hotel sits on North Bridge, just a few minutes from the Royal Mile & Princes Street, and right next to Waverley Station so it's super easy for guests to get to. As it’s a hotel, it has lots of space for everyone to stay. I love the historic marble stairwell and the Grand Cafe (if available) for photographs and I think the cinema would also be so fun to explore. It’s a easy walk to the Royal Mile and Princes Street or we can grab a taxi and explore Calton Hill for more Edinburgh photo opportunities. They offer bespoke packages for intimate weddings.
Access & Parking
The hotel has a ramp entrance and lift access and disabled facilities throughout. There is no parking but a discounted APCOA car park is a 10-minute walk away — the hotel is right next to Waverley Station.
Dovecot Studios
The perfect venue for a colourful artistic wedding. The Dovecot's splendid light atrium, a Victorian swimming baths of old is now one of the only Tapestry Studios in the world making it a unique wedding venue. Explore the colour filled weavers looms, shelves of wool spools for a fun photo location.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 100 or 250*
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: ✗
Ali's Insight
I love the viewing balcony and all the colourful spools of wool the venue uses to decorate the space. You can get married on the viewing balcony or in what was once the ladies' changing rooms (up to 100 guests). For a very limited number of large events they'll clear the looms so you can get married on the weavers' floor* and they offer bespoke intimate wedding packages. The Dovecot is beside Edinburgh University's Old College quad and not far from the Royal Mile if you fancy a little explore, but there's plenty to explore in the Dovecot too.
Access & Parking
Fully accessible with level entrance and a lift to all floors. Disabled parking is on nearby Chamber Street. On street parking is limited to 2-hour, nearby car parks include the NCP on Holyrood Road. Waverley Station is a 10-minute walk.
The Ghillie Dhu
The Ghillie Dhu is amazing for a really scottish wedding. The dramatic converted church space is known for it's epic ceilidh's & it specialises in Scottish cuisine with a twist. It's a gothic, moody event space lit by dramatic chandeliers & candlelight.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 120
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: ✗
Ali's Insight
The Ghillie Dhu doesn't have its own accommodation but is next door to the massive Waldorf Astoria hotel — when you're ready you can be piped across to the Ghillie Dhu for the wedding, and enjoy the hotel's spa beforehand. I love that you can be in Princes Street Gardens in a couple of minutes, one of the best spots for a picture with Edinburgh Castle behind. The Ghillie Dhu also has access to the gardens in Rutland Square, great for post-ceremony drinks and group photographs. Intimate wedding packages are available Sun-Thurs. If you want a moody gothic feel to your wedding, check it out.
Access & Parking
Ramp entry and a lift up to the Auditorium, with accessible bathrooms on both floors. There is metered on-street parking nearby in the West End. It’s a 10 minute flat walk from Haymarket Station or 5 minutes from the nearest tram stop
Prestonfield House
A 17th-century mansion set in 20 acres of gardens and parkland, five minutes taxi from the Old Town — roaming peacocks, Highland cattle, and Arthur's Seat as a backdrop. Spaces range from intimate private dining rooms to the grand circular Stables ballroom.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 50 or 500*
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: 23
Ali's Insight
The Stables is a popular space for large weddings up to 500, but personally I love the smaller, more intimate rooms - the Stuart Room, Italian Room and Garden Room - within the house, especially when the beautiful decor is lit by candlelight. The decor photographs really well, though some flash is needed as the spaces are dark. It is also a City Centre venue where an outdoor wedding is a possibility. As a foodie, Prestonfield really stands out with its exceptional fine dining.
Access & Parking
As a hotel, Prestonfield has good disabled access and ample free parking — it's the easiest venue on this list for guests driving in. Waverley Station is a 10-minute taxi or a 45-minute walk.
The Caves
Beneath the cobbled streets of the Old Town, in the vaults of the 18th-century South Bridge — three of the most atmospheric wedding spaces in Edinburgh: The Caves, Rowantree and Marlin's Wynd. All three have exposed stone arches, dramatic lighting and their own unique character.
Small weddings from 40 ppl
Guests: up to 150
Accessible: Ltd
Bedrooms: ✗
Ali's Insight
The dark moodiness of the Caves venues is really appealing, and the candles and fairy-lit spaces have a gothic romance to them. I love the challenge of the darkness for creating moody portraits, but there are also brilliant naturally-lit spaces close by — the Royal Mile or the little lanes nearby — which are always more flattering for photos.
Access & Parking
The spaces are dimly lit, so it's not ideal for anyone with accessibility needs, and access varies between the three spaces — worth checking directly with the venue. It's a 10-minute walk from Waverley Station, with parking available at the nearby NCP.
The Edinburgh Grand
A grand Georgian building in the New Town — the old bank building has beautiful art-deco details and panelled rooms, and its feature black-and-white curved atrium is great for wedding photos. The Register Club, Games Room or even the Hawksmoor Restaurant are perfect for intimate weddings.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 50
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: 50
Ali's Insight
Most weddings here are in the Register Club, but I've also photographed a beautiful wedding in the Hawksmoor Restaurant space. At Christmas the hotel is beautifully decorated, and it's right next to Princes Street and George Street — both famous for their Christmas lights — so it's a great choice for a winter wedding. I particularly love the feel of the Games Room, the dramatic stairwell and the building frontage for photographs. If you like a cocktail, it's also worth checking out the speakeasy-style bar, Lady Libertine, in the basement.
Access & Parking
A limited number of accessible rooms are available on request when booking. No on-site parking — nearest option is St James Quarter Car Park, a short walk away. The hotel is right next to Waverley Station, the bus station and the tram stop.
The Bonham
On the edge of the New Town, in the West End, you'll find the Bonham Hotel. A boutique Victorian townhouse on a quiet leafy crescent — the most intimate venues on this list. Couples also get access to the private Drumsheugh Gardens for photographs.
Elopement Package: ✓
Guests: up to 40
Accessible: ✓
Bedrooms: 49
Ali's Insight
As the hotel was built as a house, the spaces are small and have a lovely cosiness, perfect for intimate weddings. For photographs, you can explore the New Town streets and private garden, or take a short walk to picturesque Dean Village and the Water of Leith. If you want to explore further, it's a short taxi ride to Circus Lane or the Old Town locations. Inside the hotel, I love the stairwell and the large windows. The Bonham is a dog-friendly hotel with dedicated dog-friendly rooms, perfect if you want your dog to be part of your day.
Access & Parking
Fully wheelchair accessible via a ramp and lift at the rear of the building (the front entrance has around 6 steps). Small on-site car park (metered) plus on-street parking out front. Haymarket Station is a 15 minute walk (4 minutes by taxi).
Fancy a wander before or after the ceremony?
Venues have their own lovely spots for photos, but sometimes you want a little adventure — just the two of you, away from the crowd, somewhere with a bit more Edinburgh in it.
Edinburgh's Best Photo Spots
From the closes and wynds of the Old Town to the view from Calton Hill, I've got a whole guide and handy map to the city's best photo locations — the ones most couples never think to ask about.
Dreaming of a castle instead?
From ancient romantic ruins to grand exclusive-use estates, my Scottish Castle Guide covers ten venues near Edinburgh — with a quick-glance comparison to help you narrow it down fast.
More Edinburgh venues to consider…
These are venues I haven't personally photographed yet, but they come up often, so here's what's publicly known about each — capacity and ceremony options only, no personal insight I can't back up. Accessibility details aren't included here since I haven't confirmed them first-hand — worth checking directly with the venue. Considering one of these? Get in touch and I'll do the groundwork before your day.
The Signet Library
Grand neoclassical, Old Town, beside St Giles'
Area: Royal Mile, Old Town
Guests: up to 150
Bedrooms: ✗
The Wedding Collective
Historic architecture, minimalist decor, epic views
Area: Calton Hill
Guests: up to 40
Bedrooms: ✗
The Balmoral
5-star hotel, Castle & Princes Street views
Area: Princes Street
Guests: up to 20-280
Bedrooms: 167
Royal College of Physicians
Elegant new town historic library and great hall
Area: New Town
Guests: up to 40- 150
Bedrooms: ✗
Gleneagles Townhouse
Luxury period townhouse spaces with city views
Area: New Town
Guests: ~ 25
Bedrooms: 4
The Georgian House
Period Georgian townhouse with gardens
Area: New Town
Guests: up to 50
Bedrooms: ✗
Your Questions, Answered
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From two (The Bonham and others, if you're eloping) up to 250-plus if you want a bigger celebration. Tell me your rough number and I can point you towards the venues that'll actually fit it.
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A few do — Prestonfield's got 20 acres for it — but most of the classic city-centre spots are indoor ceremonies, with the outdoors saved for photos rather than vows. I can help you plan around that either way.
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For the two of you, I always recommend a black cab over an Uber — they're easier to get in and out of in a wedding dress or kilt, there's more room, and they simply look better in photos than a regular car. I can usually grab a few shots along the way too, so it's not just transport, it's part of the day.
For guests, especially if you've got two venues (ceremony at one, reception at another), a red bus works brilliantly — everyone travels together, nobody's stuck finding taxis, and it keeps the day moving. I've photographed plenty of weddings that use exactly this combination: couple in a black cab, guests on a red bus.
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Most do, in one form or another. Several venues on this list — City Chambers, Riddles Court, The Scotsman, Dovecot, Prestonfield, The Edinburgh Grand and The Bonham — offer a dedicated elopement or intimate wedding package. A few, like The Ghillie Dhu, only offer theirs Sunday–Thursday, so it's worth checking weekday availability if a weekend date matters to you. Others, like The Caves, don't formalise a package but happily host smaller weddings from around 40 guests — so a missing tick doesn't mean a venue's off the table, just that it's booked as a regular wedding rather than a set elopement deal.
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Depends what you want from the day, and your budget. It means the whole venue's yours — no other guests, no other events — which some couples love and others don't mind skipping. Happy to talk through what actually matters for your day.
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Popular venues and dates go quickly, especially spring and summer — once you've got a shortlist, it's worth enquiring sooner rather than later.
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Often, yes. Places like Prestonfield, The Signet Library and The Hub have multiple rooms built for very different guest numbers — worth asking the venue directly what they can flex.
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Most on this list have step-free or ramped access and a lift — Prestonfield House and The Bonham are particularly easy for guests with mobility needs, while The Caves and Riddles Court have some older-building limitations worth checking ahead. I've noted what I found for each above, but always worth confirming directly with the venue for anyone with specific requirements.
Not sure which venue fits your day?
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