The Best Wedding Venues in the Scottish Borders

Clint Lodge

What’s to love.. Tucked away in the rolling Borders countryside surrounded by wheat and barley fields - Clint Lodge is an idyllic hideaway. The lodge is ideally proportioned for a romantic elopement and there’s ample space adjacent to erect a marquee for larger wedding parties.

There are nearby barley fields with views of the Eildon Hills during the Summer months - and at any time of the year the famous nearby viewpoint at Scotts View gives an awesome backdrop for photographs that will take your breath away. This is one of the most famously photographed and painted views in the Borders and for good reason!

Location: Clint Lodge, St. Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0DZ.

Nearby Accommodation: Clint Lodge B&B, Mulberry Cottage.

Location: Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, TD2 6RU. Wikipedia Entry

Nearby Accommodation: Thirlestane Castle, The Hen Hoose, Langshaw, Fishing Hut

Thirlestane Castle

What’s to love.. Rose-coloured sandstone ascends into lofty spires - it takes a moment of awe to take in this unique castle. On a crisp blue-sky day there’s nothing else to come close to Thirlestane Castle for wow-factor.

And inside - things get even more exciting.. in addition to the historic state rooms the Eastern side of the castle has recently been converted to five-star accommodation. The self contained, self-catered (or catered) apartments offer an amazing stay for your family and guests.

The Castle offers a wide variety of wedding settings throughout the grounds and within the Castle itself - including an amazing Victorian kitchen for truly unique appeal.

Thirlestane Castle is a fairytale setting in every sense of the word.

Location: Ednam House, Bridge Street, Kelso, TD5 7HT

Nearby Accommodation: Ednam House, The Old Seed Store, Kelso, Abbeyside Holiday Cottage, Kelso.

Ednam House

What’s to love..

The gardens at Ednam House give so much scope for a relatively compact area - there’s everything from atmospheric tree-lined avenues, immaculate borders, rich textures with tall Alliums and Agapanthus.

A short skip across the road from Ednam House are the magnificent remains of Kelso Abbey - giving an alternative sheltered outdoor location for photographs with superb sandstone pillars and painterly light.

The Southwest facing hotel grounds overlooking the River Tweed provide a glorious view of the sunset at any time of year and the riverside gazebo adorned by fairy lights is the perfect place to skip out for spectacular sunset photographs at the end of the day.

Carfraemill

What’s to love..

Scope for a Marquee of epic scale - to accommodate large celebrations - within grounds that feel intimate and personal.

A short drive into the country behind Carfraemill the Beech-lined single-track road forms a tunnel-like channel with gorgeous colour - vibrant fresh green in Spring and warm russet red in Autumn.. head up here in the evening light and awesome photographs are to be found.

Location: Carfraemill, Lauder, TD2 6RA

Nearby Accommodation: Carfraemill, The House on the Hill, Lauder. Bridge Cottage, Oxton Thirlestane Castle.

Manderston House

What’s to love.. The indoor spaces at Manderston House have the most beautiful light and outdoors there is a mixture of immaculate formal gardens and informal grounds.

Eye-watering character features like the footbridge over the lake, boathouse and entrance gate to the formal garden - adorned by stone griffins offer unique scope for magical photographs.

In late Spring as the Rhododendrons and Azaleas begin to flower in the woodland garden the riot of colour and texture is the perfect companion to the formal gardens..

Indoors and out, come rain or shine Manderston is simply put - a perfect wedding setting - just add you.

Location: Manderston, Duns, TD11 3PP. Wikipedia Entry.

Nearby Accommodation: West Bastlebog Cottage,

Bowhill House

What’s to love..

When I first visited Bowhill House to reccy prior to photographing there - with my first sight of the ornate wrought-iron gates and immaculate Beech-lined avenues drawing me toward the House - I was hooked.

There are spectacular ornamental Beech hedges, and the variety of trees around the house and in the Arboretum give invigorating Autumn colour.

My favourite aspect of Bowhill House for wedding photography are the sweeping views across the idyllic countryside setting - typifying the best of the Borders landscape.

Location: Harmony House, St Mary’s Road, Melrose, TD6 9LJ

Nearby Accommodation: Smiddy Self Catering Cottage, Melrose, Stables Self Catering Cottage, Melrose, Orchard Cottage, Melrose.

Harmony House

What’s to love.. Melrose has such a warm, welcoming feel and Harmony House perfectly reflects this - enclosed by a high wall, visiting feels like discovering a secret garden.. A garden which is immaculately presented (as you would expect from the National Trust for Scotland).

Harmony Cottage across the garden from the main House is a delightful spot for wedding preparations in the morning - and it’s a beautiful walk through the garden to make an entrance for your ceremony.

The ornate staircase inside the house is a wonder of Escher-like perspective.. amazing for photographs.

The garden itself is a perfect Summer idyll which manages to carry colour and texture into each season, but in Summer it’s a triumph and on a scale which won’t exhaust you to get to the best bits.. There’s even a cute country-garden greenhouse.

Close to Harmony House are some of the most picturesque highlights of the Borders - if you’re feeling adventurous, including Melrose Abbey and the stunning Leaderfoot Viaduct. To complete the wish-list, there’s enough space to erect a Marquee of any scale.. as a wedding photographer - you cannot wish for more.

Branxholm Park House

What’s to love..

Specialising particularly in small intimate weddings - Branxholm Park House offers gorgeous refined character with some eye-catching design and imaginative detailing for outdoor space.

Branxholm Park House thoroughly embraces it’s beautiful outdoor spaces with the concept of ‘outdoor rooms’ which I love - allowing you to find cosy comfort in an outdoor setting with unique character and beautiful atmosphere.

Delightful woodlands await to be explored and these come alive with fairy-light and fire-pit cosiness by night.

Dryburgh Abbey

What’s to love.. The towering arches of Dryburgh Abbey surrounded by lofty Ceders and the lush green banks of the river Tweed as the water rolls by.. The atmosphere at Dryburgh is that of calm and peace. Being a huge fan of sandstone, as I am - both the Abbey and the adjacent hotel glow with the pink, peach and rose tones of ancient rock.

There’s a beautiful juxtaposition between the magnificent old stone Abbey and the vibrant green trees that surround it - softening rugged masonry. This is a fantastically romantic location for photographs with huge scope for variation without having to walk for miles from one epic view to another.

The sunsets at the end of the day - with wide views of the open sky beyond the Tweed are a stunning way to finish photographing with a flourish!

Wedderburn Castle and Barns

What’s to love.. ‘..And Barns’ - those two words always fill me with tingles - ‘And Barns’ is one of the greatest terms any wedding photographer can hear. I adore a barn setting for a wedding reception - there’s so much warmth and intimacy to be found - you know there will be wooden beams, warm stonework and cosy lighting with perfect atmosphere guaranteed!

And leaving aside my obsession for barns - the Castle is a dream, hewn in bright creamy stone.

There’s a wonderful symmetry to the castle design which is awesome for photographs and there are so many options for ceremony location you’re spoiled.

For wedding photographs - there’s everything from grand castle vistas to hidden corners; wide open lawns to deep lush woodland..

Melrose Church and Gattonside Suspension Bridge

What’s to love.. Couple this beautiful paring with an elegant marquee at the location of your choosing and this is a sublime combination - worthy of an honourable mention.

The countryside in the Borders compares with the best you’ll find anywhere in the UK. Sometimes you really don’t need to force things - just embrace what you have on your doorstep!

Location: Melrose Parish Church, Melrose, TD6 9SF

Nearby Accommodation: Smiddy Self Catering Cottage, Melrose, Stables Self Catering Cottage, Melrose, Orchard Cottage, Melrose.