I don’t think that there are many brides that haven’t toyed with the idea of getting married in a true fairy-tale castle; gliding up a grand stone staircase in a white gown, serenaded by pipers. It’s many a little girl’s dream. Well, these dreams can be fulfilled in the breathtakingly beautiful setting of Dunrobin Castle. And if you think that a castle wedding isn’t for you, I defy you to read on and not be enchanted…..

As a wedding planner, I see 100s of venues regularly, but without a doubt one of my favourite castle wedding venues is Dunrobin . It boasts the most stunningly romantic backdrop for any wedding. Picture postcard French towers and turrets, ornate gardens with fountains, and unbroken sea views. It looks like an illustration from a storybook.

Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. It is on the east coast of the Northern Highlands overlooking the Moray Firth, just north of the villages of Golspie and Dornoch (famous for its cathedral and Royal Dornoch Golf Club), and only one hour form Inverness. Highlights in Sutherland include the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre, and Clynelish Whisky Distillery in Brora. In nearby Caithness, you can enjoy the late Queen Mother’s Castle of Mey, Smoo Cave at Durness, and of course being at the very top of Britain at John o’Groats. Regular ferries run from Scrabster, near Thurso, to the Orkney Islands.

Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses. It has been called home to the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century and was first mentioned as a stronghold of the family in 1401.   The motto of Clan Sutherland is Sans Peur, French for Without Fear. It appears on both the Countess’s Coat of Arms and the Clan Crest. The Earldom of Sutherland was created in 1235 and a castle appears to have stood on this site since then, possibly on the site of an early medieval fort. The name Dun Robin means Robin’s Hill or Fort in Gaelic and may have come from Robert, the 6th Earl of Sutherland who died in 1427.

There a many different options for your wedding ceremony at Dunrobin. You can hire The Drawing Room (which was redesigned by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1915)  or The Library (which hosts a magnificent portrait by Philip de Laszlo of Duchess Eileen) for your ceremony, or, for guest numbers of more than 100, a marquee can be erected on the lawn. The stunning dining room – with its Khorassan carpet, table set with Georgian silver and oak chairs of Stuart period design with needlework by Duchess Eileen, wife of the 5th Duke – can be hired for private dining, or the entire castle can be hired out exclusively for your big day.

Unfortunately in my experience, an amazing venue can be let down by its staff. This is most definitely not the case at Dunrobin. Scott and his highly skilled staff are so welcoming and helpful you will find it hard to leave! At Dunrobin, the staff pride themself on offering an unparalleled level of service ensuring that every wedding is unique. They want every bride and groom to feel that Dunrobin is their magical place. And another plus point is that despite its amazing setting, Dunrobin is affordable.

For a magnificent castle in a magnificent setting, choose Dunrobin Castle.

Lucy

Tags: highland weddings, scottish castle, scottish castle weddings, scottish weddings, wedding planners