Castle Wedding Guide

Thirlestane Castle Outside

Discover The Magic of Thirlestane Castle

Set in the Scottish Borders at Lauder, Thirlestane Castle has its origins in the 13th century. It was rebuilt as the Maitland family home in 1590 and greatly enhanced by the Duke of Lauderdale in the 1670s. In 1840, it was extended and refurbished with the addition of two new wings.

The Maitlands are a famous Scottish family who first came to Britain from France with William the Conqueror. As the seat of the Earls and Duke of Lauderdale, the Castle has at times held a central role in the history of Scotland. Now in the care of a Charitable Trust, Thirlestane has been carefully restored to its former splendour.

You are welcome to visit Thirlestane Castle on-line; we hope that one day you will visit in person.

Weddings at Thirlestane Castle

A wedding day should be perfect and Thirlestane Castle is the perfect fairy-tale venue to host your special event.
Steeped in history, beautiful to view and magic to feel, you will never forget this special wedding venue.

As you enter from our ancient gates and wind through the tree lined drive, the castle’s beautiful facade looms into view. You enter the castle up the 22 steps of the front main staircase and ascend into the stunning, oak panelled Entrance Hall and a welcoming blaze from the Aberdeenshire pink granite fireplace.

You will find lots of information in PDF format in the right column. Please contact us if you have any further queries.

Thirlestane Castle Wedding

Accommodation

Self Catering Accommodation in The State Apartment
Easily reached from Edinburgh, just 25 miles south on the A68 trunk road at Lauder, Thirlestane Castle is best known today as a historic visitor attraction, but until now you might not have thought about it in terms of self catering holiday cottage style accommodation.
With its own private access and exceptional views of the parkland to the front of the Thirlestane Castle, The State Apartment, located within the south wing of the castle, is now available for self catering holiday lets, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to stay in a genuinely historic Scottish castle. It is also very suitable for use as a bridal suite.

Nestling in the gentle Scottish Border hills, with its rose pink sandstone walls and fairytale turrets, Thirlestane Castle holds a uniquely important place in Scottish history. It is one of the oldest and finest castles in the land and home to one of the country’s most distinguished families. Thirlestane Castle has its origins in the 13th century. It was rebuilt as the Maitland family home in 1590 and greatly enhanced by the Duke of Lauderdale in the 1670s.

Thirlestane Castle Accommodation

The Grounds

The Castle is set in extensive parklands overlooking the Lammermuir Hills and the Leader Water, a tributary of the River Tweed.

There is a small formal garden planted with roses, a woodland walk and well spaced picnic tables in a wooded area near the Castle.

The grounds are the haunt of woodpeckers in the summer, sparrowhawks and buzzards are often to be seen, and many waders frequent the banks of the Leader.

The Southern Upland Way stretching from coast to coast runs through part of the parklands, so we get many walkers stopping to admire the castle and picking up refreshment in our Tea Room.

Thirlestane Castle Grounds

Facilities

Thirlestane Castle provides the ideal historic Scottish castle venue for your wedding ceremony.The State Drawing Room can hold up to 100 invited guests for the wedding ceremony and State Dining Room can seat 60, including the bride and groom. Larger weddings can take place by erecting a marquee in the Rose Garden. You may wish, for example, to consider a small ceremony with few guests and hold a larger wedding meal and evening dance in a marquee. Ceremony rooms and kitchen facilities will be able to be accessed prior to the ceremony by arrangement. There is dedicated parking for all forms of transport and the bride, groom, and guests, can access the castle by every means available if they so wish – even by balloon or helicopter. Dressing rooms are available for the principles and cloakroom and toilet facilities for guests. We can recommend a number of wedding specialist services upon request.

Thirlestane Castle Contact information / Location

Thirlestane Castle
Lauder, Berwickshire
SCOTLAND TD2 6RU

Tel: (+44) 01578 722430
Fax: (+44) 01578 722761

Email: weddings@thirlestanecastle.co.uk
Web: www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk