One of the absolute joys of getting married in Scotland is that you can get married wherever you want so if you want an outdoor wedding ceremony, you can have one. Whether it’s at home, at a local village hall, half way up a hillside… the world – or at least Scotland – is your proverbial oyster. What makes Scotland different to some other parts of the UK, is that it’s the celebrant, not the venue, that has the license for weddings. So if you want to have an outdoor wedding ceremony, you absolutely can!

Maybe you want to have a micro wedding in the Pentland hills? Or perhaps tie the knot with a unique Scottish beach wedding?

But if you’re looking for a venue that has capacity for an outdoor ceremony (and maybe some indoor space later in the day) then here’s my guide to some of my favourite venues in Scotland. And if your wedding date collides with the latest Met Office named storm you can always opt to move indoors.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding ceremony in Scotland, then you should definitely check out my must-have check list when you’re getting married outside in Scotland.

The Cruin, Loch Lomond

The Cruin is a long favourite venue of mine. It has amazing views over the famous Loch Lomond and onsite accommodation for your wedding party. This makes it a brilliant spot for a wedding, and they can easily move an outdoor ceremony from the patio back inside if required. With your ceremony taking place on the patio, there’s no damp grass to contend with for high heels and chairs. It’s also all on one level, which makes it work well with accessibility. Just watch out for the seaplane flying past, which always gets a smile!

This is a blog post about a beautiful Cruin wedding I photographed.

Venue: The Cruin

Altskeith House, Stirlingshire

Another venue close to a Scottish loch, is the beautiful setting of Altskeith House at Loch Ard, near Aberfoyle. Again, you can get married inside, but if the weather is good, why not opt for an outdoor ceremony? You can enjoy views of the loch and of Ben Lomond outside this beautiful house. You can stay in the house as well for your prep, and if you fancy it, head out on the loch in a rowing boat for some romantic newlywed photographs.

Head to my blog if you want to see more from this Altskeith House wedding.

Venue: Altskeith House

The Tall Ship Glenlee, Glasgow

I loved photographing this wedding at the Tall Ship Glenlee next to the Riverside Museum this year. Having a ceremony on the upper deck creates a beautiful and unique wedding experience. It’s one of the more unusual outdoor ceremony locations as it’s located in a city. That means it’s fantastic if you’re having guests travelling from far and wide, as you’ll have all the convenience of a city location while still enjoying being outside. Want more ideas for a Glasgow wedding? Have a look at my recommended Glasgow wedding venues here.

Venue: Tall Ship Glasgow

Carrick Castle Estate, Argyll and Bute

Carrick Castle Estate is located near Lochgoilhead and offers the chance for a lovely outdoor ceremony on their vast lawn overlooking the loch and the hills. You and your immediate wedding party can stay in the lodge overnight, have your ceremony on the lawn outside, and then drink and party in the barn. This is a brilliant venue that you can really make your own and tailor to suit your style.

Venue: Carrick Castle Estate

Fingask Castle, Perthshire

Fingask Castle in Perthshire is a gorgeous location for an outdoor ceremony. You can of course get married inside the castle or in the marquee on the grounds as well, if you prefer, so it’s a brilliant versatile location. I particularly like the topiary as well around the grounds, which breaks up the setting and add depth and dimension to the photos. The trees and plants also act as a great windbreak as well, which is useful for an outdoor wedding venue in Scotland. It’s definitely a venue with plenty of character and quirks.

Venue: Fingask Castle

Guardswell Farm, Perthshire

You can of course have an indoor wedding at Guardswell Farm, but this outdoor wedding shows that you can get outside too if you want. I love Perthshire for weddings – it’s not got the cold bite of the North Sea wind, but also not the annual rainfall of the West Coast. It does however boast beautiful rolling agricultural landscape and views, making it a favourite location for Scottish countryside weddings. Guardswell Farm is a perfect spot if you want to enjoy all of that, as well as a warm and inviting farm with plenty of buildings and indoor spaces for your guests. You can see some more photos from this Guardswell Farm wedding blog post.

Venue: Guardswell Farm

Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire

Glenapp Castle is a stunning location with vast grounds which make it a brilliant venue for an outdoor wedding ceremony. It’s ideal if you’re after a luxury venue to have the wow factor. This photograph is from an elopement in the grounds that took place under a tree next to the pond. If you’re planning a large wedding or a looking for a photographer for a simple Scottish elopement here then I’d love to hear from you! It offers lots of options for photographs, both indoors and outside. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful too, and it really feels like you’re in a different world.

Venue: Glenapp Castle

If you’re planning an outdoor wedding ceremony in Scotland and looking for a photographer, I’d love to hear from you. You can read more about my approach to fun wedding photography in Scotland, and contact me here.