Melville Castle

Located just outside Edinburgh, Melville Castle offers a memorable setting for couples looking for a Scottish castle wedding close to the city. Couples can choose from flexible venue hire, tailored wedding packages and menus created with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

The castle also has 33 individually styled bedrooms, including nine suites, with two bridal suites inspired by its historic links to Mary Queen of Scots and David Rizzio.

Wedding highlights at Melville Castle

•    Historic castle wedding venue near Edinburgh
•    Located in Midlothian, around 20 minutes from Edinburgh city centre
•    54 acres of parkland and woodland
•    Exclusive-use and non-exclusive-use options
•    Wedding packages for elopements, intimate weddings and larger celebrations
•    Ceremony and reception spaces for up to 200 guests
•    In-house catering and bespoke menus
•    33 bedrooms, including nine suites
•    Two bridal suites
•    Fireworks displays permitted and arranged by the team

Wedding ceremony and reception spaces at Melville Castle

Set within the castle and its stunning grounds, Melville Castle offers a selection of ceremony and reception spaces, from elegant indoor rooms to outdoor ceremonies and a spacious marquee.

Ceremony spaces

Choose from Melville Castle’s range of indoor and outdoor settings, each with distinctive backdrops for your vows.

•    Viscount Room licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 130 guests
•    Ballroom licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 130 guests
•    Outdoor ceremony locations within the castle grounds (weather permitting)
•    Marquee suitable for larger ceremonies of up to 200 guests

Reception and dining spaces

Flexible reception spaces cater for wedding breakfasts of all sizes.

•    Ballroom dining capacity of 70 guests
•    Marquee accommodating wedding breakfasts/receptions for up to 200 guests
•    Arniston Room dining capacity of up to 26 guests
•    Private dining options available for pre-wedding celebrations

Intimate wedding spaces

Smaller rooms provide elegant settings for private ceremonies, dining and intimate celebrations.

•    Hay Room seating up to 10 guests
•    Boardroom seating up to 10 guests
•    Arniston Room with views across the East Lawn

Photography opportunities

The castle’s historic interiors and landscaped grounds provide a variety of picturesque settings for wedding photography.

•    Elegant castle interiors with period features
•    East Lawn views and manicured grounds
•    Dedicated backdrops for couple portraits and group photographs
•    Seasonal outdoor settings for wedding photography throughout the year

Melville Castle wedding packages and pricing

Melville Castle offers a choice of wedding packages and venue hire options, with 2027 pricing available for elopements, intimate weddings and larger castle celebrations.

All Taken Care Of package

The All Taken Care Of package is designed for couples who want the key wedding details arranged with the support of the venue and its trusted suppliers. This package includes:

•    Venue hire with exclusive or non-exclusive options
•    Food and drink for 80 guests
•    Three-tier wedding cake
•    Seasonal wedding flowers
•    Bridal hair and makeup
•    Scottish piper
•    Post box and wedding stationery
•    Honeymoon Suite on the wedding night
•    15 room discount vouchers

2027 pricing

•    From £20,710 (Sunday–Thursday, November–March) 
•    Up to £24,510 (Saturday, June–August)

Additional guests can be added at £200 per person.

Perfectly Petite package

The Perfectly Petite package is created for smaller castle weddings. This package includes: 

•    Non-exclusive venue hire
•    Food and drink for 20 guests
•    One-tier wedding cake
•    Bridal bouquet and buttonhole
•    Ceremony piper
•    Hotel post box
•    Honeymoon Suite on the wedding night

2027 pricing

•    From £6,995 (Sunday–Thursday, November–March)
•    Up to £8,995 (selected dates)

Up to 20 additional day guests can be added at £190 per person. Accommodation is booked separately and subject to availability.

Enchanting Elopement Package

The Enchanting Elopement package is designed for castle elopements with 2-20 guests. Classic and Deluxe options are available. This package includes:

•    Private use of one function room
•    Canapés and Champagne 
•    Four-course wedding breakfast
•    Bouquet and buttonhole
•    Humanist celebrant
•    Ceremony witnesses
•    Wedding-night accommodation

The Deluxe Package also includes:

•    Four-poster room
•    Red carpet arrival
•    Ceremony piper
•    Personalised place cards and menus

2027 pricing

•    From £2,545 for the Classic Package
•    From £3,045 for the Deluxe Package

Available Sunday–Thursday. Up to 20 additional guests can be added at £190 per person. Additional accommodation is booked separately and subject to availability.

Exclusive and non-exclusive venue hire

Melville Castle offers both non-exclusive and exclusive-use wedding venue hire.

In 2027, prices start from £2,200 for non-exclusive use and £8,200 for exclusive use. Peak Saturday pricing rises to £6,000 for non-exclusive use and £17,000 for exclusive use.

Exclusive use includes private hire of the full venue, function rooms and grounds from 1pm until 11am the following day.

On-site accommodation

Melville Castle has 33 individually styled bedrooms, including nine suites, giving couples and wedding guests the option to stay overnight after the celebration.
Each room has its own character, with Scottish design details and Egyptian cotton bedding. Guests can also enjoy breakfast the following morning.

Bridal suites

Melville Castle offers two bridal suites inspired by the castle’s historic links to Mary Queen of Scots and David Rizzio. These rooms give newlyweds a special setting for the wedding night, with extra space and thoughtful details. 

Food and drink at Melville Castle

Melville Castle’s chefs create wedding menus to suit a range of tastes, guest numbers and celebration styles. Couples can choose from canapés, a wedding breakfast and evening food, with dishes made using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local suppliers.

Bespoke menus can also be arranged for couples with a specific dining style or dietary requirement in mind.

Newlywed testimonial

“Our whole wedding was fantastic and so beautiful. The staff dealt with everything and let us just enjoy our day. The rooms were also stunning.

“Amy who was working the bar and also the events manager were both excellent and made the day so special and gave us the best service.” – Ashley and Jermaine, April 2026

FAQs

Where is Melville Castle?

Melville Castle is located just outside Edinburgh in Midlothian. It is around a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh’s city centre and just over an hour from Glasgow.

Can external caterers be used?

No, Melville Castle does not have facilities for external caterers.  However, the castle’s in-house chefs can create bespoke menus for each wedding.

Is Melville Castle accessible?

Yes, the castle is fully accessible and has accessible rooms and facilities.

Can you have a fireworks display at Melville Castle?

Yes, fireworks displays are permitted at Melville Castle and can be arranged by the team.

How much does a wedding at Melville Castle cost?

Wedding costs depend on the date, day of the week, guest numbers, package and whether exclusive use is required. Prices are based on venue hire, food, drink and any added extras, with bedrooms charged separately.