During the Victorian era, Dundee became famous for the three Js: jute, jam and journalism. The city was a global centre for jute processing; was commended for its marmalade production; and is the home of DC Thomson publishers, which is known for publishing the likes of The Beano, The Dandy and The Sunday Post. Dundee is also where Grand Theft Auto’s original developers, DMA Design (now Rockstar North), was founded, which shows just how much talent and drive there is around the city. On top of this, Dundee is just a stone’s throw from loads of amazing Scottish countryside as well as the River Tay and the North Sea coastline. And with so many amazing venues to choose from, this all comes together to make Dundee a lovely place to base your wedding.
Our 2025 Wedding Report found that Dundee and the rest of Scotland are home to 12% of all UK weddings. More than four out of every five (83%) couples who live in the region stay local for their wedding day, which shows just how much there is on offer when it comes to organising an amazing wedding day. And this is certainly helped by the fact that the average cost of a wedding in Dundee is £18,617, which is over £2,000 less than the UK average, showing you can get way more for your money.
Dundee offers the best of both worlds, with a mix of striking urban spaces and rural escapes just a short drive away. It’s known for its warm welcome and independent spirit, making it a great choice for couples looking for somewhere to base their dream wedding.
Thanks to its creative spirit and riverside setting, Dundee has become a hub for modern, design-led weddings with a strong local identity. Industrial-chic venues, from converted mills to modern art galleries, are growing in popularity, offering a backdrop that calls back to the city’s industrial past.
Storytelling plays a central role in Dundee weddings. Whether it’s through documentary-style photography, bespoke vows or handmade favours, couples love to get crafty with their celebrations to help them feel authentic and personalised. This includes handmade stationery, curated playlists featuring local musicians, and even live painting or poetry performances during the day.
Scottish wedding traditions remain firmly in place, including kilts, ceilidhs and whisky bars, which are all common additions to a Dundee wedding. Many couples are also choosing to incorporate bilingual elements (Scots or Gaelic), especially in readings or signage, as a nod to their heritage in a thoughtful, modern way.
Food in Dundee weddings is a point of pride, with a growing focus on local, seasonal ingredients. Couples are moving away from formal dining in favour of relaxed, sociable formats, like grazing tables, small plates and sharing platters. Dishes that local couples love to add to menus include fresh North Sea seafood, Arbroath smokies, locally grown vegetables and artisan cheeses – and not forgetting a little local marmalade, which also makes for a lovely favour, especially when topped off with a personalised label. Great reception dishes might include stovies, Scotch pies or even fish and chips, thanks to there being some really lovely fish bars in and around the city.
Dundee has a great selection of wedding venues, many with views over the River Tay, bursting with history or offering something a little bit different. Whatever vision you have for your wedding venue, you’re bound to find it close by.
Scotland has more than 1,000 castles, many with a rich and colourful history. So could there really be a more iconic location to get married than at a venue filled with centuries' worth of incredible stories? There are plenty of castles around Dundee, too, meaning there’s something for every vibe. Fingask Castle offers you a fairytale wedding hidden away in the countryside; Kinnettles Castle is like something taken straight from the pages of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; Birkhill Castle has a massive 1,500 acres of private grounds, including its very own beach; and Glamis Castle is as imposing and grand as it is beautiful, with some truly stunning interior spaces.
If you’re after luxury but you’d prefer the elegance of a country manor or stately home, there are also plenty around Dundee. Balbirnie House, Cambo Estate, Errol Park, Murrayshall Country Estate and Oswald House are all absolutely gorgeous mansions which offer something unique – the hardest thing will be narrowing it down to just one.
During the summer, you can have a stunning outdoor wedding ceremony or reception thanks to the area around Dundee having an abundance of rolling hills, lovely coastline and picturesque gardens. And there are loads of outdoor wedding venues to choose from, like The Cow Shed Crail, Madeira in Fife, The Rhynd and Backhouse Rossie Estate, which all do a great job of highlighting the local landscapes.
For something your guests won’t forget in a hurry, you could choose a wedding venue that offers something unique. Like, could there be anything more beautiful than exchanging your vows at Scottish Lavender Oils on a sunny late-spring morning? Or how about the quaint elegance of Davidson Legacy Cottage? Another amazing option is the totally one-of-a-kind University Of St Andrews, Lower and Upper College Halls, where royal figures once attended. And of course, there’s no way we couldn’t include some of the area’s fabulous golf courses, with the likes of Brechin Golf Club, Drumoig Golf Hotel and Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa all fantastic venues, whether you love to swing a club or not.
Scotland as a whole is already a highly affordable area to base your wedding, but Dundee in particular has a wide selection of lower-cost wedding venues, which means it’s ideal if you’re not looking to spend a lot of money. Check out The Weaving Shed, Gulistan House, Monikie Hall, Earls Hall and The Old Manor Hotel to see what sort of venue you can secure even with a smaller budget.
The average cost of a wedding venue in Dundee is £5,685, which is around £300 less than the overall UK average. So, not only are there some great and varied venues around the city, but you shouldn’t have much trouble finding one that fits within your budget.
As it’s a popular wedding destination, most couples book their Dundee wedding venue around 12 to 18 months in advance, but this can be in excess of two years if you’re after a particularly popular venue or date.
If you’re happy to consider a weekday or off-peak date during the colder months, this wait can drop to around six months. This flexibility also means you can save some money, too, as many venues offer reduced rates when there are fewer couples looking to get married.
Dundee is often called Scotland’s sunniest city, and while it’s still Scotland (so, yes, rain is possible any time), it does have a drier and brighter climate than many other regions around the country.
Spring (March - May) brings fresh greenery, and is when places like Baxter Park really come to life. With average highs ranging from 9°C to 13°C (48°F to 55°F), it’s perfect for daffodil-strewn ceremonies with a little outdoor socialising, such as at Megginch Castle Weddings and Kinkell Byre.
Summer (June - August) is the most popular time to wed in Dundee, and with average highs of 17°C to 19°C (63°F to 66°F), riverside venues and other outdoor spots like Cardney Steading Events & Weddings and Rossie on the Earn make for a great choice.
Autumn (September - November) might be when the temperatures drop to a range of 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F), but the beautiful autumnal colours can add real drama to your day. Venues like Murthly Estate and Leonardo Boutique Huntingtower Perth, which have both indoor and outdoor spaces, are great and let you make the most of the last bit of sun before winter.
Winter (December - February) is quiet, calm and ideal for couples who love a festive atmosphere. Average highs tend to stick around 5°C to 7°C (41°F to 45°F), but it can get rather icy and even snowy at times, so an indoor venue like Lomond Hills Hotel & Leisure Centre is a must.
Dundee is well connected and easy to reach by road, rail and air, making it ideal for guests coming from across Scotland or further afield. The A90 links Dundee directly with Perth and Aberdeen, while the M90 connects it to Edinburgh via the Forth Bridge.
Dundee’s train station sits right on the waterfront, with regular direct services to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. It’s just 90 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley and around 75 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street, which is perfect for guests travelling from central Scotland.
For those flying in, Dundee Airport (DND) offers flights to and from London City, while Edinburgh (EDI) and Aberdeen Airports (ABZ) are each around 90 minutes away by car or rail.
Dundee is a popular place to visit, so there are loads of accommodation options in and around the city. Whether you and your guests would prefer a spa hotel, a quiet boutique stay or one of the big-name budget chains, there’s plenty to choose from. There’s also a wide selection of hotels that are wedding venues in their own right, so you can spend your entire day in one location, which does wonders if you’re worried about the logistics of everything. Some of the top hotel wedding venues around Dundee include Fairmont St Andrews, Mercure Perth Hotel, The Bein Inn Hotel and Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa.
