When you think of Scottish wedding venues, chances are high that one of the first locations you think about is Edinburgh. And that’s no surprise, considering Edinburgh is a beautiful city filled with history, incredible architecture and lovely gardens. But, not to be counted out is East Lothian, which borders the Scottish capital and has its own fair share of wonderful spots to tie the knot. From the incredible seaside views at Tyninghame Beach to the quaintness of North Berwick, East Lothian is a beautiful and welcoming part of the country, which makes it an ideal location to host your big day.
Our 2025 Wedding Report found that 12% of all UK weddings take place in East Lothian and the wider Scottish region, making it one of the most popular places in the UK to get married. More than four out of every five (83%) couples choose to stay in the area for their wedding day, which shows just how much pride locals have in what East Lothian has to offer. The average cost of a wedding in the region is £18,617, more than £2,000 less than the overall UK average of £20,822, making East Lothian not only a picturesque place to host your wedding day, but one also suitable if you’re conscious of not breaking the bank.
East Lothian is a highly sought-after wedding destination, so you’ll need to make sure you get in there quickly when booking your venue. Many venues have a lead time of 12 to 18 months, but for some of the more popular venues, or for weddings that take place during the summer season or at weekends, you might need to get your names down two or more years ahead of time.
For off-peak or midweek weddings, availability can be as low as six months, especially for winter weddings, when fewer couples choose to get married. Some venues may even have last-minute availability just a few months in advance if you’re flexible and happy to consider a variety of options. Despite this, we recommend booking your venue as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.
From the puffins sitting on the face of Bass Rock to any one of the 22 golf courses across the region, East Lothian has some truly incredible landscapes. And among all that is a huge variety of wedding venues suitable for all tastes, styles and budgets.
Like the rest of Scotland, East Lothian has its fair share of castles and historic buildings. Winton Castle in Tranent and the rustic ruins of Dirleton Castle in North Berwick allow you to have a Scottish ceremony fit for royalty. Or, for a more lavish and luxurious mansion wedding, the area has stately homes and country manors that are bursting at the seams with class. Carberry Tower Mansion House and Estate, Greywalls Hotel and Gilmerton House are just some of the incredible historic houses you can book around the region.
During the summer months, East Lothian makes for a great location to soak in some sun and fresh air with an outdoor ceremony. Broxmouth Courtyard is a fantastic purpose-built luxury venue with various wedding spaces; The Seton Garden is a quaint walled garden with bags of charm; and Leuchie Walled Garden provides modern luxuries set within 200 years of historic gardens.
East Lothian is a golfer’s paradise and is home to renowned and celebrated courses, including the world-famous Muirfield. Many of the courses also have brilliant event spaces, making them ideal for hosting your wedding. Courses like Glen Golf Club, Golf Inn Hotel and The Brunton are all lovely venues, and you don’t even need to be a golfer to appreciate them.
There are also loads of affordable venues around East Lothian, so you can have the wedding of your dreams even if you don’t want to spend too much. Check out venues like Eats on the Green and Ravelston House Hotel Limited to see what you can get in the region for a smaller budget.
The average cost of a wedding venue in East Lothian, along with the rest of Scotland, is £5,685. This is less than the overall UK average of £5,945, which means not only can you have a wonderful wedding in East Lothian, but you can also spend less than other couples across the country.
East Lothian’s wedding scene is all about embracing nature and the beauty that you’ll find in such abundance around the area. Many couples choose rustic and countryside themes, with barn weddings and outdoor ceremonies becoming increasingly popular during the warmer summer months. Similarly, with such a rich golf culture in the area, couples are all too happy to choose venues at one of the 22 courses across East Lothian.
Nostalgia also plays a big part in East Lothian weddings, as couples inject their weddings with sentimental touches of yesteryear. This means incorporating heirloom pieces, choosing retro-inspired attire and going for venues with historical significance to create a timeless atmosphere. To juxtapose this approach, couples are also choosing bold colour schemes, picking bright reds and blues to really make the decor pop. Reflecting this love of nostalgia and sentimentality, couples in East Lothian rely on the area's natural beauty, spending an average of £889 on their decor, compared to what couples spend on average across the UK, at £1,132.
Another emerging trend in East Lothian is smaller, more personal ceremonies with winding tables. This helps create an intimate and cosy feel, with the circular layout encouraging conversation and interaction.
From the puffins sitting on the face of Bass Rock to any one of the 22 golf courses across the region, East Lothian has some truly incredible landscapes. And among all that is a huge variety of wedding venues suitable for all tastes, styles and budgets.
Like the rest of Scotland, East Lothian has its fair share of castles and historic buildings. Winton Castle in Tranent and the rustic ruins of Dirleton Castle in North Berwick allow you to have a Scottish ceremony fit for royalty. Or, for a more lavish and luxurious mansion wedding, the area has stately homes and country manors that are bursting at the seams with class. Carberry Tower Mansion House and Estate, Greywalls Hotel and Gilmerton House are just some of the incredible historic houses you can book around the region.
During the summer months, East Lothian makes for a great location to soak in some sun and fresh air with an outdoor ceremony. Broxmouth Courtyard is a fantastic purpose-built luxury venue with various wedding spaces; The Seton Garden is a quaint walled garden with bags of charm; and Leuchie Walled Garden provides modern luxuries set within 200 years of historic gardens.
East Lothian is a golfer’s paradise and is home to renowned and celebrated courses, including the world-famous Muirfield. Many of the courses also have brilliant event spaces, making them ideal for hosting your wedding. Courses like Glen Golf Club, Golf Inn Hotel and The Brunton are all lovely venues, and you don’t even need to be a golfer to appreciate them.
There are also loads of affordable venues around East Lothian, so you can have the wedding of your dreams even if you don’t want to spend too much. Check out venues like Eats on the Green and Ravelston House Hotel Limited to see what you can get in the region for a smaller budget.
The average cost of a wedding venue in East Lothian, along with the rest of Scotland, is £5,685. This is less than the overall UK average of £5,945, which means not only can you have a wonderful wedding in East Lothian, but you can also spend less than other couples across the country.
Autumn (September – November) is ideal for cosy, romantic weddings, but with a higher chance of grey and rainy days. Temperatures range from 15°C (59°F) in September to 7°C (45°F) in November, so you’ll want to find a venue with enough indoor space like you’ll find at the Dunglass Estate.
Winter (December – February) is cold in East Lothian, with temperatures between 1°C (34°F) and 6°C (43°F), but often dropping below zero. It can also be rather windy at times, with cold air coming in from the Firth of Forth. So, you’ll get beautiful wedding photos in winter, but you’ll want to go with a venue that’s predominantly indoors.
One of the biggest benefits of an East Lothian wedding is just how close it is to Edinburgh, which means there are great travel links to help bring you and your guests to the area.
For those travelling by rail, Edinburgh Waverley is the main hub right in the centre of the city, with direct services from London, Glasgow, Newcastle and beyond. From there, regular trains and buses connect to towns across East Lothian, including Musselburgh, North Berwick and Dunbar.
For international guests, Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is just 40 minutes away by road, offering flights to other UK airports as well as European cities.
By road, East Lothian is well connected by the A1, which provides easy access from Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. Driving is the easiest way to get to many of the region’s more remote areas, so this is something to bear in mind if you know that a lot of your guests will need to rely on public transport.
Hotels are easy to come by in the area, thanks to it being a popular holiday and short-stay destination for tourists and holidaymakers across Scotland and Northern England. You’ll find an abundance of family-run B&Bs, as well as hotels that also have event spaces of their own, making them a fantastic and convenient location to have your wedding. Venues such as Marine North Berwick, Nether Abbey Hotel and Bayswell Hotel should all be added to your list of considerations when looking for wedding venues in East Lothian.
