When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s… Moray! Okay, we promise not to do any moray Moray puns, but this beautiful area of northern Scotland is definitely worth singing about. Tucked between the Highlands and the Moray Firth, Moray is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets, with some truly lovely and historic towns, dramatic coastlines and views of the Cairngorms mountain range. This means Moray makes for a fantastic wedding destination, and where better to toast your special day with a whisky than in an area known as Malt Whisky Country, which even has its own whisky trail.
Our 2025 Wedding Report revealed that Moray (as well as the rest of Scotland) is where 12% of all UK weddings take place. More than four in every five (83%) local couples choose to stay close by for their wedding day, no doubt helped by the fact that Scottish weddings cost an average of £18,617, which is over £2,000 less than the overall UK average. So, not only can you have an absolutely stunning Moray wedding, but you can also pay less than other couples across the county.
With a brilliant selection of venues, from ancient castles to seaside retreats, as well as plenty of vendors to suit all tastes and budgets, you really can’t go wrong with a wedding in Moray.
Moray weddings lean heavily into the natural beauty of the area and play close attention to Scottish traditions to ensure an atmosphere focused on relaxed elegance.
Highland backdrops, whisky bars, handfasting ceremonies and pipers are popular features, as well as all the traditional Scottish wedding attire, of course. On top of this, Scottish couples love to include Scottish culinary staples like haggis and tattie scones somewhere on the menu. And don’t forget to offer your guests a local whisky instead of fizz for the toasts!
Because the region is so beautiful, couples look for eco-conscious wedding venues and vendors who prioritise green practices to ensure they’re doing their part.
With plenty of space, scenery and soul around Moray, guests are also embracing al fresco weddings, taking things outside thanks to the lower likelihood of rain in the region. And not just the summer months, either – couples are choosing venues with both indoor and outdoor spaces year-round, with the hope that they can go wherever they like on their special day.
Moray offers a mix of historic, rustic and coastal venues, from castles and country houses to distilleries, farms and hotels overlooking the sea, suitable no matter what vibe you’re looking for from your special day.
Scotland is home to more than 1,000 castles and, of course, Moray has its fair share. Some of the region’s castles also make for incredible wedding venues, which means you can tie the knot in a location filled with history and luxury. Brodie Castle is a 16th-century castle filled with elegance, grandeur and a world-famous art collection. Gordon Castle is just about as gorgeous as any wedding venue can be, and has a pristine eight-acre walled garden. If country manors are more your vibe, Cluny Bank Hotel is nestled on the outskirts of Forres, with its own beautiful grounds that are perfect for your wedding photoshoot.
If the thought of including the Moray countryside in your wedding is important to you, there are venues that have lovely outdoor spaces, so you can have an open-air celebration during the warmer spring, summer and autumn months. Venues such as Laichmoray Hotel and Innes House have truly lovely outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, and should be high on your list of options.
To help make your wedding day extra special, you could choose a venue which is a little different or with some extra history to it. The Old Church of Urquhart is a lovely converted church, and now even offers its own on-site accommodation. Or you might go for Elgin Cathedral, otherwise known as the 13th-century Lantern of the North, a cathedral ruin which looks stunning when decked out in flowers, fairy lights and ribbons.
Scotland is already one of the more affordable UK regions for a wedding, but Moray makes for a great wedding destination if you have a limited budget. Take a look at Moray Registry Office in Buckie and Archiestown Hotel & Bistro to see what type of venue you can get, even with a small amount to spend.
The average cost of a wedding venue in Moray, as well as Scotland as a whole, is £5,685, which is a little less than the UK average of £5,945. There are also plenty of savings to be made with other vendors, from florists to cake makers, ensuring you can have a wonderful wedding in Moray regardless of the size of your budget.
The average booking lead time for weddings in and around Moray is around 12 to 18 months. This can be longer during the summer, when there are more tourists in the area, so don’t be surprised if you have to book more than two years in advance. This especially applies if you want to get married at the weekend, so make sure you go in prepared.
You can cut this lead time right down with a little flexibility. If you can choose a date during the winter or during the middle of the week, the lead time can come down to as low as six months. Plus, venues often have some kind of off-peak discount, meaning you’ll also save some money.
Moray enjoys a mild coastal climate compared to much of northern Scotland, thanks to the warmth that comes in from the Moray Firth.
Spring (March – May) is a lovely time of year in Moray, with average highs of 9°C to 14°C (48°F to 57°F). It’s a peaceful season ideal for quiet and intimate weddings at castles, in gardens and by the coast.
Summer (June – August) offers the warmest weather and longest daylight hours, including those iconic late northern sunsets. Expect average highs of 16°C to 19°C (61°F to 66°F), and less chance of rain, as Moray gets 25% less rain than England.
Autumn (September – November) brings stunning foliage and a cosier feel to Moray’s manor houses and countryside venues. Temperatures range from 8°C to 14°C (46°F to 57°F), so a venue with a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, like Cullen Bay Hotel, is a great choice.
Winter (December – February) weddings in Moray often take place at all-in-one locations like Mill House Hotel, which offer warm and festive vibes and mean you don’t need to worry about heading outside, where snow is entirely possible. That being said, a little snow can make for some truly magical wedding photos!
Despite its rural setting in northern Scotland, Moray is relatively easy to reach by road and public transport.
By train, Elgin is the main station in the region, with direct services from Inverness and Aberdeen, each taking around 90 minutes. Many Moray venues are then within a 30-minute drive of Elgin or Forres.
If you’re driving, the A96 runs through the region, making it convenient for guests travelling from the central belt or the north coast. Just bear in mind that during inclement weather, some of the roads around Moray can be rather dicey.
For guests flying into the area, Inverness Airport (INV) is about an hour away and offers flights from within the UK as well as from some international destinations.
As Moray is a popular region with tourists, especially during the summer months, there are plenty of accommodation options. Just be wary that a lot of hotels will book up early, the closer to the holiday season you get. Some hotels even have fantastic event spaces, meaning you can spend your entire wedding day under one roof. The Mansefield Hotel, The Dowans Hotel and The Aberlour Hotel are just three hotels around Moray that have brilliant wedding venue spaces,
