Wedding venues in Ayrshire – a fantastic choice
Here are my 10 best wedding venues in Ayrshire. If you’re looking for a wedding venue and considering Ayrshire you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are venues to suit every style: rustic barn, grand ballroom, places by the sea or next to a race course, next to a golf course and even a royal residence. You can choose from a multitude of medieval castles or there are plenty of newly built modern event spaces and everything in between.
I have shot many weddings in Ayrshire over the years. Here are my 10 favourites and look out for a few bonus extras at the end.
Best Ayrshire Wedding Venues
Lochgreen House Hotel, Troon.
I have been to Lochgreen House Hotel to photograph many weddings and this 5 star hotel next to the world-famous Royal Troon Golf Course never disappoints.
With the recent addition of the orangery the choice of spaces for each stage of your wedding day is hard to beat. You’ll see pictures of the orangery below in use for the wedding ceremony as well as the meal and speeches. There’s wonderful light and space.
The gardens offer a wide choice of options with the manicured lawns, bushes and paths around the bandstand at the front, a spacious terrace at the back and acres of lawn for the kids to play on looking across to the golf course and Arran beyond.
Trump Turnberry
Trump Turnberry has all the glitz, glamour and impact that you might expect from a venue owned by the Trump organisation. It really is a world class wedding venue in every respect. The weddings I have photographed here have included celebrities such as Paulo Nutini and seen guests flying in from all over the globe. As well as that, I was commissioned by the Trump organisation to photograph Eric F Trump for the opening the new King Robert The Bruce golf course in 2017.
The wedding pictures below tell their own story of the iconic lighthouse, the vast ballroom, the uninterrupted views to Ailsa Craig and the wonderful service.
Dumfries House, Cumnock.
I have been to Dumfries house in various capacities over recent years. As a wedding photographer, a press photographer and a tourist. Every visit has left me wanting more. The place has so much beauty, culture and history. It certainly lives up to it’s reputation as one of the most significant houses in Scottish architectural heritage.
The house was saved for the nation along with it’s collection of priceless furniture by King Charles. It has become a centre for education and the preservation of traditional building crafts.
As a wedding venue the house is fantastically versatile. Whether you’re looking for an intimate gathering or a full scale grand occassion the classical elegance of the house will certainly work it’s magic on you.
Culzean Castle
Perched on the cliffs above the Firth of Clyde, Culzean Castle is another piece of historic Scottish architectural heritage.
The formal gardens, tranquil woodland and secret follies are all wonderful features for wedding photos. They are also great for your guests to wander in and explore. There’s an oval staircase designed by Robert Adam, the Eisenhower Apartment and an Armoury, bristling with old pistols and swords.
Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae.
I was lucky enough to be commissioned as the photographer for Katie & Matthew’s gorgeous wedding at Glenapp Castle near Girvan. A couple of months beforehand I went down there to meet the couple and shoot some engagement portraits. Below you’ll see a selection of pictures from both occasions. It will give you an idea of the stunning location and wild country that surrounds the venue.
Seamill Hydro, West Kilbride.
The beach and the seaside location feature very strongly for all the weddings I have photographed at Seamill Hydro.
It’s a modern and luxurious venue where you can skip right off the back steps and straight onto the sand. And not just any sand – it is a truly beautiful beach. You’ll see incredible views up the Firth of Clyde and across to Arran, Goat Fell and Holy Isle.
There’s a lovely room on the first floor for ceremonies. It has a full wall of glass so the sea and the sky fills your view. One thing to note about Seamill Hydro is the Master of Ceremonies. He or she will look after you brilliantly well and guide you through the day with charm and humour. Not all venues understand the importance of this role to the smooth running of the day.
Dalduff Barn, Maybole.
#7 in my 10 best wedding venues in Ayrshire
The Barn at Dalduff Farm is a wedding venue full to character and charm. As you approach the gate you are in no doubt that you’re in the heart of farming country.
The farm house is very well set up to accommodate all the family. As well as that, there’s plenty of space for the bride’s party to get ready with a lovely bright conservatory.
The two weddings I have photographed there were very different in terms of weather. For Charissa & Colin the ceremony was in the garden under warm sunshine and the weather couldn’t have been kinder. For Caroline & Jack the rain was lashing down all day. Despite this they made great use of the many gorgeous rustic barns. They are perfectly designed to deal with whatever the weather has to throw at us.
Sorn Castle
#8 in my 10 best wedding venues in Ayrshire
Sorn Castle is built around a 14th Century keep and is loaded with all the atmosphere of a medieval castle. It sits high above the river Ayr.
I photographed Hannah and Daniel’s brilliant Jewish wedding there in Oct 2021. The ceremony and drinks reception were in the castle. Then we headed out to the marquee for the dancing and the meal. I love to photograph a Jewish wedding. There’s so much drama with the smashing of the glass and the wild Israeli dancing.
Rowallan Castle
#9 Ayrshire wedding venue
Check out the three different sites at Rowallan Castle. The ancient 12th Century Old Castle makes a brilliant backdrop for photos. As well as that, it can be a great spot for the groomsmen to get ready. The New Castle has all the space, views and grandeur for a larger wedding up to 100 people. The option for a marquee on the croquet lawn is available if you’re planning for more guests than that.
For the wedding of Rosie and David, the ceremony was on the lawn in front of the castle. They looked over the greens as golfers played beyond. Their wedding meal was in the Glasshouse which provided an intimate and relaxed setting for their wedding numbers. The added bonus of the grounds and golf course right by the Glasshouse provided lots of fun for the guests. They had a putting competition with the kids while the sun set.
Western House Hotel, Ayr.
Western House Hotel is the final item on my list of the 10 best wedding venues in Ayrshire. It is in the heart of Ayr and Burns Country. As well as that it is right next to Ayr racecourse. So if you happen to be getting married on a racing day you’ll have all the atmosphere and excitement of the horses flying by a high speed. The outdoor spaces and gardens provide a lovely area for your guests to spill out of the glass doors and soak up some great weather. If it’s too wet or cold to get outside they provide a gorgeous backdrop from the cosy interior.
Other great wedding venues in Ayrshire
As promised at the top of the article there are more than just 10 great wedding venues in Ayrshire. Here are some pictures from lovely weddings I have shot at
- the famous Brig O’Doon
- Enterkine House in Annbank
- Lochside House Hotel New Cumnock
- Waterside
So what did you think of my 10 best wedding venues in Ayrshire? As shown above, there’s certainly a lot of choice. I have a ton of experience at so many venues, so if I can help you in any way please get in touch. Let me know your questions and I’ll answer them.
