Drum Castle: 10 Reasons To Choose This Scottish Wedding Venue

Drum Castle is such a great place to go and visit on the weekends.

The gardens here are especially beautiful, and a must see if you live locally.

On my last visit, I witnessed the arrival of a bride, whilst looking down from the castle tower.

It suddenly dawned on me, what a great wedding venue this historic and romantic place would be.

After some careful research, and discussions with the National Trust for Scotland, I was able to get a feel for this fantastic place.

I would now like to share with you, what makes it one of the most unique wedding venues in Scotland.

Let’s take a closer look at what a Drum Castle wedding would be like.

Drum Castle Location

There really are some superb wedding venues in Aberdeenshire.

And Drum Castle enjoys a stunning countryside location, only 10 miles from Aberdeen.

The short distance to the city is very convenient, and the size and positioning of the estate, offers a very peaceful environment.

In terms of accommodation, there is only a one bedroom courtyard cottage, so the proximity to local hotels is useful.

There is plenty of parking on site, as well as space for large couches.

Drum Castle History

This is a major reason why National Trust properties are so unique.

Just think of the history wrapped up in these walls.

Now vast volumes have been written about Drum Castle, but I’ll try and give you the highlights.

The Royal Forest of Drum and the Tower of Drum, were gifted to Willian de Irwyn, by none other than King Robert the Bruce in 1323.

You can even see proof, in the original charter with the Bruce seal.

For the next 650 years, the Irvine family called Drum home, until the National Trust took over in 1976.

The Jacobean mansion house extension was added in 1619.

What’s really interesting, is the Irvine’s were in fact Jacobites, and if you visit the castle, you can see the room where the 17th laird hid from the redcoats, after the battle of Culloden.

Sounds like the perfect place to add your own piece of history.

Drum Castle

The tower house at Drum Castle, is one of the oldest in Scotland.

It’s great fun to go and see, but the more modern Jacobean mansion extension, is where your reception would be held.

This part of the castle is brilliant for exploring, with a series of rooms containing Georgian furniture and beautiful portraits.

For the book lover, there is a 3000 volume library, with titles dating back as far as 1500.

Now the great thing about all this is, your guests can get private tours, perhaps whilst you are away with your wedding photographer.

How about that for unique!

Drum Castle Gardens

The walled in gardens are without question, my favourite thing about Drum Castle.

Six figures are spent annually, maintaining these historically accurate rose gardens, representing each of the last four centuries.

You can visit at anytime of year, and this place is absolutely stunning.

It is also a real hidden gem, with few people taking the time to go and see it.

In all probability you will have the place to yourself, should you choose to take a look.

And if you do, you will get a real sense of history, as you stroll from century to century.

A newly installed viewing platform also gives you the opportunity to view the gardens from above.

Similar to the castle, you can have both your reception and your ceremony in the walled in garden.

Weather permitting, that would be incredible.

Drum Castle Ceremony

Drum Castle actually has its own little chapel.

Situated a short walk across the lawn, it can seat up to 50 guests, for an intimate, religious wedding.

The 500 year old chapel, is about as charming as it gets, with beautiful stained glass windows, and surrounded by yew and holly trees.

If you are looking for something larger, or non religious, the library or the drawing room in the castle, can seat up to 70 guests.

You also have the option of the walled in garden.

Drum Castle Reception

If you would like to have your reception in Drum Castle, then the dining room is your best option.

Similar to the chapel, this is an intimate space, seating a maximum of 50 guests.

However, if you need more space, a marque on the front lawn is possible.

There is room enough for 500 people here, and your guests would get a great view back to the castle.

In fact I have friends who did something similar at Castle Fraser, and it was fantastic.

Drum Castle Tower

You can’t use any of the rooms in Drum Castle Tower for your wedding, largely because they aren’t suitable.

However you can, and really should, go in for a look.

Access is quite challenging, with a steep 21m staircase to climb; so forget about it in your wedding dress.

But definitely climb to the top, when you go to see the wedding venue, and you will get incredible views over the Deeside valley.

It will give you a chance to survey the grounds, for potential marque placement too.

Drum Castle Grounds

The grounds at Drum Castle are almost as impressive as the walled in garden.

In fact if you take a stroll from the castle to the gardens, you will walk passed little statues, ponds, and manicured lawns.

There are also 3 marked trails in the ancient woodlands, which probably aren’t ideal for your wedding day, but great for a return visit.

It’s nice to think that if you do get married at Drum Castle, it’s a place you can return over and over again.

I’m not sure how many people consider their photographs, when choosing a wedding venue.

However I do know that for some places, you need to drive to a separate location, to take the pictures.

Ok that’s not the end of the world, but it’s not ideal either.

Well I have it on good authority, that Drum Castle is a dream location for wedding photographers.

There are endless places for great shots, and you can be confident your pictures will have stunning backdrops.

I certainly take my camera every time I visit.

Drum Castle Unique Feature

Ok, so this one is largely subjective.

I imagine some people wouldn’t be too enthusiastic, about ghosts at their wedding.

I don’t believe in ghosts myself, but I do like the mystery surrounding them.

And of course Drum Castle has plenty of ghost stories.

A female figure, thought to be Anna Forbes, the 20th laird’s wife, has been sited a few times.

The laughter of Alexander Irvine, who died in 1865 as a child, has also been heard.

Most recently, and this one made the papers, a mysterious mist was captured by motion activated cameras.

Very scary!

Drum Castle Wedding Prices

For accurate Drum Castle wedding prices, you should contact the venue directly.

Their wedding packages can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

However to give you an approximate Drum Castle wedding cost:

• Chapel (ceremony & drinks reception), price £1,850.
• Library (ceremony & drinks reception), price £2,250.
• Rose Garden (ceremony & drinks reception), price £2,250.
• Drum Castle (ceremony & reception), price £3,350.
• Lawn Hire (marquee), price £3,000 (marquee not included).
• Wedding Breakfast, prices from £54 per person.
• Drinks Package, prices from £15 per person.

The prices above are for a summer weekend.

Winter and midweek weddings could cost less.

Drum Castle Conclusion

So those are my 10 reasons you should consider Drum Castle as your wedding venue.

Of course everybody has different tastes and opinions.

However if you are looking for something historic, with stunning gardens, a gorgeous little chapel, and a truly unique experience; then Drum Castle just might be the place for you.

Whilst you are here, you should take a look at some of the other wedding venues in Scotland, featured on White Rose.

You can also find Drum Castle’s website here.

Good luck with your wedding planning.