Fyvie Castle: 10 Reasons To Choose This Scottish Wedding Venue

Fyvie Castle is another piece of Scottish heritage, under the protection of the National Trust for Scotland.

And what a beautiful piece of heritage it is.

Just wait until you see some of the rooms; they are absolutely jaw dropping.

In fact it is hard to imagine being allowed to celebrate your wedding here, amongst the irreplaceable works of art and antique furniture.

But you can and lots of people do, in what must be one of the most unique wedding venues in Scotland.

So after some careful research, a full castle tour, and discussions with the National Trust, I would like to share my new found wisdom, and tell you what makes this place so special.

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

Fyvie Castle Location

Fyvie Castle is located in the beautiful Scottish countryside.

And despite its rural positioning, Aberdeen is only 25 miles away.

The roads are a bit twisty, but you can make the journey in less than an hour.

The peace and tranquility are well worth the drive too.

On arrival you will follow a meandering driveway through picturesque parkland, right up to the imposing pink castle.

It’s an idyllic setting for a wedding, and although there are a number of beautifully located wedding venues in Aberdeenshire, this one is especially nice.

Worth mentioning at this point, is that there is plenty of parking for cars and coaches.

Fyvie Castle History

Fyvie Castle dates back to the 13th century, and its 800 year history is steeped in myth and legend.

Five successive families called this place home: the Preston’s; the Meldrum’s; the Seton’s; the Gordon’s; and the Forbes-Leith’s.

Each of them adding a tower to the Scottish Baronial fortress, and as a result leaving their mark.

Influences can be seen in the lavish Edwardian interiors and the medieval stone work.

Over the years, royal guests included: Robert the Bruce; Edward I; and Charles I.

Interestingly, an American industrialist Alexander Leith bought the castle and estate in 1889, and made some alterations to reflect his American background.

It was him who built the racquet courts and bowling alley.

Fyvie Castle

Fyvie Castle is best known for its lavish interiors, intricate ceilings, and incredible art collection.

In fact it contains one of the worlds largest collections of Raeburns.

It also has Scotlands finest stone wheel staircase.

The Entrance Hall, which is dominated by a large fireplace and suits of armour, is perfect for greeting guests with drinks and canapes after your ceremony.

In addition to this you have the Billiard Room, which provides a great retreat for the groom and groomsmen before the ceremony.

It’s a beautiful building, with towers and turrets, and will undoubtedly create memories that will last a lifetime.

Fyvie Castle Accommodation

It is actually possible to stay in Fyvie Castle, which could be really fun.

They have the Preston Tower Apartment, which is located right in the middle of the building.

Classified as luxury self catering accommodation, it is furnished to a high standard, and retains many original features.

It can also sleep up to 16 guests.

If you need further accommodation, Turriff is 8 miles away and does have a few hotels.

However coaches back to Aberdeen could be a better option.

Fyvie Castle Gardens

Walled in gardens were very popular with these large estates, and thankfully the National Trust for Scotland has been exceptional at maintaining them.

Fyvie Castle actually has three different walled gardens.

There’s the Walled Garden of Scottish Fruit, which dates back to the 18th century.

As you may have guessed, it contains Scottish fruits and vegetables.

Then there’s the American Garden, which contains a variety of North American plants, and marks Fyvie Castle’s American connections.

Lastly there’s Rhymer’s Haugh Woodland Garden, named after the 13th century seer, Thomas the Rhymer, who placed a curse on the castle’s owners.

They are all beautiful places to go and relax.

Fyvie Castle Ceremony

Ceremonies are held in the interconnecting Gallery and Drawing Room.

These rooms are nothing short of spectacular.

Your guests will be guided from the Entrance Hall, up the stone wheel staircase, through the Drawing Room, and into the Gallery.

The journey will be something they remember.

It’s worth driving out to Fyvie Castle, just to see the 17th century Flemish tapestries.

The Gallery can seat 120 guests; and religious, civil, and humanist ceremonies are all welcome.

Fyvie Castle Reception

There are a number of options for your reception at Fyvie Castle.

Whether you are looking for relaxed and intimate or grand and sumptuous; it can all be achieved.

My choice would be the Gallery and Drawing Room.

These stunning rooms would surround your guests with incredible period decor, and masterpieces by Raeburn, Gainsborough, and Batoni.

They are spacious too, seating up to 120 people for dinner.

If your wedding is going to be smaller, then perhaps the Dining Room would be more appropriate.

This beautiful oak panelled room can seat up to 50 guests for dinner.

And the options don’t stop there either.

You also have the Racquets Court, built in 1903, which is ideal for ceilidhs and seats 100 people for dinner.

Or you could put a marquee up on the lawn also.

Fyvie Castle Grounds

The grounds at Fyvie Castle, shaped by 800 years of history, are every bit as beautiful as the gardens.

And there are 49 hectares of them to explore.

Take a stroll around the picturesque loch, created in the 18th century out of marshland protecting the castle.

You will discover a wealth of wildlife and scenery.

Make sure to look out for the Boathouse and the Bird Hide too.

You perhaps won’t find the time to enjoy all of this on your wedding day, but it’s there for a return visit.

Something I put great importance on when considering a wedding venue; are there great spots to take pictures?

Fyvie Castle hits a home run here.

Outside you have endless opportunities, with incredible landscapes, and the castle as a striking backdrop.

Because of its size, and intricate interiors, there are also ample opportunities indoors too.

The rooms are light and airy, and the decor is simply stunning.

An added bonus in case the weather turns against you.

Fyvie Castle Ghosts

Virtually all ancient buildings have a great ghost story to tell.

And Fyvie Castle does not disappoint.

Allegedly during renovation work in 1920, a woman’s skeleton was found behind a bedroom wall.

The remains were laid to rest in Fyvie cemetery, but that evening residents of the castle heard strange noises, and were subjected to unexplained happenings.

Fearing he had upset the dead women, the Laird at that time had the skeleton exhumed, and placed back in the wall.

The haunting immediately stopped.

Now there’s a great story to scare your guests with.

Fyvie Castle Wedding Prices

For accurate Fyvie 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 Fyvie Castle wedding cost:

• Preston Tower Apartment (sleeps 16), price £1,600 for 3 nights.
• Fyvie Castle (ceremony & drinks reception), price £2,250.
• Fyvie Castle (ceremony & reception), price £5,950.
• Lawn Hire (marquee), price £3,000 (marquee not included).
• Wedding Breakfast, prices from £54 per person.
• Drinks Packages, prices from £15 per person.

The prices above are for a summer weekend.

Winter and midweek weddings could cost less.

Fyvie Castle Conclusion

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

Of course everybody has different tastes and opinions.

However if you are looking for something historic and traditionally Scottish, with royal connections, jaw dropping interiors, and beautiful gardens and grounds; then Fyvie 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 Fyvie Castle’s website here.

Good luck with your wedding planning.