Planning a wedding at Borthwick Castle is a magical experience, and with expert advice from industry professionals, your dream day can become a seamless reality. We’ve gathered top insights from florists, photographers, celebrants, and planners to bring you the ultimate wedding guide for 2025.
Wedding Planning Tips from the Experts
Focus on What Matters Most
Iris Art Photography advises couples to prioritise booking their essential suppliers early, especially the venue, photographer, and videographer. “Their work will be the lasting memory of your wedding, so take the time to find professionals whose style resonates with you and who understand your vision.”
Meanwhile, Roseparks Florist suggests filtering out unnecessary noise: “Listen to advice, say thank you, and take from it what you want.” The key is to stay true to your vision and not feel overwhelmed by external opinions.
Managing Stress and Staying Organised
Timeless White wedding planner Jamie emphasises the importance of delegation: “Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Involving trusted friends, family, or your wedding vendors can lighten the load and ensure no detail is overlooked.” Creating a timeline with deadlines and having a planner on board can make all the difference.
Stewart Struthers, Humanist Celebrant, highlights the importance of trust: “…having final sign-off on your ceremony content gives confidence of knowing what is coming and that it fits you as a couple.” A rehearsal, whether in person or via Zoom, can also help settle pre-wedding nerves.
Making the Most of Borthwick Castle
Iconic Ceremony Spaces
Borthwick Castle offers a range of breath-taking spaces to suit different styles. Ryan & Lina White Photography highlight The Garrison, with its stone walls and vaulted ceilings, as the perfect setting for an intimate and romantic ceremony. While adding some soft candlelight, and floral arrangements can enhance the cosy, historic atmosphere.
Iris Art Photography highlights The Great Hall, which features high ceilings, a grand fireplace, and candlelit charm, ideal for a dramatic and elegant wedding feasts. “But that’s not all – the cosy State Room, adorned with a grand piano and jaw-dropping chandeliers, is ideal for gatherings and drinks receptions.”
Using the Castle’s Unique Features
VNA Florals suggest incorporating the castle’s historic ambiance into your décor: “Rich, dark, warm colours mixed with an abundance of candles enhance the medieval theme.” The entrance hall ceiling and knight statues are great focal points for floral arrangements.
For photographers, the Minstrel’s Gallery and castle entrance are top locations for breath-taking couple portraits. “In reality, guests won’t always remember what they ate, what the bridesmaids wore. But guaranteed they will remember how the venue, the couple, the ceremony, the celebrant and staff made them feel,” says Stewart Struthers.
2025 Wedding Trends
Floral and Décor Trends
Roseparks Florist notes natural, organic designs featuring green tones, champagne hues, and black-and-white accents are still popular heading into 2025. Loose, relaxed floral arrangements with plenty of texture and greenery work beautifully at Borthwick.
VNA Florals anticipates bold floral installations, including floral waterfalls around champagne towers and asymmetrical arches, creating dramatic focal points.
Photography
Jamie from Timeless White Wedding Planning highlights the use of documentary & editorial photography, where the focus is on capturing the experience as it unfolds. “It’s about highlighting those genuine moments—like warm hugs with grandparents and heartfelt interactions—that truly tell the story of the day.”
Ryan & Lina White are seeing an increase in couples requesting moody night-time portraits on their wedding day. “We love using creative lighting to capture some dramatic night-time shots, and Borthwick Castle has some of the most spectacular backdrops for creative silhouette photos.”
Iris Art Photography highlights the importance of being mindful of your guests, with a growing trend towards smaller guest lists that allow for more meaningful interactions. “Most importantly, prioritise your time with the people most important to you, make sure your experienced photographer won’t take you away for too long (discuss this with them prior to your event) and join your guests during the cocktail hour!”, they advise.
Seasonal Wedding Inspiration
Winter Weddings
Hannah from Timeless White describes winter weddings at Borthwick as “enchanting,” with roaring fires in the Great Hall, mulled wine, and moody candlelight. “The castle’s rich, historic ambience and its intimate, seasonal atmosphere make it the perfect setting for a festive celebration.”
Spring & Summer Celebrations
VNA Florals recommends embracing the beauty of the spring and summer seasons by incorporating flowers that are naturally in bloom. “Ask your florist what flowers are in season and if possible incorporate into your chosen designs. Remember flowers in season are at their prime!,” they suggest. Choosing flowers at their prime ensures your arrangements look fresh, full, and perfectly suited to the time of year.
Summer brings outdoor ceremonies, garden games, and vibrant cocktails. “And if the weather turns unpredictable, the castle is brimming with beautiful indoor spaces that provide equally breath-taking settings for your ceremony, photographs, and celebrations. No matter the season, Borthwick Castle ensures your wedding day is nothing short of magical,” assures Hannah from Timeless White.
Autumn Elegance
Autumn weddings embrace rich, earthy tones, says Iris Art Photography, like deep burgundy, burnt orange, and gold, perfect for capturing the seasons beauty in your portraits. Hannah from Timeless White suggests incorporating cosy details like blankets and fire pits for post-dinner drinks on the lawn.
Final Tips for a Seamless Wedding
Personalising Your Ceremony
Stewart Struthers encourages couples to incorporate meaningful traditions: “…some are very old and traditional like handfasting…and drinking from the quaich. Others are more modern like ring warming, sands ceremony, and unity candles”. Your celebrant can even advise on how to incorporate international traditions such as a Chinese Tea Ceremony.
Capturing the Best Wedding Photos
Some of the most picturesque locations at the castle include the gates, lawn, tree-lined entrance, State Room, and Great Hall. As Ryan & Lina White Photography note, “the field at the castle entrance offers incredible views at sunset, perfect for some beautiful portraits.”
The Legal Side
For those marrying at Borthwick, Stewart Struthers reminds couples to complete their M10 documents to secure their Marriage Schedule in time. “Your celebrant will guide you through what you need.”
Stress Management Tips
All of our contributors emphasise that clear communication is one of the most effective ways to reduce wedding planning stress, especially when working with your vendors. Setting expectations early, discussing timelines, and being upfront about your vision can help ensure everything runs smoothly.
Whether it’s confirming schedules with your photographer, finalising floral choices, or coordinating logistics with your celebrant, venue or planner, open and honest conversations will make the process much more seamless and enjoyable.
Additional tips include:
- Plan the timeline together with your co-ordinator and vendors. Creating a detailed schedule with buffer time built in will reduce any on the day nerves, advises Ryan & Lina White Photography.
- Consider hiring a wedding planner, especially for a destination wedding as their advice and expertise can be invaluable for couples. “They can also navigate local regulations, cultural nuances, and logistics, saving you time and energy while elevating the experience for you and your guests”, says Jamie from Timeless White Wedding Planning.
- Pause and soak in every moment of your day encourages Roseparks Florist. “Get as many photos as you can inside and out,” they suggest, ensuring a rich and varied collection of memories in each unique space.
Conclusion
Your wedding at Borthwick Castle promises to be an unforgettable experience, and with insights from expert suppliers, you can ensure every detail is taken care of. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement or a grand celebration, embracing the castle’s history and seasonal beauty will make your day truly magical.
Looking for more inspiration? Follow our featured suppliers and explore their work to bring your vision to life!
Iris Art Photography
https://irisartphotography.co.uk/
Instagram – @iris_art_photography
Roseparks Florist
https://www.roseparks.co.uk/
Instagram @roseparksflowers
Facebook – Roseparks Florist
Ryan & Lina White Photography
https://www.ryanwhitephotography.co.uk/
Instagram – @ryanwhite.photography
Facebook – Ryan White Photography
Stewart Struthers
Facebook – Stewart Struthers Humanist Celebrant
Timeless White Wedding Planning
https://timelesswhite.co.uk/
Instagram – @timelesswhiteweddings
VNA Florals
https://www.vnaflorals.co.uk/
Instagram – @vnaflorals
For more information about hosting your wedding celebrations at Borthwick Castle, contact our team of experts today at
