Dundas Castle Wedding Videographer
Wedding Films at Dundas Castle
A guide to Wedding Films that feel Cinematic & Authentic at one of Edinburgh's most stunning Wedding Venues.
Filming Weddings at Dundas Castle
Just to the North - West of Edinburgh City Centre lies one of Edinburgh's most beautiful and popular Wedding Venues - Dundas Castle. Set in 400 acres of private estate, the 15th century keep and gothic mansion is a setting that brings a feeling of grandness, elegance and romance to any wedding held there.
The Morning at Dundas
From the moment you can see the castle appear when arriving up the main drive, you immediately feel the sense of the place. I love texture in shots; From the intricate details of the exterior stonework to the iconic grand staircase, just about every frame is beautiful.
For morning prep, the Winter, Spring and Autumn rooms serve as the main areas. Bridal prep will usually take place in the Spring room; With the morning light streaming in, it genuinely is one of the most stunning locations we see for Bridal prep. What I like to do is take the dress and any detail shots through to the Winter Room first thing; Another beautiful room that frames the dress and the details beautifully.
For Groom prep, I usually bring the boys down into the snooker room to get all their prep shots and get a couple of frames on the go - While everybody thinks they are Ronnie O'Sullivan until the camera starts rolling, we always get some brilliant candid footage of everyone enjoying themselves.
Ceremonies at the Castle
One of the greatest things bout Dundas is the versatility in Ceremony locations; Usually venues have one key place the Ceremonies are held, and any others are a compromise; But with Dundas, both the outdoor courtyard and the indoor keep are INCREDIBLE. Outside, you get all the natural light as well as the almost regency feel, while inside, the keep has that almost gothic castle setting - Both absolutely stunning.
In the courtyard, positioning is quite easy with all the space, and I always try to frame the keep in the background if possible, but the highlight has to be the bridal entrance; With the grand doors opening to reveal them to the expectant groom, it's straight out of a movie.
The keep can be a little trickier due to the space confinements, but usually we will let the bride get to the top of the aisle, before quietly moving the back aisle camera into position for the rest of the ceremony, with another camera on the balcony to give that wider overhead shot.
Ceremonies can also take place off site as well, such as with Megan & David; theirs was at St Michaels parish church in Linlithgow. This is never usually an issue, it just means we need to leave Dundas a little earlier to make sure we are ready at the Ceremony location in plenty of time for everything kicking off.
Portraits & the Reception
Another part of a Dundas Wedding I love is how much the venue staff are on the ball with timings; It's very easy to lose big chunks of your day if your suppliers and venue don't keep track of events, but once the Ceremony is concluded, the couple are taken up to the rooftop for those spectacular rooftop shots, with views looking all the way to the Forth Bridges and all over the castle grounds.
This is where having a second shooter is a massive benefit; While the couple are up getting their portraits, they can capture all your guests as they make their way into the main house. For me, parts like these are the main reason to get a Wedding Film at all - The people, the interactions, the moments, all captured.
Once the portraits are done, the couple are welcomed back into the main hall for their cake cutting. Yet another thing we love about Dundas is this moment; Cake Cutting can sometimes be in an awkward place or time of the day, but having it in the great hall at this point is such a high point for couples to be welcomed back to the guests. The choice of shots here is great as well; Either from above to get you and your guests or closer in to get that sword action!
With the cake cut, it's time for the couple to enjoy their reception; The hugs and congratulations in the main hall are some of the highlights to capture. I like to try and blend in at this point to be in amongst the guests to capture all the moments as naturally as possible.
Usually at this point is when group shots would take place as well; Two popular spots are in front of the Courtyard Gates or in front of the Main House doors, but either way what I'm looking for is not the actual posed shots, but the bits in between; The laughs at feeling awkward, the shouts as we're looking for Auntie Dot, everything that will take you back to that moment when watching.
Depending on timings, the couple can also do some more portraits in the front of the Castle by going to the classic spots like the swing, before everyone is called to dinner & speeches.
Golden Hour at the Castle
Depending on the time of year and your timings, sunset can fall at some point toward the end of dinner, and I will always check if the couple want to go back out for some more portraits. The sun usually dips over the courtyard side of the castle, giving this spectacular shot and colour on the front lawn in front of the castle. It's also a great time to do any portraits inside the castle itself as it is usually a bit quieter.
In any case, with the speeches and portraits all done, its time for the First Dance!
The Dancing at Dundas
The marquee is a fantastic place for not only for the dancing, but for the First Dance as well. The string and chandelier lights make it seem absolutely magical, kicking off the party with an absolutely cinematic sequence that feels real to the couple.
Whether it is Ceilidh, DJ or band for your party, that same setting is amazing for us to be able to capture all the fun and energy - As well as some questionable dance moves!
While partying the night away is always a great way to end your film - Fireworks are not bad too!
Wedding Films from Dundas Castle
Megan & David
Connor captured our day beautifully and it’s so special to relive our big day! He was excellent on the day, had lots of amazing ideas for shots and made you feel really at ease. He also didn’t take over the day so that you could enjoy every moment. Would 100% recommend the quality of his videos is incredible 😍
Practical Advice for your Dundas Castle Wedding
Morning Prep - Keep the Winter or Summer Room free
For Bridal prep, I would always recommend for this to take place in the Spring room - It has the best light and space for everything and means you can stay in one place for the entire morning. The wrinkle tends to come with groom prep; Usually the guys will get ready in one of the other rooms before finishing this off downstairs, but the ideal situation is to have the Winter room to shoot the dress/details. So the recommendation is to have the initial groom prep to take place in the Autumn room, leaving the Winter Room completely free for details & dress. It also means this can be cleared once in the dress for first looks as well!
Drone filming - Dealing with the Airport
Dundas lies right at the edge of the airspace of Edinburgh Airport, and while it is completely possible to get permission for a legal flight, it just takes a bit of prep. A form needs to be filled out at least a fortnight in advance and then the airport contacted on the day for final permission. I will always make sure this in place and ready for the day though!
Making the most of the day
Like all Weddings, what makes for the best film is when the couple embrace all the aspects of the day; Go for the photos, enjoy every minute, be in the moment with each other - Thats what makes the best Wedding Films.
