Ardross Castle Weddings
An Ardross Castle wedding brings you to the private Highland estate known to viewers as The Traitors castle. Near Alness, north of Inverness, this nineteenth-century Scottish Baronial castle combines formal gardens with more than 100 acres of parkland beside the River Alness.
If the setting has caught your imagination, we can help you explore how it fits your wedding plans, from the guest experience to the suppliers and overall budget.
Availability: Ardross Castle currently states that it has no availability for 2026 or 2027. Later dates need confirmation from the venue. If your wedding is sooner, we can help you explore other Scottish castles and estates.
Ardross Castle at a glance
| Location | Ardross, Alness, Ross-shire, IV17 0YE |
| Nearest city | Inverness |
| Style | Nineteenth-century Scottish Baronial castle |
| Setting | Private Highland estate with formal gardens and riverside parkland |
| Exclusive use | Available for weddings; confirm the rooms and grounds included |
| Ceremony options | Great Hall or formal gardens |
| Wedding breakfast | Up to 130 guests in the Great Hall |
| Wedding accommodation | Up to 41 guests for two nights with exclusive wedding hire |
| Catering | External caterer and bar required |
| Availability | No availability for 2026 or 2027 currently advertised |
Venue details are drawn from Ardross Castle’s official website. Confirm the arrangements for your particular wedding before committing to a date.
Why couples are drawn to Ardross Castle
A recognisable Highland setting
The towers, stonework and gardens give you a clear starting point for the look of your day. For couples who discovered Ardross through television, the attraction may be immediate. The next question is how you want the celebration to feel when your own friends and family arrive.
You might favour a formal dinner with a restrained colour palette, or a garden-led design with seasonal flowers. We would start with your priorities and build the styling around the spaces agreed with the venue.
A place with its own history
Ardross began as a hunting lodge associated with the Duke of Sutherland. After Alexander Matheson bought the estate in 1845, architect Alexander Ross remodelled the castle in the Scottish Baronial style. The McTaggart family acquired it in 1983 and undertook restoration work.
That history gives the setting interest beyond its television role. For a destination wedding, it also offers guests a connection to the place you have chosen to bring them.
Time together around the wedding
A stay with your closest family and friends can make the celebration feel less hurried. Before deciding who stays where, think about the wedding morning, older relatives, children’s routines and the guests who will need transport.
The most useful room plan begins with your guests’ needs, then works back to the available bedrooms.
Space for your own choices
Ardross does not offer fixed wedding packages. That gives you decisions to make about food, service and the shape of the day. It is worth approaching those decisions together, so the menu, staffing and schedule support one another from the outset.
Is Ardross Castle the castle from The Traitors?
Yes. Ardross Castle is the filming location for the UK and US versions of The Traitors. The venue confirms that filming has taken place in and around the castle since 2022.
A Traitors castle wedding does not have to be themed. You might simply love the architecture and the Highland setting. If you do want a playful reference, discuss ideas such as your table names or evening entertainment during planning.
Anything seen on screen should be checked separately before it becomes part of your wedding plans. Ask which rooms, furnishings and outdoor areas are included in the hire, and whether any proposed activity is permitted. Television scenery is not a list of wedding inclusions.
Ceremonies and receptions
Ceremonies can take place indoors or outdoors. The terrace and gardens offer seasonal drinks settings, and ceremony and dining furniture is provided.
We would begin with the route your guests take through the day. Where do they arrive? Where do they wait before the ceremony? What happens while you are having photographs taken? These details help a beautiful setting work comfortably for everyone.
For an outdoor ceremony, agree the indoor alternative before finalising flowers and furniture. Establish who makes the weather decision, when it must be made and how suppliers will be told. Your seating plan should work with either arrangement.
For dinner, ask the venue and caterer to approve the proposed layout together. The published maximum does not replace a plan showing your particular tables, service routes and entertainment requirements.
Before booking, clarify:
- Access arrangements for guests with limited mobility, including the ceremony, dining room and toilets.
- Supplier arrival times, unloading arrangements and collection deadlines.
- The sequence for any room changes between ceremony, dinner and dancing.
- Music arrangements, finishing times and rules for candles or special effects.
- Where guests will wait comfortably for their return transport.
Ardross Castle wedding costs
Ardross Castle does not publish a wedding price on its official weddings page. You will need a quotation for your proposed date and arrangements. The venue requires your caterer and bar to bring their cooking facilities, cutlery, tableware and glassware.
A useful budget separates venue hire from the cost of delivering the celebration. Otherwise, an attractive hire figure can leave you comparing very different services.
| Budget area | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|
| Venue hire | Included spaces, access hours, accommodation and payment schedule |
| Food and drink | Menu, drinks, staffing, equipment, delivery and clearing away |
| Styling | Flowers, linen, lighting, installation and collection |
| Suppliers | Photography, entertainment, ceremony services and planning support |
| Guest travel | Transfers, additional accommodation and late departures |
| Complete total | VAT treatment, deposits and any separately charged extras |
These are quotation questions, not claims that Ardross charges separately for every item. Ask each supplier to identify what is included, what is optional and what could change with your final guest numbers.
For a destination wedding, decide early whether your budget includes flights, guest accommodation or events before and after the wedding. Keeping those decisions visible makes it easier to compare Ardross with other venues fairly.
Planning an Ardross Castle wedding from abroad
Louize Hollywood Weddings works with international couples, including those based in the US and Canada. Our services include full planning, partial planning and wedding-day coordination.
For an Ardross Castle destination wedding, the first step would be to establish whether your preferred dates, guest count and plans are feasible. From there, we can discuss the level of planning support you need.
Choose the journey before setting the timetable
Ardross describes its location as just over half an hour from Inverness, which has an international airport. That is a general indication of its location, not a guaranteed airport transfer time.
Check the actual route your guests will travel. Allow time for flight connections, baggage collection and onward transport before fixing a welcome dinner. If arrivals are spread through the day, individual transfers may make more sense than one coach departure.
Keep accommodation and transport together
Confirm the bedroom arrangements before inviting guests to stay at the castle. Then plan the remaining accommodation and return transport as one task. A room that looks convenient on a map may be less practical once you add a late finish or an early departure.
Give suppliers one agreed plan
Your caterer, florist, photographer and musicians need a consistent schedule. That plan should show access times, key contacts, setup requirements and who is responsible for each handover.
Our role can include sourcing and coordinating suppliers and managing the wedding-day timeline, according to your chosen service. You can explore our wedding planning services before getting in touch.
See our Scottish castle wedding work
Our Carlowrie Castle wedding feature follows Natalie and Craig’s celebration, including an outdoor ceremony and marquee reception. The planning involved more than a dozen suppliers and coach transport for 70 guests.
It is a useful example of the coordination behind a castle wedding: bringing the creative details, guest movements and supplier schedules into one workable day.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married at The Traitors castle?
Yes. Ardross Castle offers weddings, although its current notice excludes 2026 and 2027. Enquiries for later years need a direct availability check.
Where is Ardross Castle?
Ardross Castle is near Alness in Ross-shire, in the Scottish Highlands, north of Inverness. Its postcode is IV17 0YE.
How many wedding guests can Ardross Castle accommodate?
The Great Hall’s published wedding breakfast capacity is up to 130. Ask the venue to confirm your ceremony and evening arrangements separately.
Can wedding guests stay at Ardross Castle?
Exclusive wedding hire includes accommodation for up to 41 guests over two nights. Ardross is not a hotel offering individual overnight bookings.
Can we visit Ardross Castle before enquiring?
The castle and estate are private and closed to the public. The venue does not offer tours or individual visits, so do not arrive expecting access. Ask the venue what information it can provide for a wedding enquiry.
Is Ardross Castle available for a 2028 wedding?
Its current notice rules out 2026 and 2027, but does not establish availability for 2028. Your preferred date must be confirmed directly.
Can Louize help us plan from the US or Canada?
Yes. We work with couples planning their Scottish wedding from abroad. Tell us where you are based, your preferred dates and how much support you would like, and we can discuss the right service.
Begin planning your Ardross Castle wedding
If Ardross is the setting you keep returning to, tell us what you love about it and when you hope to marry. We can discuss your priorities and help you assess the next steps.
In your enquiry, include:
- Your preferred year, season and flexibility on dates.
- Your estimated guest numbers and accommodation needs.
- Your overall wedding budget.
- Where you are travelling from.
- Whether you want full planning or help with specific parts of the celebration.
If your dates come first, we can help you find a castle that fits them.
Sources
- Ardross Castle official website • Location, architecture and estate setting.
- Ardross Castle weddings • Wedding spaces, dining capacity, accommodation, catering and hire arrangements.
- Ardross Castle contact information • Address, availability notice and visitor restrictions. Availability statement accessed 8 October 2026.
- Ardross Castle TV and video location • The Traitors filming connection and access from Inverness.
- Ardross Castle heritage • Ownership and architectural history.
- Louize Hollywood Weddings • International planning services and scope of support.
- Carlowrie Castle weddings • Venue feature and Natalie and Craig’s wedding story.
- Inverlochy Castle weddings • Alternative castle venue.
- Loch na Bo Estate • Alternative estate venue.
- Winton Castle weddings • Related venue setting and location.
- Dundas Castle weddings • Related venue setting and location.
- Borthwick Castle weddings • Related venue setting and location.
- Dalhousie Castle weddings • Related venue setting and location.
- Thirlestane Castle weddings • Related venue setting and location.
- Glenapp Castle weddings • Related venue setting and location.
More Scottish Castle Wedding Venues
Discover more of our featured Scottish castle and estate wedding venues
If Ardross cannot accommodate your plans, these pages offer useful starting points for your shortlist:
- Inverlochy Castle weddings for a Highland castle hotel near Fort William.
- Carlowrie Castle weddings for a castle celebration near Edinburgh, with a real wedding story to explore.
- Loch na Bo Estate for a different kind of private estate setting beside a loch.
- Winton Castle weddings for an exclusive-use castle wedding in East Lothian.
- Dundas Castle weddings for a castle and private estate near South Queensferry.
- Borthwick Castle weddings for a medieval castle setting in Midlothian.
- Dalhousie Castle weddings for a castle hotel with its own chapel near Bonnyrigg.
- Thirlestane Castle weddings for a castle celebration in Lauder in the Scottish Borders.
- Glenapp Castle weddings for a castle hotel setting in South Ayrshire.
Browse our featured Scottish wedding venues to compare more castles and estates. Availability and current arrangements need to be checked for each venue.