SAY ‘I DO’ AT ONE OF THESE INTIMATE WEDDING VENUES AND KEEP IT SMALL AND SELECT.
Finding venues for intimate weddings can be a challenge. If you are thinking about getting married, or are helping a family member of friend with planning a small wedding and would like somewhere different, intimate and unique, for close friends and family, then let us introduce you to six fabulous intimate venues that we think would be perfect for that special occasion ( 30-50 guests, although most of these venues will happily accommodate higher numbers if you can’t whittle down the numbers).
1. House of Turin, Angus
This impressive 17th century country mansion is set in the lush Angus countryside between Edinburgh and Aberdeen and can be taken on an exclusive use basis for wonderfully intimate weddings – party of 20. The whole house is yours for the duration of your wedding celebration and there are no prescribed packages here – it’s entirely up to you how you create the day of your dreams. That said, the team at House of Turin will help you in every aspect of planning, and because they only do a select handful of weddings each year, they really make sure that nothing is left to chance. Bridal couples and their families are encouraged to take the house for three nights; that way, the wedding group can enjoy an informal Friday evening, a fabulous wedding on the Saturday and a leisurely Sunday with perhaps a hog roast or barbeque to complete the celebrations.
Ceremony locations include a stone circle in front of the house with your guests seated on the rolling lawns below, or the glass conservatory or ‘Tartan Courtyard.
2. Bogbain Farm, Inverness-shire
Here’s something refreshingly different that might appeal if you want an intimate wedding venue that’s bursting with original ideas. Bogbain Farm is an award winning wedding venue in a rural setting overlooking the city of Inverness and the Moray Firth.
The team at Bogbain have converted various farm buildings into gorgeously renovated venues which, in the hands of their friendly and experienced wedding experts can be tailored for weddings both large and small. Catering for anything from a handful of guests to 250 people they accommodate all kinds of wedding, from the rustic and homespun to the stylishly vintage. Horses and carts, private helicopters, alfresco haybales and after dark ceilidhs, they’ve seen it all at Bogbain and no two weddings are ever the same.
3. G&V Hotel, Edinburgh
A city centre five star hotel might not be your first thought when planning a small wedding, but G&V is no ordinary hotel. Located in Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile, the achingly stylish boutique hotel is infused with both Scottish and Italian flavours and its contemporary looks and brilliant location mean it’s an excellent choice to celebrate your big day with your nearest and dearest. G&V’s signature superb service translates into ‘everything is taken care of’ when it comes to organising your wedding day.
You and your guests can stay over in the designer bedrooms, after a sumptuous reception or a small private dinner catered by the chefs behind Cucina, G&V’s divine restaurant.
4. Gilmerton House, East Lothian
This supremely elegant, privately owned Grade A Georgian country manor has ten luxurious en suite bedrooms for you and your wedding party, along with an ornate drawing room, exquisite music room and lovely gardens. It’s no surprise that some very famous people have crossed its doors or that Gilmerton House was a finalist in the Best Wedding Venue category at the Scottish Wedding Awards this year.
Exclusively yours for your wedding, and in a pretty, rural location that is super-convenient for Edinburgh and the airport, Gilmerton House has a timeless quality that makes it the ultimate romantic spot, and an ideal size for a smaller gathering.
5. The Lodge, Loch Goil
Very conveniently, the laws in Scotland meant that you can get married almost anywhere and at The Lodge, a 19th century house by the shore of Loch Goil, you can choose to tie the knot in an Orangery, beside a roaring fire in a charming room in the Arts & Crafts Edwardian style or on the sea loch shore itself.
Your wedding breakfast can be held in the dining room, conservatory or for the really adventurous, the quirky tree house.
All the packages include organic and locally sourced delicious menus, a candlelit reception, post ceremony champagne and canapés and exclusive use of the breathtaking grounds. The Lodge, acclaimed for its style and faultless service, is particularly well suited to smaller weddings and can be hired for 2 – 70 guests.
6. Gamefield, Perthshire
An architect-designed, contemporary country house, Gamefield can be hired exclusively, either for a weekend or a week, and has hosted some lovely small and select wedding ceremonies and receptions. There are plenty of luxurious touches in this five star venue, with space for up to 30 special guests and beds for 12 (ten in the main house and two in an apartment). The garden is packed with scenic spots for your wedding pictures, and there is much relaxation to be had, either in the outdoor hot tub, or by one of the roaring fires.
Abigail Stubbs, Features Editor
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