Scotland

A castle wedding is the height of romance

When it comes to the popular and oh so trendy weddings in Scotland, everyone’s hearts seems to be in the highlands. Just to put the record straight, there are beautiful areas all over Scotland which offer some smashing locations.

My first experience in seeing an authentic Scottish wedding took place at a lovely little castle and surroundings called Kilconquhar Castle Estate where I vacationed early last September. Kilconquhar is about an hour’s drive from Edinburgh nestled in the scenic and serene countryside of Fife at the Highland’s Edge. One of the big attractions of getting married in this intimate castle is that it’s a complete resort with lots of amenities and activities, surrounded by completely equipped spacious villas where the bride and groom and their family and friends can be accommodated in style before and after the wedding. Looking out of our villa window and watching the red carpet laid down leading to the castle entrance – an important part of a Scottish wedding –listening to the pipers welcome the guests, and then seeing the groom in the traditional kilt awaiting his bride, couldn’t have been a more inviting way to begin our first trip to Scotland. The beauty of the Scottish Highlands is one of the reasons so many people want to have their wedding ceremonies in a historic home or Scottish castle.

In 2002 alone, the area welcomed 3632 weddings. Madonna’s wedding, which took place Skibo Castle – in the Highlands of course – was another event that focused attention on castle weddings in the Highlands. Since then, more and more newlyweds have decided that having

It’s hard to argue with that logic when you see sights like the majestic Inverlochy Castle which is nestled in the foothills of the mighty Ben Nevis mountains and once played host to an enchanted Queen Victoria and much later to film celebs Sean Connery and Mel Gibson. The opulent Inverlochy is also a member of the luxurious Relais and Chateaux of the world has a Michelin star for its fine dining. But – there are castles, and there are castles. The price, the amenities and the provisions the castle provides to newlyweds, its location, especially if you are thinking of inviting family and friends.

Here are a few pointers about what to look for in Scottish castles when planning a wedding.
1. For a starter, do some research to see which castles simply hold wedding ceremonies and which ones are “castle hotels.” While some castles offer accommodation and catering facilities – some do not and guests will have to go elsewhere for wedding dinner and overnight stays. Castles by and large don’t have a great number of bedrooms.
2. It’s important to determine if the castle of your dreams has a license to perform civil wedding ceremonies. Some hold licenses for civil ceremonies some hold licenses for both civil and religious ceremonies.
3. Many castles are in the care of the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland and are open to the public during the day which means that wedding receptions can only be held once the building has been closed to the public.

Others are owned by individuals whose owners are only to happy to share in the joy of your special day. Most Scottish castles are steeped in atmosphere but several offer something special for a truly outstanding experience. The Eilean Donan has the distinction of being one of the most photographed castles in the world. This 800-year-old ruined castle was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th Century. One of the most beautiful spots on our trip was the Isle of Skye. I wasn’t surprised to find out that it was chosen as the most romantic location in the Highlands with its ancient lore. The Isle of Skye’s Dunvegan Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland has been occupied by the chiefs of MacLeod continuously for over seven centuries. In its idyllic loch-side setting, it’s literally as pretty as a picture.

There are also Scottish wedding consultant sites for all Scottish wedding venues including castle weddings. One good one is www.scottishweddingconsultants.co. Or call your own travel agent for personal arrangements and flights. Castle websites: Inverlochy www.inverlochycastlehotel.com; Dunvegan: www.dunvegancastle.com; Kilconquhara www.kilconquharacastle.com; www.skibocasle.co.uk; and Eilean Donan: www.eileandonancastle.com
 e-mail info@eileandonancastle.com.

- Photo/journalist Jeniva Berger is a Senior Travel Consultant at Goligers Travel Plus, Toronto. Telephone 416.585.2258 or jeniva.berger @travelplus.ca.