Budget Scottish wedding at a self-catering cottage

[StrongInside]

Hi,

I’m trying to figure everything out before pitching it to my fiance. In my mind, I would like a small wedding (around 15-20 guests) somewhere in Scotland with a nice backdrop for photos where we will need only minimal decorations. Somewhere modern looking.

I can’t stand expensive formal hotel weddings with tartan carpets, boring white table linen and bog standard decorations. My idea is hiring several self-catering cottages for everyone to have their privacy, with an on-site place for the ceremony and maybe gathering around a chimenea in the evening (relative can bring theirs) or having lawn games. I want to choose my own suppliers so not keen on venues offering packages.

To give you an idea, I initially wanted a destination wedding on a beach with bright pops of colour where the sun, palm trees and blue sky provide a beautiful backdrop in themselves. We have now decided on staying put as it will be easier for us with a young baby and two toddler nephews. When I look at Scottish wedding ideas, they all look so boring, expensive or gloomy in some field where guests are in wellies.

Any location ideas that could bring a relaxed destination wedding vibe to Scotland? I can obviously put pops of colour around if the venue is plain, but would be nice not to spend two days on decorations.

Also, I know we could just find a big lodge with cottages next to it and have the ceremony in the lodge’s living room with re-arranged furniture if it rained. Just don’t know how to find such a place.

I know the weather is a hit or a miss so no preference on time of the year, hopefully next year.
Thanks!

The pool and view.

Sorry to go in....I loved my wedding! Venue was £1,800 for the four nights. Which was perfect as we had a welcome pool party the night before for those arriving, guests could come back after the reception as we finished early and we could host a family lunch after the weekend.

It’s in France. Flights were £55 return. I’m off now. Sorry to detail...

SheWoreBlueVelvet, THAT is my dream wedding views! THAT is what I want for our big day, not rain, wind or overpriced everything locally! Did you only have under 10 guests? Do you think it’s doable with young children? I don’t mean that specific location, abroad in general. Heard you need to live in France for 40 days min before legally getting married over there. Always thought somewhere in the Mediterranean. And if guests apart from our family didn’t want to come- who cares with views like that!

IF you can't get legally married in France OP (don't know if you can or can't) then get married in a registry office before you go (just with 2 witnesses) then have a friend 'perform' a wedding blessing for you. That's what we had to do before celebrants were legally allowed to marry people.

I could only get married in October half term and I didn’t want wind and rain either We had 45 guests. Only one couple and two half invited work mates RSVP’d no. And one of my friends I invited casually made it out.

You have to live there 31 days I think, to have the legal marriage in France. But the country is secular. If you want anything religious like a church wedding or just a blessing you have to be legally married already in the town hall first.

We did a secret registry office marriage just before we flew out. ( and that was special being just the two of us) If it matters I think you can marry legaly in Italy after only a frw days. Italy is just up the road from our venue
Our celebrant was a professional - she was the voice of the London Underground announcements but now lives over there doing weddings!

Anyway it’s worth thinking about. We had the most beautiful 3 course buffet in a fantastic restaurant over looking the sea. We even had fireworks thanks to a wedding across the bay. It was expensive (€80) head but it was the only place open in February when we went to recce places. And they just filled up wine glasses all night long so essentially a free bar.

The other advantage of abroad is that you don’t have to fuss over stupid details.My husband did one trip out to buy a load of champagne, Prosecco and wine for the villa but that was it. No chair covers, bows and sprigs or formal flowers needed.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett , it would just feel fake if we went all the way abroad for a pretend ceremony. I would love for it to be simple and legal. I did a lot of research a couple of years ago, and the only countries I remember that don’t require you to be a resident or have other requirements like that are Cyprus, Italy and Greece. Cyprus is the only one, unless it’s changed, where no document translation is needed. But it’s too far to travel for my liking with our baby (more than 7 hours when you factor in the flight and transfers before and after).

We thought the same about going abroad. Almost felt..pointless? That's not best word to use?
That's why we chose scotland to be married legally outside.

I know what you mean. I thought two ceremonies would be ridiculous especially if you are dragging people to a foreign country. But actually saying the words in front of your friends and family is very special and gives it deeper meaning.
I saw that some minor Belgium Royal got married last year and she had to sneak into the city hall to be married before she had her fantastic posh wedding.in the Cathedral.

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide. It’s great fun planning before the stress and nerves kick in

In Cyprus and Italy (didn’t check out Greece), there are beaches, vineyards and villas you can legally get married as a UK resident. And you get so much more for your money.

SheWoreBlueVelvet, thanks! I hope to narrow the options down soon.
My last post was in response to Skyejuly’s post, in case it didn’t make sense.

Found it

cardy-nethouse.co.uk/

Sites like Cottages and Castles are bound to have similar too. In other locations.

Thanks, will have a look at possible locations!

Somewhere like this?
www.scotland-holiday-cottage.com/edinburgh-and-lothians/eastlothian2.htm

www.scotland-holiday-cottage.com/highlands/invernesscottage.htm

Have a look at kingennie fisheries, just outside dundee (five mins from me) they have a huge lodge with bedrooms, 10 or 12 I think.

https://www.forbesofkingennie.co.uk/files/5714/9604/4469/ForbesoffKingennieLodgeeBrochure.pdf

Forgot the link

What about somewhere on the beach? This is near Montrose. Plenty other accommodation options nearby. Hotels, self catering and air b&b

www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-catering/the-ice-house-1940/

This one is near Inverness.

www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-catering/river-lodge-1865/

Or near Pitlochry. Plenty of additional accommodation around the A9 towns.

www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-catering/pine-forest-lodge-1594/

Not anywhere near a beach .... But Mar Lodge just outside Braemar, or Glen Tanar (Aboyne) may suit for the self-catering & separate accommodation. Mar Lodge even has a small church on site, if that was of interest.

Yes! Playground for the kids, pool for the grown ups, beautiful views. I will make an enquiry re prices.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder , Yes! Playground for the kids, pool for the grown ups, beautiful views. I will make an enquiry re prices.

SheWoreBlueVelvet , somehow missed your previous post. How cool about the celebrant, must have taken ages to find (or was just luck?). Your wedding sounds amazing!

Mustbeoriginal38 , couldn’t handle being on the coast with the constant wind. Plus it doesn’t look as pretty as the Med, so would rather stay inland. Will check out that website for separate small cottages, close to the bigger ones.

Mustbeoriginal38 , couldn’t handle being on the coast with the constant wind. Plus it doesn’t look as pretty as the Med, so would rather stay inland. Will check out that website for separate small cottages, close to the bigger ones.

Thanks drquin , lovely locations, will look into them more.

My BIL made our cake and it was amazing - he is an engineer but just a great baker in his spare time

I took the video and DH did the photos of our best friends wedding then gave them a DVD of the edited version and another one that included all the out takes and put all the photos on to a disk

They then chose their favourites and we had them printed and put in an album or mounted for them to put around their house or give to parents etc

Ask around your families and friends to see if anyone could do this sort of thing for you guys - we are no way professional but we didn't chop off the bride's head in the photos and they were all in focus

It saved them money and we enjoyed doing it for them plus they could boss us around so they got exactly what they wanted rather than what a professional might think a B&G want

Some really casual stuff of people sitting/standing around chatting and laughing but also the formal staged photos

My Mum is good with a camera so that could work. My partner hates getting his photos taken so we won’t have a lot of posed ones anyway🙈 Cake- Costco or M&S or somewhere like that depending on where we are going. Flowers- artificial, easy to make a cheap but photo-ready bouquet. Transport- everyone’s own cars. I think the main costs will be accommodation and food. Registrar is a must regardless of where we wed

Got married in Glasgow in June and we got our gorgeous flowers from here:

www.wildflowerworkshop.net