Intimate autumn wedding at Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms

Elopement or micro wedding in Scotland appeal to you? Set in the breathtaking Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands, Georgia and Halton’s intimate Mar Lodge Estate wedding was a deeply personal celebration filled with emotional details, cultural rituals and autumnal charm.

From a handfasting and Hebrew ring exchange to whisky in a quaich in memory of the bride’s father, their destination wedding in Scotland was full of unforgettable moments.

It has a cute engagement story, food by Highland wedding caterer The Lunchbox Boys, relaxed wedding photography by Aberdeen wedding photographer Hayley Fraser and perhaps the most amazing wedding cake ever to be eaten in Scotland!

Wedding highlights at a glance

Wedding venue | Mar Lodge Estate, Aberdeenshire
Date | 26th September 2024 
Photography | Hayley Fraser Photography
Theme and decor | Autumn wedding flowers, forest pine cones, burgundy wedding accent colour, tartan ribbon
Guests | Intimate elopement-style wedding of just 8 guests
Ceremony | Outdoor interfaith wedding ceremony with quaich, handfasting, personal vows

Read on for the full story...

Idea for a cute proposal in the rain

The American couple’s engagement story is another moment that’s too sweet not to share.

“We met online and were together for four years before we got engaged in London in August 2023. We were walking through St James’s Park on a particularly rainy day. We stood under an umbrella and watched the geese meandering about. I remember saying to him, ‘This is perfect.’ To which he replied, ‘Almost!’ – and popped the question!” beams Georgia.

Mar Lodge Estate, Cairngorms wedding venue

Halton has Scottish heritage, and Scotland was the first big trip that the lovebirds made together. “We fell in love with the dramatic landscapes and the culture, so when we were thinking about where to marry, it felt like the obvious choice,” he says.

Halton and his dad had visited Mar Lodge Estate, a National Trust for Scotland wedding venue, on a previous trip. While the couple briefly considered other Highland wedding venues, they felt the Victorian hunting lodge's aesthetic and dramatic scenery were unmatched.

“Initially we thought we’d elope as we felt guilty asking anyone to make such a big trip. But it turned out they wanted to make it work just as badly as we did. We had eight immediate family and friends fly over from the States, and I’m so happy everyone could be there to celebrate with us,” smiles Georgia.

Planning a destination wedding in Scotland

“I’ll never forget the way we looked at each other when reciting the vows we’d written ourselves,” says Georgia. “And Shannon, my maid of honour, pouring whisky into the quaich in honour of my late father felt incredibly meaningful.”

Working with wedding planner Sarah Cormack of Wild Scottish Weddings helped the couple bring their multicultural vision to life, especially as they were planning a destination wedding in Scotland.

Search for more wedding planners in Scotland

“We had a lot of difficulty getting hold of suppliers. Emails weren’t as efficient as we’d hoped, and the time difference made phone calls tricky. All these issues went away when we started working with our planner, Sarah. She took care of things before I even knew they needed to be taken care of,” laughs Georgia.

“I can’t recommend a planner enough. Things would have been exponentially more stressful for us without one.”

How can I blend Jewish and celtic traditions in a wedding ceremony?

Interfaith wedding ceremonies in Scotland are perfect for this. Wedding planner Sarah introduced them to local interfaith celebrant Angela Craven-Foulger, who seamlessly combined Jewish and Celtic elements.

“Angela helped mix all these little aspects of us into the perfect ceremony – it included stepping on the glass, sipping from the quaich, a handfasting and reciting the traditional Hebrew ring exchange.

“We also had a section where our grandmothers passed on their wisdom for our union, which was so touching,” recalls Georgia.

“One of the loveliest compliments we received was from our maid of honour, Shannon. She said the ceremony ‘felt like it meant something’ – that meant the world to us, because we were determined to feel present on our big day and not let our wedding feel like a performance.”

Where can I get married outdoors in the Cairngorms?

After the emotional outdoor ceremony on the banks of the River Quoich, guests enjoyed canapés while the newlyweds slipped away with their photographer, Hayley Fraser, for portraits across the 9,000-hectare estate.

“All too often in our research we found that photos don’t do justice to the beautiful Highland landscapes. But this was not the case with Hayley’s work; we were so impressed by how effortlessly she was able to carry out this nigh-impossible task.

“Her obvious skill and passion for her craft were immediately evident. We loved the warm and natural way Hayley captured our guests too, and we are eternally grateful that she could be a part of our day,” says Georgia.

Other Scottish wedding photographers you need to know

Cosy autumn Highland wedding reception 

The couple hosted a relaxed and intimate reception at the lodge’s dining room, thanks to catering by The Lunchbox Boys, private event and wedding catering specialists in Scotland.

“Since we had such a small group, we were able to sit together in the lodge’s dining room at one table. It had been dressed using items borrowed from the venue’s little room that’s filled with decorations, along with vibrant autumnal flowers from The Flower Room at Deeside Deli that left me swooning.

“It was lovely, like a family dinner, and every morsel of food was delicious and beautifully presented." 

“The team were so responsive and professional throughout planning as well.”

Find even more wedding catering and food and drink companies in Scotland

Opera cake as wedding cake

And dessert was truly unforgettable. “We had an opera cake from Hazelnut Pâtisserie in Braemar. I wish I were exaggerating when I say it was the single best slice of cake I have ever eaten! My only wedding regret is being too full to finish it,” laughs Georgia.

“Otherwise, we knew the day would go smoothly thanks to Sarah’s efforts, and the fact that we knew it was kismet all along! I’ll always treasure winding down in the evening, once all the guests had left and it was just the two of us, exhausted and happy, reflecting on the day.

“Waking up engaged and going to sleep man and wife is an indescribable feeling of joy and comfort.”

Wedding suppliers

Venue Mar Lodge Estate, Aberdeenshire  
Photography Hayley Fraser Photography 
Wedding planner Wild Scottish Weddings 
Celebrant Angela Craven-Foulger 
Bride’s dress David’s Bridal (no longer in UK)  
Bridesmaid dresses Azazie 
Bridal jewellery All heirloom pieces 
Hair Millionhairs Aboyne
Groomswear HKT Custom Clothiers, Atlanta 
Rings Brilliant Earth 
Catering The Lunchbox Boys 
Cake Hazelnut Pâtisserie 
Flowers The Flower Room at Deeside Deli