To have and to hold...but where? Ideas for an Angus wedding

Apart from saying yes to the marriage proposal, choosing a venue for your wedding is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your big day.
Wedding at the Picture Gallery at HospitalfieldWedding at the Picture Gallery at Hospitalfield
Wedding at the Picture Gallery at Hospitalfield

The dress, the flowers, the colour scheme, the menus are all important factors in the overall preparations but where you hold the celebrations is key to the style and vibe of the celebrations – it’s providing the backdrop to the biggest day of your life.

Our country is blessed with some truly magnificent wedding venues, but you don’t have to travel too far if you want to stay a little closer to home.

If you’re planning to get hitched this year, chances are you’ll have chosen and booked your venue already but if you’ve still to set a date and it’s going to be next year, have you seen all of the gorgeous venues and locations in Angus and the surrounding area?

There’s a great choice of places; too many to mention but a few of them have caught my eye and they look so romantic.

Obviously romance is a key ingredient to a wedding and when I discovered Turin Castle, it had me weak at the knees. This looks like a dreamy location to tie the knot. If budget allows, it can also be hired for exclusive use.

Turin Castle lies in the heart of Angus and offers an extraordinary unique Scottish experience for both destination and local weddings. There’s also a feeling of exclusivity as Turin hosts only a limited number of weddings each year and each one is created exactly to the requirements of each couple – meaning your day is just that wee bit more extra special.

The management at Turin don’t offer one size fits all packages – they love to meet personally and connect couples to their favourite suppliers to suit their style and budget.

Boasting ten luxury bedrooms and a large event space hosting up to 100 guests with a myriad of options for the ceremony, couples are spoilt for choice to personalise their day exactly as they wish. Turin works with one of Scotland’s top wedding planners who will manage the day from start to finish.

The venue is renowned for meticulous attention to detail and discretion, attracting guests from all corners of the globe to celebrate with their loved ones in their own private castle whilst enjoying the beauty of Angus during their stay.

Looking for something a little bit different?

Hospitalfield would make a stunning wedding venue for discerning couples. The artist's house in Arbroath has a cultural and social history that spans centuries.

The historic Walled Gardens at Hospitalfield have recently been redesigned to an impressive scheme that reflects 800 years of horticulture. The gardens include a restored 19th-cenury Fernery making for a novel and atmospheric location for your wedding photos.

If you and your partner are art lovers or creative types, this place is perfect for your marriage ceremony and celebrations. The number of weddings held here is also limited, mainly due to the precious nature of the venue. It is worth enquiring in advance to avoid disappointment if your heart is set on getting hitched in this special place.

Speaking of special places, there’s another stunning venue that could provide a fairy-tale setting for your big day. You’ll be king and queen for the day if you get married at Glamis Castle.

I’ve only ever been to concerts there and I’ve had a tasty scone or two in the café, but my imagination did run away with me and I could picture a big white wedding here on a glorious spring or summer day.

If I was getting hitched again (unlikely but I love going to other people’s weddings!) Glamis Castle would be high on my agenda. Well, who wouldn't want to feel like royalty on their big day?

That said, not every couple wants a big, flashy wedding. Many just want to have a quick registry office do to complete the formalities, followed by a low-key dinner with a few friends and immediate family. Just because you’re having a small affair doesn’t mean it can’t be special.

The Tayberry restaurant in Broughty Ferry is now offering lovely wedding packages for smaller, intimate wedding receptions.

The beautiful coastal setting overlooking the mouth of the Tay is just perfect for a special occasion.

At the end of the day, just like your partner, it all boils down to personal taste and preference but hopefully these suggestions will have you dancing up the aisle in no time.

You’ll be making decisions together for the rest of your life, but this one is a biggie and you’ll want to remember your beautiful day forever – even once you start bickering like an old married couple, at least you’ll have nice photos to show the kids!