What makes a traditional Scottish Wedding Part 2...Food

Making sure your guests are well looked after is important.  The last thing you want on your special day is hungry guests and if you can’t enjoy fine dining with your nearest and dearest on your wedding day then when can you?  Scotland is known worldwide for the quality of its local produce and when only the best will do on your big day, where better to be than Scotland?

In our previous blog we looked at 3 separate locations and why they’d be perfect wedding venues.  Today we look at the food they have on offer and why Scotland weddings are the best.  All of the hotels listed in this blog offer complementary tasting sessions, so you can ensure the food is up to your expectations before it’s served to your guests. 

Mar Hall is known for its fantastic location and exemplary service and the food that is on offer is no different.  With menus ranging from £43 per person to £78 per person, there are options to suit all budgets! What about a Gravadlax of Salmon with a Dill mustard sauce, a bowl of Cullen Skink or a Salad of Serrano Ham, Pears and seasonal leaves?  That’s just for starters! Mains include Saddle of lamb with gratin potato cake and aged vinegar juices and breast of guinea fowl with savoy cabbage and apple with calvados cream.  If you are more of a sweet person, you can look forward to desserts such as prune and praline parfait with toffee sauce or warm chocolate cake with mascarpone sorbet.  You can view the full listing of Mar Hall’s food and drink menus here. 

Locally sourced ingredients and seasonal specialiaties give Mar Hall the edge when it comes to fine dining

  

At Crieff Hydro, your wedding banquet awaits.  Specialising in more classic wedding menus, Crieff Hydro will put your faith back in the classics.  If you are looking for a more original wedding menu, the staff at Crieff Hydro are more than happy to prepare you something special, so if you want your guests to sit down to a curry, pizza or fish and chips, just ask! However if you are after a fancier and finer dining experience there are always the set menus!   Starters including Chicken liver pate, Mains for both meat eaters and vegetarians and deserts that will make your mouth tingle in excitement, there is plenty to choose from at Crieff Hydro!  Full menus can be viewed in the wedding brochure

At The Kingsmill Hotel, there are also a number of set menus to choose from and the chef is always open to suggestions and is able to mix and match courses from different menus! Each menu is 5 courses so you and your guests will not go hungry! From foie gras parfait to sticky toffee pudding, there is surely something to suit everyone’s taste buds! The full range of menus can be found here.  

What makes a traditional Scottish Wedding Part 1...Location

I do… those 2 words that will change your life forever.  We all know that planning a wedding can be a difficult and stressful time.  Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important choices you will have to make and getting the perfect setting for your special day may seem impossible.  There are a number of beautiful wedding venues in Scotland to choose from, but which one will you deem special enough for your big day?  We have chosen 3 wedding venues in Scotland to help you choose that perfect place for your perfect day.

Mar Hall Bridal Suite

Mar Hall is a five star golf and spa resort steeped in heritage, located just 20 minutes from Glasgow City Centre and just 10 minutes from Glasgow Airport. Situated in 240 acres of the Mar Hall offers picturesque views of the river Clyde and Kilpatrick hills.  Whether you are looking for a small intimate day or the wedding to end all weddings, Mar Hall can accommodate a party of up to 450 guests.  With a choice of 4 venues within Mar Hall, there is a venue to suit every budget and style of wedding.  Do not worry! Help is at hand; with your very own event manager included as part of your package you will have expert advice on how to make your day extra special.  Why not starts your day in style, with drinks menus from £23 per person, your guests can enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival.  One thing Mar Hall does best is fine dining and with wedding menus starting at just £43 per person, you and your guests can share the first meal as Mr and Mrs together the right way.  Also included in our wedding package is an overnight stay in a luxurious suite for the Bride and Groom and also a preferential rate for your guests.  The full listing of Mar Hall’s wedding packages can be viewed here.

Located in Perth and Kinross is the small town of Crieff, home to the five star Crieff Hydro Hotel.  With prices starting from just £2120, there are options to suit all budgets and wedding receptions.  With your very own coordinator who will help you plan your wedding included as part of your special day, help is never far away.  There are various wedding packages available which include red carpet arrival, a delicious three course meal, a variety of food and drink options to ensure your guests are well looked after and a number of different little extras to add sparkle to your special day!  Arrive in style and with a range of luxury vehicles available, you can do just that! Whether you want a magician to perform for your guests or a ride in a hot air balloon, the only limit is your imagination! On the day, you and your guests will have unlimited access to the hotel and grounds for photographs and with preferential rates for up to 20 rooms you’ll never want to leave! View Crieff Hydro’s wedding packages here.

Enjoy a unique wedding experience at Criff Hydro

If it’s a highland wedding you’re after then the Kingsmill Hotel in Inverness is the place!  Kingsmill is a beautifully restored 18^th century building located in four acres of gorgeous landscaped gardens and is just five minutes from Inverness.  Specialising in outdoor weddings, Kingsmill offer a romantic and fairy tale setting for your special day.    With your own wedding coordinator included in your day, no details are too small! With function rooms that can accommodate from 4 to 300 guests there is sure to be a venue to suit your needs.  Whether you want to hold just the ceremony, reception or your full wedding at the Kingsmill, there are options to suit every budget! You can view all of kingsmill’s wedding packages and information here.

Make the most of the beautiful gardens at the Kingsmills Hotel

When it comes to your wedding cake, it’s usually a case of choosing between royal icing or buttercream, chocolate cake or traditional fruit cake. Cupcakes or a multi-tiered showstopper.
But have you ever considered pork or Stilton?
Grooms — who are usually excluded from many of the decisions about a wedding —  are starting to fight back against the girliness of it all. More savoury, macho alternatives have started to appear in the form of pork pies, Guinness cake and a cheese wedding cake (not a cheesecake, just a massive block of cheese). What’s going on?

The Fine Cheese Company, purveyors of all manner of cheese wedding cakes, say that grooms are becoming increasingly interested in the details of a wedding simply because they are starting to pay for their weddings with their own money. The company claims that their multi-tiered cheese creations look every bit as elegant as a traditional wedding cake, but are also more substantial and do a better job of feeding hungry party guests.
It’s slightly harder to make a pork pie look elegant, but Lincolnshire pork pie makers Adams and Harlow are doing their very best. They’ve conjured up a five-tiered ‘cake’ made up of pork and chicken pies, each hand-crimped around the edges and decorated with ribbons and flowers.

Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort 2013 Wedding Fair

Whether you are recently engaged, just beginning to think about your big day or have been planning it for a while, you must make sure you get yourself along to Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort this Sunday for our annual Wedding Fair.

This Sunday 3rd March 2013 at Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort we are hosting our annual Wedding Fair. The fair begins at 12pm until 4pm. If you are looking for a Wedding Fair full of inspirational ideas then make sure you come along this Sunday. You will have the opportunity to meet with one of our dedicated Wedding Co-ordinators who will be pleased to show you round Mar Hall as your potential wedding venue, and give you an idea of how your dream day would be like should it be held at Mar Hall.

Arrive at the Grand Hall from 12 noon for a glass of bubbly. Our Burgundy Suite will be dressed for a ceremony and Morton House and The Garden Pavilion will be dressed as your Wedding Breakfast/Reception. Our Garden pavilion will also have a host of designated wedding suppliers to help guide you through your day from wedding photography to your special cake for your big day.

To arrange an appointment in advance email - events@marhall.com or call 0141 812 9964. Or for more information on Weddings at Mar Hall you can also visit our official website here.

10 Things to Look for in a Luxury Wedding Venue:

Here are a few things that you should look for when planning a wedding at a luxury wedding venue!

Quality catering

Quality catering at a wedding is always one of the main talking points for a guest. When people attend a wedding at a luxury wedding venue, they expect luxury cuisine to match. When you are looking for your wedding hotel, ensure that they have an established restaurant and sample the wedding food before you go!

Luxury accommodation

The wedding accommodation is vitally important for the success of a luxury wedding venue. It is important for both the wedding guests and the bride and groom are relaxed and pampered to a high standard. For true luxury accommodation, no less than a 5 star hotel will suffice. Again.. try before you buy! Take a tour of the hotel before you stay, or even have a test stay so that you know what you are getting.  

Stunning setting and views

There is nothing better than a wedding in an attractive setting. Luxury wedding venues are often based in scenic locations. It is however, important to ensure that the wedding or wedding reception is in an area that takes full advantage of any views. This is often helped by an outdoor wedding or a country wedding. Scottish wedding venues are renowned for their stunning scenery, such as Mar Hall Golf & Spa resort, which boasts stunning views of the Kilpatick hills and the river Clyde. Their wedding marquee is set in such a way that the stunning Scottish countryside views are captured.

       Exclusive hire

The mark of an extremely luxurious wedding can be exclusive hire of the venue. This provides the ultimate private wedding. Exclusive hire is generally offered by smaller and more exclusive venues, such as Mar Hall Hotel. Exclusive hire gives the wedding party unrivaled privacy and luxury for the perfect wedding day. 

     Quality staff and service

From any 5 star wedding venue, one of the most important factors is the service from staff. A luxury wedding venue should have attentive staff to ensure the day is as stress free as possible for the bride and groom. It is expected that a 5 star hotel or similar venue would have staff of this standard.

 Luxury facilities (Spa)

Having as many facilities as possible onsite adds can make a wedding venue feel luxurious. The luxury of choice for activities around you stay should be expected from a luxury wedding venue.  Onsite spa facilities at a wedding venue are ideal for helping you to relax before the wedding.

 Spacious venue

The venue should be spacious enough to accommodate and level of dancing, or the number of guests you require without feeling cramped.

        Privacy

Privacy is a key element of a wedding. The wedding venue should be separate from anyone else around the venue. If the wedding is at a 5 star hotel, it is best that they offer a separate venue for the wedding to give the wedding party privacy. Mar Hall hotel in Glasgow have a stunning wedding marquee away from the main hotel.

       Parking

Parking is a small thing that can make a big difference. Ample parking is important for a luxury venue to have to make the experience stress free and relaxing all involved.

Personal wedding planner

The ultimate in stress relieving luxury! Avoid the stress of planning a wedding by leaving it to the professionals. When it comes to the venue, a luxury wedding venue should be able to provide someone who knows the venue inside out. Mar Hall Golf & Spa include in their facility fee the services of a dedicated Event Manager throughout the planning stages of your wedding, personalised menus, place cards, and highly skilled banqueting staff. We strongly recommend that you consider hiring the services of a professional Master of Ceremonies to give your wedding day that extra special touch. However, our banqueting manager will be happy to announce dinner, the cutting of the cake, the Bride & Groom (family) and the introduction of the first speaker, who, in turn will introduce the next.

Pre Wedding pampering in the Decleor Spa

A Wedding can be very stressful.. particularly for the bride and the bridal party! After what is often months or even years of planning, there is so much that can go wrong. For this reason, you must do all you can to relax. What better way to relax before your wedding than a 5 star luxury Spa?

The ideal scenario is to spend the night before your wedding at your wedding venue, so further relieve stress. Any truly luxury wedding venue will have a spa that will not only help you to relax, but also make sure you are suitably pampered and ready for your big day!

Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort is a luxury wedding venue near Glasgow airport. It is one of these Scottish luxury wedding venues with a stunning Spa attached. The Decleor Spa at Mar Hall features all spa luxurious imaginable; from massage and aromatherapy, to the 8 treatment rooms, Rasul Mud Chamber, Relaxation area, 20 metre pool, Sauna, Steam room and fully equipped fitness studio. Being attatched to a 5 star hotel with a reputation as a high quality luxury wedding venue, Marr Hall Hotel is the perfect pre-wedding relaxation.

Pre wedding relxation at the wedding venue is not only important for bride, but also for the groom. Mar Hall also has a host of spa treatments suite to males as well as the gym, pool, sauna and steam room!

Get your wedding and your marriage off to the perfect start by relaxing at your luxury wedding venue before the big day to make sure you look and feel amazing! www.marhall.com 

Planning the Perfect Stag Weekend: Golf in Scotland

These days, the stereotypical stag do tends to involve jumping on a plane to Prague and boisterously trekking through the city in morphsuits. I’ve been researching more traditional and cheaper stag weekends in Britain.

If golf is your bloke’s game, why not look into a sophisticated golfing weekend in Scotland? The new 18-hole Earl of Mar championship golf course at Mar Hall offers a five star golf experience for Glasgow golf fans and is arguably the best in Scotland . Mar Hall is one of the most sought-after Scottishwedding venues, and a great golf resort. Their spectacular course was designed by respected golf course architect, Dave Thomas, known for his work at The Belfry in England.

You don’t need golf club links to book here – there are Pay & Play golf options too.