An Autumn Wedding in Scotland: Seasonal Style Inspiration

Imagine spending a weekend with 60 of your favourite people in a Scottish castle, with the perfect crisp, autumnal scenery right outside your window…yes please! If this also sounds like your idea of a great time, you’re going to love S&A’s wedding weekend. There was a big focus on guest experience, and you’ll see they put lots of thought into maximising the fun for everyone throughout the whole stay, not just on the wedding day itself. I absolutely loved working with S&A on their autumn wedding in Scotland, and if you’re looking for some seasonal style inspiration then you’ll want to stick around – this wedding is the epitome of warm, cosy gorgeousness with sumptuous details  and comforting touches.

Welcome to Scotland

On their arrival, S&A and their guests checked into their very own Scottish castle (I mean, really…). Achnagairn estate near Inverness is just an absolute dream in the autumn; the grounds deliver on crunchy orange leaves underfoot and twinkling fairy lights to lead you indoors, and the interiors are both regal and cosy in equal measure. With 24 bedrooms, it’s perfect for hosting your favourite people in the beautiful Highlands.

We started the weekend strong by organising a pizza and doughnut evening – talk about giving the people what they want! The first sweet extra touches were added here; napkins printed with the couple’s first texts to each other, and welcome bags filled with Scottish treats for guests. It was the perfect way to begin a weekend that would leave them with lasting memories and days upon days of fun.

Day two of this autumn wedding in Scotland was all about giving the guests a taste of the area and really immersing themselves in it. We arranged for the guests to have a very Highlands activity day, with axe throwing, archery and clay pigeon shooting which led into…whiskey tasting and afternoon tea, of course. Later in the evening there was an incredible hog roast and cocktails, setting the tone for the wedding the following day. We also managed to take S&A off for a wander through the autumn leaves for some gorgeous couples photos which you’ll see below!

S&A’s autumn wedding in Scotland: the big day

 The wedding morning began with getting ready, as they always do – a traditional shave for Alexander and hair and makeup for Selin – before the ceremony in Achnagairn’s spectacular vaulted ballroom. We filled the fireplace with candles and Gina Coco Louise created a gorgeous floral ceremony backdrop with rich, autumnal colours – perfect for the space which felt intimate and familiar.

We chose to really celebrate the season at this autumn wedding in Scotland, as I so often recommend my couples do. Take a look at my guide to throwing a winter wedding in London for more inspiration on how to embrace the time of year of your wedding.

Whilst guests enjoyed cocktail and canapes in the lounge, the vaulted ballroom was transformed into the dining space, and we opted for lots of sumptuous details to bring that decadent autumnal feel to the castle – modern, mossy jewel-toned loveliness on the escort table, crushed velvet tablecloths in the most divine olive green hosting rich floral arrangements complete with berries, jewel berry plateware and printed floral napkins. The custom, hand painted menu cards by Momental added another dynamic layer of colour, texture and detail, and S&A sat on their very own sweetheart table in a position where they could see every one of their loved ones at dinner.

Once the party got underway it was epic, complete with a money dance and confetti cannons on the final song – not forgetting that incredible outfit change from Selin! 

Find more inspiration for your own autumn wedding in Scotland in my portfolio.

Top tips for an autumn wedding in Scotland

If you’re planning your own wedding at this time of year or in a gorgeous location like this, here are my tips to ensure the best experience for you and your guests:

• If you’re marrying in a remote location such as the Scottish Highlands, consider what your guests will need throughout the weekend. It isn’t easy to just ‘nip out’ for snacks, for example, so making sure you cater thoroughly is always appreciated

• Take a leaf out of S&A’s book and give your guests an experience that’s really authentic to the place – this applies whether you’re in central London, rural Italy or right next to Loch Ness. You chose your destination for a reason, so share that with your loved ones and let them fall in love with it too

• Autumn doesn’t have to mean jewel tones, cosy candles and fallen leaves, but you already have a head start with your design and decor if you do choose to go this route. Seasonal flowers will be more readily available and the ‘theme’ builds itself. If you decide to go in a different direction, have a strong visual in mind and work with your wedding planner to imagine how it will all come together successfully

Get in touch if you’d like to plan your own gorgeous celebration, with the people you love at the forefront. S&A’s autumn wedding in Scotland might have given you inspiration for your colour scheme, venue search or even some of the granular details – all of which I’ll help you bring together into one big, beautiful wedding when we work together.

Images by Donna Marie Photo Co.