An A-Z of Incredible Scottish Wedding Venues: Kelburn Castle & Estate, Ayrshire

March 5, 2019by lauraw0

With dozens of towns and villages dotted along the picture-perfect coastline, couples looking to say “I do” with a sea view will be spoilt for choice in Ayrshire. From the beautiful fishing villages of Dunure and Ballantrae to the seaside holiday resort of Girvan, every settlement along the coastline has a story to tell and no more so than lovely Largs. Nowadays, visitors flock to the pretty seaside town for a stroll along the promenade, award-winning gelato in hand, but there’s more to Largs than meets the eye. Over the years, the town has become synonymous with Vikings, Victorians and one very vivacious Viscount! While Largs’ connection with Vikings and Victorians is obviously fascinating, Team Fuze are far more interested in the vivacious Viscount, or more specifically, his glorious castle!

This week’s Incredible Scottish Wedding Venue is home to the Viscount of Kelburn, who has injected a serious amount of time, energy and eccentricity into his magical Ayrshire Estate. If you’re looking for all the wows while you’re saying your vows, then the Kelburn Estate could be right up your street. Here’s a snapshot as to why we’re swooning over Kelburn Castle so much:

• Just a forty minute drive from Glasgow City Centre and Prestwick Airport

• The ultimate fairy tale turreted castle with a twist!

• Numerous internal/external locations to say “I do”

• Glorious garden grounds complete with romantic waterfall

• Available on both an exclusive use and room-by-room basis

• Incredible photographic opportunities

• Large space to accommodate up to 250 (ceremony & reception)

• Excellent caterers available to design your menu

With over 2000 marriages registered in the county last year, Ayrshire is an extremely popular choice for couples looking to tie the knot and no wonder! With a craggy and cavernous coastline, ancient sprawling woodlands and an undulating verdant landscape, Ayrshire has got it all going on. The county also boasts every single variety of wedding venue possible, from barns to hotels and country houses to castles, couples looking for options need look no further. If, however, you’re the type of couple who want it all, this week’s Incredible Scottish Wedding Venue ticks all the boxes.

Sheltered by the rolling hills to the east and enjoying spectacular views out over the island of Great Cumbrae, the Kelburn Estate lies slightly south of Largs along the A78 and is home to the aforementioned Viscount of Kelburn, David Boyle. Over the past fifteen years, David has overseen extensive renovation works to both the Castle and the Estate and in 2007, he bravely invited several Brazilian artists to adorn the walls of his 13th century pile in psychedelic graffiti. It was certainly a courageous move, but it was a move that paid off as we, like thousands of visitors to the Estate, think it looks incredible and it certainly sets the tone for offbeat couples on the hunt for a traditional wedding venue with a twist.

Having been the much loved family seat of the Boyles for almost 800 years, Kelburn Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and upon entering the ancient pile, you can instantly feel the history in its eccentric elegance. Hundreds of ancestral portraits adorn the walls and the beautiful reception rooms are crammed with interesting artefacts and antiques such as original Chippendale furniture, William Morris wallpaper, a gown worn by the judge at the trial of Burke & Hare and even a chair used at the coronation of the Queen! It is therefore, truly awesome that couples and their bridal parties are able to stay at Kelburn Castle on either an exclusive use or room-by-room basis where a handful of stunning bedrooms are available for the bridal party to enjoy. There’s also a number of glamping yurts and bell tents situated within the Estate grounds for further guest accommodation.

When John Leo Scott married Diane and William at Kelburn Estate in August 2018, we were all obsessed with John’s account of their big day. The fun-loving couple used Kelburn Castle’s annual ‘Eden Festival’ as their inspiration and utilised numerous parts of the Estate to make their wedding day extra special.

Diane and William rented the Castle for accommodation; however, they opted to take advantage of the Estate grounds throughout the whole of their wedding day. The ceremony took place within the majestic walled garden where the couple took their vows beneath an ancient yew tree before family and friends. After the wedding ceremony, the couple celebrated in true festival style where the relaxed vibe at Kelburn really came into its own and guests, both young and old, let their hair down and embraced the festival vibe.

The wedding breakfast and evening reception took place within the bright and spacious Pavilion, which is an absolute dream for creative couples looking to put their own stamp on their venue. With fairy-lit wooden beams overhead, oodles of natural light and glass doors giving way to a manicured private lawn with incredible views, the Pavilion has a definite rustic, barn-like vibe. This nod to Ayrshire’s agricultural heritage is further emphasised when the Estate offers to drive newlyweds from their ceremony location to the Pavilion in the back of a tractor and trailer! The Pavilion is fully licenced and comfortably seats up to 130 guests for the wedding breakfast and up to 200 guests can dance the night away as there’s ample room for a band/DJ.

Catering at Kelburn is first-class and menus are tailor-made to suit the couple and their guests. Whether you’re looking for a formal five-course dinner for fifty in the Castle’s epic dining room, a hog-roast and a spread of sharing platters for two hundred guests in a tepee on the lawn or a champagne picnic for two down by the waterfall in the whimsical glen, anything is possible.

The beauty of the Kelburn Estate is the flexibility it allows couples and their guests. From exchanging vows and dancing the night away to accommodation and catering, we guarantee there’s an option to suit every couple. The flexibility doesn’t even stop there! For adventure hungry couples and their guests, what other venue also incorporates a bike park, an equestrian centre and a woodland adventure course into the mix! Kelburn Estate is the gift that keeps giving.