An A-Z of Incredible Scottish Wedding Venues: Prestonfield House

June 18, 2019by lauraw0

When envisaging a Scottish elopement, the quintessential image that springs to mind is one of misty glens, snow-capped mountains and a cosy hideaway for two. What if, however, you want all the intimacy and romance of a Highland elopement, but slap-bang in the middle of the city? What if you want all the glitz and glamour of a luxury wedding, without the guestlist? If you would rather spend your “weddingmoon” ambling hand-in-hand upon the cobbled streets of one of Scotland’s sensational historic cities, but you also want the solitude, intimacy and romance of an elopement, then we’ve found the answer! So put your walking boots back in the cupboard because this week’s Incredible Scottish Wedding Venue is a city slicking duo’s elopement dream come true! Here’s why we are completely OB-SESSED with Prestonfield House in Edinburgh:

• The ultimate opulent & luxurious country house

• Infinite interior/exterior locations to say “I do”

• Glorious parkland grounds complete with access to Arthur’s Seat

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

• Right in the heart of Edinburgh City Centre

• Incredible photographic opportunities

• Award winning menu and wine list

• Voted the most romantic hotel in Scotland

You’d be forgiven for thinking that tales of star-crossed elopers scrambling over hill and dale to reach Scottish soil belonged in the dim distant past, but it seems that the romance of eloping to Scotland continues to swirl in the imaginations of 21st Century lovers. In fact, we’ve noticed that the appetite for intimate ceremonies for two has skyrocketed in the past couple of years with Pinterest reporting a whopping 128% increase in searches for elopement inspiration, and who can blame couples for opting out of tradition when an elopement is not only incredibly romantic, but also kinder on the bank balance, less stressful AND it conveniently combines both the wedding and honeymoon into one gloriously gift-wrapped package!

Just seconds from the city centre and situated in the shadow of an ancient volcano, Prestonfield House is the epitome of romance where every single square inch of both the perfectly manicured parkland gardens and the sumptuous interior hollers L.U.R.V.E! Voted Scotland’s most romantic hotel, Prestonfield House can be hired out exclusively for large weddings of up to 400 guests, but we thought we should shout about how this eclectically elegant and stylish city pile is actually the perfect venue just for two.

When Brazilians, Diego and Jordana, were searching for a dreamy Scottish venue where they could enjoy the privacy and intimacy of an Edinburgh elopement, they fell in love with Prestonfield House and as you can see from the stunning photography by Loraine Ross, they were not disappointed!

When it comes to locations to say “I do”, there are innumerable options. The 20 acre parkland gardens that surround the venue are spectacular and the perfect location to exchange vows; however, for those on the hunt for the ultimate wilderness elopement vibe, couples can access Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat directly from the grounds. If the preference is for an indoor ceremony in one of the Prestonfield’s stunning reception spaces, couples are in for a treat.

Celebrant, Mo Ackroyd conducted the wedding ceremony for Diego and Jordana in the show-stopping Leather Room. Now, with a name like the Leather Room, you’d be forgiven for thinking raunch over romance; however, we can hastily allay your fears of risqué goings on, because this room is 100% romance! The Leather Room was so-called due to its walls being graced with the most glorious gilded 17th Century Cordoba leather. Add to that an elaborately decorated chandelier, dozens of antiques and a humungous roaring fire and you can see exactly where we’re coming from.

After embracing the Scottish tradition of drinking from the quaich, Diego and Jordana enjoyed canapés and champagne in the Leather Room before being led to a magical space that can only be described as OFF THE RICHTER in the romance department! For their first meal together as husband and wife, Diego and Jordana chose to dine in the Salon Privé, which is accessed off an ancient turreted stone staircase and is the most glamorous and romantic bijou space EVER! Overlooking the lawn and summerhouse, this tiny enchanting room is ideal for couples looking to spend a few hours together celebrating their newlywed status without any distractions, other than the most incredible, award winning food and drink of course!

It’s not just the incredible interior of Prestonfield that gets a huge thumbs up from us, the 20 acre parkland gardens are truly beautiful and couples might even be lucky enough to meet the house’s quirkiest residents, which come in the form of a pride of colourful peacocks and a herd of hairy Highland cows! The grounds, coupled with the ease of access onto both Arthur’s Seat and the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town, makes this venue a creative photographer’s dream come true!

When it comes to the wedding night, couples can choose to take a nightcap by the fire in one of the house’s opulent reception rooms before retiring to one of twenty three luxurious, flamboyant and totally unique bedrooms and suites.

All in all, if you’re entertaining the idea of having a lavish destination elopement in Scotland’s capital city, we have yet to find anywhere that matches the romance, intimacy and quirkiness of Prestonfield House.