Author: Caroline Southesk

Adele & Barry’s Wedding at Elsick House

In June last year, Adele and Barry celebrated their wedding at Elsick House. With catering by Hudsons Catering,and a host of thoughtful personal touches, their day was truly unforgettable. Here’s what our Elsick bride Adele had to say about the big day, with images by Jonathan Addie Photography.

How did you first hear about Elsick House?

We live fairly locally but had never come across Elsick House before. While searching online for wedding venues in the area, we stumbled upon it—and we’re so glad we did.

What were your first impressions?

We absolutely fell in love with Elsick House from the moment we arrived. The beautiful gardens and stunning house completely exceeded our expectations. What really stood out was that it offered the best of both worlds: breathtaking outdoor spaces alongside equally beautiful indoor options for the ceremony and reception.

Did you look at any other venues?

No. Elsick House was the first venue we viewed, and after seeing it, we cancelled all our other scheduled viewings. It had everything we were looking for and more.

What made you book Elsick House?

After our viewing, we genuinely couldn’t imagine another venue offering what Elsick House did. The gardens were in full bloom and looked incredible, the house itself was stunning, and there was the perfect amount of accommodation for our families to stay and celebrate with us. We also loved that the indoor spaces were just as beautiful as the outdoor setting, which gave us peace of mind knowing we had a fantastic backup option if the weather didn’t cooperate. We were completely blown away.

What made your day unique?

Being surrounded by all our family, friends, and loved ones in such a beautiful setting made our wedding day incredibly special. Elsick House provided the perfect backdrop for memories we’ll cherish forever.

Any memorable details of the day?

Karen went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. She checked in with us throughout the day, and nothing was ever too much trouble. The weather was constantly changing, but the team at Elsick House adapted seamlessly at short notice, giving us the flexibility to decide between an indoor or outdoor ceremony right up until the last moment. Their professionalism and support made the entire day feel effortless.

Would you recommend Elsick House and why?

Absolutely. The venue speaks for itself—it’s simply stunning—but what truly sets Elsick House apart is the people. The staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in making your day as special as possible. So many of our guests commented on the beautiful venue, fantastic food, wonderful location, and exceptional service. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate our wedding.

Download our wedding brochure here or view a virtual tour of the house and grounds. To arrange a visit to Elsick House or for more information about wedding and events please contact us at house@elsick.co.uk

MAKING THE MOST OF THE GARDEN

Elsick’s mature and beautiful garden offers a multitude of possibilities.

So close to Aberdeen and with all the space in the world to create your own fantasy, Elsick House is the one place where real privacy can be found and you can remain hidden from the outside to escape the hustle and bustle.  A good imagination is not a gift that all of us share so we thought it might be helpful to guide you through some of the ideas we have for a corporate gathering or a family and friends’ celebration. Some are tried and tested ideas and some we know would suit the grounds very well.

Within the walled garden

Join forces with a few friends, raise a plastic glass of prosecco and enjoy the borders and shrubs from a hot tub. These can be hired and fit brilliantly on the top terrace.  You can even enjoy this under the garden lighting for a bit of night-time adventure.

The setting is so well suited to croquet and other traditional games. There is a house croquet set, and if you order it in advance, a second set could be brought in for racing croquet.  Two teams can compete simultaneously, and it is hilarious and easy to adjudicate.

The marquee is up during the summer months and has a fully transparent side set slightly above the main wall so no matter what the weather you can enjoy the setting out of any breeze.  How about teaching employees a new craft on a team building day?

The Yew Garden

In the centre of this area of the garden sits a revolving summer house to make the most of the south facing lawn.  This charming wooden house makes an ideal Pimm’s bar for summer drinks or serving area for a BBQ and there are plenty of outdoor tables and chairs for a real party.  Or you could pop in a central table and let your executive team do a bit of blue sky thinking.

On a more active note, you could set up a Segway tour around the entire 1500 acres of the estate on a set route or a mystery tour and maybe even venture further afield

The garden pond

The Chinese style bridge across the pond makes an ideal photographic backdrop.  Indeed, the whole pond area is an ideal amphitheatre and anyone wanting to do presentations

The Lake and beyond

A long straight area on the estate is the ideal spot for full length archery although there are several places for a more modest competition.  Otherwise a treasure hunt for all ages can be organised through the woods and garden focusing on the amazing wildlife on display here.

The Lochter Activity centre  has great equipment that they can bring to the estate and can work with all sorts of client requirements so take a look.

For the adventurous

A little off-road karting or driving will set the heart racing and the competitive juices flowing and these can be done within team events.   If you prefer your feet firmly on the ground there is a 5km circular trail that you can pick up just on the edge of the garden.

Let your imagination run wild and remember our experienced team can help to guide you as to what will work. Contact Alison to get more details.

 

MID-WEEK WEDDINGS

Scottish mid week weddings are becoming more and more popular.  We offer a wide selection of options for those who wish to celebrate their wedding at Elsick House.  We are currently offering a significant discounted rate along with venue only packages.

A well argued piece in the Wedding Ideas magazine outlines the advantages of opting for a mid week wedding.  We hope you will enjoy reading their article on the topic.  Not only is there savings to be made on venue costs but huge savings can be made with all wedding suppliers including photographers, florists and stylists.

At Elsick House, we can offer you exclusive use of the house the night before the wedding, which you can chose to spend with your closest family and friends –  with 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, we can accommodate up to 20 guests.  You will be together to share the excitement and build up to the ceremony – no hire cars, no travel, no rushing about.  At the end of the evening there are no worries or hassle waiting for taxis and other transport.   Wake up as a married couple in our beautiful bridal suite then join your family in the morning for breakfast, enjoying complete privacy in your own little haven.

For those happy to celebrate in simple style and whose family and friends are local, we can also recommend the Venue only packages for midweek weddings.  Suited for a simple celebration and wedding breakfast without accommodation, this option provides even greater value for money.  You will still have exclusive use of the house and grounds for the duration of the ceremony and celebration afterwards.

Our expert team are ready to guide you through all of the options we can offer at Elsick House.

Contact us now to find out more