Rachel Rollo, Author at Elsick House

Autumn Portrait Sessions at Elsick House with Emma Lawson Photography

The gardens at Elsick House have been an explosion of vibrant colours this year, with golden tones and rich reds completely transforming the landscape around us.

We were delighted when Emma Lawson Photography chose our grounds for the backdrop of her family portrait sessions, we wanted to show off the spectacular autumn display!

Elsick has always been a family home so we loved seeing Emma capture children crunching in the leaves, couples documenting their engagement with some photos under the arbour and generations coming together to create precious family keepsakes.

Emma said, “shooting at Elsick is always such a pleasure and I was delighted to be able to use it for my Autumn portrait sessions. Having shot plenty of weddings here I knew the beautiful outdoor spaces on the doorstep of the main house would be perfect for these speedy shoots where everything must be done and dusted within 20 minutes. As a photographer it’s such a treat to shoot at Elsick, the estate sits in a really lovely location, it gets fantastic light at all times of the day and there is a pretty vista in every direction.”

Here’s a selection of just some of the beautiful family portraits taken by Emma here recently. To find out more about Emma Lawson Photography, visit her website here.

Getting married at Elsick House? We only recommend those whose professionalism we have experienced. Listed on our Partners page are some suggestions of those who will know the house.

Fall in Love with The Gardens at Elsick

It’s easy to fall in love with the gardens at Elsick House. Bright blooming flowers and meticulously maintained lawns have provided the most stunning backdrop for outdoor weddings and celebrations throughout many years. But explore a little deeper and you’ll be rewarded with some imaginative surprises. Nestled among the plants are delicate wire fairies, butterflies and most recently added, a stunning sculpture of a bridal gown – a nod to the brides who should have been married here in 2020.

So, who is behind these artworks and the amazing gardens? Meet our creative gardener, Mandy.

Mandy and her partner Alec have lived on the Elsick Estate for 6 years. They take care of the gardens and grounds at Elsick House, as well as carrying out ground maintenance and helping with events such as the Farmers’ Market at nearby town, Chapelton.

Mandy: “I first started by helping Alec in the gardens. I never once imagined I would actually enjoy it but then I realised gardening can be creative, like living art. In my spare time I like to draw, paint and sculpt so I feel very lucky that I can combine my artistic side with my job. A typical day at work for me involves weeding, grass cutting, raking leaves, pruning, planting, deadheading and feeding the plants. I’ve recently been redesigning an area of the gardens which I’ve really enjoyed.

Working in the gardens at Elsick House is so serene. I like all the seasons. Spring sees everything come alive again; Summer is amazing with the sun, nicer weather and the garden in bloom; Autumn brings the colour changes and in Winter, the gardens are chilly but very peaceful.

I think my art is inspired by the views around me. Sometimes I stop and stare at the Monkey Puzzle trees. They are so different and make me think, wow look at that!

Weddings and events have been postponed this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak so it’s disappointing that so many people won’t get to see the gardens in bloom this year. We always do our best to make them look perfect for every wedding, it is an amazing feeling knowing they are the backdrop of someone’s special day. Our current plans are to keep the gardens looking as pristine as we can for all future events but I also felt I wanted to honour this year’s weddings that couldn’t take place because of the virus.

The bridal gown is made from wire and pearl beads and has jasmine and Japanese honeysuckle plants growing around it. I’ve made fairies on carved wooden toadstools and wire butterflies for the garden in the past but I feel this piece has a deeper meaning so I hope the couples will enjoy it when they come for their weddings here.

Mandy’s most recent sculpture, the bridal gown with jasmine and honeysuckle entwined

On a positive note, Alec and I have spent more time in our own garden this year and have revamped an area. I love working outdoors with the sun, wind and even the rain on my face. Gardening keeps me fit and healthy; it boosts the immune system too. We’ve been going for long walks with our dogs as living on the Elsick estate there’s so much countryside to explore. It will be great to see holiday makers coming back to the house once we reopen in July. It really is such a beautiful location and I can’t wait to see families back enjoying the gardens again.”

A Self-Catering Holiday at Elsick House, exclusively yours for a safe family getaway.

They say love and laughter is what makes a house a home and that is certainly true of Elsick House. Families and their friends who come to stay often refer to us as a “home from home” and without the bustle of bridal parties getting ready for the big day or families coming together for well-deserved breaks and holidays, it has been too quiet around the house during the Coronavirus lockdown.

However, we are delighted that we may soon be welcoming back our guests. The most recent government announcements indicate that holidays in Scotland could recommence from mid-July.

Exclusively Yours

A self-contained holiday home, we can ensure the house will be exclusively yours for the duration of your stay. With spacious public rooms, 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, Elsick House is a safe, low risk option for those looking to get away from it all, a welcome change of scenery. Set within acres of stunning grounds and gardens it is the ideal base for exploring the surrounding countryside and our location is within easy reach of Aberdeenshire’s beaches, golf courses and much more. See Activities for things to do.

The study room at Elsick House with Chesterfield sofa and fireplace — Relax in comfort

Self-Catering

Self-catering allows you the freedom to make your holiday your own, with no interruptions or set timetable. Our modern kitchen with large range cooker leads onto a relaxed breakfast room and of course, you have the option of the dining room for more formal dinners. Our lawns and summer house are perfect for hosting barbeques and there are also plentiful takeaway and delivery services in the area which we are happy to recommend.

Space for outdoor entertaining and family games at Elsick House. — Plentiful space for outdoor entertaining and family games

Behind the Scenes

The safety and comfort of guests has always been our priority. Behind the scenes we have been busy adding further cleaning and safety protocols. We will also be implementing a contact free check in procedure so you can feel confident that Elsick House is a safe place to reunite with family and friends.

Please check availability on our Bookings page or contact house@elsick.co.uk for more information.

Renovating a historic house: Traditional interiors restored for modern living

The Duke and Duchess of Fife, David and Caroline are the owners of Elsick House which has been in David’s family since the 1300’s. Here, Caroline talks about the restoration of the house and what inspired them to create an ideal space for entertaining and modern living whilst still retaining traditional features.

“Elsick House has been in the family since the 1300s, and it was where David was brought up. There’s a huge amount of history within these walls. Sadly, David’s dad passed away in 2015 leaving the house and estate to us. We have frequented here with our family over the years so the house truly holds a lot of cherished memories.”

The Restoration

“We rescued the house and restored it with a lot of love and it has certainly come alive again! We re-wired, re-plumbed and added more bathrooms. Making the most of the 11 bedrooms, en-suites added more modern living to the house.

Alexandra bedroom — The Alexandra Bedroom

Ensuite bathroom with roll top bath and freestanding shower — En suite added to The Alexandra Bedroom

It was important to us to have a lot of open living and entertaining space, which I think we’ve achieved. We didn’t want a fussy formal atmosphere. We tried to keep the house old with a modern twist, so the traditional features have been kept but perhaps updated. A fresh colour palette was used, with some flair and personality given to each room through accents.

Drawing room through to the dining room — View from The Drawing Room to The Dining Room

The MacDuff bedroom is my favourite, most probably because it was actually David’s bedroom/nursery growing up. It’s just timeless, I love the quirky old panelling that isn’t straight, but why would one mend this feature? It’s the cosiest part of the house and will always remain the ‘nursery’ to me.

MacDuff bedroom in Elsick House — The Macduff Bedroom was David’s childhood bedroom and ‘The Nursery.”

I also love the study, I love the masculine, non-feminine feel to it with its vintage leather sofas and natural fabrics, again this room is simply timeless.”

The Furnishings

“We bought everything from scratch. Taylor’s Auctions were a fabulous source as was Coach House, which I absolutely love! I’d say our biggest splash out was our dining table which seats 16 people. Our best buys were the two large art pieces in the main foyer which were only £50 for both from Taylor’s Auctions. David came up with the genius idea of taking pictures of our original art from our home in Angus, and having them made into large canvases then mounted and framed in a traditional way fitting for the house – so although they are not originals, they are loved pieces from our home, many pieces are of family through the generations!

The Dining Room features family portraits from through the generations

I have a love of the Edwardian period and Downton Abbey, I find it very romantic. I would say that there is always something good in every era though. I love natural, vintage fabrics with fresh neutral pallets. Soft corals and petrol blues are amongst some of my favourite colours, but I hugely dislike navy carpets – which we had running through the house, but I’m happy to say, I gained permission to change these!”

Inside the drawing room at Elsick House with fresh flowers and red cushions

Originally published by No. 1 Magazine. June 7, 2017. Interview by Robyn Lang-Shankland. Main image by Firefly & Embers Photography.

Bridal Accessory Trends by Red Rocks

Multi award winning bridal jewellery and accessories designer Claire Notarangelo is the owner of RedRocks and not only lives locally to Elsick House but is also one of our 2020 brides!

Here she shares her expertise and discusses some of this year’s trends…

RedRocks at Elsick House Wedding Open Day in 2019. View from our bridal suite.

“Over the last 9 years I’ve seen many different styles and trends come and go, and then come back again! The key to creating the best piece suited to each individual is to find out what sort of bride they are first. Perhaps they’re subtle and understated, have an alternative/statement style, a super sparkly bling queen, quite traditional or a mixture of all the above. Seeing “The Dress” is usually the best help to determine what’s required and what sort of detail we’ll go for, along with an idea of hair styling for size and format for the hairpiece.”

Hairpieces

Last year’s botanical trend has continued into 2020. Floral inspired lace and pretty leafy dress appliqués work beautifully with detailed trailing vines or vine style pins which give the illusion of a vine. Clips and combs also have a heavy presence of flowers and buds with texture being very important to give a natural non uniform feel. Blush mixes are still featuring heavily, bringing warmth to the pieces.

The other main trend I’m seeing a lot of this year is brides with little or no surface detail on their dress and very smooth, sleek silhouettes. This often lends well to a totally different look, using a larger statement hairpiece to enhance the simplicity of the dress design or a smaller understated piece with a very detailed hairstyle. Swirling, almost Art Deco brooch shapes work well with this styling and can work with both a mixture of pearls and sparkle or a clean no pearl look. Sparkling crystal tiaras in both front facing and side styles are also proving to work well with this look with high quality crystals a must.

Silver crystal hairpiece by Red Rocks bridal jewellery design

Jewellery

High, illusion and lace appliquéd necklines are still popular this year so there’s often no need for a necklace or pendant as it just becomes too busy.

Drop pendants work beautifully with “V” and sweetheart neck shapes with single drop styles still the most popular.

Earrings are the main ‘go to’ jewellery accessory again this year. Many of my brides are looking for statement designs with a longer drop in marquise and pear drop shapes. At the same time, my brides with more intricately detailed vine/floral hairpieces are leaning more towards smaller, more delicate designs. It really depends on what sort of look you want to give overall and what your personality is.

Sparkling sterling silver cubic zirconia bracelets are still strong vs pearl designs this year, with simple classic tennis styles most popular. Subtle personalisation with initial discs and delicate charm detail is still a lovely touch and can make for the perfect bridal party gift.

Personalised initial crystal set tennis style bracelet for bridesmaids by RedRocks bridal jewellery designer

Visit RedRocks or visit their Facebook page for more information on bespoke wedding jewellery.

Ceranna Photography

The perfect setting for your wedding photographs

Turning into our beech lined driveway, our brides and grooms can’t help but start to picture themselves here on their wedding day. Only 8 miles south of Aberdeen and surrounded by 1500 acres of grounds and farmland, Elsick House provides countless stunning backdrops for your wedding photography.

By taking a look at some of the highlights from our 2019 weddings, here we explore some photo locations that are not to be missed…

1. The Bridge

Our top spot for the ultimate romantic snap has got to be the bridge over the pond, directly opposite the front of the house. Donna Murray Photography captured Natalie and Stewart beautifully here and her natural and creative photography style meant all the emotions of the day were perfectly recorded.

Bride and groom kissing on the bridge following wedding at Elsick House — Donna Murray Photography

2. The Rose Pergola

Another ‘must have’ photo location is under our rose pergola. Nicola Stewart Photography effortlessly framing Annabel and Colin here and from a different perspective, in Jonathan Addie’s portrayal of Elaine and Graham’s big day.

Bride and groom with floral bouquet under the rose pergola at Elsick House. — Nicola Stewart Photography

Bride and groom under the rose pergola at Elsick House. — Jonathan Addie Photography

3. The Lawns and Walled Gardens

Our lawns and walled gardens are meticulously maintained throughout the year. We love how The Gibson’s Photography documented the wedding of Christy and Craig in these stunning shots, with an artistic and romantic vibe.

Bride and groom romantic shot on the lawn at Elsick House.

Bride and groom in the gardens following wedding at Elsick House — The Gibsons Photography

4. The House

Of course, Elsick House itself is a backdrop not to be missed from your photo album. We were lucky to have By Rhea here for two weddings last year. Libby and Alan provided the ultimate photo prop with tractors outside the house! And at Rebecca and Gregor’s summer wedding, Rhea took this smart shot of the groom and his wedding party, making their way to the ceremony in the marquee.

Bride and groom outside Elsick House with tractors and wedding party. — By Rhea

Groom and wedding party outside Elsick House. — By Rhea

Our tastefully decorated baronial country house has 11 bedrooms and 3 public rooms. We were in awe of these impressive shots taken inside the house by Photomagician. With such an atmospheric and artistic style, Emma and Al’s photos are edgy, dramatic and full of personality and we loved seeing Radek’s alternative perspective of the house.

5. The Surrounding Countryside

Finally, whether it’s a summers day for running into the fields together like Steph and Euan (photo by Sam Brill) or a crisp autumn afternoon like Kelsey and Iain’s big day (main blog image by Ceranna Photography) don’t forget to capture those first special moments as newlyweds by taking a stroll around the acres of beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside that surrounds Elsick House.

Bride and groom in fields after wedding at Elsick House — Sam Brill

Elsick House was a dream come true for Louise & James’ glamorous wedding

It was love at first sight for Louise when she saw Elsick House. Even before James had popped the big question, she had her dream venue in mind and the couple booked their wedding weekend here within 2 weeks of getting engaged. Following Louise and James’ wedding in September last year, we caught up with Louise and asked why she chose Elsick House.

How did you hear about Elsick House? I had seen Elsick House appear on social media about a year before we were even engaged, and I had kept an eye on it ever since. When James and I got back from Thailand, where he had just proposed, my Dad was shortly heading back overseas for work and I wanted us to view Elsick before he left. At our first appointment with Alison we booked the wedding date, I never looked at any other venues as I just knew this was the one.

What were your first impressions of Elsick House? We absolutely loved it. The grounds are beautiful. We first went to view the house on a miserable, cold and wet day in January and we still fell in love with it. When we returned with some family to look at the marquee it was a gorgeous spring day. We knew we had picked the right venue, whatever the weather.

Your ceremony and reception took place in our marquee at Elsick House. Did you have a theme or style for your wedding? I loved that the marquee was like a blank canvas so we could decorate it in our own style. I wanted our wedding to be glamourous and for it to stand out. I’ve been to many weddings in the past, so I tried to make ours a little different. I had pictured in my head how I wanted the marquee to be styled and Higher Calling Flowers and Events made that vision real. On the day it looked perfect.

What were your favourite things about your wedding weekend? I really enjoyed the night before the wedding. All the bridal party came to stay at the house and Hudson’s Catering made some amazing food for us. Then we all gathered around the fire in the drawing room with a couple of drinks. One of my favourite memories of the day was seeing our dog Rudy walk down the aisle with my sister. Also, our little pageboy Rogan had a white balloon that he wouldn’t let go of all morning. When were just about to walk down the aisle he refused to let go of it so I said to my Maid of Honour Laura “just leave him with it.” It was those personal touches, even the unplanned things, that made the day special for us.

What made your day unique? I think we catered for everyone! We had a Prosecco and beer reception after the ceremony which was much to everyone’s delight! I think we’d added a lot to the marquee to give it that wow factor.

Would you recommend Elsick House? I would 100% recommend Elsick House. Alison and all the staff were absolutely amazing from that very first meeting right through all the planning stages and of course, on the day itself. The food and service from Hudson’s Catering was great. So many of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed their meal. Why wouldn’t you want to get married at Elsick?

Bride Louise at the gate in the walled garden at Elsick House

Mr and Mrs Lawrie’s suppliers

Photographer: Iska Birnie Photography
Videographer: Brian Scott Weddings
Catering by Hudsons
Cake: Truly Scrumptious Cakes by Joanna
Venue Styling: Higher Calling Flowers & Events
Humanist: Leigh Bradley, Humanist Society Scotland
Wedding Dress: Elmar Bridal
Groom’s Attire: Gibbs Menswear
Hair: Chelsea Georgia
Makeup: Cassey Clark
Stationery: Paper & Petals
Band: Waterfront
Singer: Myke Black
Piper: Spud the Piper

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