Eileen and David Black held a Scottish wedding for their daughter Kirsten and her fiancée Scott Kavanagh at Winton House in late March 2010. It turned out to be a beautiful early spring day with the daffodils in full bloom after a hard winter, a perfect day for a wedding.
David and Eileen explained why they chose Winton House for their daughter’s wedding and told us how the day went.
Why did you choose Winton House for your daughter’s wedding?
“David knew Winton House having used the venue before for a corporate team-building day. Our daughter, Kirsten, wanted somewhere which had a large country house or castle feel to it and Winton was ideal.
“We chose Winton because they allowed us to do what we wanted. Unlike other venues, they weren’t prescriptive about the band, the menus and other important elements of the wedding. We felt comfortable and at ease there, and it has a lovely warm ambience.
“Winton also restricts the number of weddings it hosts which meant that only one or two guests had been there before.”
Who were the guests at the wedding?
“The guests were primarily family and friends from the Edinburgh and Fife area, seventy-eight in total. Kirsten’s cousin from Portland in Oregon, USA, travelled the furthest.”
What was the format on the day?
“It was very traditional. The chief bridesmaid stayed with us on the eve of the wedding. Kirsten and her entourage used the facilities at Winton on the Saturday morning to get ready and guests arrived early in the afternoon.
“Most of the male guests wore traditional highland dress and the ladies all looked fabulous in their colourful frocks.
“There was a civil ceremony in the beautiful drawing room with sun streaming in through its south-facing windows. That was followed by photographs and a drinks reception, then we were piped in by a lady piper for a fantastic meal in the dining room.
“We had smoked salmon to start with followed by roast beef then sticky toffee pudding, all prepared from fresh local produce by Elizabeth, Winton’s award-winning chef.
“The evening’s entertainment was a combination of ceilidh band and popular covers performed by the band. The dancing was briefly interrupted for a hog roast and buffet in the evening, which was also a complete success.
“My daughter and son-in-law, now Mr and Mrs Scott Kavanagh, stayed at Winton House overnight in one of its eight bedrooms.”
What was the feedback from guests?
“Everyone we have spoken to was tremendously complimentary about the venue, the format and the food. It was an incredibly memorable day.
“It felt like your own private party. The venue was spectacular and the food was excellent. Guests also enjoyed going for walks in the gardens before and after dinner.”
What comments do you have on the quality of Winton’s hospitality?
“We were very well looked after from the moment we were shown around.
“On the day itself we couldn’t fault a thing. Everyone was very welcoming and caring. Harry even spent time pushing my grandson’s pushchair around the house.”
Is there anything unique that makes Winton stand out?
“The fact that the house itself is actually someone’s home and feels just like someone’s home. The atmosphere in the house is exceptional.”
Thanks are due to Graham Carnie for allowing Winton to use some of the wedding photographs he took on the day. For more information please visit
http://www.grahamcarniephotography.co.uk
