Inside Aswanley: a wonderfully personal Aberdeenshire wedding venue

As I drive the last stretch of road towards Aswanley, an Aberdeenshire wedding venue near Huntly, I can’t help but think about just how much space there is out here – miles of green hills in every direction. It’s glorious.

Then, as I turn off at the venue’s signpost, I spot what might be the tallest hedge I’ve ever seen. It lines the approach so majestically that I make a mental note to ask about it later. I learn it takes two whole weeks – and a cherry-picker – to trim. That should give you some idea of the scale we’re talking about.

Aswanley is a proper country estate, on the edge of the Grampian mountains, and it can be all yours for your wedding celebrations.

Getting married at Aswanley: inside the Victorian steading

I’m warmly welcomed by weddings coordinator Rachael who takes me straight into a tour of the Victorian steading, which has hosted weddings for almost two decades. The estate is centred around a 17th-century fortified house and is still home to guardians Jack and Sarah.

The steading’s interconnected spaces flow easily into one another. The fireplace room, with its wooden beams and baronial fireplace, is the most popular ceremony spot, but couples can also marry in the larger ballroom or outside on the lawn. Each is spacious and relatively neutral, leaving plenty of scope to put your own stamp on it.

As Rachael talks me through weddings past, I realise that flexibility here goes far beyond decor. The team encourage couples to bring what matters to them into the day – whether that’s a fire engine arriving with a full procession or the bride making an entrance on horseback (both of which have happened here).

There’s a real sense of ‘tell us what you’d like to do and we’ll see how we can make it work’, rather than a particular mould an Aswanley wedding is expected to fit.

Couples are usually welcomed the day before to set up, but after that, the reins are officially handed over to Rachael and/or fellow coordinators Claire or Lauren for the big day. The message is essentially ‘give us the job and go and enjoy yourselves’. Exactly what you want to hear when the day finally arrives.

This wedding at Aswanley is the epitome of summer romance with a floral wedding dress and horse and carriage 

A personal approach to wedding planning

Rachael’s affection for Aswanley is obvious, but so too is her interest in how it can keep getting better. She even talks me through some of the things on her ‘wishlist’ – a spa is just one of many.

I get the sense the team are constantly taking mental notes – spotting little things that could benefit current and future couples and feeding those ideas back to Jack and Sarah.

It’s wonderful to hear how Claire joined the team – her story is evidence of her love of this place. About three years ago, she was an Aswanley bride herself, with Rachael helping to coordinate her day. Clearly it made an impression: while still on honeymoon, Claire got in touch about a job. Now working alongside Rachael, she knows exactly what it feels like from both sides to plan a wedding here.

I get another glimpse of Aswanley’s wedding history through something decidedly low-tech: a stack of real wedding photo albums.

In my eyes, few things are more satisfying than a well-constructed photo album – I love the nostalgia – and if I was viewing the venue, I could happily sit with a cup of tea beside my partner, flicking through the pages and imagining our own day here.

Wedding photography opportunities around Aswanley estate

Outside, the rain is on and off, but it does little to disguise the photographic potential. There are lawns, woodlands, glimpses of the river and views across the Deveron valley – with a particularly chatty flock of sheep providing the soundtrack.

Rachael says many couples have a family connection to the area, while others simply want the feeling of a properly rural, out-on-the-land Scottish wedding. Standing here, it’s easy to understand the draw.

Outdoor wedding photography in Scotland: how to make the most of light, weather and location 

Staying at Aswanley: wedding accommodation at Clatterin’ Brig

I’ve brought my pal Leona with me on this trip and we’re spending the night at Clatterin’ Brig, one of the self-catering accommodation options on the estate, and it immediately scratches an itch I’ve had for a Cotswolds cottage break.

It’s beautifully furnished, with pristine white bedding, fluffy duvets and, much to my delight, multiple bathtubs. After dinner and a film, Leona and I each disappear for a long soak. As someone who would choose a lamp over the big light every time, I’m equally impressed by the soft, dimmable lighting – even in the bathroom. A small detail, perhaps, but a game-changer.

The kitchen is the showstopper: an Everhot cooker, long wooden dining table and gorgeous arched window looking out across the estate. The next morning, coffee in hand, I can easily picture a wedding party getting ready here. There’s space to spread out, beautiful natural light for hair and makeup, and a genuinely serene feeling in the air.

Our final drive around the estate gives us a peek at some of the other accommodation – fully booked during our visit, which perhaps says plenty in itself.

By the time I leave, every element of the visit – from the spaces themselves to Rachael’s infectious enthusiasm – has given me the same impression: Aswanley has years of experience behind it, paired with plenty of excitement for what comes next.

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