Combining their German and Scottish cultures, Andrew and Cita married at Ardoe House Hotel and had everything from log sawing to highland cows

A bride and groom look at each other as they walk towards the camera along a verge of grass with a Highland Cow in a filed behind them

Andrew McMaster and Cita Ebert, now Mrs Ebert McMaster

14th July 2023

Venue | Ardoe House Hotel & Spa
Photography | Lauren Polson Photography

Love transcends all cultures and languages, doesn’t it? It knows no bounds, and when it comes to making things work, where there’s love there’s a way. So when Cita and Andrew’s German and Scottish families came together to celebrate their union, they all played a part in ensuring everyone felt included in the proceedings.

“Ever since I moved to Scotland for university, I’d been in love with the country and the people, so for me, there really were only two options: we could either marry in Scotland or Germany,” says Cita. 

Once the decision was made and Aberdeen’s Ardoe House was booked, the couple went all out to make sure the bride’s family felt welcome. “We had little printed booklets for the ceremony, where the vows and readings were translated for our German family and friends. We wanted them to feel thought of. And Ive, our maid of honour, translated the speeches too.”

A white wedding welcome sign on an easel stand with a sunflower design

Cita and Andrew live in Derby, but say they were keen to have a venue that would show off the beauty of Scotland: “We originally pictured an outdoor ceremony, with a charming venue in the background. 

"But we also wanted to be realistic – we obviously all know the good old weather in Scotland! So we had to make sure that the venue we picked had a good indoor ceremony option as a back-up."

Ardoe House, a 19th-century baronial mansion surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful grounds to the south of Aberdeen, fitted the bill – and had a special family link, says Cita: “Andrew’s parents had married here too, so it felt like a nice little aspect and made us feel connected to Ardoe in a way we didn’t with other locations.

It was clear from the get-go that Ardoe’s staff were going to do everything they could to accommodate our wishes. They just made it happen

The team were a little bewildered by the strange German tradition of ‘cutting a log’ that we wanted to include, but they made it happen nevertheless.” 

A bride and groom holding a two-person saw above a tree brand

The couple had 73 guests (plus an additional 22 in the evening, who arrived in time to enjoy the buffet of fish and chips). The dancing was led by the couple’s band, North Rig, who “played and instructed everyone in ceilidh dancing – it was carnage and so much fun!”

The pair had opted for Ardoe’s Blairs package, giving them exclusive room hire, a four-course meal, a master of ceremonies and an overnight stay for both sets of parents, as well as much more. 

Cita loved that she and Andrew were able to personalise elements of the package too. “The team were really great when it came to accommodating our food and drink requests. I’m a vegetarian and I wasn’t 100% keen on the initial veggie main courses, so the chef, Graham, came up with three different vegetarian options. During the tasting session, he came to chat with us before and after each course,” explains the bride. “This meant we could give feedback and he offered ideas for tweaks or alternatives.”

The newlyweds say they received all the support they could have dreamt of from the venue: “The staff at Ardoe didn’t need us to ask for anything on the day. They looked after us and they were doing stuff that they technically didn’t even have to do. It really felt like the sky was the limit.”

Wedding Dress and Veil Tracy Lea Bridal
Shoes Rainbow Club
Bridesmaids dresses DressPlace Bridal Boutique
Groomswear Georgian Dress Hire
Celebrant / officiant Debbie Crichton (Aberdeenshire Council)
Cake Dimbim Cakes
Catering Ardoe House Hotel
Flowers, chairs and decor Higher Calling Flowers & Events
Stationery DIY
Favours miniature spirits, chocolate and candles (candles from Etsy)
Children packs Rucksacks from KraftyGoose + assortment of games / toys from different toy stores 
Centrepieces DIY, with lantern images designed by Cita’s sister Ive
Wedding rings Harriet Kelsall Jewellery
Engagement ring Clola Antiques Centre
Ceremony music Andrew’s Grandad (Ali Ross)
Drinks reception and reception music North Rig
Hair Kerry Anne Bridal Hair 
Makeup Samantha Cardno Makeup
Nails The Beauty Studio

woman in a red silk robe puts a bracelet on the wrist of a women in a white silk robe
A bride in a floor length dress stands by a window looking back at the camera and holding a colourful bouquet
A close up of two bouquets with sunflowers, orange roses and white flowers
A bride in a white dress and a bridesmaid in a red dress stand with their arms around each other holding their bouquets in the other hand outside
A small wooden box with a leaf design and a carving that says 'A ❤️C 14.07.2023'
Three men in different coloured kilts look at each other as they face the camera with their arms around each other
A first look between a bride and her father with with the bride adjusting her father's suit jacket
A bride walks with her father down a grand wooden staircase on the left, and the pair walk up and aisle arm in arm on the right
A room set up for a wedding ceremony with rows of white wooden chairs and a wooden arch at the end of the aisle with chiffon and flowers draped on it
A groom wipes a tear from his eye during the wedding ceremony while holding hands with the bride
A wedding ceremony with a bride and groom holding hands standing in front of a celebrant who is reading from a book and standing underneath a wooden arch
A bride and groom holding hands as they walk down the aisle together
A bride and groom link arms and walk under colourful confetti
A black and white photo of a bride and groom walking through a door outside and being showered in confetti by their guests
Two photos; on the left a couple walk away from the camera with the bride looking back at the camera, on the right a bride and groom sit on a bench and look lovingly at each other
A bride in a white dress and a groom in a dark blue kilt link arms and smile at the camera
A bride and a groom feed a Highland Cow through a fence
A groom in a dark coloured kilt and a bride in a fitted white dress with a long veil walk outside holding hands
A bride and groom stand looking into each other's eyes outside a grand grey stone building
A letter written in German attached to a bottle in the left image, and a three tier wedding cake with sunflowers stuck onto it in the right image
A man holding a piece of paper and a microphone making a speech at a long table of other people
A woman in a red dress holding a piece of paper as she gives a speech to a long table of people
A bride and groom cutting into a three tier cake holding the knife together with flowers around the table
A bride in a wedding dress and a groom in a kilt dance together on a wooden dance floor in front of a small stage with a band
A bride in a wedding dress and a groom in a kilt dance together on a wooden dance floor in front of a small stage with a band
A bride in a white dress and a groom in a kilt link arms and spin around a dance floor

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Ardoe House Hotel & Spa Multicultural Wedding

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