Amsterdam couple Angelica Shaw and David Gray had the wedding of a lifetime at Atholl Palace Hotel in Perthshire with 90 loved ones on 10th May 2025
When Angelica and David began planning their destination wedding, there was never any doubt it would be in Scotland.
Although the couple live in Amsterdam and welcomed guests from across the United States and Europe, they chose Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry for its castle-like setting, beautiful grounds and accommodation for their travelling guests.
Their Scottish and Indian wedding blended meaningful traditions, an outdoor ceremony and an unforgettable celebration in the heart of Perthshire.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry
Date | 10th May 2025
Photography | Iris Art Photography
Ceremony | Outdoor ceremony on the hotel grounds with private vows beforehand
Decor | Red and blush florals with elegant outdoor styling
Food | Bespoke Scottish and Indian menu created by the hotel chef
Entertainment | Bagpipes, Indian fiddle, DJ, Scottish country dancing and karaoke
A Scottish and Indian wedding ceremony in the Perthshire countryside
When your love story spans continents, choosing where to get married must be incredibly difficult. For Angelica and David, though, there was only one option: Scotland.
Discover this romantic elopement in Perthshire woodland and Atholl Palace Hotel
“I’m Indian-American, with a lot of friends and family in the US,” smiles the bride, “and David and I live in Amsterdam.
"But the fact is Scotland is where we met, so it had to be there.”
With a large contingent of guests flying over from the States, the couple knew they had to deliver a venue to impress – and they found that with Pitlochry’s Atholl Palace.
“It looks like a fairytale castle – that’s something Americans love!” says Angelica.
“We really liked that it had enough accommodation for our guests too.”
With dreamy Perthshire views in every direction, the historic 19th-century hotel was the perfect backdrop for their special day, and even the weather gods smiled on them, allowing the event to be held outdoors.
Check out this elegant wedding at historical Atholl Palace in Pitlochry
“The venue team allowed us to decide on the morning of the wedding where to host our ceremony. We did have an indoors back-up plan, but when we woke up to sunshine there was no way we weren’t going to say ‘I do’ in the beautiful grounds.”
Private vows, meaningful readings and outdoor celebrations
The couple had held a pre-wedding party the night before, at Fisher’s Hotel in Pitlochry, which included a Mehndi ceremony and henna for guests.
“We’d also had our legal ceremony in Amsterdam the week before, but we wanted to do a first look and say private vows here,” smiles Angelica.
Wedding day weather tips from Scottish photographers
“We then had some photos taken with our family in a smaller garden at Atholl Palace, and all we could hear was birdsong. It was so peaceful.”
The happy couple then made their way to the main outdoor ceremony area, where guests were seated.
They’d chosen flowers to complement the surroundings, with two large pedestals topped with red and blush roses as the ceremony focal point.
“My mum and dad walked me down the aisle,” says Angelica, “and a mutual friend led our ceremony. David’s cousin and my mum both read poems. It was beautiful.”
She and David then carried on their celebrations with an outdoor drinks reception on the terrace.
“The weather was too nice to be inside, so we asked our singer to perform outdoors while we snuck off for a few more pictures.”
A bespoke Scottish and Indian wedding menu at Atholl Palace Hotel
The newlyweds were impressed with the service at the hotel.
“The team at Atholl Palace were fantastic and were always in communication with our wedding planner (who is based in the US),” says Angelica.
“A big shout-out needs to go to the chef, though,” David adds.
“He invited us for a menu tasting and went above and beyond. We wanted the food to be a mix of Scottish and Indian food, and he spent so much time creating different dishes to our taste.”
Bagpipes, ceilidh dancing and an unforgettable party
After that delicious meal, the party really started. Music, clearly, was a huge part of their day.
Wedding music and entertainment: the essential do's and don'ts
“We wanted to showcase our mix of cultures, so had bagpipes, an Indian fiddle, a DJ who mixed Indian and western pop music together, plus some Scottish country dancing.
"That really brought some laughs – and the dancefloor was never empty! The DJ kept the vibes going all night and even encouraged a bit of karaoke,” says Angelica.
“My dad sings at weddings, so he was on the mic for ‘Sweet Caroline’.
"I just wish we could bottle that feeling of music playing and our loved ones enjoying themselves.”
Wedding suppliers
Venue and food Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry
Photography Iris Art Photography
Wedding planner Nirali Shah Events
Videography Knoxland Films
Bride’s lehenga Falguni Bhuta
Reception Indo-fusion outfit Kresha Lulla
Bridesmaid dresses Drishti & Zahabia
Flowergirl dresses Phatakaa Mini
Hair and makeup Kirsty MacPherson
Groomswear Highland Scene, Montrose
Flowers and table decor Achillea Flower Studio
Tableware 88 Events
Jewellery Custom made by Mohika Jewels
Henna Kashaf Henna Artistry
Stationery and favours DIY by the couple
Ceremony music Thistle Piping
Drinks reception music Nicky Lipp
Reception music Tartan Entertainment (DJ and sax player) and Unison Anthems
Photobooth Blush Photobooth
Transport Elizabeth Yule Coaches
