Autumn marquee wedding at Ballogie House Aberdeenshire

Fiona and Calum’s October wedding at Ballogie House was filled with family, stunning scenery, and a weekend-long celebration in Aberdeenshire

Bride and groom kissing as the sun sets behind them

Fiona and Calum celebrated their love with a four-day wedding at Ballogie House, Aberdeenshire. Their October marquee wedding combined stunning countryside views, relaxed dining, and ceilidh dancing with family and friends.

Front view of Ballogie House with guests arriving on a sunny autumn day.

Wedding highlights at a glance

Wedding venue | Ballogie House, Aberdeenshire (exclusive-use venue with marquee)
Date | 19 October 2024
Photography | Christie Johnston Photography
Ceremony | Outdoor humanist wedding ceremony on the lawn at Ballogie House
Reception | Marquee wedding breakfast with relaxed sharing boards and dessert station
Entertainment | Ceilidh dancing; first dance to ‘Life With You’ by The Proclaimers

Bride and groom walking together looking at one another

Bride and groom kissing with Ballogie House in the background

Bride and groom sitting on a doorstep laughing together

Choosing Ballogie House as the venue

“We live in Aberdeenshire and wanted to marry somewhere nearby so that my elderly grandparents would be able to attend,” says Fiona.

The couple wanted a Scottish wedding venue with exclusive use that wasn’t a hotel or fully DIY. Ballogie House ticked all the boxes: luxury accommodation, flexibility to extend the celebration into a long weekend, and the use of an on-site marquee.

“One of the biggest selling points for us was that we could have the house for four days and also use the marquee on our wedding date. Looking back, any other venue simply just wouldn’t have cut it.”

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Guests gathered outside Ballogie House conservatory during autumn wedding celebrations.

Wedding accommodation for the whole family

Ballogie House provided the ideal space for the McArthurs’ families to stay together.

“In total we stayed for four nights, and the accommodation options were amazing. In addition to the bridal suite, there are a further five double en-suite rooms upstairs and one double en-suite downstairs, which our families used. Plus, Ballogie’s wedding coordinator, Charlotte, was such a calming presence.”

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Outdoor autumn ceremony in Aberdeenshire

The couple exchanged vows on the back lawn of Ballogie House with sweeping countryside views.

“We were so lucky with the weather and were able to have our ceremony on the lawn behind Ballogie House. It was really wonderful as we looked out to the amazing countryside as we said our vows. I loved seeing all of our family and friends as I walked down the aisle.”

Afterwards, guests showered them with confetti before photos around the estate.

“Ballogie in autumn is truly breathtaking.”

“There is a tree-lined road at the entrance to the estate that our incredible photographer Christie recommended for pictures. We went there with her and I’m so glad we did.”

Bride and groom kissing outdoors after wedding ceremony with autumn trees in the background.

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A relaxed marquee wedding reception

Inside the marquee, Fiona and Calum opted for a laid-back, family-friendly dining style.

“A real highlight of our day was dinner in the marquee. We had charcuterie sharing boards, which went down well, as did the dessert station [with sorbet and meringues and mini churros dipped in chocolate]. We didn’t want anything too formal.

We also hosted two kids’ tables (there were 17 children among our guests), looked after by Thank Evans Child Care. It meant their parents could enjoy themselves and not have to be hands-on during the meal.”

Close up shot of the table decor including a red runner, sunflowers and orange roses

Tables set with white tablecloths and sunflower bouquets

Tiered cookie cake with sign reading 'the macarthurs'

First dance and ceilidh

“We had our first dance to ‘Life With You’ by The Proclaimers then immediately went into the Gay Gordons. I’m a PE teacher and I love a bit of ceilidh dancing! The best advice we could give to other couples ahead of their day is just to enjoy it all as much as you can and take a moment to soak it all in. Time is so precious on the day.”