Bohemian Argyll wedding with outdoor ceremony at Carrick Castle Estate

outdoor wedding ceilidh of bride and groom dancing at Carrick Castle Estate

If you’re dreaming of a Scottish Highlands wedding filled with meaning, natural beauty and deep personal connection, let Scott and Anda’s magical celebration at Carrick Castle Estate inspire you.

From barefoot dancing and drumming to a pagan handfasting ritual, their unique and community-driven wedding truly honoured their love story.

outdoor pagan wedding ceremony at Carrick Castle Estate

Wedding highlights at a glance

Read on for the full story...

A Loch Lomond engagement and a return to the Highlands

After a “magical” engagement weekend on the banks of Loch Lomond, London-based couple Scott Adams and Anda Chisster felt irresistibly drawn back to the misty glens and rugged beauty of Scotland for their wedding.

“Our first big decision was where to have the wedding,” recalls Anda. “What sealed the deal was the possibility of Scott’s elderly gran being able to make it if we held it in Scotland – and she did, fulfilling her wish to see all her grandchildren married before she died.”

Scott and Anda met at university and had been together for nine years before tying the knot.

Their search for the perfect Scottish wedding venue led them to Carrick Castle Estate, a gem on the shores of Loch Goil.

Carrick Castle Estate: scenic wedding venue on Loch Goil

The couple discovered Carrick Castle Estate through an “extremely thorough online search”. The estate offers a luxurious self-catering lodge, a rustic barn, a castle-like manor house called Craigard for smaller ceremonies or accommodations, and plenty of lush space for tipis or marquees – which Scott and Anda chose for their big day.

See how we got on when we visited Carrick Castle Estate to find out more about weddings there

“We didn’t even visit it until a couple of months before the wedding,” reveals Scott. “But we just had a good feeling about it. In fact, every single supplier we chose was based on ‘vibe’, with the result being that everyone just ‘got it’.

“We also loved that so many of our friends and family could stay on-site with us for the entire weekend. It was an unbelievable venue.”

Carrick Castle Estate wedding bride and groom confetti throw outdoor ceremony on Loch Goil

How can I involve guests in my wedding?

Choosing to invite more guests than originally planned, Scott and Anda brought together 90 loved ones. “We realised that weddings are some of the last remaining rituals in our culture, and that they are transformative experiences not just for the couple, but for their community of loved ones,” Anda explains.

“So, we wanted to weave together all of our roots; all those we’d known and loved from different phases of our life and who hold a piece of our history.”

Discover how Scottish wedding traditions compare with the rest of the world

They didn’t just invite their friends and family—they actively involved them. “We were quite radical in how involved we asked our friends and family to be. Most people had an assigned responsibility on the day, and so many of them told us they loved being able to make a meaningful contribution.

“The effect of this on the atmosphere was palpable; there was an air of loving inclusivity and a feeling of being a bonded tribe or community. We think this was an essential part of our wedding magic.”

To support their motto of “no hearts left behind,” their wider bridal party formed a group they called their “Culture Carriers.”

“A few weeks before the wedding, we gathered them together and briefed them on their roles – everything from doing my hair and makeup (thanks, Sophia and Jeni), to acting as ‘bedtime police’ in charge of getting us to bed at 10pm the night before the wedding. That was a challenging task!”

Bohemian wedding aesthetic with ritualistic roots

The couple took inspiration from alternative community gatherings, bohemian weddings, and woodland fairytale themes. “Think bohemian meets woodland fairytale with colourful blankets on hay bales and delicate florals,” they shared.

“We designed the whole flow of the wedding based on the arc of emotional experience we wanted our guests to go through, which hung on three key events,” explains Scott.

“The night before, we had a cosy party in a bell tent to give everyone a chance to warm up, meet each other and get comfortable.”

“On the big day itself, we got everyone out dancing barefoot to Clann An Drumma, a traditional Scottish drum band. We were surprised and delighted by how many of our guests were willing to take off their socks and shoes and get involved. Anda’s mum even had a slip, and had to change her clothes, but that didn’t stop her having the time of her life,” he laughs.

“It was a rollercoaster of love! We had ten different acts (many of whom were surprising us) take the stage with speeches, creative offerings and performances. These were interspersed with musical numbers, poetry readings, a breathwork class and a playful re-enactment of our love by some friends,” Scott reminisces.

The wedding meal was up next: “Our sweetheart table was set up with two stunning thrones adorned with flowers. It was at the top of the barn so we could see all our loved ones. It was so beautiful!”

“We had our first dance to a techno track, then a ceilidh, followed by a party at which three of our closest friends DJed,” adds Anda. “One of them started laying down freestyle rap beats, and an MC friend of ours summoned Scott to the front for a series of surprise rap battles!”

a bride and groom close up portrait by a waterfall at their Carrick Castle Estate wedding

Outdoor pagan wedding ceremony with personalised vows

The emotional highlight was the outdoor ceremony overlooking Loch Goil. “We designed it ourselves and actually had two celebrants! One is a dear friend, Atlas Talisman, who helped to anchor our vows in a tone of deeply intimate significance.

“Our legal officiant was Ceci Alderton, a pagan celebrant, who wove in old Scottish traditions like a handfasting ritual and drinking mead from a quaich,” Anda explains.

“We really took our time over the vows; we felt they were sacred, and each word was deliberate,” she adds.

“We both have very vivid memories of the ceremony and how well it came together. Our two celebrants held the space beautifully, the live music was deeply moving, and our sustainable florist Tupelo Tree and wedding coordinator Paulina Wnuk created the most beautiful arch against the backdrop of the loch.”

Check out more waterside, coastal, beach and lochside Scottish wedding venues

Scott adds: “Seeing Anda walk with her dad towards me was one of the most touching and beautiful moments of the entire day. Then while she said her vows, the clouds parted and a radiant ray of light shone down upon her face – it moved me to tears.”

DIY wedding bar top tip

“If you’re supplying the bar yourselves, buy the alcohol from somewhere that accepts returns. We actually bought way more booze than people drank, so a lot of it ended up unopened,” adds Anda.

Wedding suppliers

Venue Carrick Castle Estate, Argyll
Photography Rachel & Tonie Photography
Celebrants Ceci Alderton of Ecospirit, and Atlas Talisman
On-the-day wedding co-ordinator Paulina Wnuk Event Planning and Design
Wedding dress The Fall Bride
Hair and makeup Sophia Nadri and Jeni Pillai (the bride’s best friends)
Groomswear Traditional Gordon Highland dress
Rings Ami Ben Hur and William Cheshire
Catering Honest Supper Club
Marquee Roaming Tent Co
Cake Liggy’s Cake Co
Flowers Tupelo Tree
Venue decor Virginia’s Vintage Hire
Ceremony music James McAulay (piano), David Munn (cello)
Drinks reception music David Munn (piano)
Outdoor entertainment Clann An Drumma
Reception band Ceithir Ceilidh Band
DJs EB Wayne, Brother Jonas and Duncan
Transport Garelochhead Coaches