Nicole and Erin Lafferty had a timeless black-tie wedding with 115 guests at luxe Cornhill Castle near Biggar on 15th March 2026
When Nicole and Erin began searching for their Scottish wedding venue, they had very different visions in mind. Nicole loved the glamour of the 1920s, while Erin was drawn to bright, outdoor-inspired spaces.
At Cornhill Castle, however, they found a setting that offered both – resulting in an elegant black-and-white wedding filled with laughter, meaningful moments and a dancefloor that stayed packed all night long.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | Cornhill Castle, South Lanarkshire
Date | 15th March 2026
Photography | Rachel Ross Photography
Guests | 115
Colour palette | Black and white
Ceremony | Personal celebrant-led ceremony with an Elton John singalong exit
Entertainment | Saxophone player and evening band
A venue that ticked every box
Marriage may involve compromise, but when it came to choosing their wedding venue, Nicole and Erin refused to settle.
"I wanted somewhere with a 1920s vibe, whereas Erin was hoping for an airy and outdoorsy feel, so we knew we had our work cut out finding a place to suit both of us," says Nicole.
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Cornhill Castle proved to be exactly what they were looking for.
"The marquee is lovely and bright while the ballroom indoors has darker, bold colours.
"It was the very first venue we went to see; we were actually booked in to view another place the same day but we just knew right away that Cornhill was the one."
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The couple were offered two dates in March, one of which happened to fall on Mother's Day.
"Erin and I have both lost our dads so it seemed really fitting that we would celebrate our wedding on that day with our mums by our side."
It was another meaningful sign that they had found the perfect fit.
A timeless black-and-white wedding style
As they explored the castle, Nicole and Erin realised its interiors complemented the aesthetic they had always imagined.
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"We knew we wanted things to look and feel classic, elegant and timeless, so we were going for a black-and-white colour scheme.
"It meant we wouldn't need to bring in too much decor as we'd be able to let the existing features shine."
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The pair opted for a comprehensive package that included flowers, table centrepieces, a wedding cake, drinks, canapés, dinner for 115 guests and an overnight stay in the Balmoral Suite.
An Elton John singalong ceremony
The ceremony struck the perfect balance between heartfelt and fun.
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"Our ceremony was so much fun," smiles Nicole.
"Our celebrant kept things personal and had everyone laughing."
Their exit music was a memorable highlight.
"We had a fantastic singalong to Elton John's 'Are You Ready for Love' as our exit music. Our guests had the lyrics in front of them and really got into it!"
Sharing platters and a sweetheart table
Dinner took place in the ballroom, creating a second reveal for guests.
"We decided against a traditional top table and had a sweetheart table instead," says Nicole.
"That actually ended up being one our favourite parts of the day. It gave us a chance to take a breath together and look around the room at all of our loved ones enjoying themselves."
Wanting the atmosphere to remain relaxed, the brides requested sharing platters rather than a formal plated service.
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"The staff at Cornhill mentioned they hadn't done this before but were more than happy to accommodate what we wanted.
"In fact, our coordinators, Laura and Kirsten, were always at the other end of the phone whenever we had a question."
Ending the night in a bubble of happiness
With a saxophone player setting the tone, the evening celebrations quickly gathered pace.
"Thereafter the dancefloor was never empty," Nicole recalls.
But it was the quiet moments afterwards that became some of the couple's favourites.
"After the reception when we got back to our room, we discovered the staff had filled the jacuzzi and left us some food and slices of our wedding cake.
"We got in the jacuzzi, had some cake and champagne and just took it all in.
"We were in such a bubble of happiness."
Wedding suppliers
Venue and food Cornhill Castle, South Lanarkshire
Photography Rachel Ross Photography
Videography John Conway Weddings
Content creator WithVic
Celebrant Thomas Slavin, Fuze Ceremonies
Erin’s wedding dress Bijoux Bridal
Nicole’s wedding dress Hera Couture at Anne Priscilla Bridal
Hair Danielle Cree and Catherine Kermack
Makeup Megan Cassidy and Lisa Campbell
Nails Laura Mclelland at Polished Glasgow
Bridesmaid dresses Club L London
Page boy outfits Next
Flowers Bells Florist
Cake JappaCakes
Favours Etsy
Wedding rings Austen & Blake
Ceremony and drinks reception music Rosewood Strings
Saxophone player Chris Hardie Sax
Reception band Ernest
Transport Ally Montgomery
