An international guest list was treated to the wedding weekend of dreams at Achnagairn Castle as American bride Aidan and Highland groom Fraser said ‘I do’
Looking for real wedding inspiration that blends international flair with personal touches? Aidan and Fraser’s destination wedding at Achnagairn Castle in the Scottish Highlands is a masterclass in how to throw a meaningful, stylish and joy-filled celebration.
Set against the romantic backdrop of rural Inverness-shire, this wedding weekend brought together 120 guests from across the globe for heartfelt vows, a ceilidh-fuelled dance party, and even a post-wedding plunge in Loch Ness.
From custom vows to a surprise ring-bearer moment, this castle wedding in Scotland is full of creative wedding ideas for couples planning an unforgettable day.
Find out more about Aidan and Fraser's wedding venue, Achnagairn Castle near Inverness
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | Achnagairn Castle, Inverness-shire
Date | 21st September 2024
Photography | Sara Jane Ferguson Photography
Guests | 120 international guests from the USA, Scotland, and beyond
Decor | Simple, pared-back and elegant
Ceremony | Non-legal ceremony led by the bride's brother, with handwritten vows, surprise ring bearer moment, and live music
Entertainment | Borrowed Blues band with ceilidh set, crowd-surfing finale, Loch Ness cold plunge
A Bumble match and a copy-paste move that worked
“There’s a lot of life admin involved in online dating,” admits Aidan Mahony. To save time, she had a shortcut: copying and pasting “Ooh hi you’re cute” to every Bumble match.
“Fraser was one of the lucky guys who got my autoreply back in 2019 – embarrassing, but it worked,” she laughs. “We felt like best friends after no time at all, and we knew quickly that this was it.”
The couple were living in San Francisco when Fraser popped the question. “Even though we’d designed an engagement ring together, so I essentially knew a proposal was coming soon, he still managed to surprise me one morning on a sunrise walk in Buena Vista Park,” says Aidan.
Choosing a wedding location: California, Denmark or Scotland?
At the time of their engagement, Aidan and Fraser were planning a move from San Francisco to Copenhagen. “We were caught between California, Denmark and Scotland. It didn’t help that all the Scots wanted a California wedding, and all the Americans wanted a Scottish wedding,”
“Ultimately, we decided on Scotland, and we’re so glad we did.”
A Highland wedding castle with lots of accommodation
With 120 guests, many flying in from overseas, venue logistics were key. Achnagairn Castle ticked every box. “Easy lodging options” topped the list – and this exclusive-use five-star venue has on-site accommodation for up to 138.
“Since so many people were coming halfway across the world to celebrate with us, we wanted to get as much time with them as possible,” says Aidan. “Achnagairn Castle had so many spaces for hanging out before, during and after the wedding, so it couldn’t have been more perfect.”
Find other castle wedding venues across Scotland
Fraser’s family, who co-own the nearby Loch Ness Inn, played a vital role. “They did all the food and wine. They made our favourite dishes, like chicken stuffed with haggis, wild mushroom risotto and sticky toffee pudding.”
What to do the night before a wedding
The festivities kicked off early with a casual barbecue. “Our dads and friends grilled for everyone, and our roommates from university gave hilarious speeches,” Aidan recalls.
“We meant to go to bed early but, of course, we got too excited seeing all our family and mates and stayed up later than we should have. Oops!”
From photographers to florists, and everything in between, start the search for wedding suppliers on Tie the Knot Scotland's directory
The ceremony: custom vows and a surprise for a guest!
Though she felt nervous the night before, Aidan says, “Come the day itself, we were somehow super chill and just happy to go with the flow. At that point, we had done as much as we could and figured things would fall into place. And they did!”
The couple made their ceremony incredibly personal, writing their own vows and asking Aidan’s brother, Connor, to officiate. “It was funny and wonderful having him lead it; he was great with the crowd,” she shares.
Music played a big role too. “My good friend Carolyn is an incredible singer and she sang ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ as I walked down the aisle on my dad’s arm.”
They skipped traditional bouquets for something bolder: “We each carried a statement single flower instead.”
A close family friend read Maya Angelou’s poem Touched by an Angel – “which brought everyone to tears.”
10 best modern and traditional readings for your ceremony
One of the most memorable moments? A surprise twist during the ring exchange. “We had hidden the rings beneath a random seat in the audience,” says Aidan. “When the time came, my brother asked everyone to look under their seats… our close family friend Jan found them taped to her chair!”
The reception: Hogwarts-style dining and touching speeches
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed wine, beer, charcuterie boards and “lots of happy, groovy ’70s tunes.”
Dinner followed on three long banquet tables. “We didn’t do a top table as we just wanted to be in among all our guests,” says Aidan.
And the speeches? “So good!” she beams. “My dad and maid of honour both made me cry, haha. Fraser’s three brothers also gave a speech together, which was hilarious – they killed it!”
Natural, candid wedding photographer in Scotland
Neither Aidan nor Fraser is a fan of overly posed photos, which is why they chose photographer Sara Jane Ferguson. “She truly understood our vision and made us feel so relaxed on the day.”
“We love to dance, so we chose the bounciest, most fun band we could find: Borrowed Blues,” says Aidan. “They kept the dancefloor packed all night and did a ceilidh segment, which was fun in a room with 50% Scottish people and 50% international folks!”
The night ended on a high – literally. “We finished off with a very rowdy dance and crowd surf to Loch Lomond, which was absolute carnage,” Aidan laughs.
“It’s unforgettable being surrounded by all your favourite people in the world.”
Sore heads or not, the couple had the ultimate hangover cure planned. “Fraser and I are big fans of a cold plunge, so the day after, we invited everyone to come for a dip in Loch Ness with us. People seemed to love it!”
A real bride’s top wedding planning tip
“Everyone has an opinion on what’s the ‘right’ thing to do – but none of that has to matter if you don’t want it to,” says Aidan. “Throw the kind of party that you would want to go to!”
Aidan and Fraser's teaser video by Cinemate Films
Wedding suppliers
Venue Achnagairn Castle, Inverness
Photography Sara Jane Ferguson Photography
Filmmaker Cinemate Films
Officiant Connor Mahony (the bride’s brother)
Catering and wine Loch Ness Inn
Bride’s dress Vivienne Westwood from LOHO Bride, Los Angeles
Bridal alterations Catriona Garforth
Hair Suzanne McMahon Hairstylist
Makeup Lisa Hart Makeup
Groomswear Highland House of Fraser
Engagement ring No.3 San Francisco
Bride’s wedding ring Maria Black
Groom’s wedding ring Mejuri
Cake No cake, but lots of treats from Harry Gow, Inverness
Flowers Wild Gorse Studio
Table plan Ali Cohen-Mangold (bride’s friend)
Place settings Handwritten by bride
Piper Piper on Parade
Ceremony music Carolyn Goddard (bride’s friend)
Reception band Borrowed Blues
