Ben and Lucy Hogbin said ‘I do’ and celebrated with 86 guests on 4th October 2025 at this Ayrshire venue
When Lucy and Ben began searching for a wedding venue in Scotland, they wanted somewhere dog-friendly, stylish and good value for a Saturday celebration.
Their search quickly led them to The Gailes Hotel in Ayrshire – and after one visit, they booked it on the spot.
With flexible ceremony spaces, modern interiors and beautiful grounds for photos, the venue proved the perfect setting for their relaxed sage green wedding, complete with their rescue dog Chester by their side.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | The Gailes Hotel & Spa, Irvine
Date | 4th October 2025
Photography | Chloe Burns Photography
Guests | 86 guests
Decor | Sage green and blush pink styling with soft florals, greenery and elegant table settings
Ceremony | Humanist ceremony in the conservatory
Entertainment | Evening DJ, dancefloor celebrations and a fun DJ battle between the couple
Finding the perfect Ayrshire wedding venue
Love at first sight doesn’t happen often – but it certainly did for Ben and Lucy when they found their wedding venue.
The happy couple were on the lookout for somewhere dog-friendly, reasonably priced (especially for a Saturday wedding), and with good packages.
“I spent ages on Facebook groups checking out places across Scotland, and The Gailes kept popping up – so we decided to go and take a look at it.
“We then booked it on the spot during that first visit,” recalls Lucy.
“What really sold it to us was the package it offered [it included an MC, exclusive use of the main areas, and an overnight stay in the Arran Suite, to name just a few things] and the flexibility of the spaces.”
Find out more about weddings at The Gailes Hotel & Spa here
Couples can get married inside or outside but have the option of deciding on the day.
Planning a sage green and blush pink wedding theme
There was the added bonus that the Ayrshire hotel’s decor really suited their colour palette.
“We’ve always loved the combination of sage green and light pink, and once we saw the venue it all just slotted together perfectly,” recalls the bride.
“We were after a modern, relaxed yet classy vibe. The Gailes’ decor, especially the bar and the conservatory with all the greenery, made decorating really simple as we didn’t need to add much.
“The natural light everywhere was a huge plus too.”
Lucy is full of praise for the team at The Gailes too: “They were so helpful, with great communication. A huge thanks goes to Karen, Amber and Jamie, in particular.”
The hues set to define Scottish weddings this year
A bombshell the night before (Lucy’s original hairdresser had to cancel due to illness) meant an early wake-up call was on the cards for the bride and her bridesmaids (5am to be exact, with the maid of honour blasting out ‘Everybody Dance Now’ to get the party started!).
Lucky Ben had a gentler start to the day: he got ready with his grandad, before taking the couple’s dog, Chester, for a walk.
A conservatory ceremony at The Gailes Hotel
“We had originally planned an outdoor ceremony but instead hosted it in the rooftop conservatory due to the weather,” says Lucy.
“We wouldn’t change any of it, though – our celebrant Douglas was great, and we each read out five things we love about each other. This was one of our favourite parts of the whole day. It was so full of love.”
Including their rescue dog in the wedding day
And the couple were even able to include their adorable pup in the proceedings.
“We were so happy that Chester, our rescue dog, could be part of the day.
“He’s not a fan of kennels, so it meant the world that we were able to have him with us.”
Find trusted pet and animal wedding services for your wedding day
After the ceremony, the guests headed to the hotel’s Talisker Bar while Ben and Lucy smiled for their photographer.
“We loved the pavilion and the grounds for photos – they came out beautifully. It’s ideal if it rains, too, as there’s shelter you can stand under. Luckily, the rain stopped for a bit, so we got some lovely shots.”
A lively evening reception and DJ battle
After speeches from the wedding party and a four- course dinner in the Lagavulin Suite, the party moved straight to the dancefloor.
“The DJ played AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ as we made our entrance, which was brilliant, and the cake-cutting was hilarious – we couldn’t get the knife through the cake at first, so Ben ended up sawing a huge chunk off ,” laughs Lucy.
“We also had a DJ battle where we each picked three songs and let our guests choose a winner (me, obviously!) – it was such a laugh.
“In fact, the whole day was incredible, and the staff made everything run so smoothly.”
Supplier list
Venue and food The Gailes Hotel & Spa, Irvine
Photography Chloe Burns Photography
Celebrant Douglas Gilgallon, Fuze Ceremonies
Videography Scottfilms and Mackenzie Wedding Films
Wedding dress Wed2Be
Hair Olivia Ferry Hairstylist
Makeup Rachel Louise Bridal
Bridesmaid dresses Azazie
Groomswear Moss Bros
Venue decor Table linen, signs and candle holders all sourced from Vinted
Flowers Veila Wray
Cake Waitrose
Stationery and favours DIY by the couple
Wedding rings Chisholm Hunter
Evening entertainment Fresh Entertainment
Dog chaperone Hounds & Heritage
