With a love for visiting Scotland, Laura and Doug knew that elegant Murrayshall was the perfect place for the traditional Scottish wedding of their dreams
Laura Murphy and Doug Forbes, now Mr and Mrs Forbes
27th March 2024
Venue | Murrayshall Country Estate
Photography | Photography by Emilie
There’s nowhere quite like Scotland, is there? It’s beautiful, has a rich history, the people are known to be among the friendliest in the world, and it has a warmth that is hard to replicate and understood only by those who have been here.
So, when Lancashire-based couple Laura and Doug started searching for their dream wedding venue, they turned their eyes northwards and found what they were looking for in the rolling Perthshire countryside at Murrayshall Country Estate.
“We have visited Perth many times whenever we’ve been escaping to the Highlands, and we always feel that a trip to Scotland isn’t quite complete without going to Murrayshall,” says the bride with a smile.
“We checked out lots of places closer to home in England but we were always comparing them to Murrayshall – and none of them could match up.”
The couple say they were hoping to marry in “beautiful surroundings that offered lots of photo opportunities for rainy weather”, boxes which Murrayshall clearly ticked.
They had other priorities as well: “We’re foodies,” says Laura, “so an excellent chef and a great menu were important too. We were also looking for a fantastic team of staff who were welcoming and could coordinate our dream day. And we needed a place that could accommodate around 60 guests, where they wouldn’t get lost in a huge space, but would have the right amount of room to socialise in.”
One benefit of the pair’s long engagement was that they were able to secure their ideal date, and could give their guests plenty of warning; in the end, 56 of their nearest and dearest joined them from places like France and Wales for their “real Scottish wedding”.
“We wanted immediate family and friends only so we wouldn’t feel overwhelmed by too many guests,” Laura explains. “Our goal was to have a more intimate occasion, where we could spend time with treasured loved ones – having a wedding 200 miles away from our hometown allowed us to achieve that.”
The bride is a classical guitarist, so it’s no surprise that music played a big role throughout the day: “We had a religious ceremony at the nearby quaint Collace Parish Church, which was important to us both, with a harpist playing some of our favourite classical pieces,” smiles Laura. “This was followed by a traditional bagpiper greeting guests at Murrayshall.”
The pair say the venue team took this request in their stride: “Having live music really mattered to us and Murrayshall definitely helped us achieve this vision: they allowed the bagpiper to move around the grounds and inside the venue and they let me ring the gong to start the reception. In the evening we had a brilliant DJ, Stewart Calverto, who got involved in the dancing with our guests – he took requests all evening.”
Food was a major standout for the new Mr and Mrs Forbes, who took the time to chat to their guests between each course (gin-cured Scottish salmon and lemon-and-mascarpone cheesecake were on the menu).
“We’re not huge drinkers so we were really happy that we could select a smaller drinks package. The food was perfect too: we were able to select two options for each course (one being vegetarian) and all the plates were empty! We greeted two tables between each course, so we got to see everyone before they were up and about.”
The bride says she owes the smooth running of the day to the venue staff, who looked after everything from minor mishaps to dietary requirements.
“Our coordinator, Louise Green, set up all of our decorations and packed everything up after the wedding. She also saved the day when my scarf left fabric on Doug’s suit – she immediately swung into action and got us something to remove the fibres,” commends Louise.
“Although we had a plan for the day, Louise was able to adjust timings as I needed a moment before I entered the reception hall. Danny, the coordinator who took over in the evening, also looked after us so well and the chef produced the best gluten-free rolls I’d ever tasted.”
Despite the weather swinging between snow, rain and sunshine, and the day going by in a flash, Laura says neither she nor Doug would change a thing.
“Our guests enjoyed the whole day, and told us it was well planned with lots of entertainment and things to do. The speeches were phenomenal and totally unexpected too,” reminisces the bride.
“Murrayshall is naturally beautiful – it doesn’t need added embellishment to give the impression of elegance. It has understated elegance and is a beautifully finished historic venue with class which really brought our vision of a Scottish wedding to life.”
Top tip: "Weather is never guaranteed in the UK but make the best of what weather you get!"
Venue Murrayshall Country Estate
Ceremony Collace Parish Church
Photography Photography by Emilie
Bride’s dress Along Came Eve Bridal Boutique
Bride’s shoes Rainbow Club
Bride’s necklace Chisholm Hunter
Bride’s earrings Liam Ross Jewellery
Bridesmaid dresses Azazie
Hair and makeup Lesley McCormick, Pamper & Polish
Groomswear Michelsberg Tailoring
Cake Philippa Rose Cake Design
Flowers Lorna Davies Florist
Stationery The couple made their own via VistaPrint and Etsy
Chair covers Grande Dreams
Venue decor Winton Weddings
Ceremony music Harpist Tsvetelina Likova
Entertainment DJ Stewart Calverto
Favours Mint chocolates via Etsy
Bridesmaid gifts Bloom Boutique Jewellery
Groomsman gifts Cufflinks via Not on the High Street
