Pippi and Will hosted a vibrant weekend wedding at Achnagairn Castle near Inverness, with 130 guests, ceilidh dancing, BBQ feasting, and unforgettable views
When it comes to destination weddings in the Scottish Highlands, few venues offer the charm, elegance, and convenience of Achnagairn Castle.
For Pippi and Will, this exclusive-use Inverness wedding venue was the perfect choice to host their weekend-long celebration. With 130 guests travelling from across the globe (including Australia, Bahrain, Tanzania, and Shetland) the couple wanted a Scottish castle wedding venue that combined beauty, accessibility and on-site accommodation.
Achnagairn delivered all that and more, setting the stage for an unforgettable Highland wedding full of love, laughter, ceilidh dancing, and personal touches.
Keep reading to see the pictures and to hear more about their special day...
Will and Pippi, Mr and Mrs Stephen
5th April 2025
Venue | Achnagairn Castle, Inverness
Photography | Andy Taylor Photography
With 130 guests joining them from all over the world (Australia, Bahrain, Tanzania, Norway, Shetland and more), it’s easy to see why Pippi and Will made location the deciding factor when picking their wedding venue.
Conveniently located Scottish wedding venue with accommodation
“It was really important to us that we picked a place that people could get to reasonably easily from the airport – and Achnagairn is only around a 25-minute drive from Inverness,” says the bride. “
"We also wanted somewhere close to transport routes, so it was accessible for anyone not driving.
“That aside, we loved that Achnagairn was such a gorgeous venue, with enough accommodation for 130 people. It ticked all our boxes."
Find out more about luxurious wedding venue Achnagairn Castle here
With a date secured (“Will is a teacher so we had to work around term times, but we got our desired one with no compromise,” Pippi assures us), the couple could start planning their wedding.
Scottish wedding venue for weekend-long celebration
But this celebration at Achnagairn wasn’t confined to one day – the couple hired out the five-star exclusive-use venue for an entire weekend.
Click here for more exclusive use wedding venues in Scotland
“On the Friday night, we hosted a relaxed and casual dinner party with our families. Will and I set up a big buffet-style serving station of curry, which was pure organised chaos and so lovely. All our guests mucked in, and the atmosphere was incredible.
“We then had music from a local band, Tartan Paint, who gave us two hours of ceilidh dancing.”
Too tired to get up the next morning? Not a chance – Will and his groomsmen were out early for a run, while Pippi took the relaxed option of breakfast with her mum.
Achnagairn Castle wedding coordinator
After such a good start, the wedding day went without any hitches, something the couple credit Achnagairn’s helpful and supportive staff with, both that weekend and throughout the planning process.
“The team could not have been kinder, more helpful or more responsive to messages. The whole experience was faultless. Special shout-outs to Cara and Rita!”
With everyone dressed and ready to go, a piper led the guests from Achnagairn to Kirkhill Church, where Will and Pippi made their vows.
“The ceremony was so lovely. We were married by our family minister, while a local minister (whom we knew) helped with the service too. Will and I agree our favourite moment was seeing one another at the aisle.”
Before long, it was on to the reception, where Nicola at Eva’s Covers had beautifully decorated the castle’s interiors. “She and I had lots of phones calls about what the venue was going to look like, and she absolutely perfected my vision.
“My flowers from Bothy Blooms were bright, vibrant and fun too. They brought everything together.”
Bring your vision to life with the help of these talented wedding suppliers
Outdoor drinks reception at Achnagairn Castle
Continuing the laid-back celebrations, Mr and Mrs Stephen invited their loved ones for an outdoors drinks reception and a sax player got the party started.
“It felt a bit like being in Ibiza,” smiles Pippi. “He then played us into our meal, which was a relaxed barbecue. We wanted the same chilled-out feel we’d had on the Friday night, only with less chaos! Good Highland Food cooked us an incredible meal, all served on wooden boards, together with a variety of salads.
“A dessert station was also in the reception room while the ballroom was set up for our dancefloor.”
And when it came to backgrounds for their pictures, the happy couple feel they were truly spoilt for choice.
“There’s the ballroom, the balcony, the gardens, the grounds… The entire estate is just incredible, and there are endless opportunities for making memories,” says the new Mrs Stephen.
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“Will and I honestly couldn’t recommend a celebration at Achnagairn highly enough. It was the best weekend of our lives.”
Supplier list
Venue Achnagairn Castle, Inverness-shire
Photographer Andy Taylor Photography
Filmmakers John Conway Weddings, Lewis Nicol Wedding Films, Michael Westcott Films
Wedding planner Sam Skinner, Hitched in the Highlands
Officiant Margaret Lane and Drew Kuzma, Church of Scotland
Wedding dress Customised from Vagabond at Melle Cloche
Jewellery Steve Paterson
Hair Jenna Cooke Hair
Makeup Lisa Hart Makeup
Nails Nails by Abby
Flowergirl dresses Angel & Rocket
Groom’s outfit Andrew Brookes Tailoring
Groomswear Rathbones Tailor
Flowers Bothy Blooms
Catering Good Highland Food
Evening food The Angry Seagull
Cake Anne Owen-Barnett
Stationery WriteOn by Fran Ridley
Venue decor Eva’s Covers
Piper Piper on Parade
Ceremony music Niamh and Aine Higgins
Drinks reception music Elliot G Sax
Evening music The Jets
Friday-night band Tartan Paint
Friday-night food Premote UK
Transport Bonnets and Boots
Coffee van Highland Coffee Pod
