Laura and Callum brought Thai and Belgian influences, plenty of fun and a relaxed outdoor ceremony to their wedding at Ardoch Loch Lomond
With panoramic views over Loch Lomond, an outdoor ceremony and a wedding weekend packed with personal touches, Laura and Callum made Ardoch Loch Lomond entirely their own.
For Laura and Callum, finding the right Loch Lomond wedding venue was about much more than a beautiful backdrop. With family memories, international guests and two cultures to bring together, they wanted somewhere that felt personal, flexible and unmistakably Scottish.
“We knew we wanted to get married on Loch Lomond,” Callum tells us. “I have so many happy childhood memories of being there with my family.”
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | Ardoch Loch Lomond
Photography | Fern Photography
Style | Whimsical and relaxed
Ceremony | Outdoor ceremony led by the groom's brother
Personal touches | Thai food, Belgian beers and Highland games
Why Laura and Callum chose Ardoch Loch Lomond for their wedding
With guests travelling from Canada, Dubai, New Zealand, Thailand and across Europe, accessibility was important. The couple wanted a Scottish wedding venue that felt secluded and scenic without being impractical for those flying into the country.
Ardoch Loch Lomond proved an ideal fit. Set above Loch Lomond with views towards the mountains, the exclusive-use venue is within reach of both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. Its accommodation for up to 36 guests also meant Laura and Callum could turn their wedding into a relaxed shared experience rather than simply a one-day celebration.
The freedom to choose their own caterers was another major attraction.
“Laura’s half Thai, so we always wanted to serve Thai food, while I’m half Belgian and was determined to have Belgian beers alongside some great whisky,” laughs Callum.
The flexibility offered by Ardoch allowed the couple to incorporate both sides of their heritage into the celebrations rather than working around a fixed wedding package.
Planning a personalised wedding at Ardoch Loch Lomond
The couple were particularly impressed by the support they received from the venue team in the run-up to the day.
“Annie, the manager at Ardoch, deserves a special mention as she really helped to make our vision a reality. She was super-communicative and made us feel relaxed about the entire day.
“She and some of the other staff even met the farmer who delivered the hay bales at 6am on our wedding day so we could sleep in!”
Those hay bales would later become seating for the couple’s outdoor ceremony, while the rest of their wedding styling remained deliberately understated.
“Our theme was whimsy, fun and a little bit of ruggedness – and the venue really suited this. We felt that Ardoch was already so spectacular that it didn’t really need much extra.”
With Loch Lomond and the surrounding countryside providing the backdrop, Laura and Callum added florals and a handful of personal details rather than heavily decorating the space.
An outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking Loch Lomond
After a leisurely morning in which guests gathered for breakfast and enjoyed some downtime together, everyone headed outside for the ceremony.
“Callum and I wanted to host the ceremony outside looking over Loch Lomond and to keep things relatively short,” says Laura.
“Callum’s brother, Thomas, led the ceremony and did a great job [the couple had been legally wed in Australia, where they live, two weeks prior]. A favourite moment was walking back up the aisle to ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees.”
Against Ardoch Loch Lomond’s expansive loch and mountain views, the informal outdoor ceremony captured exactly the relaxed atmosphere they had hoped for.
Highland games, Thai food and a relaxed wedding reception
The celebrations continued outside with drinks and plenty of entertainment in the grounds.
“We cut the cake (actually, the doughnut!) and we made the most of Ardoch’s garden with a mini Highland games – sack races, limbo dancing and more!”
The relaxed feel carried through to dinner. Instead of a formal seated wedding breakfast, the couple opted for a buffet, allowing guests to help themselves and mingle.
“The Thai food we laid on was a real hit with everyone.”
Their food choices were another opportunity to make the wedding feel reflective of them, while Belgian beer and whisky added another nod to Callum’s background.
A ceilidh, DJ sets and a post-wedding West Highland Way hike
As evening arrived, guests took to the dancefloor for a ceilidh before Laura and some of the couple’s friends stepped behind the decks for DJ sets.
Even then, the wedding weekend wasn’t quite finished.
“The following day, we hiked part of the West Highland Way with 12 friends – Ardoch is perfectly placed near day two of the trail.”
That proximity to the West Highland Way makes Ardoch Loch Lomond an especially appealing wedding venue for couples who want to incorporate the Scottish outdoors into a longer wedding weekend.
For Laura and Callum, however, the greatest success was creating a celebration that genuinely felt like theirs.
“So many guests have since commented that it really reflected us and felt very authentic and genuine,” smiles Callum.
Supplier list
Venue Ardoch Loch Lomond
Photography Fern Photography
Catering Thai Supper Club Edinburgh
Officiant The groom’s brother
Wedding dress Etsy
Hair and makeup Carol Fairfield
Groomswear The Scotland Kilt Company
Jewellery Made by the couple at a workshop in Sydney
Flowers Caulders Garden Centre
Cake Tantrum Doughnuts
Ceilidh Crowded Croft
Transport Wright Taxis
FAQs about weddings at Ardoch Loch Lomond
Ardoch Loch Lomond is set in the Loch Lomond area of Scotland, with extensive views across the loch and surrounding mountains. Its location also makes it accessible for guests travelling via Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
Yes. Laura and Callum held their ceremony outdoors in the grounds, with hay-bale seating and panoramic views across Loch Lomond.
Laura and Callum chose Ardoch partly because of its exclusive-use offering, allowing them and their guests to enjoy the venue privately throughout their wedding celebrations.
Ardoch Loch Lomond offers accommodation for up to 36 guests, making it suitable for couples planning a wedding weekend or hosting friends and family travelling from further afield.
Laura and Callum were able to bring in their own caterers, which allowed them to serve Thai food and personalise the menu around their backgrounds and tastes.
