Working Barn to Wedding Venue We are always the first to say, that Carrick Castle Estate's working barn was not a purpose built wedding venue - it was built to house Hagglunds, excavators, tractors and forestry equipment, and in fact it does an excellent job of doing this. However, the scenic location, the spectacular lodge and the huge space that it has to offer, means it is actually the absolute ideal venue for a wide range of wedding styles and sizes. The rustic barn wedding theme is stylish, it offers an alternative to the more traditional 'hotel package' wedding, there is no a, b, or c to choose from here. If options are what you are looking for, however, then look no further - this blank canvas is yours to play with. Put your creativity skills to the test and your hours of instagramming and pinteresting to good use - create your very own vision, build your special day your way. Recreate childhood holidays spent in the countryside with woodland florals and rustic wood-stump centerpieces, or a farming background into hay bale seating, vintage wooden trestle tables and beer barrels displaying the cake.
A Couple with Vision The pioneering couple who did just this, Suzie and Ian, had a fabulous day in May in which they transformed our bare working barn into a romantically rustic wedding venue - the location of their reception. The day began with a sunny ceremony on the lawn, hay bales and rugs set the scene from the onset. A beautifully crafted homemade archway expertly made by the brides Father framed the view of the loch, and the bride and groom recited their personal heartfelt vows in front of 70 of their nearest and dearest.
The drinks ceremony began with a 'pimp your prosecco' station and a tractor filled with ice and beer as the bar. The BBQ style hog roast wafted delicious smells across the rear courtyard as guests began their feast. Friends and family were impressed by the couples creative table decor - personalised wine bottle candle holders, potted ferns and moss, simple hessian table runners and leaf shaped name places. En-croute catering offered exceptional service throughout, hearty food and full glasses, tea and coffee served with the option of Espresso Martinis. And with the arrival of the band, the barn was again transformed into a party as pumping as any Glasgow night-club. The comfortable breakout area with chesterfields and crate tables and the fairy light canopy above the rear court yard offered an atmospheric retreat. It was a perfect day, followed by the perfect evening, for a more than perfect couple.
To the Future We give our whole-hearted congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Shapiro. We are delighted they shared our vision in an eco-friendly, rustic-themed alternative wedding - we hope they enjoyed their wedding day with us just as much as we did. Ian and Suzie will always be special to us in that they were our first. Good luck for the future - we hope we will see you for your first anniversary celebration!
A few shots of the special day: