One of the reasons that I adore living here in the Highlands of Scotland, and especially within a National Park, is the amazingly different seasons we get here. Each is special in its own way and any seasonal wedding, whether a winter, spring, autumn or summer wedding will be set against a stunning backdrop.
Today I am thinking of the summer months and what makes a summer wedding so special. The clincher has to be the amount of daylight we get, it is around 18 hours each day, and who can say that this isn’t a major plus when it comes to enjoying life and celebrating something amazing? The warmer weather (although not always guaranteed!!) has finally emerged from the chilly winters and the brown colours evolve into green everywhere you look. Read on to find out more about what makes a summer wedding in the Cairngorms so spectacular.
Fun and adventure…..
A summer wedding is certainly not just about the ceremony itself here in the National Park. During summer there is a multitude of activities to enjoy with your loved ones, be it hiking in the snow-peaked mountains, cycling the endless mountain and woodland trails, water sports on the sparkling, deep lochs or watching wildlife such as Red Deer, Reindeer even, Osprey, Ptarmigan, Pine Martin and the cutest Red Squirrels. Despite it being summer, there is so much space here that you never feel hemmed in and if you want peace and the freshest of air, this IS your place. For planning these activities, VisitCairngorms is a great website to look at.
National Geographic Traveller Magazine has listed the Cairngorms National Park as one of its Top Twenty places to visit in the world. If you are looking for top wedding planning tips, then one of them must be to consider a summer wedding in this beautiful, unique setting. You can opt for an outdoor wedding and say your vows in a pine forest, on a mountain peak, or by a loch side. Remote, unique, outside wedding locations are everywhere. After the ceremony itself you can enjoy canapes and cocktails, or even a locally brewed craft beer or local gin as you watch the best of nature in front of your eyes. Party until the sun finally disappears, and the wide open sky lights up with a million stars. You might not get blazing sunshine for the full day, but the dramatic cloudscapes and changing weathers will make for a range of amazing photos and wet weather back up plans are always included in the planning should the heavens decide to open!
There is food aplenty…..
Guests at a midsummer wedding in the Cairngorms can feast on an assortment of mouth-watering seasonal produce, much of it locally grown and produced. Take your pick from a range of locally sourced Highland beef, lamb and venison, local game such as Grouse, the freshest seafood including scallops, oysters and lobster from the Cromarty Firth, the sweetest local strawberries and a wide selection of locally grown berries, chanterelle mushrooms…. the list goes on. Everything you need for your wedding breakfast is right here and the caterers that I work with focus on sustainability and using this local produce in the amazing dishes they create. For the drinks, there are many different types of craft beers, gins and whisky produced here, you can even try to cram in a trip to a local distillery to taste some of them while you are here.
Let’s dream flowers and colours….
Sustainability is the name of my game and the Highlands has a network of suppliers who grow environmentally sustainable flowers and florists who will use these local suppliers and other British flowers. Julia Kirk from the amazing Wild Gorse says, “Summer seasonal flowers are abundant, with cosmos, garden roses, sweet peas, and herbs a favourite. In the summer months it’s lovely to use mixed herbs as foliage to evoke the senses. Later in the summer we can expect an explosion of dahlias and sunflowers which are more diverse than the common yellow face, we love to mix this together with ornamental grasses for texture and movement”.
If you would like to keep your wedding flowers, our florists can also supply you with stunning dried floral arrangements which will remain with you, long after your return home. So, think rustic colours, think greens to match the pine forests, think happy yellows or pinks to shine out, think any colour you would like for your Cairngorm wedding.
Finally…..the wedding fashion….
With warmer weather and the greens and rustic colours of the Caledonian pine forest, a summer wedding is the perfect time to indulge your boho fantasies and not worry so much about layers or practical fabrics (although a waterproof poncho or slightly warmer wrap could be standing by just in case…..)
Summer is also the time for the men folk to indulge in some stylish linens or to capture the Scottish vibe and hire a kilt for the big day, adding a touch of William Wallace to the event…..
Start dreaming…..
If you are wedding planning at the moment and are wondering where to go, why not give the Cairngorms National Park some thought? It is the perfect escape from a busy life or for a mega adventure, with the freshest air and abundant outdoor activities. You can make a holiday of it too, who needs to go overseas for their honeymoon when you are here!
I would love to help you with your wedding planning. I have now lived here in the National Park for over 10 years and can show you the best places and introduce you to the best suppliers while you can relax and dream…..
You can email me at Wide Sky Weddings to arrange a chat. I would love to hear your ideas and your wedding plans. You can reach me at lindsay@wideskyweddings.com.
Who knows, you may be like me and never leave……..