Colstoun House Weddings
Let me introduce you to one of my favourite wedding venues – an exclusive use Scottish manor house, based in Haddington, East Lothian. I love this place so much that I got married there myself in October ’17! Since then I have been back many times and photographed countless weddings there, I just can’t get enough of it and I’m so proud to be one of their recommended wedding suppliers.
When I began planning my own wedding I stumbled across this quaint and beautiful restored house on Instagram. I owe huge thanks to a good friend of mine who helped me scour social media for days trying to find the venue of my dreams!
Colstoun House turned out to be everything we wanted, and more. As a fellow bride, and wedding photographer, I put this page together to help you plan your own Colstoun House wedding and share some of my hints and tips.
To whet your appetite, here are some of my favourite images from a recent Colstoun House wedding.
WHY HAVE A COLSTOUN HOUSE WEDDING?
“It’s a blank canvas that doesn’t need much doing to it, but has so much potential to make it unique to you!”
Colstoun House is incredible. It’s widely thought to be one of the oldest houses in Scotland, so you can only imagine the events that have taken place there! Picture a beautifully restored Scottish manor house with light stone walls and a bright, well lit interior and beautiful surroundings that take full advantage of the incredible Scottish scenery. This is a wedding venue that ticks all the boxes and is perfectly suited to a medium or large wedding of up to 150 people. If you’re after a relaxed wedding that you can really put your stamp on then the “blank canvas” of Colstoun House could be right up your street!
Speaking as a previous Colstoun House bride I found the staff at Colstoun to be incredibly hands on and helpful. They were more than happy to answer any and all questions that I had and, now as a supplier, they still treat me so well. I always love my trips back to Colstoun House for weddings!
COLSTOUN HOUSE WEDDING CEREMONY LOCATION OPTIONS
The Polytunnel
If you’re looking for a super unique spot to say your vows then read on! The Polytunnel is one of my favourite features of Colstoun House. Speaking as a photographer the light inside the Polytunnel is just beautiful and so, so flattering for skin. If it rains (and, let’s face it, we are in Scotland!) then the Polytunnel is perfect. You and your guests can stay dry but there is still plenty of natural daylight. It’s the best of both worlds, undercover but with the feel of being outside.
As Colstoun is a DIY venue, then go wild and decorate the Polytunnel any way you like. Bunting, flowers, paper cranes – the list is endless. Or keep things natural, the Polytunnel is beautiful just as it is. One top tip though, it can get warm in the summer months, especially if guests are seated there for a while, so just be aware of that and perhaps think about getting married on the lawn. Speaking of which…
On the lawn
Imagine getting married outside, under a beautiful, sprawling tree surrounded by those who love you. Bordered by a flowing river and with views over the lawn you really get to appreciate the natural beauty of Colstoun House and it’s surroundings.
COLSTOUN HOUSE WEDDING CEREMONY LOCATION OPTIONS
The Polytunnel
If you’re looking for a super unique spot to say your vows then read on! The Polytunnel is one of my favourite features of Colstoun House. Speaking as a photographer the light inside the Polytunnel is just beautiful and so, so flattering for skin. If it rains (and, let’s face it, we are in Scotland!) then the Polytunnel is perfect. You and your guests can stay dry but there is still plenty of natural daylight. It’s the best of both worlds, undercover but with the feel of being outside.
As Colstoun is a DIY venue, then go wild and decorate the Polytunnel any way you like. Bunting, flowers, paper cranes – the list is endless. Or keep things natural, the Polytunnel is beautiful just as it is. One top tip though, it can get warm in the summer months, especially if guests are seated there for a while, so just be aware of that and perhaps think about getting married on the lawn. Speaking of which…
On the lawn
Imagine getting married outside, under a beautiful, sprawling tree surrounded by those who love you. Bordered by a flowing river and with views over the lawn you really get to appreciate the natural beauty of Colstoun House and it’s surroundings.
Inside the main house
Inside the main house you’ll find a lovely, spacious drawing room. Its tall windows let in lots of natural light and there’s plenty of room as it can hold up to 100 people. If the weather is looking a little inclement, or you fancy getting married in a historic Scottish manor house then the drawing room is a fab ceremony location. Guests can then head up to the first floor for canapés and mingling, or make their way outside to the courtyard.
FURNITURE + DECOR
LIGHTING
The team are constantly looking for ways to improve Colstoun, they have made so many additions to the venue since 2017 (when I got married there) and they are so invested in making the place one of Scotland’s best wedding venues.
The great thing about Colstoun House is you don’t need to do, or add, much for it to look incredible! The huge windows in the house let in so much beautiful light, there is a wall of fairy lights which makes for a stunning backdrop, long, flowing curtains make the rooms intimate and cosy while light stone walls add such a rustic, outdoorsy feel whilst still creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
TABLES AND CHAIRS
Whilst it is a DIY venue the team Colstoun House are always keen to make things as easy as possible for you so keep their hire charges nice and affordable. I really like the table and chairs they have available so it’s well worth looking at those to see if they suit before trying to source your own. If you want more of a rustic look, then you probably will want to bring in external seating such as upcycled tables and benches. One of my Colstoun couples made their table tops from wood! You can hire something similar here: Virginias vintage hire Scotland
Just to note, you will need to source linen from your catering company or an external wedding styling company but Colstoun staff will be able to help you out with recommendations.
DECOR AND PUTTING YOUR OWN STAMP ON
If you want to keep wedding stress to a minimum then don’t worry, Colstoun House is such a gorgeous venue you don’t need to do much at all in terms of decor. With beautiful stationary and some simple, elegant centrepieces, you can easily transform the space into something that is unique to you. The venue is already pretty neutral with good lighting, so you don’t need to worry about hiding any frumpy carpets or hiring any additional lighting or props – unless of course it’s something important to you for the aesthetic of your day.
Now, the beauty of Colstoun is that you can also get super creative to make it your own. There is so much inspiration out there so the world really is your oyster. Think colour, think bright bunting or huge centrepieces. Think clean, modern lines or some more rustic, countryside vibes. Pretty much whatever takes your fancy!
OUTSIDE COURTYARD
I love the outside courtyard and I’ve seen how it has been transformed over the years. Couples can set the bar up outside so they, and their guests, can make the most of the weather in the summer months, or why not ask your band to play outside too which can make for a unique evening party. There’s plenty of space for some wedding reception entertainment too from close up magicians to lawn games or musicians.
NEED A COLSTOUN HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
If you’ve booked your wedding at Colstoun House (great choice!) then I would love to chat to you about your wedding photography. Having photographed numerous weddings there, got married there myself and being a Colstoun Recommended Photographer I would love to hear about your wedding dreams! Take a look through my blog posts below for some recent wedding inspiration and get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.
