Glenapp Castle: 10 Reasons To Choose This Scottish Wedding Venue

Did you know that in 1944 Winston Churchill, Lord Inchcape, and Dwight Eisenhower met at Glenapp Castle to discuss the D-Day Landings?

Just imagine the conversations had on that pivotal day.

Fortunately the estate is now used for more enjoyable gatherings, which includes the occasional wedding.

So how does this place compare to other wedding venues in Scotland?

Let’s take a closer look at what a Glenapp Castle wedding would be like.

Glenapp Castle Location

The location of Glenapp Castle is not ideal, with regards to proximity to the nearest city.

Glasgow is the closest, and is still 70 miles away.

However the west coast of Scotland is renowned for its beauty, which means there are numerous wedding venues in South Ayrshire with stunning scenery.

The entrance to the estate is a sweeping tree lined drive, which leads right up to the imposing castle.

Be sure to pay special attention to the skies of a night time.

The lack of light pollution from the cities, makes this a great place for stargazing.

Glenapp Castle Setting

If your group is small in numbers, you don’t have to take Glenapp Castle exclusively.

Just take the rooms you require, and the rest of the building can be left to other guests.

However if you want complete privacy, and use of the entire estate for yourself, then that can be arranged.

This would include 20 bedrooms, all the public rooms, and even a marquee if required.

Prices start from £5,500 for a winter wedding, which would definitely be my choice.

Your own castle in the snow!

And rise to £10,950 for a high season wedding, which may or may not mean nice weather.

Never trust a Scottish summer.

Glenapp Castle

Glenapp Castle was originally built in 1870 for the industrialist James Hunter.

He commissioned David Bryce, the well known Edinburgh based architect, to design him the Scottish Baronial style castle we see today.

In 1917 the estate passed to the Inchcape family, one of which was the pioneering aviator Elsie Mackay.

She sadly died in 1928, during an attempt to fly the Atlantic in a single engined monoplane.

As you can imagine, the castle is incredible both inside and out.

The spacious interiors, towers, and turrets make for a real sense of occasion.

And there’s a world of Victorian splendour just waiting to be explored.

Glenapp Castle Accommodation

There are 20 luxurious bedrooms and suites at Glenapp Castle.

Each with its own unique character and combination of fabrics, antiques, and art.

They all have open fireplaces for the winter months too.

Three of the bedrooms are located in the Castle Apartment.

This area offers an additional level of privacy, and includes its own kitchen, lounge, library, and cinema.

Could be a good place to stick the parents.

There is also accommodation for up to 40 more guests in private, 5 star cottages nearby.

The castle can provide services and transport to and from these locations.

Glenapp Castle Ceremony

The options for your ceremony at Glenapp Castle are plentiful.

You can choose from a number of elegant reception rooms inside the building.

Or you can roll the Scottish weather dice, and opt for somewhere outdoors on the estate.

A minister of religion can perform ceremonies, anywhere in the castle or the gardens.

A civil registrar is also possible, however the locations are more limited.

There is also Glenapp Church, if you are interested in a Church of Scotland ceremony.

The beautiful Victorian chapel is located only 5 miles from the castle.

You can even have a trained falcon deliver your wedding rings.

Glenapp Castle Reception

Similar to your ceremony, Glenapp Castle can offer a number of options for your reception.

Assuming you have less than 60 guests, then one of the elegant reception rooms within the castle can be used.

However if you are planning to invite more than 60 people, then a marquee somewhere on the grounds is your best option.

And this isn’t just any old marquee.

It opens up at the sides to reveal the seascape across to Ailsa Craig.

Plus it also has a transparent roof section, providing great views of the castle turrets above.

200 guests can be accommodated in the marquee, which should satisfy even the largest receptions.

Glenapp Castle Catering

The catering at Glenapp Castle is handled by their own award winning kitchen team.

Chef’s David Alexander and Tyron Ellul, pride themselves in creating exquisite dishes using local produce.

The estate has its own herb and vegetable garden, and they make the most of Ayrshire’s famous lamb, beef, cheese, and seafood.

There are a variety of menus to choose from, however custom dishes can be created to suite specific preferences and dietary requirements.

The wine cellar and whisky stocks are also something to get excited about.

Glenapp Castle Grounds

There are no less than 36 acres of stunning grounds to explore at Glenapp Castle.

Gertrude Jekyll, the world famous garden architect, is responsible for the Victorian gardens.

In fact the original plans were recently discovered in a university in California.

There is a 150 foot long glasshouse, growing grapes, figs, and exotic plants.

Needless to say, all this beautiful scenery is perfect for wedding photographs.

Plenty of activities are available too, such as: mountain biking; tennis; croquet; clay pigeon shooting; and horse carriage rides.

A spot of croquet on the lawn with your guests sounds fun.

You can also do stargazing with an expert astronomer.

Glenapp Castle Wedding Coordinator

With so many options available at Glenapp Castle, a great wedding coordinator is essential.

Fortunately you will be allocated with your own events manager, plus an accompanying support team.

They are absolutely dedicated to ensuring everything goes according to your plan.

Need help organising suppliers?

Well whether it’s a wedding cake, flowers, transportation, or a photographer; they know the best providers in the area.

The organisation of classic cars seems to be very popular.

Glenapp Castle Wedding Prices

For accurate Glenapp Castle wedding prices, you should contact the venue directly.

Their wedding packages can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

However to give you an approximate Glenapp Castle wedding cost:

• Exclusive use of Glenapp Castle (40 people b&b), price £10,950.
• Catering (drinks reception and canapes, three course wedding breakfast with wine), prices from £115 per person.

The prices above are for a summer weekend.

Winter and midweek weddings could cost 50% less.

Glenapp Castle Conclusion

So those are my 10 reasons you should consider Glenapp Castle as your wedding venue.

Of course everybody has different tastes and opinions.

However if you are looking for your own exclusive castle, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland, with exquisite catering, and service from a bygone era; then Glenapp Castle just might be the place for you.

Whilst you are here, you should take a look at some of the other wedding venues in Scotland, featured on White Rose.

You can also find Glenapp Castle’s website here.

Good luck with your wedding planning.