Novar Estate: 10 Reasons To Choose This Scottish Wedding Venue

If you are looking for a picturesque place to get married, then Ardtalla Lodge on the Novar Estate is definitely worth considering.

It is without question one of the most secluded wedding venues in Scotland, nestled in thousands of acres of Highland countryside.

In addition to the 9 luxurious bedrooms you will also find a wonderful Galleried Hall for your reception, and a stunning walled garden for your ceremony.

And as if that wasn’t enough, you also get this entire place exclusively for the duration of your stay.

Let’s take a closer look at what a Novar Estate wedding would be like.

Novar Estate Location

There are some really spectacular wedding venues in the Highlands.

Hardly surprising when you consider the incredibly romantic landscape.

And Novar Estate is amongst the best of them.

Inverness is only 20 miles away, with a journey time of approximately 20 minutes.

Ideal if you live in Scotlands most northern city.

And when you arrive at Ardtalla Lodge, you will find plenty of parking for you and your guests.

In addition to this, if you are intending on transporting people in large coaches, the drive is narrow but access is good.

Novar Estate Setting

In terms of setting, you couldn’t want for a more relaxing and picturesque spot.

The atmosphere is one of isolation, with all the scenery the Scottish Highlands are renowned for.

Furthermore your privacy is guaranteed, as Ardtalla Lodge is an exclusive use wedding venue.

Just imagine you, your family, and your friends enjoying quality time together in this wonderful environment.

It really is a lovely place for a wedding.

Novar Estate Ardtalla Lodge

Ardtalla Lodge started life as an 18th century stable square.

However in recent years, it has been converted into a luxurious mansion.

Located in the heart of the Novar Estate, right next to the walled garden, it now has period character combined with 21st century technology.

Inside you will find a range of versatile reception rooms such as the: Galleried Hall; Drawing Room; Dining Room; Sitting Room; Billiard Room; and Kitchen.

And these rooms can be used in any way you can possibly imagine.

Central heating is provided by a state of the art wood chip boiler, and you will find open fireplaces in the main public rooms.

In addition to this, Ardtalla Lodge also comes fully staffed.

Novar Estate Accommodation

There are 9 luxury bedrooms in Ardtalla Lodge, each of them with an ensuite bathroom.

The rooms can also be made up as doubles or as twins, sleeping up to 18 guests comfortably.

In addition to this all the bathrooms have large showers with free standing baths, and all the bed sheets are white Egyptian cotton.

It’s a fantastic place to spend a few nights.

If you need further accommodation, then Novar Estate also has 4 recently refurbished holiday houses:

• Fyrish House, 6 bedrooms, sleeps 12.
• Braemoray, 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6.
• Larch Cottage, 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6.
• Kinloch, 1 bedroom, sleeps 2.

Novar Estate Ceremony

Novar Estate is licensed for religious, civil, and humanist ceremonies in the Galleried Hall, the Drawing Room, and the Walled Garden.

The light and neutrally decorated Drawing Room would be ideal for intimate weddings, with a capacity for up to 40 guests.

However if you require more indoor space, the grand Galleried Hall is a stunning room, with a capacity for up to 60 guests.

If you are willing to brave the elements and take the celebrations outside, then the beautiful Walled Garden could be fantastic.

The gardens are absolutely lovely, and of course the views are spectacular.

Novar Estate Reception

For intimate dinner receptions the Ardtalla Lodge Dining Room can be used, with its capacity for 20 seated guests.

Most people however go for the Galleried Hall, with its stone floors, open fireplace, and tall ceilings.

The upstairs gallery will give your guests a great vantage point, it’s an excellent place to take photos from, and with a capacity for 60 seated it’s a reasonably spacious room.

For larger weddings a marquee can be put up on the front lawn.

This of course will add significantly to the price, however it will give you enough space for even the largest of celebrations.

Novar Estate Catering

The catering at Novar Estate is handled internally.

Their resident chef takes pride in using locally sourced produce, to create wonderful menus to suit all tastes.

In fact some of the ingredients used are actually grown on the estate.

And with the Scottish Highlands known for its high quality seafood and fine cheeses, you know you are going to be in for a treat.

Menu customisation is possible if you want something created just for you, and the alcohol is provided by Bars R Us who will setup a mobile bar in the Butlers Pantry or the Marquee.

Novar Estate Grounds

There are 20,000 acres to explore on the Novar Estate.

That’s equivalent to 24 New York Central Parks, so you’re probably not going to see it all.

However there is farmland, woodland, and hills which you are free to enjoy as much as you want.

The walled garden is a wonderful place to take advantage of, whether it be a gentle stroll, croquet on the lawn, or even a game of tennis.

It’s also a spectacular place for your all important wedding photos.

Novar Estate Unique Feature

Because Novar Estate is a sporting estate, there is so much more to do here than get married.

And if you decide to extend your stay, a range of fun activities can be organised for you and your guests.

How about some fishing on the River Alness, regarded as the most scenic river in the Highlands.

With 10 km of double banked salmon fishing, you’re practically guaranteed to catch something.

Or perhaps you might like to go mountain biking, on over 150 miles of estate tracks.

Bikes can be delivery to the lodge, and a picnic can be arranged somewhere in the grounds.

There’s also the possibility of a falconry display, an archery session with a qualified instructor, or even clay pigeon shooting.

Novar Estate Wedding Prices

For accurate Novar Estate 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 Novar Estate wedding cost:

• Exclusive use of Ardtalla Lodge (18 people db&b), price £9,000 for 2 nights.
• Marquee (seats 150+), price £8,200.
• Wedding Breakfast, prices from £43.20 per person.

The prices above are for a summer weekend.

Winter and midweek weddings could cost less.

Novar Estate Conclusion

So those are my 10 reasons you should consider Novar Estate as your wedding venue.

Of course everybody has different tastes and opinions.

However if you are looking for an exclusive use Scottish Highland Lodge, occupying a picturesque and secluded location, with accommodation for 18 guests, and a stunning walled garden for outdoor ceremonies; then Novar Estate 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 Novar Estate’s website here.

Good luck with your wedding planning.