Meg & Scott's Summer Wedding at Winton Castle near Edinburgh

From Atlanta to Edinburgh: A 4,000-Mile Journey for Love
When Meg and Scott decided on a destination wedding, there was only one choice - the Monteith’s ancestral homeland of Scotland, and only one wedding venue - the magnificent Scottish Castle, Winton Castle in East Lothian, near Edinburgh.
119 friends and family travelled all the way from Atlanta in the US to join Meg and Scott for their summer wedding, and expectations were well and truly surpassed as they enjoyed Highland games in Winton Castle's walled garden, barbecues on the Peacock Balcony and a spectacular wedding day. It was highlighted by dinner in a marquee on the croquet lawn, followed by dancing in the castle well into the wee hours.
This is their wedding story, kindly told by the bride, Mrs Meg Monteith.
“Our early wedding-planning conversations read like a script for realist vs idealist theatre…
“Realist: Most people get two shots at having all of their favourite people in the same room: their wedding day and their funeral. We only get to enjoy one of them. Let’s go with the location that’s most convenient for our friends and family.
“Idealist: A destination wedding would be a catalyst for all of our favourite people to plan a trip they wouldn’t otherwise prioritize! Some will get their first passport! What better gift could be bestowed upon a young couple than their tribes converging in a place that will yield memories for all? The trip of a lifetime - for us, and for them!
“As we rounded the corner on lap one of the wedding-planning track, we were anything but decisive. A riverbank in Atlanta? A farm in the Mississippi Delta? A more unexpected destination … in Europe? We loved the adventure inherent in a destination wedding, but we had a major foe working against us: a true ginger, Scott wears a daily “sweater” of SPF 85 sunscreen. Even indoors. That said, there would be no beach.
“We also wanted a uniquely personal event, replete with family mementos, meaningful speeches and titbits that would say “your presence is your present" in a manner that didn't feel as canned as a Baby Boomer-driven meme or decor pillow from TJ Maxx.
“It took finding a Scottish venue that married all of our non-negotiables to finally pull the decision trigger.
“A late-night Google search led us to the website of a castle that boasted “intimacy on a grand scale.” From there, what began as a fledgling idea to host a small family wedding in the Monteith’s’ ancestral homeland ballooned into a full-blown Scottish castle affair with Highland Games, falconry, bagpipes, a clay pigeon shoot, a scotch distillery tour and ceilidh.
“What we heard most about in the weeks that followed were the personal touches. From handwritten notes at each table setting to tables adorned with photos and keepsakes; we wanted to make our guests feel as special as they'd made us feel by travelling more than a collective million miles to be there. And the staff at Winton made it so.”
How Did You Plan Every Detail of Your Wedding from the US?
“I’m writing this as I sit next to my new husband on the plane ride home, following a picture-perfect wedding and honeymoon.
“In the week following our nuptials, my phone has been overrun with messages from friends and family who had the most wonderful things to say about Winton - and, more specifically, Winton staff. No words can adequately relay how strongly and positively you impacted our lives, but herein lies an attempt.
“Finding people who can outshine the beauty and splendour of the Winton property is not an easy task - and yet you’ve done just that.
“Many of our guests asked how Scott and I had the good fortune of finding Winton. Call it fate, call it the magic of Google keywords... Whatever it was that led us to your website back in January, I call it evidence that we have been greatly blessed.
See more on the wedding venue, Winton Castle www.wintoncast...
Read the full story of Meg & Scott's wedding www.wintoncast...