Mar Lodge - National Trust for Scotland

Mar Lodge
a place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Team Thomson Photography

Welcome to Mar Lodge
Congratulations on your engagement and thank you for
considering Mar Lodge as the venue for your special day.
One of Scotland’s hidden gems, this
unique venue is situated in the heart
of the Cairngorms National Park,
amidst 29,000 hectares of magnificent
Scottish countryside.
Surrounded by ancient forests and
rolling glens, wild rivers and rugged
peaks, Mar Lodge is an idyllic setting
for your Highland wedding.
Originally built as a Victorian hunting
lodge for the Duke and Duchess of
Fife in 1895, Mar Lodge now offers
luxury self-catering and bunkhouse
accommodation for up to 67 guests
within the Lodge and wider estate.
Whether your dream wedding is
grand and sumptuous; intimate and
relaxed; religious, civil or humanist;
we guarantee outstanding service and
memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
As Mar Lodge offers a variety of
wedding options, our Hospitality
Manager is always on hand to offer
friendly advice and support. This
brochure provides a flavour of what is
available at this extraordinary venue.
Mar Lodge is located 5 miles west of
Braemar and within easy access of
Aberdeen city centre and Aberdeen
International Airport (both 50 miles).
Team Thomson Photography Team Thomson Photography
By celebrating your wedding with us,
you will also be actively supporting
the vital work of the National Trust for
Scotland, one of Scotland’s leading
conservation charities, and helping
us protect the nation’s natural and
cultural heritage for present and future
generations to enjoy. Thank you!
Contact us
To arrange a visit call us on
0844 493 2172 (+44 1339 741433
from outside the UK) or email
marlodgeweddings@nts.org.uk
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Neil Fordyce Photography
Your arrival
at Mar Lodge
From Braemar, a relaxing drive along
the River Dee brings you to Mar Lodge
Estate. En route you’ll enjoy wonderful
views of Ben Macdui, Glen Quoich
and the Linn of Quoich, one of Queen
Victoria’s favourite picnic spots.
Upon entering the Estate, a short
drive through landscaped woodland
leads you to the Lodge and a warm
Highland welcome.

Team Thomson Photography
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Your ceremony
at Mar Lodge
Within the Lodge, your ceremony can be held in the Great Hall
or Drawing Room.
Great Hall
Framed by the Hall’s intricate stained glass window, wedding
vows are exchanged on the balcony of the grand staircase,
offering all your guests an excellent view.
Maximum Capacity: 120 (40 seated)
Drawing Room
Surrounded by Fife family portraits and heirlooms, the Drawing
Room is bright and spacious.
Taking pride of place is the grand piano, which has been played
on many occasions to entertain royalty. Today, it can be played
to welcome the bride down the aisle.
Maximum Capacity: 130 (90 seated)
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Your reception
at Mar Lodge
Depending on the size of your wedding party and the formality of the
occasion, Mar Lodge offers you a variety of unique locations for drinks
receptions and dining.
Drawing Room, Great Hall
& Library
Ideal for welcome drinks on arrival and celebratory drinks and canapés
following the ceremony, the Drawing Room, Great Hall and Library allow
you to move seamlessly through the Lodge as you sip champagne and
mingle with your guests.
Maximum Capacity: 150 (drinks receptions)
Craggan Ballroom
Beautifully appointed and extremely versatile, the Craggan Ballroom
is perfect for both formal and informal celebrations, including drinks
receptions, dinners and evening celebrations.
Maximum Capacity: 70
Dining Room
The Dining Room offers an elegant and traditional Scottish setting for
rehearsal meals and intimate wedding dinners.
Maximum Capacity: 40
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Your celebration
in the grounds of
Mar Lodge
Stag Ballroom
A short stroll from the Lodge lies the Stag Ballroom,
a unique timber building displaying some 2,500 stag
antlers dating from the Victorian era.
With its spacious wooden floor, the ballroom is perfect
for sumptuous banquets and ceilidhs. Let your hair
down and end the day with a party to remember!
Maximum Capacity: 200 (160 dining)
Marquees
For larger weddings, marquees can be erected on the
vast lawns.
Maximum Capacity: 1,000
Team Thomson Photography
Team Thomson Photography

Neil Fordyce Photography
Your Wedding, Your Way
Whether you decide to design your own bespoke wedding or select Mar Lodge’s
exclusive wedding package, our Hospitality Manager will always be on hand to
provide support and advice.
Mar Lodge Wedding Package
• Exclusive use of all public rooms for the weekend
• Three nights’ accommodation within the Lodge for up to 37 guests
• Use of the Dining Room or Craggan Ballroom for the rehearsal meal
• Wedding ceremony in the Great Hall or Drawing Room
• Use of the Stag Ballroom for dinner, evening reception and dancing
• Private powder room for the bride and bridal party
• Use of the Billiard Room for the groom and groomsmen
• Use of the Lodge and grounds for photography
• Complimentary parking
This package is based on exclusive hire of the Lodge and is available on selected
dates only. For larger parties and extended stays, a price per head can be provided.
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Team Thomson Photography
The Lodge Claybokie Creag Bhalg
Your accommodation at Mar Lodge Estate
Part of our Connoisseurs’ Collection, the Lodge
contains five luxurious Adam revival-style
apartments offering self catering accommodation
for up to 37 guests.
Additionally, Claybokie and Creag Bhalg, two
magnificent four-star cottages, commanding
uninterrupted views across the River Dee and
Glen Ey, can accommodate 18 guests.
With our bunkhouse accommodation sleeping
a further 12, Mar Lodge Estate can accommodate
a total of 67 guests.
Catering and daily servicing of rooms is available
by prior arrangement.
For further details and to make a reservation,
contact our Holidays Department on
0844 493 2108 (+44 131 243 9331 from
outside the UK) or visit www.ntsholidays.com

Your activities at
Mar Lodge Estate
Whether you’re staying for a weekend or a week, for your hen/stag party,
honeymoon or wedding, there is a wide range of activities on offer at
Mar Lodge.
• Ranger-led walks: from gentle wildlife-spotting strolls through the heather
and woodland to adventurous Munro-bagging
• Early bird safaris: journey out with an estate driver-guide at dawn to
see the waking of the black grouse, then back to the Lodge for a hearty
Scottish breakfast
• The perfect shot: bring your camera and venture out with our estate
stalkers to experience and capture at first hand the majestic sight of
stags roaming the hills
• Clay pigeon shooting and archery
• Traditional field sports, including stag stalking, grouse shooting and
salmon fishing
These and other activities are available by prior arrangement.
Further details and prices are available on request.
Team Thomson Photography
A place for weddings

No Scottish wedding would be quite
complete without a ceilidh.
Make your Scottish wedding a night
to remember. Give your guests a
talking point for years to come with the
memory of a live Scottish ceilidh with
Iron Broo.
The Stag Ballroom at Mar Lodge is the
ideal location for a ‘Reel’ Highland
ceilidh with Iron Broo.
Mar Lodge
Iron Broo Ceilidh Band
‘Purveyors of fine tunes since 1992’
Iron Broo are one of Scotland’s favourite
ceilidh bands and have made regular
appearances at Mar Lodge. They have
more than 15 years’ experience as a
professional band playing the length
and breadth of the UK. Iron Broo have
graced audiences at many festivals,
including numerous appearances at
T in the Park, Scotland’s biggest festival.
They have travelled around the globe,
both as a band and individually, playing
their fine music.
Iron Broo can cater for weddings
of any size – from providing a solo
accordionist to a four piece band
or more.
Never been to a ceilidh? It doesn’t
matter as Iron Broo will call all the
dances and your guests will love it.
Would you like a tune written for
your loved one? Ask about our tune
writing service.
Visit www.ironbroo.co.uk for live audio
samples, free downloads, reviews and
availability. Book now before it’s
too late!
‘Thank you for the best ceilidh ever!
It really made the wedding perfect and
so many of our non-Scottish friends said
they had never experienced anything
quite like it! The last strip-the-willow was
certainly one of the highlights of the whole
day for us and we’ll always have very
happy memories!’
Steve and Gillian Lunnon
Tel: 07802 861390 Email: charlieabel@ironbroo.co.uk www.ironbroo.co.uk

Make your wedding day complete with our tailored wedding service. Our highly
experienced staff offer personal, practical advice along with an abundance of
fresh ideas, delivering inspirational flowers selected to enhance your special day.
We can cover everything from the church, reception, bridesmaids and,
most importantly, the bride and groom.
Unit 5, Station Square,
Aboyne AB34 5HX
The Secret Garden
Flowers for all occasions ...
Each wedding is a unique occasion and we pride ourselves in taking the time to
ensure that the flowers complement and enhance all aspects of one of the most
important days of your life, helping you to feel happy, relaxed and confident.
Don’t worry if the choice of flowers, themes and colours seems a bit bewildering –
we are here to help translate your ideas and dreams into reality.
Tel & Fax: 01339 886415 Email: sales@secretgardenflorist.biz
www.secretgardenflorist.biz
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Buchanan Food
Honest thoughtful food
We believe if you take a table, surround it with honest suppliers, tend
it with careful cooks, fill it with convivial company and respect the
network that links us all to the soil, you have the essence of good food.
Gathering friends together – whether for weddings, birthdays, business
or just chat – requires good food, relaxed service and reliable producers.
Meet the cooks, taste the food and discuss your event requirements at
our bistro.
Woodend Barn, Burn o’ Bennie, Banchory AB31 5QA
Tel: 01330 826530 Email: bistro@buchananfood.com
www.buchananfood.com
E & M Lees Coaches
Luxury coaches at affordable prices
Family-run business offering
Coach hire, minibus hire, taxi hire, vehicle repairs, tyre changing
8 –16 –33 –49 –53 seater vehicles available
Phone or email Diane for all your wedding transport requirements
Invergarry, Main Road, Lumphanan AB31 4PW
Tel: 01339 883623 / 07766 016946
Email: g.bell100@btinternet.com

Broombank Productions Ltd
Braemar
Wedding & General Photography
With you throughout your special day to record the happy occasion.
To discuss your requirements and to view photographs of
previous weddings at Mar Lodge contact John Macpherson
broombank@btconnect.com or tel 01339 741439
Lamont Sporrans
Specialist in Highland Wear and Accessories
Hire wear tailored to suit.
Bespoke sporrans and outfits individually hand-made.
8 Invercauld Road, Braemar AB35 5YP
Tel: 01339 741404
Email: sales@sporrans.net www.sporrans.net
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Glenshee Ski Centre
Outside Catering Specialists
Well known as Scotland’s premier ski resort, with two cafes and
a restaurant on site, we are equally proud of our outside catering
service which is operational during the summer months.
We offer a professional service and are passionate about Mar Lodge,
a property we know extremely well.
We are very proud of our long association with this unique venue,
where we have catered for over one hundred weddings / events.
So, please contact us with your requirements which we will be
delighted to discuss and fulfil.
Glenshee Ski Centre, Cairnwell, Braemar AB35 5XU
Tel: 01339 741320 Email: aileen@ski-glenshee.co.uk
www.ski-glenshee.co.uk
Braemar Gallery
At the Braemar Gallery we have an
eclectic mix of paintings, etchings, prints,
sculpture, pottery and jewellery. Our aim
is to keep the gallery varied and vibrant,
and enjoy seeking out new and interesting
artists as well as selling more established
names in Scottish Art. We are also able
to offer a wedding list service for couples
getting married at Mar Lodge.
Braemar Gallery,
34 Mar Road, Braemar AB35 5YL
Tel: 01339 741681
Email: info@braemargallery.co.uk
www.braemargallery.co.uk
Allan & Black Coaches
For your special wedding day let us take care of transporting your guests to
and from Mar Lodge. With fifty years’ experience in coach hire we understand
how important it is for your guests to arrive on time, in comfort and style. Our
professional, uniformed and friendly drivers will take good care of your guests. We
also do airport and rail transfers with our various sized coaches and mini coaches.
Please contact: Jane or Carol
Drumduan Depot, Dess, Aboyne AB34 5BN
Tel: 01339 886326 / 07801 294322 • Fax: 01339 886008
info-enq@allanandblackcoaches.co.uk • www.allanandblackcoaches.co.uk

Delicious
Food for any occasion
DelIcIous caterInG is based in Fife. Our goal is to provide the highest
standard of food for any occasion: be it a wedding, a hot or cold buffet,
a barbecue, a champagne reception with canapés, or an elaborate
sit-down feast for 200 people – all budgets and events considered.
Tel: 07811 551085
Email: enquiries@de-licious.co.uk www.de-licious.co.uk
Hay’s Flowers
by Jill Ritchie
We have created flowers for weddings at
many beautiful locations including Mar Lodge,
Castle Fraser, Drumochty, Glen Tanar,
The Milton, Raemoir House Hotel,
Crathes Castle and Maryculter House Hotel.
At Hay’s Flowers personal service is one
thing you can be certain of … contact us
today to discuss your floral needs.
Hay’s Flowers, 5 Beltie Road,
Torphins AB31 4GG
Telephone: 01339 889097
www.haysflowers.co.uk
Neil Fordyce Photography
A place for weddings

Mar Lodge
Our wedding venues
across Scotland
For information on all Trust venues:
Telephone: 0844 493 2111 or
+44 131 243 9555 from outside the UK
Email: weddings@nts.org.uk
Visit: www.nts.org.uk
a place for weddings

How to find us
Mar Lodge Estate is 5 miles west of Braemar and 50 miles south-west
of Aberdeen city centre and Aberdeen International Airport.
By car
Directions from aberdeen city centre
Follow the A93 towards Braemar. Bear right onto Invercauld Road. Bear right onto Mar
Road. Continue onto Linn of Dee Road. Mar Lodge Estate is on your right (signposted).
Directions from edinburgh
Take the M90 north. At junction 11 exit onto the A85 towards Perth/Braemar. At traffic
lights bear right onto the A93 (signposted Blairgowrie/Braemar). Continue on the A93
for Braemar. Sharp left onto Invercauld Road (signposted Braemar). Bear right onto Mar
Road. Continue onto Linn of Dee Road. Mar Lodge Estate is on your right (signposted).
Directions from Glasgow
Take the M80/A80 to Stirling. Join the M9. Continue onto the A9 (signposted Perth).
Continue on the A93 towards Braemar. Sharp left onto Invercauld Road (signposted
Braemar). Bear right onto Mar Road. Continue onto Linn of Dee Road. Mar Lodge
Estate is on your right (signposted).
By bus
Stagecoach Bluebird (No 201) from Aberdeen Bus Station to Braemar. There is no
public transport from Braemar to Mar Lodge Estate.
We are very grateful to the businesses whose advertisements appear in this publication. As a mark of our gratitude we would like to draw the attention of the readers to their details and announcements.
We are required to make it clear however that neither Network UK nor the distributor can accept responsibility for any services or workmanship that they may undertake.
This brochure was produced by Network UK, Communications House, Hillhouse Business Park, Fleetwood Road North, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 4QD
Tel: 01253 820011 Fax: 01253 682201 Email: enquiries@networkuk.net Web: www.networkuk.net www.registerofficeweddings.co.uk
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a place for weddings
Mar Lodge Estate
Estate Office
Mar Lodge
Braemar
Aberdeenshire
AB35 5YJ
Scotland
Telephone: 0844 493 2172 or
+44 1339 741433 from outside the UK
Email: marlodgeweddings@nts.org.uk
Visit: www.nts.org.uk
Team Thomson Photography
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or
Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410