Tie the Knot Scotland December 2024-January 2025

What does luxury mean to you? For some, it could simply be opting for the vino with the highest price on the supermarket shelf. For others, it may mean booking a first-class trip to a bucket-list destination. Luxury is a word often associated with weddings, and like everything else, is a subjective term. But, when you delve into what Scotland has to offer, it’s clear you can push the boat out when it comes to your big day. First up: the locations – read about gilded stately homes and opulent five-star resorts in The Luxe List: Venues (p.81). We sampled a taste of the high life ourselves by visiting an exclusive-use Highland castle (p.98), an upmarket Edinburgh landmark (p.102) and three incredible Scottish spas (p.14). No matter where you wed, you…

You want an amazing wedding – but what are you meant to do when you’re caught between the pressure to do it for the ’gram and the pressure of soaring costs combined with static salaries? You get savvy, that’s what you do. Compare the price of the average UK wedding (£21,000 last year, according to planning website Hitched) with the average UK salary (£28,000 in 2024, according to the latest government data) and you might be wondering how anyone can afford a mortgage, bills and everyday life before you throw in the cost of everything from canapés to content creators. Let’s be honest: weddings are an expensive business. But that’s not the end of the story. With a few cost-savvy swaps, tips from insiders and ideas for how to make your…

If you’ve some pennies left after you’ve secured the big hitters, you might be in the market for something to add a final sprinkling of magic to your day. From dressing services to margarita bars, live painters to lighting up the sky with fireworks, here are ten brilliant ways to give your celebrations an extra-special touch. 1 Content creator The best part of waking up after a big party is the joy of going through footage of the antics of the night before, isn’t it? Well, now you can do that on the first morning of your married life, thanks to Scotland’s amazing content creators. Many of them promise to get high-quality iPhone footage of your day to you within 24 hours, so you’ll be able to laugh and cry…

The scene is set from the second you enter the spa: as I sip my ginger wellness shot while filling in the consultation form, the fragrance of essential oils hits my nostrils and I feel my stresses being plucked away one by one. If I am this chilled before I’ve even begun my treatment, I can tell I’m in for a luxurious time at this spa escape. The facilities This is the only Kohler Waters Spa outside of the US, and just like there, it promises that “water flows through every element of your experience”. That means a beautiful relaxation pool, a stunning hydrotherapy suite, a recently renovated sauna, a steam room, ‘experience showers’ and a cold plunge pool. Just a few months ago, the spa unveiled yet another incredible…

The spa at the heart of Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort is back – and it’s better than ever. The five-star Bishopton resort has only recently completed a thorough revamp of the leisure suite, part of a multi-million-pound redevelopment project to modernise and elevate the hospitality experience across the resort. My visit shows me much of what’s on offer – and it’s genuinely impressive. The facilities The leisure facilities have been meticulously overhauled and redesigned and now incorporate a multifunctional open-plan gym, alongside a 20-metre swimming pool (complete with chic recliners), two saunas, two steam rooms and an outdoor thermal suite. With an afternoon of relaxation to look forward to, I stow my belongings in a keycard locker, slip into a plush white robe and complimentary slippers, and pad…

Fletcher’s Cottage Spa can be found in a tranquil walled garden on the spectacular Archerfield Estate – and, after spending one blissful autumn morning there, it’s what I now imagine heaven might look like. The facilities Get your fluffy robe and slippers on, put your feet up and bask in the warmth of a log-burning stove while you sip herbal tea (or prosecco) in the rustic and colourful ranchchic Relax Room. All spa guests have access to the Marine steam room, the Lavender sauna and the Sensation Shower thermal experiences, while the pretty zen-filled therapy rooms (including one especially for couples), are where the magical treatments happen. The treatments Fletcher’s Cottage partners with luxury brands such as Voya, Beatitude and Bamford Organics, all of which share its holistic approach to…