A dream romantic wedding can become reality at the historic Blairquhan Castle, near Straiton, writes Nan Spowart

Imagine a castle that’s fit for a queen with beautiful grounds and luxurious interior. A Castle that sits in the heart of romantic Burns Country in Ayrshire yet is less than an hour away from Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow. Imagine a hidden gem that transports visitors into another world; an exclusive world of luxury, tranquillity and beauty.

Now picture getting married here – sweeping up the drive in the bridal car and stepping out in front of the remarkable Regency building before being escorted to a spectacular saloon with an impressive interior balcony. Such a sophisticated setting would be perfect for the solemn exchange of vows before photographs are taken in gardens landscaped to perfection 200 years ago.

Then imagine sitting down to a sumptuous meal made from delicious local produce by a talented chef working exclusively for you on your big day.

It may sound like a dream but a romantic wedding like this can become reality at the historic Blairquhan Castle, near Straiton, in Ayrshire. Voted by the Independent newspaper as one of the best places in the world to get married, Blairquhan is also a spectacular location for private parties, gala dinners and corporate events, and indeed has just been awarded Five Star status by VisitScotland in the Exclusive Use Venue category.

A perfect harmony of old and new, Blairquhan feels far away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Those who have chosen it as a venue have not been disappointed.

A recent comment on TripAdvisor reads: “We had the pleasure of hosting our wedding at Blairquhan. Having only planned to get married earlier this year; the organisation needed to be done in a few months. The event planners (Anne and Tracey) were fantastic. They bent over backward to accommodate our every need; before, during and after the event. The estate is just gorgeous. The Castle rooms are beautifully renovated and make you feel like royalty. We had the Castle for the whole weekend and from the minute we arrived, the staff were amazing. Martin made everyone so welcome and kept the kids occupied whilst last minute preparations were being made. The food throughout was amazing. Calum the chef produced a feast for our guests and accommodated all our requirements. It was a truly magnificent weekend and one that I will cherish forever. I can't recommend this place enough. I'm already thinking about renewing my wedding vows just to get back there!”

Boasting four stunning function suites with a maximum capacity of 100 for banqueting style, there are also 15 individually designed luxurious bedrooms within the Castle, some of them featuring 200-year-old original four-poster beds. The rest of the interior is equally impressive, with period furniture sitting alongside modern items that have been installed using great attention to detail.

The Castle may be steeped in history but it also features modern amenities in all the bedrooms to offer your guests a more sumptuous experience. These include complimentary WiFi, luxurious Egyptian cotton linen, extremely comfortable mattresses, tea and coffee making facilities, fluffy towels and L’Occitane toiletries in all bathrooms.

In addition there are eight self-catering holiday cottages on the estate adjacent to the Castle. These offer extra accommodation for larger parties taking over the castle exclusively, or they can be rented as standalone holiday lets.

Visitors can enjoy the beautifully landscaped gardens and stroll along the walking routes within the estate – the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

The gardens and Castle are fit for royalty and indeed were the setting for the Oscar winning movie, The Queen, which was filmed at the location in 2005, starring Helen Mirren. The Castle’s Blue Room was renamed the Queen’s Room in tribute to the production.

Blairquhan will be exhibiting at the SECC wedding show on October 17 and 18, and is hosting an in-house wedding open day on Sunday, November 1, between 1pm and 4pm. There is free entry to the wedding open day and complimentary fizz and canapes on arrival. With the whole castle be set up for weddings, and local suppliers exhibiting, it is a great opportunity to see the facilities and talk to the in-house wedding co-ordinators and suppliers about your dream wedding.