Maggie and Oliver - the most relaxed, lovely, Lunga couple

Maggie and Oliver decided to get married at Lunga on the basis of one phone call. Both based in Singapore, they trusted that this lovely little castle was the perfect place for them to gather together their family and friends from all over the world to celebrate their wedding. If they were nervous about arriving here a couple of days before getting married without ever having been to Lunga, they didn't show it.

On arrival, Oliver described it as beyond their wildest dreams. Beyond their expectations. Beyond everything they could have hoped for. And everyone involved in making their day so special was rewarded with smiles as big as the ocean. All weekend long.

The lovely charlotte from Lotte and Bloom decorated  the fabulous cheesecake, which guests enjoyed with vintage port after dinner and throughout the evening.

We loved all of the details, co-ordinated online from their home in Singapore.

Maggie and Oliver  walked together to where friends and family waited..

..passing the piper and the harpist along the way...

..carrying the loveliest of bouquets that looked like it had just been picked, which is precisely how Maggie wanted it to be.. and precisely how Charlotte made it to be..

And under a tree, with the sun shining on a cloudy day, and a slanty lawn and his and her Lunga tweed chairs and guests casually gathered to watch, and to enjoy and to share in this special special day..

...lovely, lovely Maggie and Oliver got married!!

Have you ever seen such happiness!

I'll be posting Nick Kirk's fabulous photography of the day just as soon as he forwards it to me and food shots of the vegetarian meal in Lunga's lovely ballroom are coming soon on my food blog.

Maggie and Oliver are quite possibly the kindest hearted couple I have ever met. They brought us gifts. They brought us smiles. And they brought us a wonderful collection of friends and family happy to share a lovely lovely celebration. Safe travels, Maggie and Oliver. We hope to hear from you soon!

I promised you a Bohemian Lunga wedding. Here it is.

I was going to describe this wedding to you myself, but Jenny tells her own story so much better. I love her comment: 'it took a lot of effort and planning to create the casual effect we were after'. Never a truer word! Anyway, over to Jenny:

the moments before

'We couldn't believe our luck when we found that Lunga House was available for the date we wanted to hold our wedding.  We had holidayed in the area before and sailed out of Craobh Haven and knew that Lunga would be the perfect location for the wedding.  

I jokingly referred to the theme of wedding as rustic bohemian victoriana and wanted it to be a really laidback and relaxed weekend.  Meg and Les and all the staff at Lunga were so accomodating in every way in helping us create exactly the wedding we wanted.  It actually took a lot of effort and planning to create the casual event we were after and Meg paid close attention to my endless lists of details: she really went above and beyond in making the weekend very special indeed.

I really wanted to get married outside however it was raining in the morning and I assumed we would have it in the house.  When the time for the ceremony was approaching, and if truth be told we were not entirely ready, Meg encouraged me to hold off and sure enough the sun came out and I had the outdoor wedding I'd dreamed of.  My close friends played guitar and sang 'Wild Mountain Thyme' and the guests all joined in as the bridesmaids, my dad and I came in under the ribboned rose trellises into the garden. 

Neil and I were married by Annie Loughlin, the very local and lovely Humanist Celebrant in the centre of a circle of our friends and family.  When we were married my dad piped us through to the middle garden for drinks and delicious canapes.  

The Indian marquee we had hired fitted perfectely onto the top garden area at Lunga and fired torches marked the way to the reception.  The party went on into the small hours and everyone said it was the best wedding ever.  

All our friends still talk about how magical a location Lunga house is and are all desperate for a reason to come back.  We were all able to hang out and relax on the Sunday with a fantastic BBQ in the garden and then a chilled out night in the pub.  

the end

The wedding was perfect in every way and I couldn't recommend Lunga more as a wedding venue - it really is a hidden treasure. 

-- 

There's been a murrrrrrrder!

Great 1920's murder mystery weekend here - mixed in with some absolutely bonkers 'lowland' games. Photo's soon!

The colour purple (well, lilac)..

...was a strong theme at one of our weddings last summer. The bride's mother (Maggie) wore a jacket and hat combination that beautifully matched the dusky lilacs of the bouquets and the button hole.

Flowers from The Flower House in Oban

The next day, when guests enjoyed a birthday barbeque, summer dresses in a multitude of colours were testament to the glorious weather that we enjoyed in June (and July and August and September!!)

From Ms Moore to Mrs Barnes

A very very happy mother of the bride

A food romance!

This quieter time of year is a great opportunity for food thinking. I love menus that are a bit of a visual play on words and like every food related element to have a bit of a wow factor. Obviously at Lunga we have an abundance of local and seasonal produce to play with: Langoustines, scallops, beef, venison. Wild garlic in the spring; organic salads. Home- made desserts. The food we serve here at Lunga is a significant part of anyone's Scottish wedding, so we give it a lot of thought and a lot of love.

We're also mindful that celebration food should be first and foremost about what you want, and the Lunga team work really hard to design menus that reflect your style and your personality. Below, you'll find pictures of some of the food I prepared last year (at a number of venues) - but it's the style and the sense of food that I hope might get you thinking about your own wedding meal. The Lunga kitchen team genuinely enjoy being a part of what will make your celebration so individual.

a cluck of lemon possets

white chocolate and pistachio meringues - back by popular demand!

what my lovely son (Ben) used to call grass

beetroot and seville orange pate

tea smoked salmon, apple and fennel salad wit chicory

lamb cutlet nibbles

A solitary lemon posset with peanut brittle

China cup cakes from The Hidden Lane Tearoom

nibbles

part of a cheese table

smoked salmon blinis and chocolate (not at the same time, of course!)

liquid refreshment and lavender fairy cakes with chive flowers

nibbles

squat lobster with lemon mayo (and a lovely sunset)

beetroot and radish pate

nibbles

a veritable tea set of  china cup cakes

the start of the venison casserole

Scottish anti pasta nibbles