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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2023

Last update: September 2025

Located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, 6 miles from Braemar in Royal Deeside, Mar Lodge is a traditional Highland hunting retreat filled with rich wood panelling, antiques, and lots of stag heads! Surrounded by ancient forests, rolling glens, wild rivers, and rugged peaks, Mar Lodge Estate is an idyllic setting for your wedding. Initially built for the Duke and Duchess of Fife (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) in 1895, Mar Lodge is now an exclusive-use venue for up to 160, with self-catering accommodation for up to 45 guests.

Mar Lodge Estate offers lots of flexible spaces for your wedding. Our team will be there to guide and support you, to help you create a bespoke day filled with personal touches and special moments

Choose between the Drawing Room inside Mar Lodge, or an outside location on the estate, for your wedding ceremony. Enjoy a drinks reception in the principal rooms of the house, before sitting down to dinner.

For smaller celebrations with up to 80 guests, the Craggan Room is the perfect space inside the Lodge. Alternatively, the Stag Ballroom offers a flexible and versatile space for weddings and can seat up to 160 guests for your wedding breakfast. With excellent acoustics and a sprung dance floor, you can end the day with a party to remember!

The Lodge contains five apartments offering self-catering accommodation for up to 33 guests. With our bunkhouse accommodation sleeping 12, Mar Lodge Estate can accommodate a total of 45 guests.

By hiring Mar Lodge for your wedding, you’re actively supporting the National Trust for Scotland’s vital conservation work. Your support allows us to continue to conserve and protect beautiful places like Mar Lodge Estate for future generations to enjoy. Thank you!

Located in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen & Deeside, Mar Lodge Estate is a stunning landmark wedding venue, perfect for hosting unforgettable experiences.

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Historic

Ceremony options:

Chapel or temple on-site
Civil ceremony licence
Religious ceremony license

Dining options:

Private catering allowed
Alcohol licence

Evening entertainment:

Marquee available
Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Evening reception facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Wedding coordinator

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Helipad
Pet-friendly
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Reviews for Mar Lodge Estate

Matilda
Matilda Sent on 01/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The Perfect Wedding Venue — Mar Lodge is a Hidden Gem

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding experience at Mar Lodge! From start to finish, the team made our day absolutely magical.

Every detail, from Friday night karaoke to Sunday’s BBQ and Highland Games, was full of laughter, fun, and unforgettable moments. The Lodge is astonishing, and the Stag Ballroom is a really special place to hold a wedding reception— we still can’t quite believe how lucky we were to get married there. This is a truly amazing wedding venue and a hidden gem.

Sophie and Louise and the whole team were incredible — so attentive and helpful throughout the entire weekend, making sure everything ran smoothly and that we felt completely supported. We can’t thank them enough for making our wedding so special!
John
John Sent on 16/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Inimitable Location and Staff

We had our wedding at Mar Lodge Estate in August. The grounds and the house are immaculately cared for. We rented two out of the four of the apartments in the main house; a 2 bedroom for us, and the large, multi-bedroom for our wedding guests. The rooms are spacious and most have bathrooms attached or across the hall. The kitchens have ample space to store food and prepare meals, and the living / dining area is equipped for many people to enjoy a meal or a night in together.
We had our ceremony in Linn of Quoich on Mar Lodge Estate, and were permitted to use Queen Victoria's Cottage for a light lunch. The area is incredible for photographs, and easily walkable from the nearby parking lot.
While the house, the location, and even the weather were fantastic, our wedding would not have gone so smoothly without the involvement of Sophie and Louise. Over our week staying at the lodge, they played the following roles, many of them unexpected, but not unappreciated; tour guide, kilt inspector, bridal attendant, photographer's assistant, steam cleaner, construction supervisor, champagne flute procurer, wedding dress complimenter, and, most appreciated, conversation partner. They had an immeasurable impact not only on our wedding day, but on the experience of each member of our group throughout our entire stay on the property.

If you are considering celebrating your wedding at Mar Lodge, consider no longer. You will have an unforgettable experience.
Carol
Carol Sent on 06/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Dreamy wedding at Linn of Quoich

We chose this place mainly due to our family connection here, but it was also the most affordable option for us as we were already planning on a very small wedding with a separate venue for our reception near our home.

Our theme was of course nature based with lots of greens that fit perfectly into the environment. To make it truly on theme I made my own flower crown, braided our own handfasting ribbon and assembled a box for rings full of dried moss.

It just so happened that the weather on our date was absolutely fantastic - sunny and warm at the end of September (our photographer had an issue with his camera heating up, never had that happen in Scotland before). So the whole day was absolutely magical with sunshine, blooming heather and no wind. Our coordinator from Mar Lodge was Sophie, who did a great job helping us to the location and giving us enough space for the ceremony. She organized a transport in a buggy for two elderly guests who wouldn't have been able to walk up to the ceremony spot. Everyone else made their way up an easy trail from a nearby car park. There were signs posted near the trails asking visitors to be mindful of the ceremony. What we didn't expect though, was that in addition to the walking trails, there should have been signs in the river, too! We had a funny instance of a diver coming all the way down and ending up next to our ceremony in a full wetsuit. We were both quite stunned when we spotted each other, but thankfully the diver made a quiet exit back up the river with no disruptions.

Our ceremony happened just in time for the renovated Victoria picnic lodge to be available as a back up location in case of bad weather (which of course we ended up not needing). But it made for some amazing photography shots.

Truly amazing location and great communication with the venue! We both can't recommend it enough.
Abigail
Abigail Sent on 25/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Getaway for our Wedding Day

We recently had our wedding at Mar Lodge Estate in early October and we are still struggling to find the words to describe how perfect it was! There is so much flexibility within the lodge to map out how you wish your day to go. Ie. Ceremony, drinks and dinner locations. We had a small ceremony and dinner with less than 20 guests attending and we've been showered with compliments on the venue choice ever since.
There are multiple locations within the lodge and across the estate for photo opportunities our only regret was not having a day just to capture them all!
We originally had the intention of an outdoor ceremony and drinks reception but in true Scottish fashion the weather was a little chaotic. On the day of the wedding we relocated the ceremony into the drawing room with the support and guidance of Louise & Sophie. We than had the drinks reception to follow in the same room and main hall. Our wedding dinner was held in the dining room thereafter. There was plenty of room for guests to flow throughout and not feel confined to one area.
Mar Lodge is the perfect location if you are unsure how you wish to decorate for your day, and we kept our own minimal because we truly felt the location did more than enough for us, and the beauty of it spoke for itself.
We cannot begin to describe how thankful we are to Louise & Sophie. They truly kept us sane when having the usual wedding stress and were so attentive on the lead up to the wedding and on our special day. They are so approachable and make you feel like you are their biggest priority, even when they are juggling a hectic wedding season!
We would also like to say just how appreciative we were of the estate staff not directly involved in the wedding. With Storm Amy hitting the area overnight, they worked hard to clear the roads and access to the estate as soon as possible, which allowed our guests to utilise the driveway with the stunning run up to the lodge.
We can safely say we will be taking full advantage of the onsite accommodation in future and visiting the Lodge in the future. It definitely felt like a home away from home.
L
Lynsey Sent on 30/09/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Wedding of our dreams!

We recently got married at the stunning Mar Lodge estate. This was a dream venue for us and Louise, Sophie and all of the team made all our hopes and wishes a reality!! They were excellent to communicate with throughout the whole planning process and tended to our every need. This is a unique venue that will get your guests oooohhh’ing and ahhhhhh’ing all day as they discover its unbelievable beauty.
C
Claire Sent on 08/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Everything we could have hoped for and more..

As soon as we were engaged we knew Mar Lodge, Braemar was a contender. We visited the property first and decided it was the place we wanted to get married. There was no need to visit anywhere else.
We chose a weekend to get married due to being able to have Mar Lodge for 3 nights. It gave us the chance to spend time with our families and friends without having to leave the next day or do everything the same day.
All our guests loved the location and stunning venue of our wedding. Some had visited before so Mar Lodge held special memories.
We cannot thank Louise and Sophie enough for all they did. They were always on hand to answer any questions, liaise with our suppliers and keep everything on time. Nothing was too much for them.
It was important our Dog Monty could be a big part of our wedding and Mar Lodge meant he could be. He was able to spend all day with us and our guests, it meant a lot to us.
We loved being able to use the Public Rooms and Walled Garden to host our family and friends. No matter if the sun is shining or it is pouring rain, the inside and outside spaces is ideal for entertaining.
Mar Lodge is very well priced considering all that is included. There were no hidden costs and excellent value for money. Mar Lodge has a room full of wedding accessories gifted and used by previous couples which we used and appreciated very much.
We used the Estate Grounds and got some of our photographs taken at Linn of Quoich - absolutely breath taking and an absolute must!
We would highly recommend Mar Lodge as a Wedding Venue due to the stunning setting, peaceful surroundings, fantastic accommodation and especially everyone who works at Mar Lodge, they really do go above and beyond to make the weekend memorable.
G
Georgina Sent on 04/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Highland Wedding

Everything at Mar Lodge was perfect for our wedding day! The staff are amazing and so helpful in making the venue exactly how you want and the flexibility offered by the venue is unbelievable - there are absolutely no expectations and you can do whatever you want with the space. A huge plus is the number of bedrooms available to hire for the weekend so you can spend even more time with your closest family and friends.
Michael
Michael Sent on 19/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

We could not have asked for more.......

We genuinely could not have asked for anything more from both Louise and Sophie at Mar Lodge. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel very at home, and yet at the same time, as VIPs, nothing was too much trouble for either of them. All of the attention to detail, help, and support on the day made it a truly memorable day in a magical setting. We would highly recommend to anyone looking to get married in this part of the world to look no further than Mar Lodge. Thanks again, Mr and Mrs McLaughlin.x
O
Oliver Sent on 15/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful location, wonderful team

The lodge, ballroom and area are really very special and the reason we chose to have our wedding at Mar Lodge. We were not disappointed - it was really wonderful and our guests absolutely delighted in the day because it is such a special place. In addition was the team - they were professional, relaxed, flexible and hard-working and really helped us out where they could. Thank you! Highly recommended
Thomas
Thomas Sent on 08/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Experienced staff. Stunning location. Unique venue. Ability to personalise. Seamless.

Beautiful setting. Helpful and kind staff. Extremely experienced wedding organisers. Multi-use spaces. Amazing accommodations. Unique spaces. Top local suppliers.

Key terms which I would use for Mar Lodge and their team. Starting with venue selection.

Louise and her team made viewing extremely easy and clearly laid out the process and pricing for booking. Louise brought the space to life in the walk around and helped build the picture of what a wedding looked like.

Organising. Louise and team were always an email or call away and extremely easy to deal with. They offered helpful prompt about what to do and when. They also offered a slew of ideas for each space using their deep experience and pointed us in the way of first class, professional and well priced suppliers.

The big weekend. Louise and team allowed for access early on in the weekend to allow for required setup and also setup a number of the spaces on our behalf ahead of arrival where possible making life that little bit easier. Across the whole weekend Louise and team were ever present and available to give advice and steer the weekend, it was truly seamless their service and really put us all at ease meaning we could enjoy the day.

Supplier options. Louise and team had a comprehensive list of trusted suppliers who laid the foundation for the weekend (caterers, bands, florists etc.), a number of which were local and tried and tested at the mar lodge space, meaning it was pain free and also high quality!

Bedrooms. The house houses a good number of people (about 45 i believe), all of which are well designed rooms with some apartments more modern than others but all worth the money and comfortable with good sofa beds where needed. Onsite kitchens too enabled guests to have their own space as needed and cook breakfasts. Having everyone onsite really gave the space a unique and connected feel you would struggle to find elsewhere.

The venue space. Mar Lodge is comprised of a number of spaces which each provide something different. We used the billiards room for people chilling and also for an after party. The white room for reception and cake cutting. The dining room for a friday close family meal. The stag ballroom for the main meal and ceilidh. The craggan ballroom for a pub quiz and for BBQ food as it housed people well and was nice to be in another space. Each space brought a different feel and meant you never got tired of your surroundings. Adorable chapel on the grounds. We got married just outside of it and it was the most wonderful place to get married!

Photo spots. There are the most majestic photo spots around the area which allows for the most angelic and ethereal photos. Again Louise and team can help with this.

What the guests thought? "Best wedding I have ever been to"

Don't bother viewing anywhere else.
P
Patrick Sent on 17/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A perfect venue made for a perfect wedding.

Mar Lodge estate is a truly unique wedding venue.

We hired the lodge and all available accommodation for the full weekend and it enabled us to have all our friends and family together for a three day celebration the highlight of which was the wedding and reception in the epic stag ballroom.

I cannot think of any other property so steeped in history where our whole wedding group could feel as at home as we all did.

Whether we were relaxing in the drawing room, playing a game of billiards late at night or having a huge family dinner in the dining room.
The fact we were allowed to live in the oppulant surroundings and truly use the lodge as it was always meant to be used really made the weekend for us.

As if the lodge itself was not enough the estate which surrounds it is so peaceful and the approach through the grounds is nothing short of breathtaking.

The team at Mar Lodge are welcoming, friendly and went over and above to help us make our day exactly what we wanted. Without Sophie and Louise our day simply would not of been possible
Z
Zoe Sent on 24/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A magical wedding location & a wonderful team @ Mar Lodge

A magical wedding location and a wonderful team @ Mar Lodge!
The team at Mar Lodge were amazing from our first enquiries and they made the whole process so easy, with clear communications at every step. They also coordinated with the registrar and photographer, easing the pressure and making the day run along so smoothly. The location is out of this world and truly magical in every sense, whether you decide on the lodge or somewhere in the estate, it will be the best decision you make. Louise and Sophie were wonderful and so helpful, it was such a joy to work with them to make our wedding dreams become a reality. Thank you!!!
G
Genevieve Sent on 12/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful natural venue

We are so happy we chose Mar Lodge for our wedding. It was amazing to have everyone on site through the weekend, with so many different spaces for guests to enjoy. We valued the flexibility to bring in our own suppliers and to DIY parts of the event. It's a gorgeous venue in beautiful surrounds and we loved being able to get married outdoors, in a natural setting, with all the autumn colours. The team at the lodge were responsive and offered us lots of advice on how to realise our vision, including introducing us to local suppliers. On the day, they worked well with and helped to coordinate the various teams (catering, event staff, etc).
Catriona
Catriona Sent on 29/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible Wedding Venue

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend at Mar Lodge, the venue itself is stunning and the staff are all so kind and helpful. We had great weather that allowed our guests to enjoy the views outside during the reception but decided we wanted to have our ceremony indoors to make use of the beautiful Craggan Room. Louise was always available to provide recommendations or to help figure out how to get our day to run as smoothly as possible.
Although being in Braemar meant all our guests had to travel, there was space for the majority of them to stay in the lodge itself as well as other affordable options close by in Braemar. We loved that we have the venue Friday - Monday so there was plenty of time over the weekend to talk to everyone and allowed us to have a more relaxing wedding day.
We would definitely recommend Mar Lodge!
J
Jo & Sent on 22/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

An incredible wedding venue in the Highlands

We had the perfect wedding weekend at Mar Lodge. The Mar Lodge team were incredible and so helpful every step of the way in planning the wedding and especially amazing on the weekend itself. We loved that Mar Lodge is so flexible as a wedding venue to enable you to create your own unique wedding. We absolutely loved the fact we had the whole venue for the weekend and all our friends could stay on the estate. It really felt like there were no hidden costs as the venue comes with all the furniture etc that you need and even has its own store of wedding decorations for anyone to use which was fantastic. We would definitely recommend.
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Mar Lodge Estate Real Weddings

Hanne & Ross
16 photos · 15/04/2023

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Meet the team

Sophie Streether
Sophie Streether
Wedding & Events Coordinator

As the Wedding and Events Coordinator at Mar Lodge Estate, I’m here to help you bring your dream day to life in one of Scotland’s most breathtaking settings. Whether you're planning an intimate elopement or a grand celebration, I’ll guide you through every step of the journey with care, creativity, and attention to detail. From your first enquiry to the final toast, I’m passionate about making your experience at Mar Lodge as seamless and unforgettable as the setting itself.

Preferred suppliers

The Apollos - Scottish Wedding & Ceilidh Band
4.8 out of 5 rating , 1 review
· Music and DJs
Alerion Strings
4.9 out of 5 rating , 2 reviews
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Harry Fraser Catering
5.0 out of 5 rating , 1 review
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By Rhea
5.0 out of 5 rating , 1 review
· Photographers
Hannah K. Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 3 reviews
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Pocket Square Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 15 reviews
· Photographers

Map

Braemar AB35 5YJ Aberdeenshire (Aberdeen & Deeside)
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