Aberdeenshire

Ballater

Mar Lodge Estate

(33)

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Price: £6,000 – £16,710

Guests: 160

Bedrooms: 20

Deals available: 2

Limited-Time Offers & Deals (2)

Description

If you’re looking for a scenic venue in Scotland to hold your wedding then Mar Lodge is the ideal venue for you! At Mar Lodge you’re spoilt for choice - you can choose between exchanging vows in the bright and airy Drawing Room or find the perfect outdoor location. Then choose to dine between the beautiful Craggan Ballroom or the elegant Dining Room - both with exquisite decor. Once dinner is over, you can head to the Stag Ballroom (where 2,500 stag antlers are exhibited, some from the Victorian era!) for some evening festivities. You and your guests are also welcome to take part in some outdoor activities. No matter what you’re searching for, Mar Lodge guarantees you an unforgettable experience.

Message from the team

Name of Wedding Contact: Louise Kelly

Mar Lodge Estate is a unique and magical place, and we'd love to welcome you for the weekend. We offer great flexibility to create your dream wedding. As a local resident, I can offer expert local advice and put you in touch with the best regional suppliers. Mar Lodge Estate is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, a charity dedicated to protecting Scotland’s exceptional nature, beauty and heritage. Income generated from weddings goes back into looking after this beautiful place.

Experience

Year Business Was Established

1995

No. of Weddings Hosted

More than 50

Public Liability Insurance

Yes

No. of People In Team

Overview of Mar Lodge Estate

Wedding Venue Type

Country House / Manor House

Wedding Venue Capacity

Dining Capacity

160

Reception Capacity

190

Wedding Venue Accommodation

No. of Bedrooms

Sleeps No. of People

Bridal Suite

Honeymoon Suite

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

Wedding license

Church within walking distance

Dancefloor available

Wedding Venue Details

Bridal Changing Facilities

Exclusive use

On-site parking

Wedding Catering

External catering permitted

Alcohol license

Cultural Specialists

Other

Pricing for Mar Lodge Estate

Wedding Venue Hire Only

£6,000.00 – £16,710.00

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What's Included?

Exclusive use

Non consumables (e.g. linen, lights etc.)

Day before set up available

Furniture included

Private room(s) included (non-exclusive use)

Wedding coordinator available on the day

Choice of preferred caterers

Couple accommodation included

Guest accommodation included

2026 prices exclusive venue hire: Mar Lodge hire (up to 80 guests) - £6,000 Mar Lodge & Stag Ballroom hire (up to 160 guests) - £8,500 2026 accommodation rates: 5 x apartments sleeping up to 33 guests. May-Sept 3-night stay (Fri-Mon) - £8,210 4-night stay (Mon-Fri) - £8,129 Oct-April (exc. Christmas, New Year & Easter - POA) 3-night stay (Fri-Mon) - £5,975 4-night stay (Mon-Fri) - £5,800

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Reviews (33)

J
Jess and John
16/11/2025
Inimitable Location and Staff 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.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.
P
Phil & Carol
06/11/2025
Dreamy wedding at Linn of QuoichDreamy 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. 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.
M
Mr & Mrs Crowe
25/10/2025
Just how we imagined and more!Just how we imagined and more!
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. 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.
J
James & Tilly
01/10/2025
The Perfect Wedding Venue — Mar Lodge is a Hidden GemThe 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 disco, 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!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 disco, 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!
L
L & R
30/09/2025
Absolute Perfection Absolute Perfection
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. 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
Caitlin & Mat
17/08/2025
Beautiful venue, wonderful staffBeautiful venue, wonderful staff
We got married at the Quioch last week, it was absolutely stunning! Such a peaceful, perfect day, in the most picturesque of settings. Staff were really helpful putting out signs and encouraging anybody walking in the area to avoid our ceremony spot so that we could enjoy our moment. The newly refurbished picnic hut is just lovely, and though we got lucky with the weather we would have been more than happy to have our picnic in there instead of outside.We got married at the Quioch last week, it was absolutely stunning! Such a peaceful, perfect day, in the most picturesque of settings. Staff were really helpful putting out signs and encouraging anybody walking in the area to avoid our ceremony spot so that we could enjoy our moment. The newly refurbished picnic hut is just lovely, and though we got lucky with the weather we would have been more than happy to have our picnic in there instead of outside.
C
Craig & Claire Munro
08/08/2025
Everything we could have hoped forEverything we could have hoped for
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. 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.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. 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
Georgie and Ciaran
04/08/2025
Beautiful highland weddingBeautiful highland wedding
Thank you so much to the lovely staff at Mar Lodge for making our wedding weekend so special and chilled. This venue and the staff are amazing and provide a unique experience for weddings as you have complete freedom as to what you want and get to do with the space! An amazing plus is the number of bedrooms available to hire to really make the most of an amazing location with the closest of your family and friends.Thank you so much to the lovely staff at Mar Lodge for making our wedding weekend so special and chilled. This venue and the staff are amazing and provide a unique experience for weddings as you have complete freedom as to what you want and get to do with the space! An amazing plus is the number of bedrooms available to hire to really make the most of an amazing location with the closest of your family and friends.
M
Michael & Pamela
19/07/2025
We could not have asked for anything more.....We could not have asked for anything 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.xWe 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
O + J
15/07/2025
Wonderful location, wonderful teamWonderful 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 recommendedThe 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

Location & Contact Details for Mar Lodge Estate

Wedding Venue Address

Braemar, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ, Scotland, United Kingdom

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FAQs

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Describe the best wedding that happened at your venue?

Autumn weddings are stunning at Mar Lodge and we had a really special wedding here last October. The bride and her family holidayed at Mar Lodge every year since she was a child, and they were so excited to share this special place with family and friends.

What is your No.1 wedding planning tip for couples?

We’ve got so many beautiful locations on the estate for wedding photography, so I’d suggest going out and having a recce to find your favourite spots. ‘First look’ photos are proving popular and a great way of getting all your photos out of the way before your ceremony so you can spend as much time with your friends and family as possible.

What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?

I love brides that are really into crafting – they create and add lots of wonderful personal touches on the day. We’ve got a cupboard full of bit and bobs from previous weddings which couples are welcome to use and recycle.

Describe your venue in 5 adjectives.

Royal

Historic

Countryside

Scenic

Flexible

Where’s the best photo spot at your venue?

There are so many to choose from, but I really love where the Lui and Dee waters meet. A symbolic place for our wedding couples.

Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at your venue?

We like to treat all our couples and guests as celebrities for the weekend. Mar Lodge was of course built for royalty by the first Duke of Fife and his wife Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter.

What’s your favourite canapé?

It must be haggis from our local, award winner butcher. Haggis bon bon’s with a whisky dipping sauce is the perfect ‘wee taster’ for those who haven’t tried this traditional Scottish dish before... and always goes down a treat!

What’s your favourite midnight treat?

A juicy venison burger! Just don’t tell all the local deer roaming on the estate.

What is your venue's most unique feature?

The Stag Ballroom, a truly unique timber building displays some 2,500 stag antlers dating from the Victorian era. This spacious and flexible event space allows you to create the wedding of your dreams!

What part of your business are you most proud of?

Working in hospitality it goes without saying that we do what we do to see happy, smiling customers. And after every wedding I've had the pleasure of hosting here at Mar Lodge I've had guests tell me that it was the best wedding they've ever been at!

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