Monday 14 February 2011

If the answer is YES..


If the question gets popped and the answer is... YES 
..and you're feeling wildly romantic and looking for a venue that will make your heart thump and would like lovely people to look after you and make your guests feel that there is nowhere more beautiful on this earth and that your wedding was the best wedding EVER, perhaps you might like to consider Lunga Castle.

Photography from the fabulous Elemental Weddings

You're welcome to contact me at any time - I was recently described as virtual valium as one particular bride's planning progressed!

carole@fitzgerald.co.uk
www.lungaweddings.co.uk
A wildly romantic Scottish wedding venue in a little castle by the sea.

Saturday 12 February 2011

When Zoe and Adrian got married...

...photographer Andy Taylor spent a lot of time wandering the grounds prior to the big day. He very much wanted to get a real sense of Lunga and took the time to explore beyond the castle itself. The grounds and the surrounding area are stunning, making a perfect backdrop for photographs that will last a lifetime. 

After the wedding, Andy was able to whisk them off to some off-track locations to enjoy some alone time (well, alone - plus photographer!). Both Adrian and Zoe found this very calming after the excited build up to the big day, and I think it's really nice to be able to snatch time alone. Just for a little while.



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
Gorgeous lovely beautiful day...

...here at Lunga.

Cormac flew into Scotland from America, via Dublin, for a  whistle-stop tour of Lunga. Thankfully,  the sun shone bright and we are delighted that he and Laura are going to me married here this summer. Cormac is Irish, Laura is Scottish, they work in America and we are going to have a lottttt of fun!

Cormac's whistetop tour!



Matt and Lisa came back with their mum's for a second look and are hoping to get married here next year. They are absolutely lovely together and we were able to explore the grounds and the cottage on what felt like a warm spring day (until the sun slid behind a cloud and we were reminded that winter hasn't left these parts just yet!


Matt and Lisa
Then we all had tea and cake. Yaay!

Heart shaped empire biscuits with a cherry on the top!





Thursday 10 February 2011

Valentine's day is nearly here!


Tuesday 8 February 2011

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

Lovely day. Lovely people. Lovely Lunga!

I often think of the wedding guests and visitors that travel here to Lunga. They're coming to a little castle, on a hill, looking down to the Lochs and Isles. Sometimes, they might think that we're a bit of a journey away - two and a half hours from Glasgow. Up a track. West.

But what an adventure they're about to have. Up and over the Rest and Be Thankful; Loch Lomond - side, Long Long-side, Loch Fyne-side; Mountains and glens. Awe inspiring views that will take your breath away, no matter the weather and whatever the season. Big peaks and little peaks and a Scotland that makes your heart thump. And thump. And thump.

And then you reach the track that leads to Lunga, turning first off the main road where the road is signposted Craobh Haven. We pronounce it Croove Haven. The track starts just before the road reaches the marina and I wanted to show you the view recently as we started to climb high towards Lunga. Because if you get married at Lunga, this is what your guests will see as part of the journey that brings them here.

Yesterday we had blue sky and clouds that changed the shape of the water; the view pinpointed the little pier jutting out into the Sound; our bevy of  of Highland beauties lined up to greet arrivals new and old. The day was warm. Maybe spring is just around the corner. And then your guests will come inside, where the fires will be blazing and they can read or browse, or plan long walks and eat and sleep.

For me, the journey to Lunga is special beyond imagination. Encourage your guests not to rush; to take their time; to enjoy. They are entering Lunga time, remember. And if you are visiting us for the first time, perhaps like the lovely lovely couple yesterday, and maybe thinking about choosing Lunga castle as your very special wedding venue, I hope you agree that the journey is simply stunning.

looking down to the pier

A lovely couple came to visit

a bit of history

making sure you're never bored

cosy inside

meaters and greeters

The view from the track to Lunga

Historic references

for the quiet times

Lovely lovely people come to Lunga