Weddings are always special at Loch Melfort Hotel, but Ella and Frazer’s day was one of those occasions that stays with you long after the confetti has settled. Their story, full of unexpected twists, serendipity, and love, is one we just couldn’t resist sharing.
Finding their perfect venue in Argyll
Sometimes, the best plans take a detour. After a hiccup with their original venue, Ella and Frazer found themselves searching for a new location. On a friend’s recommendation, they visited us here at Loch Melfort Hotel, nestled along Scotland’s west coast, just 30-minutes south of Oban.
The couple made plans to pay us a visit, and our team gave them a tour, highlighting their favourite hotel wedding spaces and couple’s suite (complete with uninterrupted sea-views). The grounds, the relaxed, family-run atmosphere, and the unmistakable charm of Scotland’s west coast made them feel right at home. And, of course, our much-loved Highland coos sealed the deal.
Bringing their Scotland wedding vision to life
From the start, Ella and Frazer’s wedding was a true collaboration. While they wanted traditional wedding touches, they also wanted their personalities to shine through. We worked closely with them to ensure every detail reflected their style and story.
They chose Kayleigh Scott Photography, a local Argyll wedding photographer (very familiar with Oban) known for her relaxed, adventurous style. Kayleigh’s approach was perfect for capturing the heartfelt moments of the day, from candid laughter to the natural backdrop. It wouldn’t have been a Scottish wedding without a little drizzle, but the spots of rain didn’t put anyone off heading outside to capture the day.
Ella and Frazer headed off down the path with Kayleigh to pose for some dramatic photographs along the coastline, before making their way to Arduaine Gardens. Our neighbouring NTS gardens are peaceful and romantic and the outdoor setting just seemed to compliment the couple’s themes, providing a sense of exciting unpredictability.
Decorations, table settings, their showstopping cake stand, purple cake, and even their wedding attire were tailored to tell their story. We loved their Lord of the Rings-inspired ‘Middle Earth’ seating map, and we’ve never seen a more unique guestbook, asking guests to make figures of themselves out of Lego (and let’s not forget the miniature framed photos in Ella’s bouquet!). The couple also opted for a signature cocktail, a passionfruit mojito, which was popular with all of their guests and kept our bar team busy all night long!
One of the most touching aspects of the day was the couple’s decision to gift Macmillan pins as wedding favours, a heartfelt tribute to Frazer’s mum. It was a small but powerful gesture that reminded everyone of the love and thoughtfulness behind the day.
The Loch Melfort team worked closely with the couple to bring every detail to life, ensuring their big day felt entirely their own.
An Oban wedding day to remember
As the big day arrived, the hotel buzzed with excitement as we welcomed the couples’ guests. After the ceremony, the newlyweds walked out to “Canter” by Gerry Cinnamon (which the whole team loved!). It was a great, high-energy moment that really set the tone for the rest of the day.
Perhaps one of the best, and most unique, ice-breakers we’ve had at a wedding, was their pub quiz. This was a great way to get everyone involved and chatting and added to the relaxed atmosphere of the afternoon.
Ella and Frazer chose Three Card Trick, a lively Scottish band known for their energetic mix of classic rock, indie, and dancefloor anthems. Brothers Gary and Dean brought infectious energy, filling the wedding with music that had everyone on their feet. For a band that started as an “anti-wedding band,” they’ve certainly mastered the art of creating unforgettable moments.
After dancing the night away, breakfast in bed the next morning looking out to the isles across the sea was a welcome treat, and the perfect way to start married life together.
Why Loch Melfort Hotel?
Hosting Ella and Frazer’s wedding was a privilege for the Loch Melfort team, it’s days like these that remind us why we love what we do. Loch Melfort isn’t just a hotel, for a lot of our guests, it’s a place where memories are made and (we’d like to think) couples can feel at home.
Whether you’re searching for the best wedding venues in Oban, planning romantic things to do in Oban and Argyll or even looking for places to propose in Scotland, our little slice of paradise might just be the perfect spot. Our dedicated Wedding Page provides more details around our catering options, ceremony rooms, and fun alternative wedding extras (one of our unique couples even arrived by tractor!).
For Ella and Frazer, their journey to the aisle might not have gone as originally planned, but their day at Loch Melfort Hotel was (hopefully) everything they could have dreamed of. Ella told us,
“We could not be happier with our perfect wedding day at Loch Melfort Hotel. After a nightmare with the previous venue, Calum, Sam and the team came to the rescue with 4 months to spare! From the moment we first arrived at the hotel on a drizzly Sunday in May, we knew it was the place, our place. Everyone was just so incredibly accommodating, we felt like everyone really cared about us, nothing was too much bother and they just wanted to do everything they could to make our day perfect.
We also loved seeing how much all the staff enjoyed the day, laughing and crying with us, you were all truly an extension of our friends and family. It was everything we could have ever wanted out of our perfect Scottish wedding day, with the stunning landscapes, the gardens, the amazing staff, the food (I’d need an entire blog post just to talk about everything we loved about the amazing food!) and of course the coos!”
