Curious as to why the wedding is on a Wednesday? We thought you might be. The mid-week date allowed us to rent Winton Castle for 48 hours, affording the ability to use the grounds for a welcome event with Highland Games, as well as activities the morning of the wedding. With most guests making this a week-long journey, we hope you’ll sandwich adventures on either side of the wedding (or both!).

 

Curious as to why the wedding is in Scotland? Aye, we thought ye might be. We hoped to host an event that would be Part I of a choose-your-own-adventure series and can't wait to hear how each of you paints this vacation canvas. That, and Scott's been harboring an as-yet-unquenched thirst to don a kilt in the Monteith tartan. 

 

Winton Castle is located about 30 minutes east of the Edinburgh Airport in the countryside town of East Lothian. It was built in 1150 and has a long and storied history you can read in depth here.

 

If Glasgow Airport affords better flight options for you, go for it! It's an easy, one-hour trek to Edinburgh by train, bus or car. Some guests are planning to fly in on Saturday and drive up to the Highlands for a couple of nights before heading back toward Edinburgh. Some will finish the trip by heading to Portugal, Italy, Ireland or Germany. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports offer multiple low-cost carrier options for flights throughout Europe. 

 

For accommodations Tuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 25, we recommend staying:

• In Edinburgh if you'll enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of a new city, will be interested in a nightcap one or both nights, and aren't keen on the idea of a serene, kick-back-and-enjoy-the-quiet-scenery start to your day.

• In a B&B in the greater East Lothian area if you'll enjoy a leisure start to your day, plentiful walking trails, countryside landscape rife with rolling hills and sheep, and quality time chatting with B&B owners/staff. Several guests are staying in the cottages at Overhailes Farm, and others will be taking up residence at Adniston Manor and Tweeddale Arms.

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Keep in mind that you won't be spending too much time in these homesteads. Optional and planned activities will start in the early afternoon both days, so your preference for morning-time activity should best influence your homestead choice.

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Tuesday, July 24: The Welcome Event

We'll kickoff the wedding festivities Tuesday mid-afternoon at Winton Castle with Highland Games. Scaled to (1) prevent injury and (2) accommodate all ages, we'll have a team leading us in hay bale rolling, bagpipe instruction, tossing the caber and tug-of-war. 

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Prior to the Highland Games, we've planned two group activities to get the party started early:

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On-Site Castle Clay Shooting: 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
If your itinerary allows, consider joining us for clay shooting on-site at the castle before the Highland Games. Participants will need to arrive at Winton no later than 2:45 p.m. to participate. A trained instructor will lead our group from 3 p.m.  to 4:30 p.m. Following the shoot, we’ll head over to the walled garden to get ready for the games.

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Nearby Whisky Distillery Tasting/Tour: 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Glenkinchie Distillery receives rave reviews for its educational and “witty” tours, and it’s conveniently located just a 10-minute drive from Winton. The tour runs from 2:30 p.m. to ~ 4 p.m., and there’s a shuttle that departs from Edinburgh at 1:30 p.m. To reserve a spot on the shuttle and the tour, email the distillery and let them know you’re (a) with the Winton Castle wedding party and (b) want the transport/entrance ticket. 

Highland Games: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Highland Games will start at 5 p.m. and last about 90 minutes. While there's no suggested dress code for this event, here are some parameters to work with: jeans are welcome, kilts are encouraged, and participants should plan to wear something they don't mind getting dirty. Some of the games, including hay bale rolling and tossing of the caber, require flexibility, so keep that in mind, too. For guys, this would be a good opportunity to pair a rugby shirt with a kilt. For those on the fence about participating, there are also less physical elements of the games, such as piping instruction and the farmers’ walk.

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Welcome Dinner 6:30 – 9(ish) p.m.
The Monteith family will host a welcome dinner immediately following the games. Weather permitting, the BBQ will take place outside in the walled garden. Come hungry and thirsty!

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To get you home safely and easily, Winton staff will be on standby to help arrange taxi transport home.

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After-Party
For those wanting to hang a little longer, we’ll take a short walk up to Winton Arms pub for a nightcap. Pub staff can help arrange taxi transport home, and your hotel/B&B may also be able to help pre-arrange transportation.

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Wednesday, July 25: The Wedding

The wedding ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. We’ll have a fun transport service—with an international twist—dispatched to pick up guests staying in Edinburgh and East Lothian. The vehicle holds approx. 60 passengers, so get ready to buckle in to a wedding pre-party upon departure! For those staying in Edinburgh, plan to be picked up around 1 p.m. For those in East Lothian, prepare for pick-up around 2 p.m. Exact pick-up times and locations will be confirmed once all accommodations have been secured; stay tuned for more details in early July!

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Now, on to perhaps the most popular wedding-related question of all: What shall I wear?

We want you to wear whatever you'd like to wear, adapting whatever that might be in a manner that plays into the novelty of the setting. Suggested attire is best described as formal. Temperatures will be in the 60s, so ladies will likely be most comfortable in mid- or full-length gowns. Fellas will be in a combination of suits and kilts. 

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Scottish weddings are traditionally full-day affairs that start in the morning. We’ve pared back the typical itinerary in a manner we hope will cater to potentially jet-lagged international travelers, while also affording a true local experience.

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Tentative Wedding Itinerary
3 p.m.: Wedding ceremony
3:30 p.m.: Drinks reception, photos, lawn games
4:30 p.m.: Speeches, toasts and cake cutting (spoiler alert: there will be a sword)
5:15 p.m.: Dinner buffet opens, with vegetarian and meat options
6:45 p.m.: Interactive falconry experience
7:45 p.m.: Band begins
9:30 p.m.: Evening buffet is served
11:30 p.m.: Shuttles depart 

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While in Edinburgh: Lessons from the Scouting Trip

Transportation In and Around Edinburgh
Uber
Ubers are VERY easy to come by in the city. We used it about a half dozen times and never waited more than 2-3 minutes from order to arrival. We used the UberX option and it was very reliable and clean, often with much nicer vehicles than UberX offers in the states.
We took UberX to/from the airport, and each trip cost less than 20 pounds. We also did a test run and took it out to Winton Castle. The Winton trip took 30 minutes and cost 27 pounds. Getting an Uber FROM Winton back to Edinburgh/Haddington was another story. If you take Uber to the castle on Tuesday, the Winton staff can call you a local cab service for the return trip.

Lothian Bus System
We did a test run of taking the bus from Winton back to Edinburgh and had a great experience. There’s a stop just beyond the castle grounds in the charming little town of Pencaitland, making it a convenient option. It arrived at exactly the minute it was supposed to. A one-way trip cost 2.70 pounds, and you have to pay in coins. The bus driver can’t accept cards or cash, which we found out the hard way. 

ScotRail Train
This is a really great train option—in particular, this will be a convenient and cost-effective way to get you between Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as between Edinburgh and Carnoustie for the British Open.
For those staying near Waverly or Prince Street, the Waverly station is extremely convenient. We left our hotel, The Scotsman, at 11:30 a.m. and easily made it in time to catch the 11:45 a.m. train to Glasgow. You’d be best to purchase tickets at one of the kiosks, versus doing so on your phone, as you still need to visit a kiosk to print your tickets (thus creating double work!). The train was fast, spacious and easy, dropping us in the middle of Glasgow just 44 minutes after we boarded. You’re welcome to eat/drink on the train, and they have a cart that rolls through with snacks and beverages, too.

Car Rental (a.k.a. “Car Hire” locally)
If you plan to rent a car, it’s a lot cheaper to do so ahead of time. Smaller cars can be in the neighborhood of 30 pounds a day. Cars with automatic transmission are available, but usually cost a bit more than manuals. We got a small car for a one-day rental, and Scott braved a couple of trips out to the castle. It was, eh, interesting, but the driving-on-the-other-side-thing is a manageable task for adventurous drivers.
 

Dining in Edinburgh
We gave these restaurants a whirl and were exceedingly glad we did. To be safe, make reservations ASAP!

The Witchery
Located on the Royal Mile just a stone’s throw from the Edinburgh Castle, The Witchery has a really cool history and the vibe of its interior more than complements that history — candelabras on every table, illuminating the whole restaurant by candlelight. The wine menu is about 50 pages long and spans every region. The food is unusual. We tried a pumpkin/mushroom dish and something called guinea fowl. Whatever guinea fowl is, it’s delicious.

Angels With Bagpipes
This great restaurant is sandwiched amidst a couple of touristy shops, but don’t let that fool you. This is anything but a tourist trap. Nice menu with generous portion sizes and great wine. Try the haggis; it was fantastically Scottish!

Balmoral Hotel
Worth a stop for a nice cocktail at the upstairs bar or in the downstairs whisky lounge. Beautiful place.

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Activities

Edinburgh Castle
Located at the top of the Royal Mile, this is a must-see. Forewarning: This castle is a far cry from Winton. If you visit here before Tuesday, keep in mind that Winton will look like a Lego-built castle by comparison to this monstrous piece of history!

Day Trip to the Highlands
This tour comes highly recommended if you have a day to spare in Edinburgh! You’ll cram in all of the must-sees, including Loch Ness.

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Elephant House
This one’s for you, Harry Potter fans. Located on Chamber Street, this cafe is where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and, thus, is essentially “where Harry was born.” We were told the food isn’t great, but it’s a good place to grab a coffee and a biscuit if you’re so inclined. 

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Edinburgh Arts Festival 
As it turns out, this is legitimately a big deal. People come from all over the world to experience the festival’s music, art and theatre. This starts July 26, so you’ll catch the beginning of the festival if you’ll be in Edinburgh on the back half of your trip. 
 

While in Dublin: Lessons from the Scouting Trip

AirLink Bus
You can grab an Uber from the airport to the city for about $35. We used the bus system, which was very clean, efficient, available right outside of the airport, and a whopping $7/person. For couples or small groups, we’d recommend the bus option if you’re not super pressed for time.

Jameson Irish Whiskey Tour
They offer several tour times throughout the day, as well as options to taste directly from the cask. Anyone can walk in, and there’s a delicious bar with craft, whisky cocktails. Highly recommend! It’s also just around the corner from the Brazen House Pub, the oldest pub in Ireland that’s loaded with nooks and crannies and several bars. If you’ve been to the Blind Tiger Pub in Charleston, the set-up feels similar.

The Dean Hotel
At the recommendation of some Dublin-dwelling cousins, we stayed at this tiny, boutique hotel and highly recommend it. The staff are wonderful and the top floor is Sophie’s, a wonderful rooftop restaurant/bar. The food was farm-to-table, and the views, wine list and cocktails only sweeten the deal. We stayed till 2 a.m. on a night when we had a 3:45 a.m. wake-up call, if that tells you anything about this place.

Trinity College 
Definitely worth a walk through this beautiful campus. The Book of Kells is worth a stop, too, if you have about 30 minutes.

Cash vs Credit Card in Dublin
We arrived in Dublin without any Euros at hand and managed to carry on well without fanfare. That said, it would make grabbing taxis much easier if you had some Euros in small denominations on you. We paid tabs and admission fees with credit cards, no problem.


Miscellaneous: Lessons from the Scouting Trip

RyanAir
Low-cost, yet reliable, carrier that can get you to just about anywhere in Europe. Great option if you’re planning a quick jaunt to Europe or another British isle. We highly recommend upgrading to priority, as the one-off costs add up very quickly. If you’ve booked RyanAir for any portion of your trip, please remember that you have to check in online at least two hours before take-off and screenshot your boarding pass! This step is not specified in the email confirmation, and failure to complete this part of check-in will set you back 55 Euros per person. We learned that one the hard way. Bygones.

Gin Drinkers, Rejoice!
Gin is wildly popular in both Ireland and Scotland these days. They have tons of “craft” options and the bars have no shortage of fun cocktails. 

Whisky
Whisky, a Scotch-like version of the whiskey/bourbon we’re used to, flows like rainfall in Scotland. Most restaurants and pubs have a hearty whisky selection, and the streets of Edinburgh are packed with whisky tasting rooms. If you like whisky, you’re gonna be one happy camper as soon as you land.

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Beware Pick Pockets
While we didn’t encounter anyone who made us feel suspicious, we were cautioned to beware of pick pocketing at busy/touristy intersections, pubs and the like. Keep your purse close in touristy areas!

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ATM Fees
The fees were pretty stiff (for Wells Fargo customers, about $6 per transaction), so you’re best off trying to consolidate withdrawals.