Fruin Farm, in Helensburgh is one of the venues that I visit most often and I can honestly say it's perfect in any season.
Fruin Farm is a picturesque barn wedding venue, nestled in the Trossachs National Park, just a half an hour drive from Glasgow. Surrounded by gorgeous scenery and only a mile from Loch Lomond, it's the perfect location for a romantic, intimate wedding. My natural, unobtrusive style really suits relaxed and informal weddings, so the rustic, fun celebrations that I have captured here have been a match made in heaven.
Exclusive use
The whole site will be yours for the day, and there is some accommodation in the farmhouse as well as lots of local lodges suitable for guests down at Auchendennan Luxury Self-Catering. The bridal party can get ready at the venue, then simply head downstairs so there is no need to stress about travel or transport in the morning! The bridal suite is a stylish and colourful space with bright, natural light that your make-up artist will love. The large mirrors and pretty decor make this the perfect space to get ready in, upstairs and out of sight.
The perfect backdrop
There are three different options for the ceremony, so you can choose exactly where you would like to get married. You can exchange vows in the 200-year-old barn, with beautiful hanging string lights and stone walls (keeping it cosy in winter and cool in summer!) or inside the farmhouse restaurant, with large windows giving your guests views out over the rolling hills. In good weather you can even tie the knot outside, with a beautiful arch, handmade altar or floral displays - the only limit is your imagination! The whole site has good wheelchair accessibility too. The best part about having both your ceremony and reception at the same location is there is no need to waste time travelling or pay to organise extra transport in between venues.
Set your own timings and running order
Another fantastic element of Fruin Farm weddings is that you can choose exactly how you'd like to structure your day, as non-traditional or standard as you'd like. Wayne and Rebecca specialise in intimate, relaxed and personalised events for a maximum of 60 guests, with great emphasis on bespoke, so will assist you in planning a suitable timeline. If you are planning on heading anywhere else for photographs, such as going down to the shores of Loch Lomond, I can help make recommendations for timings so that you aren't away from your guests for too long. In summer there's the option for golden-hour portraits just before sunset too, which is my favourite time of day!
As I've visited Fruin Farm so many times, I know all the best spots for photographs come rain or shine! Glen and Icarus, the resident llama and alpaca, are very friendly and are happy to join in for pictures too if you wish!
As all the spaces are so pretty, not much decoration is required - in fact simple floral arrangements and log slices with candles are enough to set the tables off beautifully. There are two options for the meal setting, with both the barn and restaurant areas available, depending on your guest number and table layout preference. I recommend all toasts and speeches to be done before dinner, rather than in between courses or at the end. From my experience, the speakers prefer to get their part out of the way and can then enjoy their meal without any nerves, and your photographer/videographer can enjoy a hard-earned break and meal too without worrying that they are going to miss anything.
