CairnGorm Mountain gets civil wedding license.
CairnGorm Mountain, parts of which, including the main restaurant, are located some 1,100 metres above sea level, became the first venue in the Badenoch and Strathspey area, where BBC's Monarch of the Glen series is filmed, to be licensed by Highland Council to stage civil wedding ceremonies. Following a recent change in the law in Scotland, civil wedding ceremonies can now take place in a variety of venues - not just Registrars' Offices - providing the venue up-holds the "dignity of the wedding ceremony".
Under CairnGorm's new license, which has been granted for the next three years, civil weddings can be held in the The Ptarmigan, the UK's highest restaurant, but, in addition, couples can also be married within the Day Lodge and the Base Station at Coire Cas, some 500 metres below. Last year, in its first year of opening, The Ptarmigan was the venue for three wedding receptions, including one religious service, but the new license lifts all restrictions and increases the range of venues that can be used at CairnGorm.
Even the funicular carriages are now available for wedding ceremonies - though one of the conditions of the new license is that they must be stationary and stopped throughout the entire wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, of course, the new bride and groom can be whisked to the top at a speed of 23 miles per hour and onto Cloud Nine thanks to the country's highest and fastest mountain railway!
Commented Heather Galbraith, CairnGorm Mountain's Events Manager: "We are delighted to have become the highest wedding venue in the country and. fortunately, the license has been awarded in plenty of time for our first civil wedding ceremony on 24th June. Three more civil wedding have already been booked and, with enquires flooding in for 2004, it would not be impossible for us to have weddings every Saturday throughout the summer months."
"We have had very positive feedback from those who have already held wedding receptions at The Ptarmigan and everyone has talked about the special atmosphere and the remarkable panoramic views from the top. The new license will certainly encourage CairnGorm Mountain to become established as a popular place for couples to get married and, as a venue, for that "Special Day" it is certainly quite unique."
Enquiries for using The Ptarmigan - on getting married anywhere else at CairnGorm, including the funicular carriages - should be addressed in the first instance to Heather Galbraith.
Weddings at CairnGorm
Ends
Further information from:
Bill Nolan
Tel: 07885 071804
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