A Scottish Wedding Rich in Heritage and Personal Details at Gosford House
Rooted in Scottish heritage and filled with thoughtful personal details, Frances and Fraser's wedding at Gosford House was a celebration that brought together family, tradition and their own story in the most beautiful way.
With its remarkable Robert Adam architecture, historic interiors and magnificent three-story pink marble hall, Gosford House was an extraordinary setting for the occasion. Working with Rosie from Rosie Green Events, the couple brought their vision to life, from the outdoor ceremony and traditional hand-fasting to the carefully curated flowers, bespoke whisky bar and an evening of Scottish music. Every element had been planned with the couple's story in mind.
Frances and Fraser first met on Hinge in New York City, where their first date was coffee in Chelsea. What began in New York soon became a long-distance relationship, with Fraser living in Austin, Texas, before they eventually made a home together in the city. Scotland was a natural choice for their wedding. Fraser was born and raised in Aberdeenshire, while Frances's Scottish heritage was something her late father had always been incredibly proud of. Bringing their families together there felt like a wonderful way to honor both sides of their story. With friends and family traveling from across the US and further afield, they wanted to share a little of Scotland with everyone.
With everyone getting ready at Gosford House, the morning was filled with its own special moments. The men marked the occasion with an obligatory glass of whisky, while Frances enjoyed some quieter time with her mother and twin sister. It was a lovely chance to pause, take everything in and share a few moments together before the celebrations began.
Frances and Fraser were fortunate to have sunshine on their wedding day, allowing them to exchange vows outdoors in the grounds of Gosford House. Guests arrived by coach and were piped toward the ceremony, setting the scene for a day that embraced Scottish traditions from the very beginning. Frances's entrance was one of the most moving moments. She walked down the aisle to the Snake Charmer's version of Amazing Grace, a song that had always been special to her late father, who loved hearing it played on the bagpipes. Frances and Fraser had also listened to this particular version throughout their relationship. It came as a surprise to Fraser, too, and was a fitting tribute to her father, who Frances would have loved to have walking her down the aisle.
The ceremony included a traditional handfasting using Fraser's family tartan. For the couple, it was important to incorporate traditions that reflected Fraser's upbringing and give their American guests the opportunity to experience a little of Scottish wedding culture. The symbolism of the handfasting, with two lives being bound together, made it a particularly lovely addition.
After the ceremony, guests made their way into the magnificent Marble Hall for the drinks reception. Frances remembers walking into the space for the first time and seeing the flowers and greenery against the pink marble. The arrangements brought a softness to the grand interiors, with a natural, garden-inspired feel that complemented the setting. The flowers had been selected with the language of flowers in mind, with individual varieties chosen for their symbolism as well as their appearance. This approach carried through the bouquets and arrangements, adding another connection to the story behind the day.
There was also an unexpected addition to the reception: Tally, a live poet who created individual poems for guests to take home. The idea came from one of Frances and Fraser's favorite early memories in New York. During a spring afternoon in Washington Square Park, they had come across a poet offering spontaneous poems to passersby. After chatting with them, he wrote a poem about falling in love in New York, which they still have framed at home. They wanted to recreate a little of that experience at their wedding, so Tally invited guests to choose someone to dedicate a poem to. Watching her write each one during the reception gave guests something lovely to take home, and brought a small piece of the couple's New York story to Scotland.
As guests were piped into dinner, the Scottish traditions continued with a Quaich ceremony. Often known as the Scottish cup of friendship, the Quaich was a fitting way to mark the coming together of two families and share another part of Fraser's heritage.
The tables and menus were equally well considered, with poems incorporated into the menu cards for guests to discover over dinner. It was one of several details that rewarded a closer look, alongside the carefully selected food, drinks and finishing touches. Food was naturally high on the list of priorities for Frances and Fraser, both enthusiastic food lovers. They worked closely with The Cullinarians to create a bespoke menu, while Drunken Jockeys developed a selection of cocktails for the occasion. One of the favorites was a Fishers Island Lemonade Margarita. The cake was another individual creation: a white chocolate matcha cake, which the couple cut with a sword, adding a little more Scottish tradition to the evening.
One of the most popular spots throughout the evening was The Ramseyer Bar, a whisky lounge designed around Fraser's love of whisky. The couple wanted the space to feel like a cozy, atmospheric lounge, somewhere guests could settle in for a drink and enjoy a little time away from the dance floor. Rosie brought this vision to life with a rich, intimate setting, complete with bespoke napkins and Highland Chocolatier chocolates bearing the F&F wedding monogram.
The whisky selection was chosen with just as much care. Each bottle had a connection to Fraser, including his favorite Japanese whisky, one from a distillery close to his childhood home in Aberdeenshire, and Sassenach Whisky by Sam Heughan, known for his role in Outlander. It was a lovely way to bring something of Fraser's personality into the design, and the bar quickly became a favorite gathering place for guests.
Frances wore the Vera gown by Alon Livné, purchased from Kleinfeld in New York City. Having lived just a block away from the boutique, she had often walked past its windows imagining that one day she might find her wedding dress there. Kleinfeld was her first appointment, and the Vera was actually the first dress she tried on. She immediately fell in love with the fabric and distinctive silhouette, although she did try on a few more before realizing she kept coming back to her original favorite. She then worked with Kleinfeld's tailors to create a custom bolero, making the finished look her own. The combination of the gown and bolero was perfectly suited to Gosford House, with its striking architecture and historic interiors.
As dinner gave way to the evening celebrations, the Marble Hall took on a different atmosphere. Jazz at the piano set the scene before Frances and Fraser shared their first dance to Norah Jones's Come Away With Me. Then came one of the biggest surprises of the night. The Red Hot Chilli Pipers appeared from the top floor of Gosford House, bringing an incredible burst of energy to the celebrations. They led guests out of the house and into a human tunnel of cheering friends and family before Frances and Fraser made their way toward their getaway car. It was quite a finale. and their performance brought the evening to a close in a way that felt entirely fitting for a Scottish wedding.
Looking across the celebrations, what stands out is just how much thought went into the experience, both visually and in the smaller details that guests might not immediately notice. The welcome bags, for example, included Stewart Christie scarves and personalized, hand-poured candles from The Melrose Candle Co., alongside a weekend itinerary for guests traveling from overseas. The wider celebrations included a welcome lunch at The Witchery and an evening reception at the W Lounge, giving friends and family the chance to experience different sides of Edinburgh before the wedding.
Even the flowers had a second purpose. Frances and Fraser arranged for the arrangements to be redistributed to hospices and care homes across East Lothian and Edinburgh the following day. It meant that flowers which had been such a significant part of their wedding could go on to brighten someone else's day, which was a really beautiful and thoughtful gesture.
Bringing everything together from New York was no small undertaking, and Rosie Green Events was instrumental throughout the process. Recommended by Gosford House, Rosie immediately appealed to Frances and Fraser for her design aesthetic, attention to detail and warm, organized approach.The couple had a clear idea of the look and atmosphere they wanted, but needed someone on the ground who understood their vision and knew the right people to help deliver it. Rosie connected them with a team of suppliers, many of whom she had worked with before, and managed the practical details that would have been difficult to coordinate from overseas.
Her involvement extended well beyond supplier meetings and schedules. She stored boxes of wedding items at her own home, worked through floor plans, met with the venue team and coordinated the many moving parts behind the scenes. As Frances explained, whenever a question or challenge came up, Rosie's response was always, "Leave this with me." It was a reassurance that made an enormous difference throughout the planning process.
A visit to Scotland six months before the wedding gave Frances and Fraser the opportunity to meet their suppliers, enjoy food tastings, attend a hair and makeup trial and walk through the wedding day in detail. It was also a chance to refine the final elements and see how all the individual ideas would work together. The result was a wedding that felt polished but never overly formal, with an incredible amount of detail balanced by a relaxed atmosphere. From the family tartan and the music choices to the bespoke menus, whisky selection and live poetry, there was always something to discover, but nothing felt out of place.
When asked to describe the day in three words, Frances chose joyful, sentimental and whimsical, while Fraser's were magical, warmth and elegance.
From the sound of bagpipes across the Gosford House grounds to the final moments of dancing in the Marble Hall, Frances and Fraser's wedding was a wonderful celebration of their families, their Scottish connections and the love they share for each other.
A Scottish Wedding Rich in Heritage and Personal Details at Gosford House Vendors
- Planning and design: Rosie Green Events
- Photography: Katie Julia | Videography: Stories from Eros | Florals: Breige | Venues: Gosford House, The Witchery, W Edinburgh |
- Production and AV: Evallance | Celebrant: Susan, Humankind | Piper and emcee: Skirls Aloud | Ceremony strings: Dolce Strings | Live poet: Tally | Catering and wine: Culinarians | Bars and cocktails: The Drunken Jockeys Cake: Yishi | Chocolates: Highland Chocolatier
- Linen, glassware and crockery: Maison Margaux and Options Greathire | Bridal gown: Alon Livné | Hair and makeup: Jessica Rose |
- Tan: Gwen Juniper Spray Tans | Music: Moon Runners and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers | Welcome gifts: Stewart Christie and the Melrose Candle Co. Transport: Lothian Coaches
