Location, location, location is the key to your perfect day
A LUXURY HOTEL or a grand museum? On a boat, or in a castle?
Where to get married is one of the most important decisions for the bride and groom.
Whether you are looking for simple elegance or something completely different, Scotland is full of romantic locations.
No wonder celebrities such as Madonna and Guy Ritchie, footballer Robbie Fowler and fashion designer Stella McCartney came here to get married.
One of the most magical destinations is the Mackintosh showcase, House for an Art Lover, in Bellahouston Park, below.
It opened to the public in 1996 and makes a beautiful wedding backdrop, complete with lush parklands and magnificent Victorian walled gardens.
The House is licensed for both civil and religious ceremonies, and its impressive suite of Mackintosh rooms means couples can host their entire day there, from ceremony to meal and reception.
The venue can accommodate up to 110 guests for a seated dinner and can hold evening receptions for up to 140 guests.
Call 0141 353 4770 for more details.
If you really want to do something out of the ordinary, you could consider The Falkirk Wheel.
Tying the knot at the world's first and only rotating boat lift would certainly add sparkle to your big day.
Guests can enjoy a relaxing trip along the canal before raising a glass of champagne to the happy couple, who say their vows as the Wheel gently turns and lowers the boat 115ft into the water below.
The visitor centre, with its magnificent glass frontage, caters for up to 300 people and provides a stunning reception venue.
To find out more contact Leigh Brookes on 01324 676905 or email venue@thefalkirkwheel.co.uk.
One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow is used to welcoming famous guests such as George Clooney, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue.
Made up of four elegant Victorian town houses at the heart of the city's bohemian West End, the hotel still has all of its original opulent features - fireplaces, wood panelling, dramatic stained glass windows and sweeping staircases.
It is famed for its stylish interior, and also has a civil licence and wedding ceremonies can be carried out there.
Elegant private dining rooms, sumptuous drawing-rooms and a pretty secret garden make for a memorable reception and, for the wedding night, each of the individually style bedrooms offers the last word in romance.
You could even plump for one of Scotland's largest and most luxurious rooms - the £1000 per night Mews Suite.
If you are a bit of a Scottish history lover, you could think about tying the knot in the Main Hall of the Royal Museum, or the Boardrooms of The Museum of Scotland, which are both in Edinburgh.
The Main Hall is usually used for larger weddings of 120 plus and is once of the most dramatic spaces in the city for wedding ceremonies and receptions. The ground floor and encircling balconies offer a gracious setting for photos, drinks, dinner and dancing.
The boardrooms are perfect for smaller weddings - up to 50 guests - and they have access to a private roof terrace for drinks and photos, as well as views up to the castle.
One of Scotland's leading restaurants has recently expanded its premises, creating the perfect setting for a wedding reception.
Brian Maule, head chef and proprietor of Chardon d'Or in Glasgow, has extended his business offering to include private dining facilities.
The three separate event rooms and the main restaurant can be separated or opened up depending on requirements.
For parties of more than 100, the main restaurant is used, whileparties of fewer than 70 are catered for in the event rooms downstairs.
For further information or to make a reservation, contact Chardon d'Or on 0141 248 3801 or visit www.brianmaule.com.
Settings rarely get more romantic in Scotland than on the banks of one of the country's beautiful lochs - which is why The Four Seasons Hotel in St Fillans is a beautiful choice for a wedding.
On the shores of Loch Earn, The Four Seasons Hotel enjoys picture windows in most rooms and four-poster beds. Visit wwww.the
fourseasonshotel.co.uk or call 01764 685 333 for more details.
The four-star Beardmore Hotel in Clydebank is also a popular wedding venue and it has recently created new outdoor gazebos in its grounds for use between May and September.
Kirsten Orr, one of the hotel's wedding co-ordinators, explains: "Outdoor weddings are on the increase and the gazebos mean you can be under cover but still enjoy the views of the River Clyde."
For more information, call 0141 951 6000 or visit http://www.thebeardmore.com/
Getting married in a castle is most people's idea of a truly romantic Scottish wedding, and there are many to choose from.
Eilean Donan, just outside Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast, is the most photographed castle in the country, while Duns in the Borders, where Robbie Fowler got married, is a real fairytale setting.
The National Trust for Scotland can help you decide - contact them on 0131 243 9405 or visit www.nts.org.uk/functions
And if you like the idea of tying the knot in Scotland's first castle of the 21st Century, have a look at Glenskirlie House Restaurant in Banknock, The company has revealed its plans to build a castle - complete with two luxurious bridal suites.
Colin Macaloney, Glenskirlie's general manager, describes the plans for the new 15-bedroom hotel and wedding function suite as "innovative and exciting" and a major bonus for the area's tourism industry. The castle is likely to open in early summer of 2007.
The current Glenskirlie building houses a 64-seat fine dining restaurant, a bar and a purpose-built function suite which hosts more than 130 weddings a year.
For further details, call 01324 840201 or visit www.glenskirliehouse.com
Edinburgh's iconic Point Hotel led the way in hotel design when it opened in 1995 and is making its mark as a top one-stop wedding venue.
The hotel's stylish Penthouse Suite on the fifth floor is now a registered venue for religious and civil weddings and an ideal venue for couples looking to break with tradition and tie the knot in unusual surroundings.
Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows that span two sides of the room the suite has views over Edinburgh and a spacious terrace, which provides a magical backdrop on a warm summers' day for champagne and canapés. For more information call 0131 221 5417.
Lanarkshire, too, has much to offer in terms of romantic and unusual wedding venues.
From the granduer of Chatelherault in Hamilton and the historic ruins of Bothwell Castle to the lush rolling countryside of Lanark, there is a venue to suit all tastes.
