Every year we update our comprehensive wedding literature, and send this to all future clients via email. As is our custom, we always have a covering letter, so here we are for 2021:
Dear (individual names of clients),
We are absolutely delighted to send you our brand new 2021 wedding literature, this is now published on our website.
Since the first Lockdown in March 2020 our Special Events wedding planning team have managed all ongoing circumstances via what is now a quite incredible 29 evolved phases of Policy, doing our absolute best for every single wedding client. As we are sure you can appreciate, couples with intended wedding dates have found themselves unexpectedly immersed in very significant and emotional challenges. In some circumstances we have seen clients change dates four times, but in nearly every single circumstance, dates have remained booked at Balbirnie House.
Ongoing Policy updates via: Travel Information: COVID-19
We continue to await all new Scotland government updates, and in the meantime we note the breaking news, that in New York weddings will be able to commence for 150 guests 15th March 2021 on proviso Covid-free test results can be evidenced.
I can certainly say that the ongoing work from those in our wedding planning department, has been the single most profound effort in Hospitality, that I have ever seen at Balbirnie House since I started here back in 1992. Statistically, and I am absolutely staggered to relay this information, we have only lost 12 wedding bookings, in the main as they were booked from overseas. And as of today from March 2021 onwards, we now have diarised bookings for a quite incredible 287 weddings. We cannot wait to resume normal unrestricted trading, and we can’t even begin to imagine the future joy we will see at Balbirnie House. On behalf of our entire brigade, our heartfelt thanks to every single client who has postponed bookings, and continued to hold dates. This has in itself, helped to secure the very future of Balbirnie House.
In summer 2020 we were unable to carry out our usual level of ongoing bedroom and bathroom refurbishments, this has always been an ongoing process of continual reinvestment. We are delighted to confirm today, that we have already re-carpeted many bedrooms, and we’re currently in progress with 7 complete bedroom and bathroom refurbishments. This will enable us to have all bedrooms available for guest use as soon as the works have completed, and for the house itself to be presented to its best level in history.
Behind-the-scenes we are also underway with more significant investment in the form of the installation of Fire Suppression systems in all four of our kitchens. This is very obviously increasing the safeguarding of Balbirnie House itself, as a Grade A Listed 1777 national treasure.
As is always the case each year, and as per all previous literature, our company directors require to consider the generalities of inflation each year, across our span of national inflation, rises in national wage levels, and increases across our network of 45 suppliers. This year we are factoring the generality of a 1.5% rise. Additionally, we are applying a small increase to the special rates we offer for wedding accommodation.
In terms of menus, this year we have new alignment for main menus, as either Colourful, Classic, Contemporary, Scotland in Summer, and Remarkable Scotland.
Please also note, given the success of the 2019 summer May to September Evening Buffet BBQ season, we have reduced that pricing further, to endeavour to make this aspect even more popular in 2021.
Our wedding literature has now grown to circa 25,000 words, noted this is before we even embark on our client-specific journey.
This year, we have a section about our ‘by invitation’ 5 years of evolution with the Haute Grandeur global hotel awards, leading to receiving the 2019 global award for ‘Best Destination Wedding Hotel’, and 2020 global awards for ‘Best Country House Hotel’, and ‘Best Function Venue’.
(Image via Rob Thomson/ Lifetime Photography)
Take an ultra HDR drone, and fly it around filming inside Balbirnie House for the first time? Correct! Please do feel free to pass this link onwards to your wedding guests:
Since re-opening 6th July 2020 into restricted trading, our brigade has been on a quite remarkable and epic journey in hospitality, completely re-inventing many aspects of what we do. We have evolved though Bistro al Fresco, to ‘Food in the Woods’ in our Millennium Ballroom, to North Courtyard ‘refreshment zone’, and on 27th December 2020 we initiated with Pre-Order Takeaways via App. It has been frankly quite unbelievable and profoundly humbling to see the level of sustained local support on an ongoing basis.
It’s certainly the case that many aspects of our new introductions will translate into how we can deliver for future weddings. As an example, Scotland’s first cashless hotel with wedding guests ordering drinks (should they wish to do so), via App! Well, bring on the celebrations, we cannot wait to welcome you to Balbirnie House for your wedding day.
With our kindest regards, heartfelt thanks, and all best wishes for the future,
Nicholas Russell
MD / Balbirnie House
