IT’S YOUR WEDDING,
​YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY!

You’re looking for that private off-the-beaten-track spectacular location…

Here at the Dougarie Boathouse, you’ll find not just spectacular views but also an exclusive use venue offering you complete privacy with an intimate feel. You and your guests can totally relax and enjoy the day knowing you are our only priority. We’re focused on being flexible so you can tailor your day in your own unique way. From the table layouts and seating to the decor and floristry, we can recommend local suppliers or you can bring your own. Every aspect of your wonderful wedding day starts with great ideas and then adding a dash or two of those extra special details, candles, seating plans, and music. Our motivation is to help you create the most magical day that both you and your guests will remember for a lifetime.

The beautiful Boathouse allows for seating of up to 80 guests. The magical fairy-lit vaulted wooden ceiling beams are a magnificent and truly unique setting to exchange your vows, followed by dinner and dancing into the night.

At the Dougarie Boathouse, the stunning views are only part of what we guarantee. Let us help you create the Wedding of your dreams

It’s really as simple as downloading a guide and then arranging a call with us!

Download The Guide

As Featured In

VENUE ONLY

The Dougarie Boathouse

Your venue to use as you wish

We pride ourselves on giving you the flexibility and freedom to host your wedding day exactly the way you want it. So, if you choose to book the venue-only option, we can recommend some truly innovative, fantastic local suppliers, from food to flowers and of course, that all-important music. You can of course choose to source your own.

You are free to choose and design the layout of the seating, and the table settings and decorate the Boathouse in any way you wish.

If you select one of our complete packages, we have our own trusted team who we’ve been working with at the Dougarie Estate for many years.

The only supplier we do require that you use from our list is The Boathouse Bar Company. They are able to provide a pay bar (if you’d like one) and/or for serving your own drinks, for safety, legal, and licensing reasons.

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“We were able to put our own stamp on it, use our own suppliers,

The support and help we received were second to none, nothing was too much trouble, from Joel the Barman and his staff to our Celebrant Sarah !! We loved the fact we had exclusive use of The Boathouse, we were able to put our own stamp on it, use our own suppliers, and decorate to our taste, not that the venue needed anything less is more in this case”

Aileen & Robert
LEAVE IT ALL UP TO US

FOOD AND DRINK,

The best celebrations have these too

For whatever reason, you may not want to be involved in arranging this yourself. So there is the option for you to leave it all up to us and choose from one of our complete packages.

Whether it’s canapes and simple sharing boards or a three-course sit-down meal, rest assured it will be delicious; we can provide you with a choice of moreish menu options to satisfy you and your guests’ taste buds.

Drinks can be served to your guests by our waiting staff, with or without Canapés, whilst you meet, greet and mingle and enjoy the celebrations.

If you have something particular in mind then do arrange a call with us to discuss it.

Remember it’s all about you and your dream day.

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“A fantastic package service that includes everything

and is made even better by keeping it local and supporting islanders within this. I simply cannot thank the team enough. You are truly wonderful and I am so sad the wedding preparations are complete!”

Fiona & Steve Robbins

Our packages

1

VENUE ONLY

Full and exclusive use of the Dougarie Boathouse for your wedding, celebration, event, or party. You can arrange to use the Boathouse with your own suppliers if you wish.

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2

THE IORSA OPTION

Full and exclusive use of the Dougarie Boathouse for your wedding, with sharing boards & buffet-style options arranged by us. Also includes a celebrant, photographer & piper

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3

THE HAMILTON OPTION

Full and exclusive use of the Dougarie Boathouse for your wedding, with sharing boards & buffet-style options arranged by us. Also includes a celebrant, photographer & piper

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4

THE WINTER OPTION

Full and exclusive use of the Dougarie Boathouse for your wedding, with a 3-course meal. Stay on the Dougarie Estate Monday – Friday, up to 30 guests.

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5

THE ELOPEMENT OPTION

Stay for 2 nights on the estate and elope to your chosen spot on the Dougarie Estate with all coordination, celebrant, piper and champagne included.

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Client Love…

 “The venue itself was just as stunning as when we first fell in love with it back in September 2021. The Boathouse Beauty & charm speaks for itself as does the scenery! 

We can’t deny the weather makes all the difference with endless photograph possibilities outside and if you are lucky the odd seal will make an appearance..”

Aileen & Robert

No, you are very welcome to arrange your own. However, the ones we suggest are suppliers that we have seen at work before and who know the venue.   

To ensure this wonderful Grade II listed building doesn’t get damaged the only supplier we do insist you use of the list is The Boathouse Bar Company for the pay bar (if you’d like one) and/or for serving your own drinks, as these activities affect our Premises License

Absolutely – however, we would charge corkage at the Boathouse.  Due to licensing regulations, all spirits (including Wedding Favours) must be provided by The Boathouse Bar Company as it is their legal responsibility to monitor for underage and excessive drinking. 

Please note:  At the Dougarie Boathouse we try to be as flexible as possible however we do have a premises license to consider which means our bar staff is held responsible for all alcohol consumed at the Boathouse, whether this is sold by the Boathouse Bar Company or bought in by you. If any of your own alcohol is left over it will be packed away securely for you to collect the next day. 

It is at the sole discretion of The Boathouse Bar staff to refuse to continue serving guests if they feel there is any risk to our license. 

Is there a pay bar available? 

The Boathouse Bar Company runs the pay bar at the venue. There is no charge to have the bar here but they do have a minimum spend a deposit of £300 for events under 50 people and £400 for events of over 50 people.  Once your guests spend over that you will get your deposit refunded. 

Can the caterers supply alcohol? 

No, this is not allowed. The Boathouse is a licensed venue and all alcohol sold at the Boathouse or sold for consumption at the Boathouse comes under our license. Therefore we need to monitor what alcohol is supplied for sale on the premises.  If you prefer not to have to organise your own drinks please talk to the bar team who can help with all your drinks needs.  Please note that this includes any company or individual who sells alcohol or alcohol-based products that you intend to provide for your guests (even if the guests aren’t being charged for the drinks) 

How many bar staff will you have during the evening? 

Please talk to the bar team regarding how many staff you would like. 

What is the drinking age limit at The Boathouse? 

As a licensed venue, even if you supply your own alcohol, the age limit is the same as any licensed venue.  No one under 18 will be served any alcohol or be allowed to consume alcohol on the premises.  To help caterers and bar-staff monitor we operate a Challenge 21 policy.  Anyone buying or being served drinks, who looks 21 or under, will be asked to show a suitable ID.  Please ensure all your guests are aware of this and bring their ID with them. 

Drinks Options – Summary 

Drinks supplied by you: the staff to serve these at the wedding reception and breakfast will be hired from The Boathouse Bar Company and you will be charged corkage for this.  You will need glasses for these; the Boathouse doesn’t come with any glasses. You will also need to remove all bottles and hired glasses at the end of the evening – the bar staff will do this on your behalf. 

Pay-bar or any drinks packages by The Boathouse Bar Company: they will provide staff, glasses, bar equipment, and an ice machine for any drinks sold through The Boathouse Bar company. 

Drinks Service: If you would like staff to serve your drinks, including during your wedding breakfast and your toast please use The Boathouse Bar Company staff rather than the caterers’ staff.  Dougarie’s team are professionals and cost no more than catering staff. 

Note: The drinks option is either a pay bar or you supply your own drinks served by Boathouse Bar Company staff.  It is not possible to have a combination of the two.  If you do want to supply your own drinks instead of having a pay bar there is a corkage fee payable to The Boathouse Bar Company. 

Yes, the Dougaire Boathouse is fully accessible and there is a disabled toilet.  Please note that whilst we have tried our best to make the Boathouse disabled-friendly, we are limited by what we can do in a listed building of the Boathouse’s age. We highly recommend that you see the Boathouse and confirm it is going to work for you or your disabled guests before you book.   

Midweek weddings, Mondays to Thursdays, have a closing time of 2300hrs.  You can have the music and bar open until 2300hrs.   

For Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holiday Mondays our closing time is 2359hrs.   

The bar & music will normally stop 5 or 10 minutes before the end to ensure guests are ready to leave by midnight.

Yes, Scottish Law allows weddings to be held anywhere outside so you are able to have your marriage anywhere you like, inside or outside the Boathouse, on the beach, or up at Loch Iorsa.

The Boathouse doesn’t charge any fees for couples who would like to use the Boathouse for their wedding.   You have the Boathouse for your event and it is then your decision what you would like to do and when.

Are there any hotels nearby? 

There are plenty of hotels in the vicinity, including the Kinloch Hotel (Best Western)in Blackwaterfoot. This is just a 10-minute drive away. 

What other accommodation is available on the island?  There are quite a number of Airbnb properties, plus independent Bed & Breakfasts located across the island. Additionally, Dougarie Estate has 5-holiday houses available to rent on a full-week basis.

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At The Dougarie Boathouse, the stunning views are only part of what we guarantee. Let us help you create the wedding of your dreams.

It’s simple as arranging a call with us!

Enquire Now