Written by James · July 5, 2026
Friday 3rd July took me north for a Meldrum House wedding — Katie and Ryan’s big day at Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course near Oldmeldrum, just outside Aberdeen. It’s a 153-mile drive from home — one of the longer trips I make, but always worth it for a venue like this. The venue itself is a 13th-century baronial mansion set on 240 acres of parkland, with a ballroom that’s hosted more weddings than I could count. It’s easy to see why it’s such a popular choice for couples in the North East.
Katie and Ryan booked me to provide their wedding DJ and ceilidh calling. I left home at 2pm and arrived on site at 5:30pm, ready to get set up.
A Short Wait Before the Meldrum House Wedding Got Going
The wedding breakfast was running a little behind schedule, so I had a short wait before I could get into the room and set up properly. This isn’t unusual, however — timings shift on the day for all sorts of reasons. Because of that, a good wedding DJ builds in the flexibility to roll with it. A short delay here and there is completely normal, and it’s never anything to worry about.
The First Dance — Skerryvore’s “Take My Hand”
Katie and Ryan chose Take My Hand by Skerryvore for their first dance. It was a brilliant, invigorating choice that had every single guest up and watching. Skerryvore write exactly the kind of big, warm, Scottish folk-rock that lands perfectly as a first dance track, and as a result this one set the tone for the whole night.
This Meldrum House Wedding’s Ceilidh — The Gay Gordons and the Virginia Reel
We had two ceilidh dances on the night: the Gay Gordons and the Virginia Reel. Katie and Ryan’s guests mainly already knew both dances, which always makes life easier as a caller. Instructions land quicker, the floor gets moving faster, and there’s more time for the fun part rather than the explaining part. If you’re weighing up which ceilidh dances to include at your own wedding, a crowd that’s danced before is always a bonus. However, I’ll happily talk any group through the steps regardless of experience.
A Generous Dancefloor at This Meldrum House Wedding
It was a good night for a Meldrum House wedding, with a genuinely generous amount of dancers throughout the evening. There could always have been a few more up. That said, there are always some guests at any wedding who just aren’t dancers, and that’s perfectly fine. Even so, the floor stayed busy from the ceilidh right through the evening disco.
Wrapped Up by Midnight
I wrapped everything up by midnight, and after packing down I was away by 1am. Roadworks then sent me on numerous detours for the drive home, taking me the scenic way through a fair few B-roads and small villages. I didn’t make it back until 4am. It was a long day all round, but a well-earned sleep followed before moving straight on to Saturday’s wedding.
Congratulations to Katie and Ryan on a brilliant Meldrum House wedding — Meldrum House is a fantastic venue for a North East Scotland celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Meldrum House Wedding
Do you cover weddings at Meldrum House?
Yes — I’ve worked at Meldrum House and know the ballroom well. It’s a great space for both ceilidh and evening disco, and I’m happy to travel to Aberdeenshire and the North East for the right wedding.
What ceilidh dances work well for a wedding?
The Gay Gordons and the Virginia Reel are both excellent choices — accessible enough for beginners but enjoyable for guests who’ve ceilidh danced before, like Katie and Ryan’s crowd. See my full guide to wedding ceilidh dancing for more options.
What if the wedding breakfast runs late?
It happens regularly and it’s never a problem. I build flexibility into every booking so that if timings shift on the day — as they did at Katie and Ryan’s wedding — I can simply wait. Once the room is ready, I get set up with no impact on the evening.
Do you travel to Aberdeenshire for weddings?
Yes, I do — Meldrum House was a 153-mile drive for me and it was well worth it. I take on a limited number of weddings each year. Because of that, I can give every couple my full attention, wherever they’re getting married in Scotland.
How do I book a wedding DJ and ceilidh caller for my wedding?
The best starting point is to get in touch via the contact page with your date and venue. I’d recommend reaching out as early as possible to check availability.
About the author
James is the founder of Premier Disco Weddings, a professional wedding DJ service covering venues across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, the Scottish Borders, Fife and Perthshire. Rather than relying on generic playlists, he and the team build a bespoke set for every couple, drawing on experience across hundreds of Scottish weddings to read a room and keep the dancefloor full all night.
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