How to Elope to Scotland
© Jen Marino Photography Throw back to Nichola’s elopement
How to Elope to Scotland
You know what’s great about Scotland? You can get married ANYWHERE. So all of those mountains and beaches and lochs and castles and forests you’ve seen on TV, or visited when you’ve been over to see family, could essentially be your wedding venue!
Elopements have always been popular over here. You’ll have heard tales of young couples from England crossing the border to get married in Gretna Green back in the day, but there is so much more to Scotland than Gretna! Here are our insider tips on eloping to Scotland, and you have our permission to be as wild and adventurous with your elopement planning as you want!
Pick a location
The logistics
Bring your wellies
The extras
The law
P I C K A L O C A T I O N
Are you after rural or urban? Do you want the backdrop of mountains and sea and sky, or would you prefer a city setting? Whichever you pick, you’ll need this info to register your intent to marry with the local district office. Skye is the top pick for most couples eloping, and while it is a stunning backdrop, there are many more gorgeous locations off the beaten track! Here are our favourites:
Nichola: Falkland Hill! Views over Fife to Edinburgh, Falkland Palace is just down the hill and you can spend some time in the East Neuk enjoying the beaches and wee fishing villages. Plus you’re only 40 minutes from Edinburgh airport! Or a beach on Tiree…if you can guarantee me some sunshine!
Cat: Dunnotar Castle. Another East coast location…the east tends to be brighter and drier, but a wee bit windier. Pretty sure it’s been the location for loads of films.
Susan: I choose Dumyat in the Ochils in Stirling. It’s a favourite place because it’s home! And I’d have a piper.
Katie: One of the amazing beaches on Barra or Coll!
T H E L O G I S T I C S
Skye or the Highlands can be around a 5 hour drive from Glasgow/Edinburgh, so consider this if you’re flying in from Europe/the US/anywhere outside of the UK, or travelling with a wedding party. We’re lucky to have plenty of gorgeous backdrops a stone’s throw from our major airports, so you don’t have to travel too far to get a scenic location.
Consider the time of year you’d like to be married. We have a booming tourism industry which goes bananas throughout the Summer months; think single track roads filled with camper vans and airbnbs booked for the entire season. April ’til mid-June is a quieter time; the nights are lighter and the weather tends to be drier in these months. September ’til November is quieter still, with the nights starting to draw in and the autumnal colours transforming the landscape. This chat brings us on to our next point…
B R I N G Y O U R W E L L I E S
Whatever time of year you choose, make sure you’re prepared for all seasons! Scotland frequently shows off with four seasons in one day…blistering heat can quickly be replaced with grey clouds and drizzle. It’s all part of the excitement of it, though, having these unexpected moments. When I eloped, we had hiking boots on under our outfits, brollies and woollen shawls to keep off the worst of any rain and breeze that might have turned up. We were married in early July, and had a mixture of drizzle, sunshine and full on stormy skies…but the pictures look amazing! And do not forget insect repellent, just in case the dreaded midge shows up!
T H E E X T R A S
Most people assume that elopements are no-frills, and whilst that might be true for some couples, it’s certainly not a rule. We picked the aspects which were important to us; photography to document the day was at the top of our list! To look back with a different lens (was that a pun?!). We had the space and time to take it all in, but there were small moments we had together which we would’ve missed if the wonderful Jen Marino hadn’t been there to catch them.
Other elements on the day, where we went a bit wild because we could, were food (our wedding breakfast came from our favourite curry shop and we had two wedding cakes from our favourite bakery!) and make-up. Luckily, my wonderful celebrant Kirsty was also a makeup artist and did my hair too! It felt essential to me NOT to attempt my own makeup incase I accidentally channelled my inner goth and went too heavy with the eyeliner.
Having a smaller wedding might free up your mind and wallet, allowing you to fit in the elements you’ve dreamed of. A piper for when you arrive at the venue…why not? A private chef to cook your favourite food for you…go for it!
T H E L A W
Make sure you know the rules for eloping before you get everything booked. Scotland has its own legal process, but it can vary depending on where you’re from, so make absolutely certain you have the correct documentation and make the right application in the right amount of time.
Here’s some information on the legalities. Your registrar or celebrant will be able to assist you with any further documentation you might need.
So there you have it. Have an adventure and get married at the same time!
