How to elope in Scotland in 2022

Everything you need to know how to get legally married in Scotland - on the Scottish Highlands and isles.

ARE YOU THINKING OF HAVING AN ELOPEMENT IN SCOTLAND?

Scotland is going to blow you away! If you’re dreaming of a fairytale elopement at a magical place with a historical castle - you want a runaway elopement on a remote location just the two of you - if you want to say: “Yes, I do!” on a breathtaking location - if you are looking for an unforgottable elopement experience then Scotland is the perfect place for you!

After I photographed many elopements in Scotland I made a guide to help you about how to get married on a hillside of the Isle of Skye - on the endless white beaches of Outer Hebrides - in a peaceful forest, next a calmed loch or a running river in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park - in an evergreen pine forest of Cairngorms National Park or somewhere on a remote location of the Torridon.

I AM A FULL TIME SCOTLAND ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER AND A PART TIME TOUR GUIDE - DOCUMENTING INTIMATE WEDDINGS ON THE ISLE OF SKYE, GLENCOE, LOCH LOMOND AND TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK, CAIRNGORMS, TORRIDON AND OTHER LOCATIONS OF THE DRAMATIC SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS.

Are You Planning to Elope in Scotland, but not sure Where to Start Planning and Organize Your Scottish Elopement Experience?

FIRST OF ALL DECIDE ON YOUR SCOTLAND ELOPEMENT DATE

THE BEST SEASON AND TIME TO ELOPE IN SCOTLAND

In my opinion the best months to elope in Scotland are from September to May, but the Scottish Highlands and Isles will be magical all year round whatever the weather is.

Summer months (June, July and August)
Summer is the most popular and busiest time in Scotland. The days are warm and long.
The Scottish Highlands is blooming in million tones of green, but the light -the most important element in photography- is very strong during the day. That is why I highly recommend the lot quieter morning and evening times for your relaxed elopement or photo session with beautiful summer lights. This time of the year is perfect for a two days elopement experience including hiking and wild camping on the peak of a mountain to get married there in the morning.

Please keep in mind … During the summer in many locations - like Glen Coe and famous spots of the Isle of Skye - are overwhelming and hard to avoid the horde of tourists. :) The tourist season is on its`s peak and it is harder to book the right accommodation. For summer elopements booking your vendors and accomodation earlier is better.

I LOVE TO HELP COUPLES TO PLAN THEIR DREAM ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE AND DOCUMENT THEIR ETERNAL LOVE.

CHOOSE YOUR ELOPEMENT LOCATION

Great fact about eloping in Scotland that you can legally get married (almost) anywhere outdoors you want! Like on the peak of a mountain, on the shore of a calm loch, in an ancient rainforest of Scottish Highlands or on the endless white sand beaches.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, BREATHTAKING AND POPULAR ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS IN SCOTLAND:

• Isle of Skye is full with various dramatic landscapes

• Glen Coe & Glen Etive one of the best locations with deep scottish history and only 2 hours drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow

• The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with forests, lochs and rivers perfect autumnal elopement location only an hour drive from Edinburgh

• Cairngorms National Park with beautiful ancient pine forests between calmed lochs and mountains

• Torridon in Wester Ross, North-West of Scotland - perfect location for the most remote and intimate elopement

• Assynt in Sutherland on North of Scotland. Ideal location for the most adventurous couples to elope

• The Outer Hebrides is a different word with endless white beaches, turquoise waters and dramatic mountians

• Edinburgh for the town folks who are not big fans of the beautiful landscapes of Scotland

Glen Coe in October is a perfect moody location to elope in Scotland

FIND YOUR SCOTTISH ELOPEMENT CELEBRANT

For your Scottish elopement you can choose either Religious, Registrar or Humanist. You can contact the local registry office - nearest to your chosen location - for a Registrar marriage. Find the full list of the Registry Offices on this link.
I’ve worked with many amazing humanist over the years and I can recommend them for you. You can find your perfect humanist on the following websites - Humanist Association Scotland - Humanist Society Scotland.

START TO BOOK YOUR ELOPEMENT SUPPLIERS

Contact and book your elopement suppliers by your requirements like a hairdresser, make-up artists, florists, accommodation, a photographer and a videographer.

I take bookings in 6-24 months advance. To book suppliers like me is crucial to be done early on in the elopement planning process is important to avoid any inconvenience.

COMPLETE YOUR PAPERWORK & APPLY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE VISITOR VISA

The Marriage Schedule is granted by the registrar local to your wedding location and can be collected in person. Find more information and download a Marriage Notice form from here.
People who are from outside the European Economic Area also able to marry in Scotland, but they likely need to apply for a marriage visitor visa. Please, check further informations and apply for a marriage visitor visa here.

All you need to legally marry in Scotland is a marriage schedule, a celebrant and two witnesses. In case you do not have witnesses, I can be your witness and not only the photgrapher of your intimate elopements. For a second witness may I can bring my partner with me or you can ask your celebrant if they can provide one for you.

DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR ON YOUR ELOPEMENT DAY IN SCOTLAND

"There's no such thing as bad weather in scotland, only inappropriate clothing" Billy Connolly

The scottish weather changes dramatically and quickly all year round to show it`s different faces. You can often hear in Scotland: “If you don't like the weather wait 10 minutes.”
As a part time hiking and tour guide I highly recommend waterproof (hiking) boots for the best grip on the various terrain and for your own safety all year round. Multiple layers and (wind) waterproof jacket to keep you warm especially for winter elopements.
Probably my best advice for my couples that to enjoy your elopement experience as the Scottish Highlands and Islands will be magical whatever the weather is.
I highly recommend to check out the ZeBu Be You wedding dresses to rent or order your custom made one for your elopement day in Scotland.

hiking boots are great piece of kit for your scottish elopement day

ENJOY YOUR SCOTTISH ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE

After the planning stage when your intimate wedding day arrives and you are eloping in Scotland enjoy every minute of your experience and love than never before. Then you have to submit your signed elopement Marriage Schedule to the local registrar no later than 3 days after your ceremony. Then you will be legally a happy married couple. :)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST YOU TO ELOPE IN SCOTLAND?

Much less than a traditional wedding as when you elope outdoors you do not have pay for a wedding venue. The cost to elope in Scotland depends on your requirements of suppliers and what you want to do on your elopement day.

HERE ARE TWO RECENT EXAMPLES ABOUT THE COST OF ELOPEMENT ON THE ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND

One of my previous couple from England eloped on Isle of Skye then they were on a 10 days road trip on the island and done the Nort Coast 500 before they drove back to home. They paid a total of £3200, which included all of their travel and accommodation, clothing, food and drinks, celebrant, photographer and other small expenses.

Another couple from US spent 2 weeks in Scotland. They eloped on Isle of Skye and spent their honeymoon with travelling across Scotland and finished they road trip in Edinburgh. They elopement adventure was a total of £5500 / 7300$ which included all of their travel and accommodation, clothing, food and drinks, celebrant, photographer (with a full day photography cover and guiding by me) and other small expenses.

YOUR SCOTLAND ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER AND GUIDE

As a full time elopement - intimate wedding & adventure couple - photographer and a part-time tour guide I know countless beautiful locations to elope in Scotland. After 14 years of hiking and wandering around Scotland I have more experience and I am more familiar with the Scottish Highlands and Isles than my own home country. :)

I have a strong planning skills to creat your elopement experience to come to life. I will be here to answer for all of your questions, help you to plan your dream elopement everywhere in Scotland. I will be your tour guide, your planner, even your legal witness (if you need one), your photographer who will document your extraordinary day and adventure in Scotland.

That`s me - as you can see I am not a poser - from a recent trip at the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.