HOW TO ELOPE ON THE ISLE OF SKYE IN 2022
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELOPING ON ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND IF YOU LIVE IN THE USA, CANADA OR AUSTRALIA
I`M A FULL TIME ISLE OF SKYE ELOPEMENT - ADVENTURE COUPLE PHOTOGRAPHER & PART TIME TOUR GUIDE IN SCOTLAND WITH OVER 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS AND ISLES
WHY TO CHOOSE TO ELOPE ON ISLE OF SKYE?
ELOPING OR HAVING AN INTIMATE WEDDING ON THE ISLE OF SKYE, IN SCOTLAND - THAT LEADS YOU TO CREATE A STRESS-FREE DAY THAT YOU WILL NEVER REGRET.
When you elope on Isle of Skye you can get legally married anywhere outdoor in the nature! Isle of Skye is one of the top locations in Scotland to visit with its rugged landscape and dramatic scenery that will take your breath away. If you’re planning of an adventure elopement at the shade of the Cuillin Hills - where once an ancient volcano created the most iconic mountain range on Skye. If you are looking for a magical place with spectacular views on a remote location just for the two of you - if you are looking for a meaningful elopement experience then Skye is a perfect place for you!
Isle of Skye truly is one of the most spectacular and breathtaking places in the world to visit and elope.
ARE YOU THINKING OF HAVING AN ELOPEMENT ON THE ISLE OF SKYE? ELOPEMENT TO SKYE IS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST PERSONAL, WONDERFUL & MEANINGFUL WAYS TO GET MARRIED IN SCOTLAND.
After I photographed many elopements, I hiked and wild camped on various places of Isle of Skye - finaly I`ve compiled everything in my comprehensive guide you need to know to planning your Isle of Skye elopement.
It can be a real challange planning your elopement, especially from overseas, but you are in the right place to learn more about elopeing in Scotland. I am sharing my knowledge on the best places to elope on the Isle of Skye, how to legally get married on Skye, recommend accommodations and many more useful info.
I`M HERE TO HELP YOU TO PLAN AND HAVE A DREAM ISLE OF SKYE ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE AND CAPTURE YOUR STORY
HOW DO YOU GET TO ISLE OF SKYE?
Probably the best and most scenic way to travel to Skye is a road trip with a rented vehicle. from Glasgow Airport follow the A82 road / from Edinburgh go on the M9 motorway then take off to the A84 main road at Stirling, travell cross the Trossachs National Park and follow the road to Glen Coe than take the A87 main road at Invergarry and enjoy your journey right up to Isle of Skye. The Skye Bridge is a road bridge connecting the mainland and Isle of Skye since 1994 with the A87 main road.
There are also bus services to Isle of Skye from the Mainland. Buses go directly from Glasgow to Uig and from Inverness to Portree - the capitol of Skye.
A Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferry runs daily from the port of Mallaig in the west Highlands to Armadale on the south of Isle of Skye. You can get to Mallaig by the A830 road or train from Fort William with direct train connection from Glasgow / Edinburgh and right away from London with the Caledonian Sleeper overnight train.
WHERE TO ELOPE ON ISLE OF SKYE IN 2022?
BEST PLACES TO ELOPE ON ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND
I have captured many elopements and intimate weddings on the Isle of Skye and definitely one of the most magical places to get married - I am sure of that!
1. Quiraing, Isle of Skye
The Quiraing is the most popular place to elope on Isle of Skye choosen by my previous couples. The Quiraing is part of the Trotternish ridge that is one of Skye’s iconic mountain range and perfect for an easy going elopement with it`s breathtaking scenery and easy access. There is a car park just two minutes walk from the Quiraing and following the path to a loop walk holds you some unique views and offering one of the best spots for your elopement ceremony on the high plateu and cliffs.
2. The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye
The Old Man of Storr is one of my all time favourite elopement locations on Isle of Skye. Perfect place for an early morning hike then get married below the Old Man - the iconic pointed stone giant. It takes less than an hour moderate hike up the hill, but the views from the top are totally worth every step. From the top you will get a fantastic views out to sea of the Islands of Raasay and Rona also to the Mainland with Torridon.
My favourite time for an elopement at the Old Man of Storr is the late autumn and early spring months. I highly recommend have a sunrise or sunset ceremony to avoid crowds in the busy tourist season as this is one of the the most popular walks on the Isle of Skye.
The Old Man of Storr with Loch Fada in the foreground in October
3. Elgol and Loch Coruisk, South-west of Skye
Elgol is a wee fishing village on the South-west part of the island and only half an hour drive from the A87 main road at Broadford and one hour drive from Sligahan. It’s one of my favourite drives on Skye passing lochs and mountains on the way. You will get a fantastic views of the Cuillin mountains from the village and you can get married on the rocky beach with an impressive mountain backdrop.
Across from Elgol over the sea and pass Camassunary - the Loch Coruisk sits surrounded by the Cuillin Mountains. Loch Coruisk is one of the most remote and most magical of all of Scotland’s lochs. You can accessible only by boat or on foot after a fair bit of hike from north or from south. To get there you can charter a boat from the Elgol based Misty Isle Boat Trips or Bella Jane boat trips and that takes around 30 minutes. Loch Coruisk is a perfect location for the most adventurous couples with a 2-day elopement experience including a hike through the Camasunary on the Strathaird Peninsula, following the infamous path of the Bad Steps then wild camping - I can provide full camping gear for two - at the bank of the Loch Courisk. Where you will get married next morning and we can take the boat back to Elgol.
This is my absolute dream Isle of Skye elopement and I am still waiting for those adventurous couples who would like to be part of this experience.
4. Fairy Glen - Uig, Isle of Skye
The Fairy Glen looks like the Scottish landscapes in miniature size and with a spiritual stone circle in the centre glen. There is a myth about the fairies of Skye that will tells you all how magical this place is.
Many centuries ago, when Christianity hadn't long spread to Scotland, a priest travelled to Skye to preach. After long miles of walking, the priest stopped for a rest. Driving his walking cane into the soft ground next to him, he had some lunch and closed his eyes for a second.
When he opened them up again, he was shocked to find himself surrounded by tiny people! One of them explained that they were the fairy folk of Skye and had come to repent their sins and ask for forgiveness. The priest knew that the fairies had been cast out of heaven by God himself. He apologised but it wasn't in his power to forgive them.
An older fairy tried to plead with the priest. Was it not true that one repented sinner was worth more in heaven than a hundred righteous men? The priest still refused the fairies and exclaimed that there was more chance of his walking cane transforming into a tree than God allowing the fairies back into heaven.
The fairies began to cry and wail as the priest marched off with his fingers in his ears and he left his cane behind still planted in the ground. He travelled around the island, preaching to the people who lived there before eventually passing back the way he had come. When he arrived at the same spot he had met the fairies before, he could still hear them crying. That was when he discovered his cane had grown into a beautiful ash tree and the priest knew that was a sign from God. He decided there and then that he should dedicate the rest of his life to helping the fairy folk. He became as a hermit near this miraculous tree and prayed every day for God to forgive the fairies. After each day when he prayed, he heard the fairies sobbing a little less until eventually the island was silent.
The Fairy Glen is another magical elopement location on the Isle of Skye. Just a 5 minutes walk from the car park and close to the village of Uig on north of Isle of Skye. It can be very busy of tourists in the summer months and I would recommend sunrise or sunset elopement ceremony to enjoy this mythical place.
5. Sligachan - Centre of Isle of Skye
Sligachan is a main resting point for tourists before Portree. The Glen Sligachan is the main starting points to hike into the Cuillin mountains from the North, North-east side. The more than 200 years old bridge over River Sligachan with the Black and Red Cuillins at the background will steal your heart, but there are many more to see in the area including small waterfalls upstream of the river. You can hike next the running water right up to Fairy Pools from here. The area can be boggy and wet in some places, but the short hike is worth every steps. It is a beautiful location, but busy in the tourist season during the day. Best to visit or plan your elopement and taking your photos at the late afternoon, sunset time here.
These are the most popular elopement locations on the Isle of Skye by the choice of my previous couples. I also know a few more secret spots and hiking destinations on Skye - like the ruin of an ancient castle, small sandy beaches - what I would recommend for my most adventurous couples.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR ISLE OF SKYE ELOPEMENT IN SCOTLAND
LET`S SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOU ARE ELOPING ON THE ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND
CHOOSE ISLE OF SKYE FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT DESTINATION IN SCOTLAND
Isle of Skye will blow you away! If you like magical places, ancient myths, breathtaking sceneries, water falls, remote locations and rugged landscapes then the Isle of Skye could be the perfect elopement location for you. To find specific locations like your elopement ceremony I can help with my recommendations. Also it is essential the name the location of ceremony for legal paperwork too.
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE ON THE ISLE OF SKYE IN SCOTLAND
CHOOSE YOUR DATE / TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE ON ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND
You can often hear in Scotland: “If you don't like the weather wait 10 minutes.”, but in my opinion -by my hiking and tour guiding experience too- the best months to elope on Isle of Skye are from October to May as the winter lights and the scenery is something that you can not find anywhere else in UK, but Skye will be magical all year round whatever the weather will be.
Summer months (June, July and August)
Summer is the most popular and busiest time on Isle of Skye and in Scotland. The days are warm and long. The rugged landscape of Skye 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 morning and evening times with beautiful summer lights. The summer is perfect for a two days elopement experience including hiking and wild camping on the peak of a mountain to get married there at the sunrise.
Please keep in mind … During the summer months Isle of Skye is overwhelming and hard to avoid the high number of tourists. The tourist season is on its`s peak and it is harder to book the right accommodation too.
My tip: For summer elopements booking your vendors and accomodation earlier is better.
DECIDE WHAT ACTIVITIES YOU WANT TO ENJOY ON YOUR ELOPEMENT DAY ON ISLE OF SKYE
When you are eloping on Isle of Skye you do not have to make compromises, there are no pressure on you and you can enjoy eachother as you can do whatever you love most to do on your elopement day - hiking, walking on the shore, wandering in the wilderness, wild swimming, watching the sunrise or sunset then the Milkyway on a clear night sky, anything you like whatever makes you happy and Isle of Skye can offer.
FIND AND BOOK YOUR ISLE OF SKYE ELOPEMENT VENDORS
When you are planning your elopement you will be surprised how fewer vendors requires your elopement day. Contact and book your elopement vendors like: celebrant, a hairdresser, make-up artists, florists, videographer and /or elopement photographer - just like me check my elopement packages here.
The most important and necessary vendor that you officially need is a celebrant. In Scotland this can be either a religious or a belief celebrant. I recommend to find your perfect humanist on the following websites - Humanist Association Scotland - Humanist Society Scotland.
For the rest of the vendors I can help you with local recommendations of the best ones in your elopement location.
COMPLETE YOUR PAPERWORK AND APPLY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE VISITOR VISA
Before you elope on Isle of Skye you need to visit the Portree Registry Office to collect your marriage schedule. This has to be collected in person by you in the seven days prior to your wedding, if you miss this step your wedding cannot take place.
Couples from overseas - outside the European Economic Area - also able to marry in Scotland, but they likely need to apply for a marriage visitor visa. You can find more informations and apply for your marriage visitor visa here.
My tip: On the Isle of Skye in Scotland all you need to legally marry is a marriage schedule, a celebrant and two witnesses. I can be one of your witnesses and not only the photographer of your intimate elopement.
WHERE TO STAY ON THE ISLE OF SKYE IN SCOTLAND
FIND AND BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION ON ISLE OF SKYE
There are so many beautiful places to stay on Isle of Skye. I would recommend a few here for your Skye elopement.
The Blacksmiths Bothy is located a few miles from Elgol and a perfect place to hide from the world to spend some time in peace and quiet
Kinloch Lodge This lodge has a fantastic restaurant and a nice bar, plus hiking, fly fishing and recreation on-site.
Monkstadt 1745 is a luxury lodge situated on north of Skye. Self-catering cottages also available, Monkstadt is full with history. The main buiulding is perfect if you have an intimate wedding elopement and bringing a few guests as it can sleep 10 guests.
Flodigary Hotel is a luxory wee hotel with a fatastic view over the sea. They offer a romantic stay in the Mary Macdonald cottage for the most romantic souls or private log cabins for two that is a perfect nest for every love birds.
Harlosh Black H is a modern minimalist and still luxurious accommodation on the beautiful West coast of Skye.
There are much more hotels, B&B, AirBnBs, cabins and other accommodations on the Isle of Skye the list is really endless, but hands down my favourite one is wild camping on my favourite spots on Skye under millions of stars.
I am still looking for my dream couple who will be camping after eloping. If that will be you contact me here now.
Chill-out in the Flodigary Hotel after a busy Isle of Skye elopement day
DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR ON YOUR ISLE OF SKYE ELOPEMENT DAY
I can help you to make a list of what to wear, what you will need on your Isle of Skye adventure and how to get prepared for you visit in Scotland depending on the time and location of your elopement experience.
My tip for brides: I highly recommend to check out the ZeBu Be You wedding dresses to rent or order your custom made one for your elopement day on Isle of Skye.
WRITE YOUR VOWS TO MAKE YOUR ELOPEMENT CEREMONY PERSONAL AND FULL WITH JOY
The great thing about an elopement is you don’t have to follow wedding ceremony script. You can create your own elopement ceremony and write your vows.
My tip: Write your vows in a small lovely keepsake book to keep it to show to your children and grandchildren.
ELOPE ON THE ISLE OF SKYE IN SCOTLAND
After all the small puzzle pieces forming into the big picture. Your long awaited elopement day finally arrives and you will have a lifetime experience on the Isle of Skye - I am sure of that.
My tip: Don't be put off by anything on your elopement day enjoy every minutes of it. Embrace the weather and you will be rewarded with beautiful images!
RETURN YOUR MARRIAGE SCHEDULE & THEN YOU`RE LEGALLY MARRIED
Before you head home you must return your marriage schedule to the Portree Registrar within three days of your wedding. Your celebrant will be able to help you further with arranging this.
Finally, If you are looking for a photographer for your Scottish elopement with a wealth of local knowledge of Skye and experience in planning elopements then get in touch with me and we can discuss about your perfect Isle of Skye elopement experience.
My goal with the art of my cinematic photography is providing you with emotional photos you will love for life.
I hope this Isle of Skye elopement guide helped you to boost your ideas, but if you still have any questions write it in a comment below. For even more information check out my elopement packages page.
