Eloping to Scottish Highlands - a Guide for 2024
Hi! I'm Mark, a wedding and elopement photographer and filmmaker, based in the West of Scotland. If you have found your way to my page, you'll no doubt already aware that Scotland has become a hugely popular destination for weddings and elopements for those couples with an eye for a beautiful and dramatic landscape and a sense of adventure. And for good reason!
Here is my simple guide and check list of things to consider when embarking on your elopement planning journey. It will hopefully give you quick answers some of your questions and is peppered, of course, with some inspirational images and footage of Scotland at it's best!
Planning Checklist:
Where in Scotland can you elope? - Consider your location or venue
What is the best time of year to elope in Scotland? - Choose a date
Legalities
What things do you need to elope in Scotland? - Search for suppliers
Where in Scotland can you Elope?
Scotland not only has some world-famous scenery, but you don't even need a wedding venue - you can legally marry almost anywhere you choose - be that countryside, mountain, forest, beach or back garden. As long as you remember a few key elements you can enjoy the perfect elopement setting accompanied by just the rugged, romantic backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.
The location you choose will come down to a combination of your ideas and dreams of the perfect, romantic setting and also - practicalities. Scotland has an abundance of beautiful wedding venues from ancient castles to modern luxury venues and if you plan to elope with some guests in attendance, then you may well require their services. However, for the ceremony itself, and in particular if you are travelling as a couple or with limited guests, then virtually the whole of the unbridalled, natural beauty of Scotland could serve as your backdrop. In terms of practicality, one main consideration is ease of access and transport. Scotland has good transport links from the major airports (Glasgow/ Edinburgh / Aberdeen) to rail, to bus. Whilst there is beautiful countryside to be found within a few hours of the major cities, for the more remote locations you're going to need a car. And if you plan to visit any of the Scottish Islands (the Shetland Isles, Orkney or the Inner and outer Hebrides) you'll more than likely need ferry transport as well.
What is the best time of year to elope in Scotland?
Essentially, the Scottish highlands are stunning all year round. It just depends on the mood you’re after!
As with any Scottish wedding, if there are to be outdoor portions of the day or if it is to be held entirely in the open, then the famous Scottish weather will play a factor. Scotland is hardly the most extreme climate in the world, but it can be constantly variable so to prepare for the worst case scenario is helpful. Even when the conditions are more harsh, the epic landscapes are a beauty to behold - the dramatic weather can bring so much atmosphere to the images. Having said that, no one enjoys being freezing cold and soaked to the bone so safety is the order of the day!
My usual approach is to plan for the worst case scenario; then anything better than that is a bonus.
Broadly speaking, the closer you come to the winter months, then the greater the chance of adverse weather conditions. In terms of travel, if roads become blocked due to snow/ landslides/ accidents then this could lead to lengthy delays or diversions, so if your schedule is tight or you are risk-averse when it comes to the big day, then you may wish to avoid the winter months (November to March). It's also not uncommon for ferries to be cancelled in heavy weather so if you are island bound, then have an inland backup accommodation plan at the least.
If you were hoping for snow capped mountains, this is a possibility even in the spring and autumn.
Legalities
There are a few boxes to tick to ensure that your wedding is legal in Scotland. I've included a link to the full low-down below, but in short, you will need an agreed location, a celebrant to conduct the service, and two adult witnesses to sign the marriage schedule (I can be one witness if you are travelling with very low numbers).
Of course, you may wish to avoid the paperwork aspect if you are travelling from abroad. Many of my clients, particularly around the time of the pandemic, conducted the official processes of the legal wedding either before or after their Scotland visit, and their elopement or wedding here was purely ceremonial. And in no way did it affect the magic of the day :-)
How much does it cost to Elope in Scotland? What will we need?
Not accounting for your travel and accommodation costs, essentially your elopement can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. In terms of essentials, you need to:
Pay for the marriage license (£72).
Employ an official to conduct your ceremony.
If you are travelling from abroad and do not hold an EEC passport, you will need a visa.
Leave a healthy budget for an awesome photographer ;-D
Depending on the type of visa, these cost from £80 upwards.
For the officiant To conduct your ceremony there are a variety of options to choose from. Costs could be anywhere from £125 for a registrar, to £600+ for a Humanist.
Of course, you may wish to source a whole host of suppliers for your wedding and we have an abundance of awesome wedding suppliers to suit your every need! From music and entertainment, to flowers, cakes, catering, hair and makeup, transport and so much more in order to customise your wedding. If you have questions regarding anything you may require, I’m always happy to chat with couples to offer any advice I can.
