Eloping in Scotland – and we’re not being biased – is nothing short of magical. It’s like stepping into a storybook.
The dramatic Scottish landscape is perfect for any elopement. Hopefully, it’s the only dramatic thing about your special day – nobody likes the inevitable wedding drama.
We promise eloping in Scotland will be the most magical, romantic decision you ever make. From the stunning Georgian country Stemster House to the equally stunning Lews Castle Grounds, we have an endless and almost tiring list of locations to elope.
We’ll leave the location hunting down to you, and instead give you 3 tips that’ll help you plan your dream Scottish elopement.
Choose the Perfect Location
OK – we won’t leave it all up to you. Picking a location is tricky, we’ll admit that. Every venue will grab your attention, leading to endless dreams of what your day might look like. You’ve got the rugged Highlands, serene lochs, and the mystical Isle of Skye. And then there’s the castles and boutique venues. See what we mean? The list is endless.
Pick a destination that resonates with you as a couple. Although let’s be honest, brides, it’s you deciding. Most grooms don’t have a say. So, have you always imagined a literal fairytale wedding in a castle, or have you always wanted some stunning coastal scenery but don’t fancy jetting off to the Bahamas? Well, the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews is the Bahamas of Scotland. It’s a stunning, world-renowned venue – the venue of dreams.
If you see yourself as a fairytale princess of the castle (and princes), Eilean Donan Castle in Kyle of Lochalsh is up there in the most picturesque, in our opinion, but it can only hold up to 38 people. That wouldn’t be so bad for the budget, but we know some people invite an entire nation’s worth of guests. If that’s you, you’ll like Dundas Castle – Edinburgh.
We could talk forever about the perfect Scottish wedding venues. Do your research and find your dream location.
Plan for the Weather
We have to be real with you – the weather in Scotland is… temperamental, let’s put it that way. You can pretty much guarantee decent weather in the summer, but the other seasons like to do whatever they want to do. Sometimes, even the Weather Channel app can’t cope with the changing Scottish weather. And if it’s the Highlands, just assume it’s raining every day from the end of September to May/June.
Maybe we’re exaggerating, but everyone knows it’s wet in Scotland. If anything, our advice would be to think ‘to hell’ with the weather and don’t let it dampen (pun intended) your spirits. Pick an indoor venue and accept that your wedding pictures might be under a canopy in the rain, with an eerie, misty Scottish backdrop.
And if anything, we’d say pick one of the summer months or simply let Mother Nature do her thing!
Hire Local Vendors
We couldn’t recommend this one more. Local vendors are…locals with years of experience perfecting their craft. From local Scottish vendors providing the best local produce for your catering to the photographers who know how to get the best out of the Scottish landscape, Scottish locals are the best. They’ll make your special day as hassle-free as possible. And if the thought of planning a wedding in Scotland is stressing you out, we’d recommend hiring a Scottish wedding planner. They know who to call and when to call – it’s the perfect solution.
Here are some of the most highly-rated wedding planners we’ve found:
- Clementine Weddings and Events
- Tie-The-Knot Events Fife
- Miai Events Planner
- Weddings by Louize
You can also try going to Scottish Wedding fairs. They’re such a good day out full of wedding planners, local vendors, and experts who’ll help you plan your dream Scottish elopement. We’d recommend the following events:
- The Ayrshire Wedding Exhibition
- The Big Dundee Wedding Exhibition
- The Hampden Wedding Show
- The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition
The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition is Scotland’s largest and by far one of the best. You can hire one of our motorhomes and park up nearby! And it just so happens that it’s only a few weeks away. You can go to the event on the 28th & 29th September 2024 at Murrayfield.
Planning a Scottish elopement is exciting. We hope the tips we’ve given you above help turn your wedding day into a fairytale dream. Now is the perfect time to begin planning your dream Scottish elopement!
