Reasons You Should Consider Eloping to Scotland
Wedding days and dream wedding days will be different for every person. Maybe you want a large wedding filled with family and friends? A wedding abroad perhaps, with the people closest to you? Or maybe you want something relaxed, stress-free and unique like an elopement… and what better place to elope than Scotland with it’s wild and wonderful landscapes and some of the best scenery on planet Earth! So let’s take a look at what elopements are, why they can be a good option to consider and why Scotland is a great place to elope...
What is an elopement?
Traditionally, ‘to elope’ means to get married without telling anyone, particularly the parents and families of the bride and groom. Essentially, it means to run away together! But nowadays an elopement ceremony legally involves two people getting married but in a much smaller and intimate way than your traditional wedding. Ceremonies can be between the couple getting married or around 10-20 guests. It’s the perfect alternative for a couple who want something extremely personalised and intimate.
Why do people elope?
Planning weddings is a completely personal preference and it can be costly and time consuming for some couples. Couples might prefer an elopement for personal or financial reasons. With an elopement, there is typically more of a focus on more intimate elements of a wedding like exchanging rings and special vows and having the ceremony in a gorgeous location where a wedding photographer is on hand to capture the day. But, elope
Why is Scotland a great place to elope?
It goes without saying that Scotland is a truly magical destination, there are a vast array of reasons that Scotland is the perfect place to elope:
Freedom and Choice: Currently, Scotland is the only country in the United Kingdom where you can legally get married anywhere as long as your ceremony is conducted by a registered celebrant and you do not have to be a country citizen. Those who are outside the European economic area or Switzerland must apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa but this costs £95 and can be done up to 3 months advance of your elopement. This means your options are literally endless, all you need to do is find a venue and complete a Marriage Notice form and required documents 28 days before the ceremony takes place.
With elopements, you’re also free to customise and personalise your wedding exactly how you want it to be. Why not incorporate some famous Scottish Wedding Traditions into your ceremony? Putting a sixpence in the bride’s shoe has been a long-running tradition in Angus and Aberdeenshire and is said to bring married couples good luck, wealth and a long and happy marriage. A sprig of white heather in your bouquet is another good luck token. Or perhaps you have some traditions of your own you want to incorporate, anything is possible with an elopement!
Locations galore: Elopements are all about the location and Scotland is a jack of all trades when it comes to scenery. If you want a certain type of location, Scotland most certainly has it. Beautiful beaches? Check. Magical castles? Check. Lochs, Waterfalls, Cities and Forests? You really are spoiled for choice here. If you’re looking for some inspiration why not take a look at 10 of the Most Romantic Fairytale Wedding Venues in Scotland.
Atmosphere: The intimacy and adventurous nature of an elopement makes for a wonderful atmosphere, there’s a big sense of spirit and fun with elopements and as they tend to be smaller they can be hugely personable. All this combined makes for a spectacular and memorable day.
Intimacy: Run across the vast hills together, dance in the woodlands or jump into the sea together! The location will most likely be special to you or hold some sort of meaning. Every moment when you elope is all about you two having fun and making memories on this special day. Also, your honeymoon begins as soon as the elopement ceremony ends, bonus!
Saving Money: UK Weddings cost on average around £32,000. An elopement, with all the bells and whistles from ceremony price, photography, paperwork, venue, flowers, dresses etc comes in at around £3000. It’s no surprise that elopements are on the rise.
Stress-Free: Weddings can be very nerve inducing! Elopements leave the stress and planning that may come with wedding planning behind and you can just focus on you and your partner enjoying the day. Everything is about you two!
A combined adventure: As we mentioned earlier, as soon as your elopement ceremony ends, the honeymoon can begin if you want it to! Most people have to wait a while to go on their honeymoon post-wedding but with the spare time and money you’ll have saved you can head off into the sunset to enjoy more of the beautiful landscape that Scotland has to offer or head onwards to other countries. The adventure continues!
Elopement Wedding Photographer
Considering all these amazing things that make up an elopement, it’s super important to consider capturing the moment for you to look back. Whilst you don’t have the stress of planning a huge wedding, it’s important to think about who your wedding photographer will be. Make sure it’s someone with experience and who will make you feel comfortable and at ease!
Want inspiration and insight into some of the most popular elopement areas in Scotland, the best time of year to elope and the official documents you will need, click here.