Okay, you’re going to elope to Scotland! This is a little different – for a start you’re running away. I’m loving it!

You won’t have anybody telling you what to do. You won’t have a large entourage who need to be wined, dined and looked after. Your day is entirely your own!

Firstly, as a proud Scot I am deeply touched that there’s something about my country which makes you wish to elope to Scotland for one of the most important days of your life. Therefore I want to share our traditions with you. I once read that being being “Scottish” is not a nationality, but a state of mind. In having you partake in our traditions, I look forward to welcoming you home!

The key thing with your elopement wedding is that it’s your day and you get to decide what to do. You maybe haven’t been to Scotland before and you’re uncertain of how to arrange an elopement wedding. I’m here to talk to you and give advice on every step of your journey. If you’re in Edinburgh before your ceremony, I’m happy to meet you, or you can schedule a video/phone call with me at any time of your convenience. Phone me as often you like. Ask as many questions as you like. I just want you to have an unforgettable elopement.

Most weddings and vows renewals ceremonies have an “officiant” performing the ceremony and a bagpiper, well.., just playing the bagpipes… But what if you could have your bagpiper playing the bagpipes and officiating your ceremony?

That’s what I can do for you!

I can officiate your vows renewal ceremony, or if you’re getting married and you’ve already held, or intend to hold your legal ceremony elsewhere, then I can officiate your symbolic wedding ceremony!

As well as performing the role of your Wedding Bagpiper, I perform many of the deeply symbolic rituals which have been performed at Scottish weddings for centuries. Sadly at regular civil or religious ceremonies, many of these cannot be performed by the registrar or religious official.

When I officiate your ceremony, you won’t be constrained by “protocols” which may be pre-determined by an official or wedding coordinator telling you what do do. This will be pretty much what they have all their couples do anyway. Boring!

I firmly believe that your story, experiences, and the dreams you share as a couple are the heart of your wedding or vows renewal ceremony.

While wedding rituals hold great significance, they serve as a backdrop to the essence of your relationship and journey together. Highlighting how you met, how you fell in love, and what your marriage means to you both adds a resonating personal touch to both you as a couple, and to your loved ones attending.

I will not be at your wedding ceremony, or vows renewal ceremony only to perform some (admittedly very important) rituals and to play tunes on the bagpipes (admittedly very, very important IMHO!). Yes, I will be over the moon to conduct these rituals with you, but YOU are the main show! Telling the world about why you love each other so much that you’re going to commit, or re-commit to each other for the rest of your lives is the most important thing!

Your stories and experiences are the strong roots which make your chosen rituals significant. Remembering that amidst the rituals and formalities of your ceremony, the core focus should always remain on your love story and the life you’ve built and are building together.