Amy and Joel travelled from Savannah, Georgia, for an Edinburgh elopement at St Anthony’s Chapel, one of the most beautiful and historic outdoor ceremony locations in the city.
They had already completed the legal side of their marriage in the United States, but wanted an intimate and personal celebration in Scotland, just for the two of them. Personal vows, rings, handfasting, a quaich ceremony and bagpipes all became part of a ceremony that was focused entirely on them.
A plan begins to take shape
Amy and Joel knew they wanted something small, personal and just for the two of them at St Anthony’s Chapel, but they had not yet settled on exactly what that would look like.
When they first got in touch, their idea was simply to have a bagpiper and a photographer there with them as they said their personal vows to each other. But because they were open to suggestions, it got me thinking.
As a wedding bagpiper, I had been part of many ceremonies over the years. I had stood beside registrars, ministers, priests and various types of celebrants, watching how different ceremonies were put together and how much difference the right words, structure and rituals could make.
Amy and Joel were not looking for a large wedding or a formal venue. They wanted something intimate, outdoors and personal to them. So I began to wonder whether I could help create something more complete for them: not just music at the start and end, but a personal ceremony that brought together who they were, what they meant to each other, and the journey that had brought them to this point.
Their choice to mark that moment with an elopement in Edinburgh, with their vows, rings, handfasting, quaich and the bagpipes, would give the ceremony its shape.
I suggested the idea to Amy and Joel, and they were immediately open to it.
Amy also mentioned that they had not heard back from the photographer they had contacted, so I suggested my sister, Donna, of Donna Green Photography. Donna often works in natural outdoor settings, and I knew St Anthony’s Chapel would suit her style beautifully. Amy loved her work, so Donna became part of the plan too.
Creating Amy and Joel’s Scottish ceremony
To make Amy and Joel’s ceremony personal to them, I needed to find out about them as individuals and as couple, and what it meant to them to make this commitment to each other, and to elope all the way to Edinburgh to do this.
A few video chats between Edinburgh and Georgia were held, with them both on the call, and also with each of Amy and Joel by themself.
On the day
Amy and Joel held their ceremony in the middle of the afternoon. Edinburgh can be nice in October, and the day didn’t disappoint. It was a nice and bright with just a bit of a breeze.
We met at St Margaret’s Loch on the Queens Drive. It was great to finally meet them both in person! After the introductions, I then got the bagpipes out and piped them along the side of the loch to the foot of Arthur’s Seat, with Donna taking photographs.
Up to the Chapel
Amy and Joel’s ceremony
Final thoughts
Amy and Joel’s Scottish elopement ceremony has always stayed with me. They were absolutely lovely, and I felt honoured to play such a large part in their day.
It also became an important moment in my own journey as a wedding and vows renewal celebrant. Until then, I had been part of many weddings as a bagpiper, watching ceremonies take place and seeing how much the right words, structure and traditions could add to a couple’s day. But Amy and Joel’s ceremony showed me something more clearly: that I could bring those elements together myself, creating and conducting a personal ceremony while also bringing the sound of the bagpipes into the day.
For the right couple, those two roles can sit together very naturally. The music, the words, the setting, the handfasting and the quaich did not feel like separate parts. They all belonged to the same personal ceremony.
For couples travelling to Scotland to elope or renew their vows, this kind of ceremony can work beautifully. It is intimate, personal and rooted in the place they have chosen.
And for Amy and Joel, St Anthony’s Chapel gave them something very special: a beautiful and historic outdoor location in Edinburgh, with a ceremony created around them.
That says it was the beginning of your celebrant journey, but in a way that keeps Amy and Joel at the centre.
Review from Amy and Joel
★★★★★
Glyn was absolutely amazing. I hired him to officiate our elopement ceremony at St Anthony’s Chapel in Edinburgh and we couldn’t have made a better choice. He was thoughtful, met with us in advance, and did the best job possible. I also can’t say enough good things about him and his talent in playing the bagpipes!
Amy C, Oct, 2019Would you like to get married or renew your vows at St Anthony’s Chapel?
Further info
If you’re planning to elope to Scotland, or renew your vows here, I can create and deliver your ceremony, and play the bagpipes as part of it. I’ll bring it all together for you.
See my Celebrant Bagpiper page for more about how I work, and how ceremonies in Scotland can be shaped to suit you.
