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Elope to Scotland!

Do you fancy something a little different for your Wedding or Civil Ceremony? Less frills and formality, and more intimate and personal? Have you had your legal ceremony elsewhere, but you wish to take private Vows in a place of history and spectacular beauty? Or, do you wish to re-take your Wedding Vows? If so, Elope to Scotland!

Scotland has a long history of couples eloping here. The 1754 Marriage Act in England and Wales, made it forbidden to marry without your parents’ permission if you were under the age of 21. Consequently young couples from south of the border would make the short trip over the border to Gretna Green to hold their ceremony.

Today it is still easier to get married in Scotland than in the rest of the UK, particularly if you wish to hold a Humanist ceremony. Humanist ceromonies are not recognised in England and Wales. And in Scotland we have perfect locations with majestic scenery – mountains, beaches, forests, and an abundance of accessible castles and historic sites. In Scotland you can get married anywhere, yes anywhere!

So lace your brogues and find out more…

How I can help you Elope to Scotland?

Okay, you’re going to Elope to Scotland! This is a little different – for a start you’re running awayand your going to elope to Scotland. 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 Scot I am deeply touched that there is 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 bringing two more Scots “into the fold”! I won’t just be your piper. I will perform more activities for you than if you were having a regular wedding, and I can also perform the role of your “Wedding Planner”. I’m a native of the Highlands living in our Capital City, Edinburgh, who has travelled the length and breadth of the country. I will find that special place for you, and you will be led to that place to the sound of the Bagpipes.

You won’t be constrained by “protocols” required for a regular wedding, which may be pre-determined by an official or somebody else telling you what do do! As well as performing the role of your Wedding Bagpiper, I perform the Celtic Hand-Fasting ritual, and the uniquely-Scottish Quaich Ceremony which involves a drop or two of 12 year-old “Scottish Water”! As your piper I recite the traditional Piper’s Toast to bestow good luck upon you, the Happy Couple. These are all ancient, tasteful and memorable rituals which have been performed at Scottish Weddings for centuries. Sadly at regular Wedding Ceremonies, many of these deeply symbolic rituals are no longer performed due to the Registrar, Celebrant or Religious Official being unable to perform them, or determining that they don’t fit into the schedule.

You as Elopers though, are free to do whatever you like and I am on-hand to help when you Elope to Scotland!

I have also revived another tradition which involves presenting a certain gift to the Bride (don’t be scared!). I’m not going to say what it is; only that it became difficult to present after 1967 (cryptic clue here!).

Mr Groom, don’t worry. You won’t leave empty-handed!

The key thing is that it’s your day and it’s little different. You maybe haven’t been to Scotland before and you’re uncertain of how to arrange an Elopement Wedding. I am here to talk to you and give advice on every step of your journey. If you’re in Edinburgh before your ceremony, I am 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 day.

Piping after Amy and Joel’s Elopment Ceremony

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Have you held your “legal” ceremony elsewhere?

If you’re eloping to Scotland to hold your Commitment Ceremony, but you’ve already held, or intend to hold your legal ceremony elsewhere, then I can officiate your Commitment Ceremony!

As a bagpiper I’ve attended hundreds of weddings, and have witnessed many registrars, celebrants and religious officials in action. I will create a unique ‘Order of Ceremony’ for you, incorporating your Vows, Exchanging of Rings, and the ancient Hand Fasting and Quaich Ceremony rituals. I’ll then switch back to bagpiper-mode and top it off with the traditional Piper’s Toast.

You will have a Bagpiper and Registrar/Celebrant rolled into one, and it’s guaranteed that you will not find a more finely-dressed Wedding Officiant anywhere!

Locations and Right to Roam

Ruthven Barracks

Now even though I’m totally biased, Scotland offers offer the best scenery anywhere. Within a small area we have everything from mountains, beaches, moorlands, lochs, forests and all within easy access from our cities. There are too many historic abbeys and castles to name.

And here’s the best bit… You can access nearly all of this land and there’s nothing stopping you from getting married there!

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gave everybody rights of access to land and inland waterways throughout Scotland so long as you behave responsibly. This is known in Scotland as the Right to Roam.

There are some specific exclusions as you’d expect. You can’t just get married in my back garden without asking me, for example. However, the countryside and many of the multitude of ruined castles and abbeys, which are still quite magnificent are completely accessible.

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Legal Marriage Ceremonies in Scotland

In Scotland we have three types of legal marriage ceremonies – Civil, Belief or Religious:

Civil Marriage or Ceremony

A Civil Marriage is a non-religious ceremony conducted by an official Registrar for different-sex couples, while a Civil Ceremony is the same but for same-sex couples.

Belief Ceremony

A Belief Ceremony is non-religious ceremony conducted by a non-religious Humanist Society Scotland celebrant for different ot same-sex couples.

Religious Ceremony

A Religious Ceremony is conducted by a religious celebrant of your faith such as Minister, Priest or Imam. The ceremony does not need to be held in a place of worship.

The Legal bit

If you wish to make your Scottish Elopement legally binding, here are a few things you may be interested to know:

Scots Law allows you to marry anywhere, as long as you have a bagpiper ;-), and your wedding is officiated by a religious official, Registrar or a non-religious Humanist Society Scotland celebrant. Humanist marriages in Scotland have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005, unlike in England and Wales where they are not legally recognised.

In Scotland you can also get married at any time of the day, whereas in the rest of the UK you can only get married between 8am and 6pm. This is why most vampires get married in Scotland.

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