Inchcolm Abbey on Inchcolm Island, in the Firth of Forth just off Edinburgh, is one of the most distinctive places in Scotland to get married or renew your vows. Reached by boat, it immediately feels like you’ve stepped away from everything, with the city to the south and Fife to the north, while the island itself remains quiet and self-contained.

I conduct wedding and vows renewal ceremonies here, creating and delivering each ceremony to reflect you both and the setting you’ve chosen. There’s something about arriving on the island, exploring the abbey and its surroundings, and gathering together in a place with so much history that naturally brings a sense of occasion to your ceremony.

Whether you’re planning a small elopement or an intimate gathering, Inchcolm offers a setting that feels private, memorable, and genuinely different. It’s not just the abbey itself, but the experience of being there that makes your ceremony here even more special.

Inchcolm Abbey offers several distinct spaces for your ceremony, each with its own character, size, and feel. Whether you’re planning a small, intimate elopement or vows renewal or a slightly larger gathering, the choice of location within the abbey will shape the atmosphere of your ceremony.

As your celebrant, I work with you to choose the space that fits your wedding or vows renewal ceremony, and plan how everything comes together within it.

The Chapter House is where Jacqueline and Geoff’s Inchcolm wedding was held. Dating back to the 13th century, it’s one of the oldest and most atmospheric spaces within the abbey.

It’s a smaller, enclosed room, best suited to very intimate weddings and vow renewals. Access is via the cloisters, creating a natural and memorable entrance into your ceremony.

Capacity: 20 people

The Refectory is where Inchcolm Abbey’s monks would eat. This room, on the first floor of Inchcolm Abbey, has an impressive arched ceiling and, due to its many windows, is flooded with natural light.

It’s well suited to larger weddings and vows renewals, or if you want an indoor ceremony that still feels bright and open.

Capacity: 100 people

The monks’ Dormitory is another first-floor space within Inchcolm Abbey, with more exposed stonework and a slightly darker, more enclosed feel than the Refectory. It retains a strong sense of the abbey’s age and character.

It’s well suited to larger ceremonies, offering a more traditional stone setting within the abbey.

Capacity: 90 people 

Inchcolm Abbey and Inchcolm Island is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland, but in practice, weddings and vow renewals are arranged through the boat operators who run trips to the island from South Queensferry.

They coordinate access to the island and timings for your ceremony, so they are usually your first point of contact when planning.

The island is reached by a 40 minute boat trip from South Queensferry, just outside Edinburgh. The journey itself is part of the experience, giving you a real sense of arriving somewhere separate from the mainland.

Remember that access to the island is seasonal, typically between 1 April and 31 October.

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 everything together so your ceremony feels natural, personal, and true to you.

You can find more details on my Celebrant Bagpiper page.