Elope in Scotland in 2025 – 2026: The Essential Guide
ELOPEMENT GUIDES | Updated: 2nd April 2025
An elopement in Scotland has it all for anyone seeking an adventure: ancient castles, huge waterfalls, endless valleys sweeping through the mountains, peaceful lochs, ancient towns. The list goes on!
Also, Scotland is home to more than 790 islands, which are mainly in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and Northern Isles. They’re grouped into four categories: Shetland, Orkney, Inner Hebrides, and Outer Hebrides. The Atlantic Ocean borders the West coast and the North Sea is to the East. There are three main sub-divisions in Scotland. Huge mountains make up large parts of the Highlands and Islands, such as the Skye Cuillins and the Cairngorms. The Central Lowlands and Southern Uplands make up the other two parts.
This guide to Scotland elopements has been written with you in mind. It contains everything you need to know to start planning and will give you some great elopement ideas too.
Why You Should Elope in Scotland
4 Reasons to consider a Scotland elopement for your wedding day.
Dramatic, Ancient Landscapes
Scotland is home to ancient volcanic landscapes, an abundance of dinosaur fossils, and some of the oldest rocks in the world – the Lewisian gneisses are almost 3 billion years old. Even human habitation of Edinburgh dates back as far as 8500AD. Eloping in Scotland allows you to connect with this ancient history.
Amazing Places to Stay
Having a Scotland elopement means you can choose from an abundance of idyllic places to stay. Want to get married and stay in an actual castle? Tick! Want a timber cabin nestled quietly in the woods? Tick! Whether you’re after a luxury experience at one of our world-famous hotels, or something a little more wild and low-key, Scotland really does have it all.
World-Famous Landmarks
Scotland recently featured on Forbes’ ‘Top 50 Places in the World‘, and for good reason. Edinburgh Castle, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe, Old Man of Storr, and Glenfinnan Viaduct are just a few of the many famous places in Scotland. The good news for your elopement is that you can also get married at these places!
The Vibrant Culture
Scottish culture encompasses a rich tapestry of traditions, including Gaelic language, bagpipe music, kilts, haggis, and a strong sense of identity, all interwoven with a history of clan rivalries and battles. Many couples who elope in Scotland choose to weave these traditions into their elopement ceremony in numerous ways.
10 Steps to Elope in Scotland
1. Choose your elopement location
This is perhaps the most important part, so your elopement has right feeling. From the dense ancient forests in the Cairngorms, the sandy beaches and clifftop vistas of the Isle of Skye, to the cobbled streets of Edinburgh and the towering mountain valleys in Glencoe and Torridon, Scotland has it all.
Most couples who enquire with me are in the very early elopement planning stages, just like you. They often don’t know where they want to get married in Scotland, so I always help to narrow down choices. Some things to consider are; what kind of landscape matches your values and personalities? Do you love big vistas or intimate landscapes? What else do you want to do on your trip to Scotland? And will your elopement location give you access to more activities and things to see outside of your wedding day? Is it easily accessible?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. I’ve explored all of the best places to elope in Scotland and can advise you on my favourite locations.
2. Choose a date
It’s good to think about how you want your elopement to ‘feel’. Are you drawn to lush greens? Then perhaps a mid-Spring – early Summer elopement is best. If you adore the deep Autumnal browns, reds, and oranges, then mid-September – mid-November would be better.
Scotland’s tourism season is busy between April and October, with a peak in the Summer. If you’d like to stay away from the crowds, then eloping in Winter, Spring, or Autumn would be best. However, don’t be put off by the crowds either, because the world-famous landmarks are usually always busy. I’ve scouted out the best places for you to get married in Scotland, so can help you find the quiet spots at these iconic locations.
3. Book your photographer and accommodation
Photographers usually book out around 12 months in advance, so it’s worth booking early on in the planning process. For me, I also help my couples plan their Scotland elopement, so having me on board early will make the planning easier. I also provide every couple with my in-depth recommended supplier guide, full of ideas for officiants, florists, videographers, hair and makeup artists, and even places to stay.
Accommodation also books up way in advance, so it’s well worth nailing down somewhere to stay, especially if you’re planning to elope between April and October. This will give you the best options for accommodation so you’re not let down if your favourite Airbnb or hotel is fully booked.
If you’re planning more than 12 months ahead, then it’s likely you can’t book accommodation that far out. With this in mind, I’d keep an eye on accommodation and book as soon as dates become available.
4. Book an officiant for your ceremony
Like photographers and accommodation, officiants also book up in advance. So, if you’ve found someone you really connect with, reach out to them sooner rather than later. It’s really important that you take the time to look at your options and choose someone you love. After all, they’re the ones who’re going to tell your unique love story and marry you.
You have four options for an elopement officiant in Scotland: humanist, interfaith, religious, or a registrar (government official). They can all perform legal ceremonies, as long as they’re registered to do so. I have an extensive list of recommended officiants I’d be happy to send to you when you enquire.
5. Complete your elopement paperwork and documentation
To legally get married in Scotland, you must submit an M10 Marriage Notice form to the nearest registry office to your elopement location. You must do this no earlier than 3 months before and no later than 29 days before. They’ll check your documents and schedule an appointment for you to see them in person within 7 days of your elopement. Here, they’ll double check your ID and issue you a Marriage Schedule, which you’ll take to your ceremony.
You only need to complete this if you’re deciding to legally get married in Scotland. I’d say approximately half of my couples do it this way. The other half choose to legally get married at home and then have a symbolic ceremony in Scotland.
IMPORTANT: Registry offices are government buildings, which means most are open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday – Friday. They’re closed at weekends and on bank holidays, so if you’re getting married at the weekend or on a Monday, you may need to book an appointment to pick up your Marriage Schedule on the Friday before (or on the morning of your ceremony). You can find a list of registry offices and their opening times by clicking here.
6. Apply for your Marriage Visa
You only need to do this is you want to have a 100% legal wedding in Scotland. You can apply for this no earlier than 3 months before you travel. It currently costs £115 and allows you to stay for up to 6 months. You can find more information on how to apply for the Marriage Visitor Visa here.
7. Choose your witnesses
To legally get married in Scotland, you need two witnesses over the age of 16. If you’re bringing friends and family, you can pick two of them. However, lots of my couples tend to elope just the two of them. The good news is that I can be on of your witnesses. I can also help you find a second, but it’s worth asking your officiant and any other suppliers you’ve booked for the day if they can help too. After photographing more than 200 elopements, I’ve never struggled to find a second witness, so you can rest assured we’ll find one.
You must give their information to the registry office when you submit your M10 Marriage Notice Form. If you’re not having a legal ceremony then you don’t need witnesses. You can find more information about witnesses here.
8. Choose what to wear for your Scotland elopement
This might not be something you’ve thought much about, but it’s super important. The changeable weather conditions and likelihood of a bit of hiking mean you’ll want to wear something you can easily move in and that keeps you warm.
It’s also worth considering the overall aesthetic of your elopement day. Getting married in the Highlands surrounded by lush colours might inspire you to want to match your outfits to ‘fit into’ the landscape. Choosing earth, natural colours which compliment the landscape is a good thing to consider. If you’re after a more classy, timeless look then perhaps a black tie and white dress combination would work better.
Pro tip: Consider packing a second dress if you want to wear your elopement dress to an evening dinner celebration. If your day time dress gets all muddy and wet then you can change into something dry and warm for the evening.
9. Collect your Marriage Schedule
After you’ve submitted all of your wedding paperwork to the registry office, they’ll schedule an appointment for you to see them in-person. Here, you’ll pick up your Marriage Schedule, which is a piece of paper you take to your ceremony. You and your partner, along with your witnesses and officiant will sign it after the ceremony. You can pick this up within 7 days of your elopement, but no earlier.
You then need to hand the Marriage Schedule back to the registry office within 3 days. If you’re eloping when they’re closed then all registry offices either have a post box or letter box you can drop the form into.
IMPORTANT: Registry offices are government buildings, which means most are open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday – Friday. They’re closed at weekends and on bank holidays, so if you’re getting married at the weekend or on a Monday, you may need to book an appointment to pick up your Marriage Schedule on the Friday before (or on the morning of your ceremony). You can find a list of registry offices and their opening times by clicking here.
10. Elope in Scotland and have the adventure of a lifetime
Your day has finally arrived! Believe me, it’ll come around quicker than you think. Soak it all up because this day will only happen once.
If you book me, I’ll have been on hand in the weeks and months leading up to your elopement, so we have a plan in place. I chat to couples lots via e-mail, so whenever you have questions you can always drop me a message. Around 4 – 6 weeks before your elopement I like to schedule a Zoom chat so we can run through last minute questions and also put together a tentative timeline. It’s important that our plan is flexible, just in case we need to shift timings around due to inclement weather.
Best Places to Elope in Scotland
1) Isle of Skye Elopement
Is this the best place to elope in Scotland? Well, I think so! Okay, I do live on Skye so maybe I’m biased. But, Skye genuinely does have everything when it comes to getting married. It’s blessed with world-famous landmarks, such as Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Fairy Pools, and Fairy Glen. It also has an abundance of exquisite restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful places to stay.
It’s the second most visited place in Scotland, with Edinburgh being the first. Skye frequently gets in excess of 750,000 visitors each year, with numbers expected to reach over 1 million this year.
The Isle of Skye is roughly a 5 hour drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports, but the drive is one of the most breathtaking you’ll ever do, winding through epic mountain valleys for miles and miles.
You can view my in-depth Isle of Skye elopement guide here.
Don’t let the visitor numbers put you off though, especially if you’re looking to have an intimate, personal elopement experience. However, there are some extra things to consider when eloping on the Isle of Skye. Here are some of my top tips:
- Book a local photographer who knows the area well. I live on Skye, so know which parts are busy and which are quiet at different times of the year. I can make sure we find a scenic spot away from crowds so your elopement day feels intimate and special.
- Consider eloping from Autumn to mid-Spring to beat the Summer rush of tourists. We also get these small flies called midges in the Summer, which swarm and can be a nuisance, so you’ll not have to think about those.
- Book your accommodation and reservations for restaurants well in advance if possible. It can be difficult to find places to stay if you book last minute and if you walk into restaurants during busy periods, you’ll likely not be able to find a seat.
- Be flexible with your elopement timeline. Skye is on the West Coast of Scotland, which means we can often get four seasons in one day. Although it’s rare I’ve had to completely change an elopement timeline before, if the weather is very bad then we may need to shift things around. I also tend to choose locations based on the best light and where the weather dictates so you have the best possible elopement photographs.
2) Glencoe Elopement
Glencoe is located in the Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands, approximately 2 – 2.5 hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh. It’s a famous mountain valley and village near the mouth of the river Coe and is the remnants of an ancient super volcano thought to have erupted 420 million years ago.
It’s one of my favourite places to photograph elopements for lots of reasons. The close proximity to the mountains really feels epic, especially if you take the time to walk a little up the hillsides to a viewpoint. The Three Sisters and Buachaille Etive Mor are the most famous mountains in Glencoe and both are popular spots for elopement ceremonies.
You can read my in-depth Glencoe elopement guide here.
However, like the Isle of Skye, Glencoe can also be super busy. The main A82 road rungs straight through the valley, so it can be noisy during peak tourist season. For this reason I like to plan the timeline so we finish at sunset during late Spring – Summer so we can beat that midday surge and make best use of the light.
Glencoe does also have quieter parts, such as Glen Etive (the ‘Skyfall’ road), which is a long and winding road through beautiful lush glens and mountains, finishing at Loch Etive. There are plenty of locations down this road and I’ve got personal favourites I like to take all of my couples to.
3) Cairngorms National Park Elopement
The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park and is home to ancient forests, beautiful lochs, and is part of the Grampian Mountain range, which is one of the 3 main mountain ranges in Scotland. The Cairngorms is also the UK’s largest area of high ground, meaning it can get very low winter temperatures and cool summers.
PRO TIP: Because of the high ground and low temperatures, the roads can sometimes be closed if there’s been heavy snowfall. So, plan ahead and always check the weather forecast before arriving.
The Cairngorms is the perfect elopement location if you adore forests and lochs. The Caledonian Forest was once a vast wilderness of pine forests, birch, rowan, aspen, and juniper trees which covered most of Scotland. The Cairngorms is unfortunately the last surviving part of this ancient landscape and is an important biodiversity habitat.
The wildlife is also a huge reason people flock to the Cairngorms. It’s home to lots of rare and endangered species. You’ll frequently see Red Squirrels and birds of prey, such as Ospreys.
For your elopement, there are lots of beautiful locations, such as Loch An Eilein, Braemar, and Loch Morlich, to name a few. I’ve got some personal favourites I’d love to share with you.
4) Assynt Elopement
Assynt really does feel like another planet when you’re driving around and is a geological area of significance, with rocks dating back 3 billion years. It has an abundance of isolated mountains surrounded by flat moorland and glens, with the most famous mountain being Stac Pollaidh. It’s well worth making the effort to hike this mountain and is fairly easy to access. Maybe we could even hike it on your elopement day for some incredible views?
5) Torridon Elopement
t’s also home to one of the most epic roads you’ll ever see. The Bealach na Bà is part of the North Coast 500 and is famous for its winding corners as it snakes up and over the mountains towards the village of Applecross. Torridon is located on the West Coast of Scotland in Wester Ross, opposite the Isle of Skye and South of Assynt.
Loch Maree, Loch Torridon, and Beinn Eighe are some of the most famous locations in Torridon and beautiful choices for an elopement here.
Because it’s part of the North Coast 500, it can get busy, but it’s such a vast wilderness that finding quiet parts isn’t usually a problem. If you’re driving the North Coast 500 on your trip, then eloping in Torridon or Assynt could be hte perfect choice for you because they’re both on the route. I photograph lots of couples who decide to do this and drive the route clockwise so they can elope at the beginning of their adventure in Scotland.
6) Edinburgh Elopement
If misty mountains, wild glens, and peaceful lochs aren’t your thing, then perhaps a city elopement is. Or, perhaps you’re a bit strapped for time on your trip and don’t want to venture too far from the comfort of the city for your elopement.
Edinburgh has so many incredible spots for your elopement, but for your ceremony I’d advise heading to Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park. You can think of it as a mini Highlands within Edinburgh, with small lochs, gorgeous hillsides, castle ruin breathtaking panoramic views of the city. It’s much easier to find a quiet spot for your elopement here. Then, afterwards why not talk a walk through the Old Town on the cobbled streets of the Royal Mile, stop for a coffee and a bite to eat, then tour the city? There lots of great spots for elopement photos, such as Calton Hill, Edinburgh Castle, the Vennel Viewpoint, and Dean Village.
Considering Edinburgh was voted on of the 50 best cities in the world and attracts millions of visitors every year, you must plan ahead when getting married here or if you’re visiting as part of your trip to Scotland. There are lots of stunning places to stay, theatres to visit, museums to explore, and world-class restaurants. But, to avoid disappointment book well in advance, especially if there’s something you’re dying to see.
Scotland Elopement FAQ’s
How much does it cost to elope in Scotland?
Eloping in Scotland can range from £4000 – £15000, depending on what you’re after. However, my couples typically spend between £8000 and £15000, including everything.
The cost to elope in Scotland is based on what kind of elopement experience you want. You could spend less or more depending on what you’re looking for. The beauty of eloping in Scotland is that you can legally get married outdoors, so you don’t need to pay for a venue. As a minimum, the things you need are: yourselves, a celebrant, two witnesses, and your photographer. Choosing how to spend your budget wisely and on the things that really matter to you is important. Why not spend less on your clothing and more on a beautiful cosy Airbnb?
I’ve written a helpful guide which walks you through how much it costs to elope in Scotland, which you can read by clicking/tapping here.
Scotland is blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. From cosy islands to rugged mountains, rolling hills, and dramatic waterfalls, there really is something for everyone.
Can a US citizen get married in Scotland?
To get married in Scotland as a US citizen, you must apply for a Marriage Visa and fill in your M10 Marriage Notice Form no earlier than 3 months and no later than 29 days before your elopement. The process is quite simple, although can take a bit of time to fill in.
Around 50% of the couples I photograph who elope from the US choose to have a legal ceremony. If you’re not too fussed about your Scotland elopement being legal then I’d advise doing that bit back home and having a symbolic ceremony here. Symbolic ceremonies are still incredibly beautiful and only differ from legal ceremonies by not having the legal declaration.
When is the best time of year to elope in Scotland?
It really depends on what you want from your elopement experience. If you’re visiting Scotland to attend a festival or famous event, such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, then this will limit the flexibility you have.
If you want those lush green colours throughout the Highland landscape, then they’ll be at their peak in Summer from mid – late June until late August. However, this also coincides with peak tourist season, so everywhere will be busy. A mid-late Spring elopement will give you those lush greens without the huge tourist numbers.
Personally, my favourite time of year to photograph is Autumn from mid-September until mid-November. I just adore those deep orange, brown, and red colours, as well as the moodier weather. This also happens to be my busiest time of year for elopements, so if you’re keen to book me for this time of year then reach out asap.
What should I wear for a Scotland elopement?
I get this question so much from couples and it’s a really important thing to consider. If you’re eloping in the city then I’d say you can pretty much wear anything you want unless you’re also going to be doing some hiking. Most of the couples I photograph elope in the Highlands where there’s a little bit of hiking involved. For this reason, wearing something that allows you to move freely and unrestricted is vital. Nothing can kill moral quicker than trying to hike for half an hour in a tight fitting dress! You want to enjoy every moment of your elopement experience, so as long as what you choose to wear is comfortable, airy, and light, then you’ll be fine.
Adding layers, such as a shawl or jacket to keep the wind off you is a good idea too. If you’re too hot you can always take these off and if you’re too cold you can add layers.
For footwear, choose something that allows you to walk uphill on uneven, rocky ground or slippery grass. If you really want to wear heels or a ‘fancy’ dress shoe, then pack it in your backpack and change once we arrive to your elopement ceremony spot.
Scotland Elopement Packages
Scotland Elopement Photographer
As a local elopement photographer based on the Isle of Skye, I’ve got lots of experience of the various ways you can elope in Scotland. I’m also familiar with the landscape and can offer advice on the logistics of making your elopement plans come to life. I’d love to chat to you about your plans and help in any way I can. Just get in touch.
I’ve also created more helpful guides for you, from How to Elope on the Isle of Skye to How to Elope with Family. You can find more helpful guides by clicking/tapping here.
I offer a range of coverage options – you can read more about what I offer here.
Get in Touch
Citations
Marriage in Scotland – mygov.scot
Getting Married – Citizens Advice Scotland
