How to plan a small wedding or elopement in Scotland?
It’s so easy to get married in Scotland and we hope this page will help you!
You can have your wedding ceremony anywhere, indoors or out, at a place of your choosing, at any time of day, week or year, at the discretion of your celebrant, who by law has to ensure your wedding ceremony is ‘safe and dignified’. This allows for so much choice, made easier by the fact that Argyll is one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of Scotland!
How to plan a small wedding or elopement in Scotland?
It’s so easy to get married in Scotland and we hope this page will help you!
You can have your wedding ceremony anywhere, indoors or out, at a place of your choosing, at any time of day, week or year, at the discretion of your celebrant, who by law has to ensure your wedding ceremony is ‘safe and dignified’. This allows for so much choice, made easier by the fact that Argyll is one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of Scotland!
beautiful wild locations
In Argyll you have the choice of so many fabulous locations, but here on Craignish peninsula we have to admit to our bias of loving where we live! We are tucked away on the west coast of Scotland in Argyll (map) , a scenic two and a half hour drive from Glasgow, and only a 40 minute drive from Oban, the travel hub for ferries to many of the Hebridean Islands.
Craignish peninsula has gorgeous secluded beaches, hills, freshwater lochs and lovely woodlands, so it would be hard to find a more breathtaking place to get married!
Also we are only a few miles from the rich history of Kilmartin’s neolithic standing stones, the Crinan Canal and so many other fabulous places.
Our local Humanist celebrant Annie has lived in Argyll for over 30 years and on Craignish for 16 of those years and she would be delighted to share her wealth of knowledge of the many quirky and unusual nooks and crannies this beautiful part of the world has to offer, from private beaches to stunning hilltop views. (See ‘views’ on the ‘gallery‘ page).
Please feel free to get in touch with her to find out more, as she would love to help you create your wonderful intimate wedding ceremony! T: 07919966444 annie.loughlin@humanism.scot
legal info
One of the most important parts of your wedding is making sure you arrange the legalities.
Basically, all you need to decide is a date, time and place for your wedding ceremony, chose a celebrant and decide who your two witnesses will be, who must be aged 16 or over and can be your photographer, for example, or we can can help you find someone if you are not having any guests.
You must then submit your marriage notice (M10 form) to the registry office nearest to your wedding venue, so your Marriage Schedule can be drawn up. This should be done three months prior to your wedding and at the latest 29 days before.
This all may sound complicated, but it actually isn’t and our local Humanist wedding celebrant Annie has 15 years of experience of conducting wedding ceremonies, so not only will she happily guide you through the logistics step by step and advise you on the legalities, and hopefully make the whole process as simple as possible, she also really loves helping couples create beautiful bespoke small wedding or elopement ceremonies in Argyll and she is always very honoured when she is chosen to take on this role! (see Ceremony page)
And to answer the questions Annie is most often asked, no, you don’t need to have a separate ceremony with the registrar and yes your Humanist marriage in Scotland is legally binding and recognised everywhere in the world!
recording your day
Of course you’ll want to record your magical wedding day, not only so you can look back and cherish every detail, but also share your memories with family and friends.
Bill Baillie is a local highly experienced photographer, with a wonderful eye for spotting beautiful moments and has a delightful easy going manner.
“I want to capture the feelings, the mood, the emotions, the calm and crazy moments and all the details that make your wedding unique, in a very natural, unobtrusive, documentary style of photography”.
https://www.billbaillie.com/
Others include;
Eilidh Cameron.
https://www.eilidhcameronphotography.com/
Bart, videographer;
https://www.weddingsbybart.com/video
Dale, aerial photography & video
https://www.risingview.co.uk/
Stop frame photography ‘Mirrorbox’, Glasgow.
https://www.mirrorboxphotography.com/
“We chose to elope because we wanted a quiet, relaxing day without any pressure , any strict timetables or stressing over if everybody had had a good time.
The wedding wasn’t a secret we just didn’t tell anyone, so no one felt left out or hurt for not being invited.
It was impossible just to invite a few people so we had to decide between all or nothing and we do not regret our choice.
The ceremony was just perfect – we ended up going out on a boat with only us , our two witnesses, our celebrant Annie and the skipper on board.
We had a very unique personalised wedding that we enjoyed every minute of.”
Kriszti & Peter
all at sea
If you dream of having your wedding ceremony on the water, with maybe a wee pre or post nuptial wildlife tour, fishing trip, an exciting journey to Jura or an even wilder trip to Corryvrechan (the world’s third largest whirlpool) then you’ve come to the best place in Scotland and we have some great local options.
Jenny Wren
A luxury personalised boat trip for 2-8 people, with a heated cabin, comfortable seats, a toilet, hot or cold drinks available, or of course fizz!
Contact Barry;
T: 07973450225
accommodation
There are so many gorgeous places to stay on Craignish peninsula to suit every budget!
If it’s ancient castles you dream of, then the gorgeous nearby Kilmartin Castle in the midst of neolithic atmospheric standing stones is a fabulous choice; https://www.kilmartincastle.com
Lunga House is the perfect venue for a small intimate wedding, set in acres of grounds, with wonderful sea views.
http://www.lungahouse.co.uk/
Craobh Haven House Holiday Rental, offers another sumptuous option, right on the shore with stunning views of the sea, the islands and the marina. https://www.craobhhavenhouse.com/
Corrie House is a really gorgeous small luxury boutique hotel offering spectacular views and a warm welcome. https://www.corrie-house.co.uk
Only a mile from Craignish is Arduaine and the wonderfully luxurious Loch Melfort Hotel. https://www.lochmelfort.co.uk
Dunollie Castle is a beautiful ancient ruin, set in woodlands with stunning sea views and also a newly built heated oak framed gazebo.
https://www.dunollie.org/weddings
Ardfern’s local pub has accommodation, ‘The Galley of Lorne’. http://www.galleyoflorne.co.uk
If a yurt or roundhouse would be your perfect place ….. http://www.ardfernative.com
If you have your own motor home/camper van, then check out Ardfern Motor Home Park. https://www.ardfernmotorhomepark.com
And for a few more ideas …..
Lunga Estate have a wide selection of accommodation, from camping to cabins to cottages.
Accomodation on Lunga Estate
Or try adding ‘Craobh Haven’ , ‘Lunga’ or ‘Ardfern’ on Airbnb and zoom in to see the variety on offer. https://www.airbnb.co.uk
And Craignish info page has lots of ideas; https://www.craignish.info/self-catering.html
food
Craignish peninsula has a wide selection of eating options and here are a few of our favourites, but please ask if you have any questions!
There are two pubs on each side of the peninsula, both with stunning sea views, great food and real ales;
The Lord of the Isles, in Craobh Haven. http://lordoftheisles.co.uk/
The galley of Lorne, in Ardfern. http://www.galleyoflorne.co.uk/
There is also a wonderful cafe in the heart of Ardfern village, ‘Lucy’s’, where you will be welcomed by the delicious smell of home made brunch, lunch and gorgeous fresh baking. Tel; 01852 500781 http://www.lucys-ardfern.co.uk/
Craobh Watersports cafe in Craobh Haven village has a sea view and good home-cooked food with nourishing soups, local produce and delicious baking. www.craobhwatersports.co.uk
Ardfern village shop has everything you need, as well as delicious homemade sandwiches, soups, stews, pies and sweet treats to take away.
Only a mile away in Arduaine is The Loch Melfort Hotel, which has delicious menus for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. https://www.lochmelfort.co.uk/food/
Janine Calder will cook you a delicious vegan feast;
01852 500734 / 07906 818230 janinecalder@hotmail.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/veganfoodargyll
Dawn caters for veggies and meat eaters alike, T; 01852 500610 M: 07717 500722
Jonathan from ‘Argyll Hog Roasts’ will cook you roasts, bbq, paella, tapas & buffet food. http://www.hogroastargyll.co.uk/
Oban has a local produce shop, in Combie St, ‘Taste of Argyll’, where you can stock up on a wide range of delicious local produce and can provide local produce hampers.
https://www.facebook.com/Taste-of-Argyll-local-producers-1666726946806691/
And on Argyll St in Lochgilphead, be sure to call in to the wonderful ‘Marmalade Deli’, to sample their wares. www.marmaladedeli.com
things to do
Craignish has a wealth of wonderful activities to indulge the senses during your stay and here are some ideas to start with;
Horse riding; Lunga Stables
Boat trips/fishing/wildlife; Jenny Wren Boat Charters
Massage; Lizzie Rose; 07717583965 or email lizzieionarose@yahoo.co.uk
1:1 & 1:2 Yoga; Di Oliver
Wildlife photography workshops; Loch Visions
Art Gallery & workshops; Colin Woolf Fine Art
Neolithic standing stones and Kilmartin Museum
Whiskey tasting tours, Jura, Islay, Mull & Oban.
Craobh watersports for boat hire, paddleboards, open kayaks.
flowers
Flowers add so much to a wedding day, so here are a few of wonderful local florists to investigate;
Flowers from Lunga.
Locally grown seasonal blooms.
Val; 07523672937
vee2may@gmail.com
Flowersfromlunga Instagram & FB
https://www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk/members/lunga-gardens-fresh-cut-flowers/
Love Dove Flowers;
Gill; 01546 510453/07741484543.
http://www.lovedovecottage.com/gallery.html
Flowers by Morna;
Morna; 07884 453327
Facebook
what couples say
“We decided to elope because we didn’t really want the big white wedding and wanted something that was personal to us. We literally just rocked up on a beautiful beach in Argyll with a few close family members (including Dave the dog) and picked the perfect spot to get married – the pictures were amazing! We kept the Scottish theme by having a big Ceilidh with all our friends and family when we got back home so had the best of both worlds. Annie was great – she reassured us that everything would go smoothly (which it did) and was on hand for any help we needed in choosing how the ceremony went. We wouldn’t change a thing.”
“My husband and I eloped during lockdown in April 2021. We’d talked about having a big wedding, but it just wasn’t something we wanted, as neither of us like being the center of attention, and the thought of walking down the aisle with everyone staring at me always filled me with fear, which I didn’t want to feel on my wedding day! So we decided to elope, planning everything with Annie our celebrant, in a little over a month. Apart from our parents, we didn’t tell anyone what we were doing. There was something so exciting and so romantic about it – the thought of running away to get married. We didn’t need to follow tradition, or meet people’s expectations, or have a big flashy wedding. We were just two people in love who wanted to commit to each other forever. All we needed was each other, and it was the best day of our lives. If we could do it all over again, we wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you Annie!”
“Loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.”
Oscar Wilde.
info@elopetoargyll.co.uk
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