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Your Scottish Elopement
Everything you need to know about eloping to Scotland. The where, when and how.
Let's do this.
Elope to scotland
eloping in scotland
Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of a huge wedding?
Imagine a stress-free, intimate wedding day with breathtaking photos to remember it forever.
We’re here to make all that happen.
So, hi. We are The Sassenachs and maybe you're a Sassenach too?
We know planning an elopement in a beautiful, remote location may seem daunting, but we’ve guided countless couples through this journey - by planning their elopement and then capturing their dream day in stunning, timeless images.
We believe every couple deserves a wedding day that’s as adventurous and unique as they are, without the overwhelming logistics and pressure of traditional weddings.
So... it's nice to meet you.
Shall we begin?
Why Elope to Scotland?
Others fell in love with this country once before and want to share it with their partner.
Or like us, perhaps you see images of the Highlands and just feel... home.
But why elope here?
- You can get legally married anywhere (more on this later)
- It is a cost effective way to have the most epic adventure-wedding
- The stunning backdrops - mountains, forests. dramatic coastlines, castles - all within a couple of hours of the airport
- Less pressure to have hundreds of guests
- Personalised ceremonies
- And, most importantly, we are here. (We are awesome.)
Contact Us
“We couldn't be happier with Clover. It was truly an elegant experience from start to finish. We were treated like royalty.”
aria & declan
“Our pictures from Clover are breathtaking. I still can't believe that's actually us. What an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience”
michelle & robert
meet a real couple
a real elopement
Meet Kirsty and Jacob who flew over from Australia for their Scottish Elopement.
Getting married in a very wet Edinburgh the couple then headed up to The Highlands for a shoot in Glencoe.
let's see them
featured:
Scottish elopement
Aimee and Danny
intimate scottish elopement - slains castle
Actors and general all round awesome people Aimee and Danny travelled from Philadelphia with a few of their closest friends and families for an intimate castle elopement
Elopement wedding scotland
Madison and Angela Glencoe
Madison and Angela came over from the US for their "just the two of them" elopement.
first things first
how to elope in scotland?
It’s actually fairly simple.
And did you know, Scotland is the only country in the UK that allows you to get legally married anywhere.
The ruins of a seaside castle? Yep.
The sweetest back garden of your crofters cabin? Absolutely.
The literal side of a mountain. Aye.
Non-binding ceremony: Some couples prefer to complete their marriage paperwork and legal ceremony in their own country then celebrate with a special, though non-binding, elopement ceremony in Scotland. We love working with humanist celebrants for the non-binding ceremonies (learn more about humanism HERE). A non-binding ceremony does give us more freedom throughout your elopement day for your photography. Another difference is that there are no witnesses needed (though we’ll still be there cheering you on all day!).
Legal ceremony: This is most popular with our couples from the UK—the paperwork is the same as with any marriage ceremony. You’ll share your vows with a celebrant (humanist or religious) and at least two witnesses. Not bringing anyone along? We’d be honoured to be your witnesses! For couples from outside the UK who want a legal ceremony, there’s a bit more paperwork, but it’s still pretty straightforward. We’re happy to point you in the right direction, but recommend chatting with your celebrant to make sure you’re filling out the forms correctly.
There are two routes to eloping in Scotland:
aka, here’s where we talk about everyone’s favourite topic.... paperwork!
I want to elope
Cost to elope to scotland
That's a tricky one to answer... for us we don't have set packages and you will find that is probably the case for most experienced elopement photographers. The reason for that is simple.
Your elopement is as unique as you are and therefore you need a bespoke package that is tailored to suit you. No cookie cutter packages here!
We will say one thing though. in 2023, an average wedding in the UK cost around £25,000 according to Bridebook and $30,000 in the US according to CNBC and prices are rising.
These prices do not include the Honeymoon. Your Scottish Elopement will likely cost less than half that with a holiday thrown in for good measure. Seems a good deal to us!
With over 10 years of experience helping couples from around the world realise their Scottish elopement dreams, don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your specific requirements – we can tailor a package that perfectly suits your vision, ensuring every detail is just as you imagined.
Our pricing
MYTHS and LEGENDS
We’ll share our favourite Scottish myths and customs
You’ll be the absolute legends doing your wedding your way.
Hand-fasting, the oathing stone, drinking from a ceremonial quaich…there are meaningful Scottish marriage customs we would love to help you incorporate into your elopement package. It’s a wonderful way to blend the old ways with your modern elopement.
It’s tradition
Without being traditional
FANCY A PADDLE?
That old requirement of marriage in a church? Not if you don’t want it. We love to help our couples pinpoint their perfect location to share their vows and spend an unforgettable elopement day.
With a decade of experience capturing landscapes and portraits across Scotland, we have a wealth of knowledge to guide you as you choose an elopement location that holds meaning to you. That’s why when we say fancy a paddle, we mean you could literally share your vows in the middle of a loch.
Wild, isn’t it? And absolutely possible.
We will quickly run through 6 amazing locations and then after, why not take a wander through our location guides. But this doesn’t cover every incredible corner of this land. Drop us a line to hear more about the elopements we’ve photographed everywhere from the border castles of the south to the untamed wilderness of the north.
scottish elopement locations
Where to elope in scotland
Here are our our top 6 locations.... In no particular order
01
Glencoe Elopement
Our home has to be number 1 on the list. A Glen as beautiful as any place in the world. Filled with drama, history and mystery. Waterfalls, rivers, lochs, beaches, mountains - it really does have it all.
3 hours from Edinburgh and a wee bit less from Glasgow but please note we do not offer elopements here in July or August due to tourists and midges.
02
Isle of skye Elopement
Approx 5.5 hours from Edinburgh. Like Glencoe, we don't do elopements here during July and August
03
Glen shiel elopement
A lesser known Glen on the way to The Isle of Skye. The site of a pivotal Jacobite battle in the 17th century, this steep sided Glen is often overlooked. With great 360 degree all round views, this place should be high up on your list.
4.5 hours from Edinburgh and Glasgow and suitable for all year round elopements.
04
Edinburgh elopement
The only city on our list. Edinburgh is a wonderful city that feels like you have stepped back in time. Cobbled streets lead to enclosed courtyards that make for intimate images.
With the bonus of direct flights from all around the world, this is a really great location choice.
05
trossachs elopement
Home to Loch Lomond and several smaller lochs, this partially forested area is the start of The Highlands. Gentle mountain slopes lead to ancient woodland or lochside beaches. Another place that gets very busy in summer, but a great choice for the rest of the year.
1 hour from Edinburgh, less from Glasgow
06
Aberdeenshire coast elopement
Our favourite place on the East, The Aberdeenshire coast is a great spot for your Scottish Elopement. Home to ruined castles, high cliffs, crashing waves, rolling hills and picturesque fishing villages. This area really does have it all.
Excellent road links and only 3 hours from Edinburgh and Glasgow
Highlands
elopement location guides
Check out our elopement guides for The Highlands, Isle of Skye, Edinburgh and Glencoe
Isle of Skye
Glencoe
Edinburgh
the weather and your scottish elopement
We think it is probably fair to say that the weather in Scotland is more unpredictable than most weather systems.
People often mention that we have four seasons in one day. Well, sometimes in Glencoe we have four seasons in 1 hour.
Wherever you are planning to elope in Scotland, please do not rely on the weather!
We are mountain people and are used to everything that the weather can throw at us. The celebrants that we recommend are the same. And our camera gear is waterproof too!
Lastly, bad weather makes for good photos. You will come together for warmth, the rain will make you laugh. It is all part of that adventure that you are chasing.
"The photos look like they came straight out of a movie."
“The Sassenachs were a dream to work with. We are from the States, so planning our little wedding from afar was a bit daunting, but from our first zoom call with Matt and Jodie we knew they were the team we wanted to shoot our wedding. We actually found them on Instagram and fell in love with their style and then meeting them and getting to know them was icing on the cake. The day of our ceremony they were game for anything. They were fun and total pros. We are so in love with our photos. Everyone can’t stop saying how the photos look like they came straight out of a movie! We definitely recommend them!.”
aimee & Danny
Layers, layers & layers
Wear what you want. There's no traditions here
Firstly, it is important to talk about traditions and expectations - and there are none here!
We've had brides in black, grooms in an open necked shirt - whatever works for you, works for us.
We do recommend bringing plenty of layers as the weather is unpredictable as we've said. Waterproof coats are recommended but not so much waterproof trousers as they can be a fiddle to get on and off.
Lastly, really think about footwear. Cold and wet feet will make you more miserable than anything else. We've written a whole guide about this.
Read the guide on our sister site.
what to wear for their elopement
So many of our clients ask us...
Photography packages
No Hidden Costs: We believe in full transparency. All our travel and accommodation costs are included in your quote.
The coverage that you need. No time limits
Unlimited Vendor Support: We will put you in touch with the BEST people to make your day perfect (planning package only)
Regular Catch-Ups: By the time your elopement arrives, we won’t just be your photographers - we’ll be your friends (planning package only)
Optional Personalised Mood Board & Posing Ideas: About 4 weeks before your day, we’ll create a mood board and share posing ideas tailored to your style
Hand-Edited Images: Each photograph will be carefully hand-edited to highlight the very best of every moment.
Online Gallery & Printing Support: Your images will be delivered through a beautifully curated online gallery, perfect for sharing with loved ones
Our photography + planning packages start from £4,200 providing you a seamless, luxury experience from the moment you begin planning right through to when you’re reminiscing about your special day.
What’s Included:
limited availability - book now
ALL INCLUSIVE ELOPEMENTS
Optional extras including accommodation, bagpiper, additional's days photography and more can be added. Please ask for a quote.
Photography with all the coverage you need - NO time limits.
EVERYTHING you need for your elopement. A celebrant for your legal or symbolic ceremony, hair and make up artist and florals for the wedding couple and 2 nights accommodation in a beautiful hotel
Regular Catch-Ups: By the time your elopement arrives, we won’t just be your photographers - we’ll be your friends.
Optional Personalised Mood Board & Posing Ideas: About 4 weeks before your day, we’ll create a mood board and share posing ideas tailored to your style
Hand-Edited Images: Each photograph will be carefully hand-edited to highlight the very best of every moment.
Online Gallery & Printing Support: Your images will be delivered through a beautifully curated online gallery, perfect for sharing with loved ones
Our all-inclusive elopements take away all the stress and puts your elopement in to the hands of experienced experts.
What’s Included:
limited availability - book now
No Hidden Costs: We believe in full transparency. All our travel and accommodation costs are included in your quote.
useful resources
Visit Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Scotland Good Food Guide
Luxury Scotland Hotels
NC500
Isle of Skye Visitor Info
National Trust for Scotland
© The Sassenachs 2025