Let’s talk money.
Not in a vague “it depends” kind of way, but actual numbers. Because if you’re sitting in California or Texas or wherever right now, dreaming about saying your vows in the Scottish Highlands, you need to know what this is actually going to cost you.
Here’s the short answer: most American couples spend between $11,000 and $22,000 to elope to Scotland, including flights, accommodation, photography and everything else.
That’s roughly half the cost of the average US wedding, which now sits at around $30,000 to $35,000. Yep. That’s average. Anecdotally, we speak to clients every week who tell us of venues that cost $40,000 or more in their home state.
But here’s what makes it better than just “cheaper”. You’re not compromising. You’re getting an actual adventure, a proper holiday and a wedding day that’s entirely about the two of you. No awkward speeches from Uncle Dave. No stress about seating charts. Just you, your partner and some of the most stunning scenery on the planet.
So let’s break down where that money actually goes.
The Big Stuff: Flights
Cost: $700 to $1,500 per person (round trip)
This is usually your biggest single expense, and it varies wildly depending on where you’re flying from and when you book.
From the East Coast (New York, Boston, DC): You can often find direct flights to Edinburgh for $600 to $900 if you book a few months ahead. Sometimes less if you’re flexible.
From the West Coast (LA, San Francisco, Seattle): Expect $800 to $1,200. You’ll likely have a connection, but that’s just more time to get excited.
From the middle (Chicago, Denver, Texas): Usually $700 to $1,000 with one stop.
Pro tip from us: Fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow, not Inverness. The international connections are better and cheaper. Yes, Inverness is closer to the Highlands, but the price difference will pay for your car hire three times over.
When to book: Aim for 2 to 4 months in advance. Too early and prices haven’t dropped yet. Too late and you’re paying premium rates.
Seasons matter: Flying in November or February? You’ll save a couple of hundred quid each compared to July or August. Oh. And July and August suck for eloping in Scotland. Just saying.
Accommodation: Where You’ll Actually Stay
Cost: $150 to $600+ per night
This is where you set the tone for your whole experience, and honestly, it matters more than you think.
You’re flying thousands of miles to get married in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The place you wake up in, the place you get ready, the place you come back to after your ceremony – it should feel special.
Mid-Range ($150-$300/night): Boutique hotels, well-appointed lodges, or characterful Airbnbs. Think log fires, mountain views and maybe a roll-top bath. For a week, you’re looking at $1,050 to $2,100.
Luxury ($300-$500/night): This is where it gets good. Castle stays, five-star country hotels, or private lodges with hot tubs overlooking lochs. Floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Highlands. Chef’s kitchens. The kind of place where you’ll spend your mornings with coffee just staring at the view. A week runs $2,100 to $3,500.
Ultra-Luxury ($500+/night): Historic castle estates, Michelin-starred hotel restaurants on-site, private spa facilities, the full five-star treatment. This is the “we’re doing this once so we’re doing it properly” level. A week? $3,500 to $5,000+.
Our take: Most of our couples book somewhere between mid-range and then opt for luxury for their wedding night and the night beforehand. You’re already investing in this experience, and your accommodation sets the mood for everything else. The couples who try to save money here often tell us later they wished they’d splurged.
Also, and this is important – nicer places often have better locations for getting ready photos, more privacy and staff who understand that this is your wedding trip, not just a holiday.
How long to stay: Most couples do 7 to 10 days. That gives you time to recover from jet lag, have your elopement and then actually enjoy Scotland without rushing. Don’t try to cram it into 4 days. You’ll be exhausted and you’ll miss the whole point.
Photography: The Investment That Actually Matters
Cost: $3,000 to $6,000
Right, we need to be straight with you about this.
Your photos are the only thing from your elopement that you’ll still have in 30 years. The flowers die, the cake gets eaten, the accommodation is a memory. But those images? They’re what you’ll be looking at when you’re old and grey, showing your grandkids where you got married.
So when couples tell us they’re spending $20,000 on their elopement but trying to find a photographer for $1,500, we have to say something.
Romantic elopement photography in Glencoe, Scottish Highlands, with misty peaks and rugged scenery.
What you should expect to invest:
The best elopement photographers in Scotland – the ones who know the locations inside out, who can handle the weather, who’ve done this hundreds of times – charge between $3,000 and $6,000 for full-day coverage.
That’s not us being sales-y. That’s just the reality of what quality costs.
What that money gets you:
- Someone who knows Scotland intimately and can guide you to the perfect spots
- Full-day coverage (not just a few hours)
- Help with planning your timeline and locations
- A relaxed, documentary style that captures real moments
- Professional editing that makes the Scottish landscape look as epic as it actually is
- High-resolution digital images
- Often an album or prints included
The photographers charging $1,500 to $2,500? They’re either just starting out, they’re not specialists in elopements, or they’re based somewhere cheap and don’t understand Scottish locations and weather. That’s fine if you’re on a tight budget, but understand what you’re getting.
The photographers charging $10,000+? They exist, and some are worth it. But you start getting into diminishing returns above $6,000 for most couples.
Where most of our couples land: Between $3,500 and $8,000 for a photographer who knows their stuff, includes planning help and delivers images that make you go “holy shit, is that actually us?”
Our take: This is the one place you absolutely should not try to save money. You can have a simpler ceremony, skip the bagpiper, bring your own flowers – but your photography? That’s your legacy from this day.
The Legal Bit: Getting Actually Married
Cost: $500 to $1,000
Here’s the thing. We can’t help you with the legal paperwork. It’s not allowed. But your celebrant absolutely can, and they’ll walk you through the whole process.
What you’ll pay for:
- Notice of marriage fee: Around $140 (required by the Scottish government, paid 29 days before your wedding)
- Celebrant fee: $400 to $800 depending on their experience, location and how far they need to travel
- Marriage visitor visa Around $150 per visa.
Celebrant vs Registrar: Most couples choose a celebrant because they can legally marry you anywhere outdoors. A registrar is cheaper (around $200) but you’re limited to licensed venues, which defeats the point of eloping to a mountain, doesn’t it?
Your celebrant will guide you through all the legal requirements and make sure everything is sorted well before your ceremony. The good ones are worth every penny – they’ll create a ceremony that feels personal, not like they’re reading from a script.
Or, you could skip that part and have a symbolic ceremony instead and just sign the legal papers back home. It makes your ceremony no less special – we promise.
Flowers, Hair and Makeup (If You Want Them)
Cost: $250 to $750
This one’s entirely optional, but most of our couples do want at least some of this.
Flowers: A beautiful bridal bouquet from a good florist runs $80 to $150. Buttonholes for your partner, another $20 to $40. Some couples skip flowers entirely, others go all out with installation pieces. It’s your call.
Hair and Makeup: Mobile artists (the ones who come to where you’re staying) charge $200 to $400 for both hair and makeup. The best ones book up months in advance, especially for autumn weekends.
Our take: If having your hair and makeup professionally done makes you feel incredible, absolutely do it. If you’d rather have a quiet morning getting ready together, that’s equally valid. Both look amazing in photos.
Food and Drink: You’ve Got to Eat
Cost: $400 to $1,500 for the week
Scotland isn’t cheap for food, but the quality is excellent and you’re on your honeymoon, so don’t skimp too much here.
Eating out: Decent pub meals run $15 to $25 per person. Nicer restaurants, $35 to $70 per person. If you want a proper celebration dinner on your elopement day at a top restaurant, budget $150 to $250 for both of you with wine.
Groceries: If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, you can keep costs down by cooking some meals. Supermarkets are everywhere, and you’ll spend about $70 to $120 per week on basics.
Whisky: Come on, you’re in Scotland. Budget $40 to $80 for a couple of decent bottles or some distillery tours. It would be rude not to.
Oh and if you are eloping with us, we may treat you to fish and chips. It makes for a fun photo and it stops Jodie getting hangry. Win win.
Getting Around: Car Hire
Cost: $250 to $650 for the week
You’ll want a car. Public transport in the Highlands is rubbish, and you can’t elope on a bus.
What you’ll pay:
- Small car: $40 to $65 per day
- Larger/automatic car: $65 to $100 per day
- Insurance: Factor in another $65 to $130 for the week
Fuel: Petrol is expensive here compared to the US. Budget around $100 to $150 for a week of driving, depending on how much you explore.
Do you need an automatic? Most hire cars in the UK are manual. If you can’t drive a manual, book an automatic well in advance. They cost more and there are fewer of them.
The Extras (That Add Up)
These are the little things that aren’t essential but might be on your list:
Bagpiper: $250 to $500 (absolutely worth it if you want that proper Scottish moment)
Videographer: $1,300 to $3,200 (if you want film as well as photos)
Private chef dinner: $400 to $800 (instead of going to a restaurant)
Whisky tasting tour: $65 to $130 per person
Kilts or Highland dress hire: $200 to $400
So What’s the Grand Total?
Let’s look at three realistic scenarios for American couples:
But first – if you want to play around with numbers based on YOUR specific plans, we’ve built a handy cost calculator on our homepage. It’ll give you a personalized estimate based on your dates, accommodation choice and flight preferences. Go check it out, then come back here for the full breakdown.
Beautiful Experience Elopement
- Flights: $1,800
- Accommodation (7 nights, mid-range boutique): $1,600
- Photography (experienced photographer, full day): $3,800
- Celebrant and legal fees: $650
- Car hire: $350
- Food for the week: $500
- Flowers (beautiful bouquet): $120
- Hair and makeup: $300
Total: $9,120
The Sweet Spot (Most Common)
- Flights: $2,000
- Accommodation (7 nights, luxury lodge or castle): $2,500
- Photography (top-tier photographer, full day + album): $4,500
- Celebrant and legal fees: $750
- Hair and makeup: $350
- Car hire (automatic): $450
- Food for the week: $700
- Flowers: $150
- Celebration dinner: $200
- Bagpiper: $350
- Whisky and extras: $250
Total: $12,200
The Full Luxury Experience
- Flights (premium economy or business): $5,000
- Accommodation (7 nights, five-star castle hotel): $4,200
- Photography (full day + videographer): $7,500
- Celebrant and legal fees: $900
- Hair and makeup (top artist): $500
- Car hire (automatic, luxury): $650
- Private chef dinner: $650
- Flowers (bouquet + installations): $300
- Bagpiper: $400
- Whisky tours and extras: $500
Total: $20,600
But Here’s the Real Question: Is It Worth It?
The average US wedding now costs between $30,000 and $35,000. You’re spending a year of your life planning it, stressing about guest lists and dealing with family drama. Then the day itself flies by in a blur.
For half that cost, you can:
- Fly to Scotland
- Stay somewhere incredible
- Get married on a mountain or by a waterfall or in front of a castle
- Have photos that look like they belong in a magazine
- Spend a week exploring one of the most beautiful countries on earth
- Actually remember your wedding day because you were present for it
We’ve photographed over 200 elopements, and we’ve never had a couple say they wished they’d had a big traditional wedding instead. Not once.
The money you spend on a Scottish elopement doesn’t just buy you a wedding. It buys you an adventure, a holiday and a story you’ll tell for the rest of your lives.
Ways to Save Money (Without Compromising the Experience)
If your budget is tight but you’re determined to make this happen, here’s where you can cut costs without sacrificing what actually matters:
Travel in the off-season: November, January, February and even March are significantly cheaper for flights and accommodation. Plus, you’ll have the landscapes mostly to yourselves.
And here’s the thing – we actively discourage summer elopements anyway. July and August bring massive tourist crowds and midges (those tiny biting insects that will make you miserable). From our perspective, you’re actually getting a better experience AND saving money by avoiding peak season. That’s a win-win.
Stay longer, spend less per day: Sounds counterintuitive, but if you’re staying 10 days instead of 5, you can spread costs out and find better weekly rates on accommodation and car hire.
Midweek ceremonies: Some vendors offer better rates for Tuesday through Thursday bookings.
Skip some extras: No videographer, no helicopter, no private chef. Just the essentials – amazing photos, a great celebrant and a beautiful location. Your day will still be incredible.
Self-cater some meals: Stay somewhere with a kitchen and cook breakfast and lunch. Save eating out for dinners and your celebration meal.
Book direct: Hotels and photographers often give better rates when you book directly rather than through third-party sites.
What You Definitely Shouldn’t Skimp On
Photography. We would say that, wouldn’t we? But… Seriously. This is your legacy from this day. The difference between a $2,000 photographer and a $6,500 photographer isn’t just the price tag – it’s someone who knows Scotland intimately, who can handle the changeable weather, who’s done this hundreds of times and whose portfolio makes you actually excited.
Celebrant. A good celebrant transforms your ceremony from “reading legal words” into something that feels personal and meaningful. Don’t just go for the cheapest option.
Accommodation that makes you feel something. You’re going to remember where you stayed. Make it somewhere that adds to the magic, not somewhere you’re just tolerating to save £50 a night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to elope to Scotland than have a US wedding? Yes, significantly. You’ll spend roughly half what you’d spend on a traditional US wedding, and you get a holiday included.
Can we elope to Scotland for under $10,000? Absolutely. It requires some strategic choices, but it’s completely doable. We’ve had couples do it for less.
What’s the most expensive part? Usually flights and photography combined. These two things often make up 45% to 55% of your total budget. But they’re also the two things you absolutely shouldn’t compromise on.
Do we tip in Scotland? Tipping isn’t as expected as it is in the US. 10% in restaurants if the service was good, round up for taxi drivers, but you don’t need to tip your photographer or celebrant.
Should we bring US dollars or use cards? Use cards. The exchange rate is usually better than currency exchange, and everywhere takes cards. Bring maybe £50 in cash for emergencies.
How far in advance should we book everything? 6 to 12 months is ideal. That gives you time to sort the legal paperwork (29 days’ notice required), book flights when they’re cheaper and secure your preferred vendors.
Ready to Start Planning?
Look, we’re not going to tell you that eloping to Scotland is cheap. It’s not. But it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a traditional wedding, and you get an experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.
The couples we work with don’t regret a single penny they spent. They regret not booking more days, or not splurging on the nicer accommodation, but never the decision to come to Scotland.
If you’re sitting there thinking “this actually sounds doable”, then let’s talk. We’ll help you figure out locations, timing, what you actually need and what you can skip. No pressure, no sales pitch, just an honest conversation about making this happen.
Get in touch and let’s start planning your Scottish adventure.
