We’ve photographed elopements on the Isle of Skye. More than a few, actually. And somewhere along the way, we made a decision that surprised a lot of people: we stopped.
Not because Skye isn’t beautiful — it obviously is. The Quiraing, the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools — you’ve seen the photos. Everyone has. That’s sort of the problem.
The reality of eloping on Skye
When you picture your elopement on Skye, you’re probably imagining the two of you, alone on a dramatic clifftop, wind in your hair, not a soul in sight. We get it. We had that image too.
What you’re less likely to picture is the coach park at the Fairy Pools rammed with 200 tourists in waterproofs. Or the queue of people waiting to take their Instagram photo at the exact spot you planned to say your vows. Or the single-track roads backed up for half a mile because three campervans met a lorry.
Skye between April and October is heaving. There’s no polite way to say it. The infrastructure wasn’t built for the number of visitors it now gets, and while the scenery is undeniably spectacular, your experience of it is likely to involve a lot of other people’s selfie sticks in your peripheral vision.
Why that matters for your elopement
An elopement should feel private. That’s the whole point — you chose this because you wanted something intimate, not because you wanted to say your vows while a tour group files past. We found ourselves spending more time managing crowds and waiting for gaps than actually photographing couples. That’s not the experience we want to deliver, and it’s not the experience you deserve.
So where do we go instead?
We shoot across Scotland, and the locations we love most give you everything Skye promises — dramatic mountains, moody skies, that wild Highlands feeling — without the crowds.
Glencoe is where we’ve photographed the majority of our 200+ elopements. We know every hidden valley, every loch that tourists drive past without stopping, every spot where you can stand surrounded by mountains and genuinely not see another person. The landscape is every bit as dramatic as Skye, and on most days you’ll have it to yourselves. Read more about eloping in Glencoe
The Cairngorms offer ancient Caledonian pine forests, mountain plateaus, and a completely different feel to the west coast. If you want that wild, rugged Scotland but fancy woodland over sea cliffs, this is where we’d point you.
Perthshire is perfect if you want rolling hills, castles, and a slightly softer landscape. It’s also closer to Edinburgh if you’re planning a city day alongside your elopement.
Edinburgh itself is brilliant for couples who want cobblestones and history rather than hillsides. Old Town at sunrise, before the city wakes up, is genuinely magical. Explore Edinburgh elopements
Aberdeenshire has Slains Castle — a ruined clifftop castle overlooking the North Sea that inspired Bram Stoker. If you want dramatic and slightly Gothic, this is the one. See a real Slains Castle elopement
But what if we really want Skye?
If your heart is absolutely set on Skye, we’d suggest November to February. The tourists thin out dramatically, the light is low and moody, and you’ll actually get the experience you’re imagining. We will consider bookings on Skye during those months — just get in touch and we can talk it through.
Outside of winter, though, we’d genuinely encourage you to consider the alternatives above. Every couple we’ve redirected from Skye to Glencoe has told us afterwards they’re glad they made the switch.
The short version
Skye is gorgeous. Skye is also rammed. You didn’t choose to elope so you could share your ceremony with a crowd. We’ll take you somewhere just as beautiful where you can actually be alone — and that’s not a compromise, it’s an upgrade.