Press and media
The wedding industry takes itself very seriously. We don’t.
We’re Matt and Jodie Ward. We photograph couples who looked at the traditional wedding, thought “absolutely not” and came to Scotland instead.
If you’re writing or recording something about weddings, elopements or getting married in Scotland from overseas, we’ll give you straight answers, real numbers and an opinion you can print.
Email Matt at matt@thesassenachs.co.uk.
Things we have opinions about
The wedding industry is a bit much
Somewhere along the way a party and some photographs turned into an eighteen-month project with a mood board. We think most couples know that already. They just need someone in the industry to say it out loud.
Eloping doesn’t mean sneaking off
Plenty of our couples bring their parents, their kids or their dog. What they’re skipping is the production, and the people they love still come.
We won’t photograph on the Isle of Skye
We love Skye and photographed dozens of elopements there. It got too busy. We’d sooner take couples somewhere they can hear each other, and we’ll happily explain where and why.
Scotland in August is a mistake
Midges in the Highlands, festival crowds in Edinburgh. We tell couples to come in almost any other month, which is not what a tourism board would say.
You don’t need a venue
In Scotland the right celebrant can legally marry you outdoors, on a hillside or a beach. Most people outside Scotland don’t know that.
In Matt’s words
What annoys you most about the wedding industry?
It’s performative wankery. Most couples end up doing everything for everybody else, as that is what they’ve been told society expects.
What do couples worry about that turns out not to matter?
Rain. Almost every couple asks about it. We have never known someone complain about it if it happens.
And when it’s chucking it down on the day?
They’ve got lucky. Rain makes for the best photos. Look at our website. Most of those in our portfolio are taken in the rain.
Someone says eloping is selfish. What do you say?
It’s OK to be selfish and elope. Your wedding is for you both and nobody else.
Why won’t you photograph on Skye?
It’s too busy, quite simply. I love Skye. We were lucky enough to do dozens of elopements there. But it became so busy, with limited alternatives on the island other than seeing other couples.
What makes a good wedding photo?
When the couple are enjoying themselves, you can see it in the photo. The biggest part of our job is making sure the couple are having a good time.
The daftest charge you’ve come across?
We know of a venue that charges for bringing in your own seating plan board.
How do you work with your wife every day?
We’ve worked together for nearly 15 years. We met in an office and it’s the best part of the job.
Where our couples come from
Most of our couples fly a long way to get here. Of the 217 whose home we know:
By country
- USA, 111 couples
- UK, 51
- Canada, 22
- Australia, 14
- 13 other countries, from Brazil to Singapore
Top US states
- California, 12 couples
- Georgia, 6
- Texas, 5
- Washington, 5
- 30 states and Washington DC in total
Writing for a US or Canadian outlet? Ask us whether we’ve had couples from your patch. There’s a map on our homepage.
What our inbox tells us
We read back through nearly 600 enquiries from couples planning to marry in Scotland since 2022. We’re not calling it science, but a few things stood out.
- Around 100 asked about bringing guests. Fewer asked to come completely alone.
- More than 40 mentioned Outlander, medieval history, fantasy or something gothic.
- About 40 weren’t getting married at all. They were renewing vows or marking an anniversary.
- Only a handful said cost was the reason. Far more said they couldn’t face the planning.
Marrying in Scotland from overseas
- You don’t have to live in Scotland to marry here. Couples from abroad do it every week.
- Both people submit a marriage notice to the local registrar ahead of the date. It costs £45 per person.
- Most visitors from overseas need a Marriage Visitor visa (£135) to marry legally in the UK.
- A registrar ceremony costs £55, plus the council’s room charge. The marriage certificate is £10.
- Many couples skip the paperwork, marry legally at home and have a symbolic ceremony here.
Official fees as of October 2026. Check gov.uk and nrscotland.gov.uk before you print them.
Ask Matt about
- Why couples are walking away from big weddings
- What eloping to Scotland involves, start to finish
- The legal side for American and Canadian couples
- Photographing a wedding in sideways rain
- The best and worst months to marry in Scotland
- Outlander, castles and Scottish history (he films history documentaries too)
- Working with your spouse for nearly 15 years
- What the wedding industry gets wrong
Matt is available for podcasts, radio and written comment, and can usually turn a quote round the same day.
Photographs
We can supply images for editorial use where the couple has agreed. Tell us what the piece is and we’ll send a selection.
About us
We met in an office, got married and have worked together every day since. We’ve been photographing elopements across Scotland for over ten years. We have three kids, more dogs than is sensible and strong feelings about how Game of Thrones ended.
Matt is the main photographer. He plans each elopement with the couple, can lead a symbolic ceremony and will carry a wedding dress through a bog without complaining. Much.
Jodie shoots the second angles, looks after the couple on the day (hair, veil, touch-ups, tissues) and edits every gallery.
We cover Glencoe to Edinburgh and up the East Coast. We don’t cover the Isle of Skye or the far north of Scotland.
Get in touch
Email Matt at matt@thesassenachs.co.uk. If you’re on a deadline, put it in the subject line.