5 Reasons To Get Married in Scotland
I’m all about helping couples plan their dream Scottish wedding. Here are 5 very convincing reasons (in my humble opinion) for having your wedding here in Scotland.
I’m Catrina Duthie and I’m a Scottish wedding planner. Hopefully, you’re here because you’re thinking about having your wedding in Scotland. Before we start, let me tell you a little about why you should give time to my thoughts. In some ways, I’m as Scottish as you’ll get: originally a Shetlander, I now live near Stirling. I spend my time planning the full breadth of Scottish weddings. Whether you’re thinking about an intimate city elopement or remote wilderness shindig, I’m confident this post will encourage you to be as passionate about having your wedding in Scotland as I am on the topic.
1. Stunning Locations
Perhaps one of the trickiest aspects of being a Scottish wedding planner is helping my couples pin down a location when they’re unsure. We have it all: there’s the imposing islands of Skye, Mull and my beloved Shetland to name a few, mountainous Glencoe, rugged Crear and everything else in between. When it comes to raw, untamed nature, you’ll be hard-pushed to beat Scotland. Let’s not forget our bustling beautiful towns and cities such as St Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. I could fill an entire post listing off Scotland’s stunning locations. It’s no surprise that we Scots choose to stay put and marry here. It’s also no surprise so many folks choose to make our country the location for their wedding.
Glencoe: a favourite spot for elopements
2. Incredible Venues
This is where things become truly interesting. Scotland weddings are often associated with remote romantic castles and the wild outdoors. Whilst we have an abundance of spectacular ruins and revamped castles, that’s not the full story. As a Scottish wedding planner, one of the most exciting parts of my job is working in the full range of Scotland wedding venues. We’re almost spoiled for choice when it comes to DIY barns, country estates and converted mills. Beyond that, we have modern minimalist spaces, cool industrial warehouses alongside elegant city hotels. I love helping my couples navigate this spectrum of choice and pinpoint the venue that best reflects their vision for their day. Sometimes the final choice is a surprising outcome for us all.
3. Best Suppliers
This is where I’m a little biased – I really do think we have the best creative wedding suppliers on the planet! We have awesome florists, photographers, filmmakers, make-up artists, stationers, bands and so the list goes on. When you’re planning your wedding, picking the suppliers to bring your vision to life can be overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you know if you can trust them to deliver what you’re hiring them to do? Well, working exclusively and living in Scotland has allowed me to create an unrivalled list of the who’s who in the Scottish wedding industry. My list suits a range of budgets but I guarantee you’ll be as enthusiastic as I am about the team we create for your wedding day.
4. Flexible Where + When
The where part of this is possibly more exciting for those of you who are planning to elope. When you marry in Scotland, you’re given a great deal of flexibility when it comes to the location. This is why you see so many people in the remote areas of Skye – there’s little restriction other than what’s respectful and within the realms of common sense. As to the when, again, you’re given a vast amount of flexibility. If an early morning or late-night ceremony appeals to you, that’s fine, you can decide the when yourself. Scotland gives you complete freedom to decide your timings for your elopement.
5. Perfect Combination of History and Culture
During my time planning Scottish weddings, I’ve observed many couples come to Scotland for the history. It’s mind-blowing to think the castle a couple chooses to hold their ceremony in has been standing for over 700 years. Simply meandering around the back streets of Edinburgh is enough to appreciate why parts of the city has been awarded World Heritage status. There’s history to be found everywhere. However, Scotland isn’t a country that’s stuck in a past world. This wee country is progressive in its thinking and approach to the future. You’ll find innovative design in the most surprising of places. Don’t believe me? Come and see for yourself!