Authentic Scottish Elopement by Glencoe Elopement Photographer

“Amazing, thank you so much!!! You’re so quick! Thanks again for your attention to detail, for taking us on our adventure, and for all your help throughout the day. It was perfect! We really appreciate all you’ve done for us!!”

– Ina & Gordon

Glencoe elopement photographer

One of my favourite things is showing Scotland off to Americans. There is no greater joy than turning a corner, seeing their faces as they take in a classic Scottish Highlands view and then hearing the intake of breath when they realise it’s real. They’re on a real life movie set. 

Glencoe is the perfect spot for this, with awe inspiring views and amazing scenery. It’s like a Scottish bingo card with mountains, rivers, valleys and lochs… not forgetting wee thatched cottages, bothies and all manner of wildlife. 

Glencoe House elopement

Ina and Gordon travelled over to Scotland from South Carolina. They wanted a symbolic ceremony, just the two of them surrounded by the beauty of Glencoe. They got the perfect day for it. Now, we all know July this year was pretty miserable but that doesn’t matter in Glencoe. It was cloudy with dramatic clouds which I love, adds a bit more atmosphere! Plus the water was as still as anything, like actual glass. So, so good. Scotland is the best for weddings. Yeah yeah, I know I bang on about it all the time, but there’s no better place than Scotland to elope. Just look at these pictures! Plus, Humanist weddings are legal over here so you can get married anywhere you like. Literally anywhere you like. I’ve shot weddings in pubs, ceremonies on beaches and couples saying their vows halfway up mountains. The choice is endless. 

Ina and Gordon got ready separately at Glencoe House before having a very sweet first look. I loved Gordon’s huge grin as he opened the door and saw Ina standing there looking amazing. 

Humanist wedding ceremony, Scottish Highlands

They’d chosen to say their promises to each other out on the decking, with incredible views out over the Glencoe mountains and Loch Leven. They got all the Scottish things into their ceremony including a handfasting and quaich. Handfasting is a lovely, ancient tradition, couples hold hands and they’re bound together with rope or a scarf. Ina and Gordon had chosen a beautiful knotted cord for their handfasting. It symbolises the binding together of two lives and is thought to be where ‘tying the knot’ comes from. 

A quaich is a very cool tradition that’s popular in Scotland but lesser known elsewhere. Couples drink from a two handled cup (the quaich) to celebrate the bond between two tribes. (And there’s a more sinister version – ask me for more info!) The cup is normally filled with whisky (for that authentic Scots experience!) but to be honest, any drink works. Ina and Gordon filled theirs with Prosecco, for the full on celebratory fizz vibes! 

Epic wedding portraits, Glencoe

I love a wander round Glencoe, especially when I’m with a fab couple who are up for seeing all the sights. We got some epic portraits, the kind that Glencoe is renowned for. Then went down to the lochside and spent ages just gazing out at the still water and the incredible reflections before heading out on the road and finding a very cool waterfall. 

We finished up back at Glencoe House with some confetti on the lawn – check out my ‘throwing confetti with one hand, wielding a camera with the other’ skills! 

What an ace wee elopement that was! Here are some of my faves, and if you’re thinking about getting married in Scotland well, what’s stopping you?! Just do it!

Sarah x