Scotland Highland Ceremonies Wedding ceremonies by Interfaith celebrant minister

Eilean Donan Castle

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Make your romantic Scottish Wedding uniquely yours

The romance of Scotland - of its places and its people - is legendary, so what better reason would you have than to call this beautiful country your home (for a few days at least) and to celebrate one of the most important days of your life immersed in its history and culture, and surrounded by its beauty. Take a look below at some of the pretty special places we have, and some of the customs which make a wedding here uniquely Scottish, and you'll soon understand why so many people travel thousands of miles to come to the Highlands to make those special vows.

A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet ...

The Scottish Thistle is a beautiful flower and one which is highly versatile, both as a hair decoration or for putting in your bouquet. They're not actually as prickly as you might think and add a fantastic splash of colour when teamed with white roses.

Immerse yourself deep in Scottish luxury and history with a stunning location ...

Your venue and location are only limited by your imagination and are as individual as you are. Jess and Joel from Australia, chose to head up on the gondola and get married on Aonoch Mor, whilst Karen and John opted to say 'I do' all over again at Inverness Castle overlooking the river.

I've put a few ideas below of the kinds of places you could be married but please be aware that I have no personal or business affiliation with any of them - they're simply places I like!

It doesn't get much more romantic than this - Eilean Donan castle on the west coast of Scotland, and a beautiful evening ceremony as the sun is slowly sinking across the mountains of Skye. With a history stretching back to the 12th Century, and occupied by Spanish troops supporting the Jacobite uprising in the 1700s, you'll be steeped in Scottish history as you pledge your vows to each other.

Aldourie Castle sits on the shores of beautiful Loch Ness. Steeped in history, the Castle dates back to the early 17th Century. It is a small and intimate venue and can only be hired for exclusive use, accommodating up to 26 guests in its beautiful bedrooms - many of them traditional four-poster rooms, and catering for up to 50 diners. Gardens lead right down to the shores of Loch Ness itself where the views to the mountains are spectacular.

Cross over the sea to Skye and you'll find the magnificent Dunvegan Castle, home to the MacLeods for the last 800 years. The island of Skye itself is steeped in myth and legend, and is a spectacular place to spend a few honeymoon days. The castle is really busy in the summer months so weddings then take place in the early evening, or during the day in the fantastic gardens. While you're there, don't forget to look out for the legendary Fairy Flag.

No Scottish wedding would be complete without tartan

There's nothing more traditional than full Highland dress for a Scottish wedding but there are several different looks your groom might want to go for. The most formal Highland outfit will be a kilt worn with a Prince Charlie jacket - that's quite a short fitted jacket, with lots of buttons, and will be traditionally worn with a waistcoat. For a slightly less formal look, an Argyle jacket is slightly longer. If you're looking for something truly stunning, you can't beat a fly plaid. This is a version of the original great plaid (a huge piece of tartan, pleated and belted around the waist and then draped across the shoulders - think Outlander!). The fly plaid is a shortened version and is draped across the shoulder with the majority of it hanging at the back, secured with a large plaid brooch.

And a few more stunning venue ideas ...

If the idea of pulling up a drawbridge and having your wedding on a private island, complete with its own 9-hole golf course and spa, is more your thing, then the stunning Isle of Eriska Hotel might suit you. Located in beautiful West Argyll, the hotel is in a little world of its own. And, ok, so there's no actual drawbridge, but that won't matter on this private island where, other than staff and guests, your only visitors might include seals, otters and - if you're lucky - eagles.

Let's be honest - the reason most people come to Scotland is for the incredible landscape and there are numerous beautiful spots where you could choose to have your ceremony. There is little more romantic than the sound of a beautiful waterfall and you need one where there is room to have friends and family around you if you want. This one is on the Black Isle although there are plenty more to choose from.

If you're looking for a truly unique outdoor ceremony, there is none more mysterious than the Callanish Stone Circle in Lewis. Predating Stonehenge by about five centuries, they are one of the most unique and extraordinary places to have your wedding. There are other stone circles, too, most notably the Clava Stones near Culloden, made famous by the Outlander series, if you want to try and follow in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie!

If Music be the food of love, play on ...

There's nothing more instantly recognisable than the sound of Scottish bagpipes. Anyone who says they don't like the sound of them probably hasn't actually heard a truly professional piper. The atmosphere created by a great piper playing a great tune is like no other. I have worked with Dougie Watson a few times and he brings something extra special to ceremonies at which he performs. As a former member of the Scots Guards, he'll bring a truly unique flavour of Scotland to your ceremony.

Traditional Weddings and Civil Partnerships

In a traditional ceremony, there will be vows made, and rings exchanged, and there will be readings and songs. Traditional ceremonies can be tailored to your specific requirements and can incorporate religious readings if you would like them. Ceremonies performed by celebrants can take place anywhere you like and so you're only limited by your imagination.

Would you like your ceremony to incorporate elements of your culture? Have you considered a traditional Celtic handfasting ceremony at dawn or sunset? Is a Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones theme more your idea of a fantasy wedding? If your partner does not share your culture, or religious belief, then perhaps a fusion wedding is more for you, and you could choose to have religious elements within the ceremony itself. We'll work together to make it happen. After all, it's your day!

And if you're an Outlander fan or have Scottish ancestry, what better way to celebrate your wedding than in a dream location in the Highlands of Scotland.

Some additional ceremony ideas

The Scottish Quaich Ceremony

A Quaich is a two-handled shallow cup. Traditionally, they were made of wood and used for drinking whisky and as a way of celebrating bonds between clan leaders. Nowadays, Quaichs are much more ornate and used more for ceremonial purposes, especially weddings and formal toasts.

The use of the quaich in a wedding ceremony is symbolic of sharing. The Groom will take a drink from the Quaich and then offer this to his bride. Sometimes it will then be passed around other members of the immediate family as a way of creating a bond between the two new families.

Handfasting Ceremony

The handfasting ceremony stems from Celtic tradition. Originally an engagement ritual, it is today used as a symbolic ceremony to unite a couple in marriage.

The ritual uses either a simple cord, or a number of coloured ribbons to represent different aspects of your relationship and your personalities. It can also be done with a simple silk sash, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had as part of their marriage ceremony.

You will pick the colours and materials that best represents you as a couple and perhaps consider creating your own.

As an alternative to cords and ribbons, strips of your family tartans can be interwoven during the ceremony, representing not only your bond, but the new ties between your two families.

Oathing Stone Ceremony

One of the most ancient of Scottish traditions is the use of an Oathing Stone which the couple will place their hands on whilst exchanging their wedding vows to each other. The modern day phrase about setting something in stone comes from this tradition.

During the vows, the couple hold the stone in their hands and it's believed that doing this then sets the vows in stone.

The stone itself is usually one that is found by the couple - it can be a river stone, for instance, and often it's engraved with their names prior to the ceremony itself.