Scotland brims with romance, from historic cities like Edinburgh to the mist-shrouded Highlands of Skye.
Planning the perfect wedding in Scotland can seem like a difficult task, but we’re here to help. Whether you’re a Scot planning your wedding and no idea where to begin, or you’re planning on travelling from elsewhere to get married in Scotland, here’s 8 planning tips you can have the perfect wedding in Scotland.
#1: Be mindful of the weather
The weather can be quite tricky, to say the least! Keep it in mind when thinking about whether to have an indoor or an outdoor wedding. Even if you are planning a winter wedding in an old castle venue, for example, and want to use the grounds for part of the day, is it going to work?
If you’re set on an old, unspoiled venue or in utilising outdoor spaces, try to stick to late spring or summer for your wedding,
#2: Pick between rural and city weddings
Would you prefer a rural, rustic wedding at a country estate, castle, or farm, or would you prefer an experience in one of Scotland’s cities? Both types of wedding have their pros and cons so it’s really up to you, though you might also want to consider logistics for your guests or any third-party suppliers you use at your wedding.
Drumtochty Castle and Ardanaiseig Hotel are perfect rural locations, while for a city wedding, how about the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen or The Caves in Edinburgh?
#3: Choose between a civil or religious ceremony
In Scotland, in addition to the traditional ways of being wed, you can have a Humanist or Interfaith celebrant lead your wedding ceremony. You can still have a religious wedding in a location like a church if you wish to, it’s just done a little differently! You could also pick to have a civil ceremony – you typically have the ceremony at a Registry Office, but it could be another pre-approved location.
#4: Consider adding local customs as entertainment
Local customs are perfect for adding a personalised and fun touch to your wedding. Here’s a couple of great examples to get you started:
- In Aberdeen, Angus and the Scottish borders, the tradition of hiding heather in the bride’s bouquet is a sweet way of bringing good luck.
- If you’re up for some more drinking and dancing, the Shetland Islands enjoy a ‘Second Night’ as part of the celebrations.
#5: Mix contemporary music with classic Scottish tunes
Music is one of the best entertainment options for weddings, and is still the most popular even as people begin to explore alternatives like dancers and magicians. You can choose from a variety of local bands, but depending on what you want you may wish to find a band that offers a mixture of traditional Scottish tunes and modern wedding songs. This guarantees you get to enjoy where you are but also get your guests in a party mood on the dance floor. Of course, you might skip the band altogether and opt for a wedding DJ instead!
The above tips should help you start planning for your perfect wedding in Scotland. Be clear what your hopes and dreams for the big day are, and use them as a guide when picking the venue, entertainment, and even the food!
Scotland always offers plenty of options for a great party!