Your step by step guide to planning a kick ass micro wedding in Scotland
Wee weddings were a ‘thing’ long before Covid hit, but they’ve certainly become more popular over the past two years! For some, a small, intimate wedding was always the plan. For others, it was the ideal- but they were doing things bigger to keep family members happy. For the rest, a big wedding was on the cards- before a global pandemic happened.
Whatever your reason, if you’re thinking about planning a micro wedding in Scotland and aren’t sure where to start you’re in the right place. Wee weddings and elopements have always been my jam- since long before covid reared it’s ugly head. I could go on for paragraphs about why I love them so much but I’ll spare you my ramblings and keep it short and sweet.
Three reasons micro weddings rock:
- They are relaxed, intimate and romantic by nature. Smaller means less commotion and less distraction.
- They allow you to feel closer to your guests- and have time to actually engage with all of them.
- They are stripped back to what is most important: celebrating two people in love.
See: didn’t even ramble there. Hopefully those are some of the reasons you’re excited about planning a smaller wedding too!
Now onto the fun stuff: how do I start planning a micro wedding in Scotland?
The best micro wedding locations in Scotland
First things first: you need a location.
Did you know that you can get married anywhere and everywhere in Scotland? It doesn’t need to be a church or a traditional venue- you can choose a beautiful outdoor spot anywhere your heart desires and make it official.
I have photographed urban micro weddings in the heart of Glasgow, wild micro weddings in the Scottish Highlands and rustic micro weddings in the woods. As long as you can find a celebrant to perform the ceremony, you really can get married anywhere you like.
Here are a few of my favourite micro wedding locations in Scotland:
URBAN
Glasgow West End Weddings
My neighbourhood, and one of my favourite places to shoot weddings (not just because I live here- bias aside, it’s pretty awesome). If you are foodies, cocktail fiends or just like a nice pub you have endless possibilities here and it’s much quieter than the city centre if you prefer a bit less hussle and bustle. For photo locations you are spoilt for choice again: the Botanics, Kelvingrove Museum, Ashton Lane and Finnieston are all chock full of cool backdrops and there are tons of cool venues in the area too.
Glasgow City Centre
I LOVE an urban wedding, and the city centre of Glasgow is such a cool place to get married. Montrose Street and the City Chambers offer a few different rooms to get married in (and some great photo spots inside too) and the city is full of amazing architecture, colourful murals and bustling streets that are ideal for photos. There are some really unique spots for your reception too.
Edinburgh City Centre
Another incredible city to get married in- with stunning architecture and tons of great options for photos too! A lot of couples planning smaller weddings choose to get married at Edinburgh City Chambers, and then it’s just a short wander along to Circus Lane or a quick taxi ride over to Dean Village for some very unique wedding photo spots.
WILD
Glencoe
Voted the most romantic glen in Scotland, this area is becoming increasingly popular for elopements and micro weddings. Dramatic peaks and picturesque valleys- this is easily of my favourite spots to photograph a wedding in Scotland and it’s a short drive from the central belt.
Isle of Skye
You won’t find more dramatic scenery (or weather) anywhere. Skye is also a popular location for elopements and small weddings and while it’s a bit of a journey to get up there (5-6 hours from the central belt) it is well worth it. I travel up to Skye often for weddings, vow renewals and adventure sessions and there are no shortage of amazing locations for photos on the island- especially if you aren’t afraid to go for a little bit of a hike.
Eilean Donan Castle
Another dramatic Scottish location, and made famous by the James Bond film Skyfall. A majestic castle set out on a serene loch and surrounded by the Cuillen mountain range of Skye it’s hard to imagine a more romantic spot to say your I Do’s. Again- well wroth the drive (about 4-5 hours from the central belt).
Isle of Arran
Though not quite as dramatic as Skye, Arran has some beautiful backdrops and is much closer- and quieter- than Skye. There are a few lovely venues on the island and there are no shortage of lovely outdoor spots to set up your ceremony. You do need to take a ferry over, but it’s a short ride and the ferry terminal is only an hour’s drive from Glasgow.
The Hermitage
If you are dreaming of getting married in the woods, this is the perfect spot. You don’t have to hike far to get to an incredible wooded clearing, and you’re just steps away for a beautiful waterfall too. This is a National Trust site, so you do need to book it, but it’s very accessible and feels like you’re out in the wild without having to travel- or hike- for hours.
The Scottish Coast
It doesn’t matter if it’s East or West, a coastal wedding is always a good choice. Getting married on the beach, no matter the weather, is such a beautiful backdrop for photos and there are endless possibilities for style and details too.
Choosing Your Wedding Date
On to step two: choosing a date.
You probably have an idea of the time of year you’d like to get married. Micro weddings typically take less time to plan, so you aren’t limited to holding off for a year from now- I’ve had a few couples plan their entire micro wedding in a matter of weeks! You decide what works for you- if you would prefer to take more time, do lots of research, and plan every specific detail you might want to give yourself at least a few months. If you’re too excited to wait and you’re a quick decision maker, give yourself 6-8 weeks and you’ve got it covered.
Choosing the perfect wedding suppliers
Now for step three. Once you have a timeframe sorted, you need to start finding the perfect suppliers- celebrant, photographer, florist, etc.- for your day. Think about the style you are going for, the type of experience you want to have on your day and what’s most important to you, and start doing a bit of a research.
Venue/Location
You need to book your date with your chosen venue or location first. If it’s a venue, that’s easy enough. If it’s a park or outdoor space, check out what permissions or permits you need and get your date confirmed.
Celebrant/Registrar
Do a bit of research to find someone who can create the type of ceremony you want (short & sweet? relaxed and fun?), make a shortlist, and contact them to see who is available on your date.
Photographer & Videographer
Think about the style and approach you are looking for, and do some research to find the perfect photographer and videographer for your day. There are so many different styles out there, and make sure you think not just about what the photos look like but also the photographer’s approach: will you feel comfortable with them and enjoy having them there on the day? If you need a bit of help with this, I’ve written a blog post about how to choose the perfect wedding photographer for your day, you can check it out here. Once you have a shortlist, get in touch and see who is free on your date.
Wedding Attire
I suppose this one is a given, but it is something you’ll need to think about fairly early on in the planning stages, especially if you are getting your dress/outfit/kilt made or buying a dress that needs to be altered. There are lots of choices here as well: you can have a dress custom designed, you can visit a more traditional bridal shop, you can buy a vintage dress or you can go for something totally different from a non-bridal shop- and that’s just dresses! There is also the option to hire a suit or kilt, depending on what you’re looking for. Many dress/kilt shops and makers will require a minimum three months to get your items made/altered, often more, so best not to leave this one too late.
Florist
Flowers are such a special detail and just because you aren’t having a big, traditional wedding doesn’t mean you can’t have a lovely bouquet, or floral crown, or stunning archway to get married under. Again have a think about style and what elements you would like to include in your day, and do a bit of research to see who can envision your flowers the same way that you do.
Hair & Makeup
Still want to feel pampered on your day? Many brides still choose to have their hair and makeup done for a micro wedding- if ever you deserved a bit of pampering, now is the time (not exactly easy to plan a wedding in a pandemic is it?). As above, think about the style you’re going for and take a look around online to find the perfect hair stylist and MUA.
Food & Drink
Have a think about what you want your day to look like and what it will include. Will you just have a ceremony and some photos afterwards? Will you still be planning a day long celebration? If you are wanting to have some kind of lunch/snack dinner, think about how you’d like that to play out. Canapes and drinks? Dinner? Informal picnic? Lunch provided by food trucks? There are so many cool options for food and drink, dependant of course on where you choose to get married and how long your guests will be sticking around.
The extras…
You decide how much of your wedding day you want to do DIY, and how much you’d like provided by professionals. Are you having a cake? Will you be booking transportation for yourselves or your guests? Will you be hiring chairs or a marquee or a musician? Think about what’s important to you as a couple, and what will help make your day feel like YOURS.
And that, folks, is how you plan a micro wedding (in Scotland or elsewhere)
Well if you’ve made it here- that’s all the major stuff covered! Now you get to sit bak, relax, and enjoy being engaged people. Take it all in and enjoy the excitement in the lead up to your day- it’ll be here before you know it.
Looking for more micro wedding inspiration?
If you would like to see more examples of what wee weddings look like, please check out my blog by clicking here. You’ll find lots of Scottish micro wedding inspiration there, from styles and ideas to locations and venues across Scotland and beyond.
Still to choose your wedding photographer in Scotland?
If you are looking for a relaxed and fun photographer who will focus on the real moments of your day (and skip the awkward cheesy poses) I’d love to hear more about your plans. Get in touch here or email me at hello@rhiannoneale.com
