An October Scotland Elopement on the Isle of Skye

Racing down single-track roads. Dodging the occasional highland cow or sheep, exploring castle ruins. Braving Scotland’s squalls of weather. Catching sight of the Hogwarts Express. Adrianna and Cam’s multi-day elopement adventure included that much and more with their first trip out of the United States!

Why did they want to elope? In their words…

“We decided on elopement for several reasons. In short we ultimately decided on simplicity and looked for a deeper meaning to the foundation of life to come after. Guests at weddings are awesome and very often weddings are fun with great gatherings. However, weddings become about the parents, the friends, the invitations, the food, dietary restrictions for grandma etc. Unfortunately, only about 30 minutes is truly spent on the focus. It was hard  to justify the “dinner” bill for hundreds of guests that are there out of obligation and to whom we would spend aggressive hours to please.”

Getting Ready & Breakfast

Adrianna and Cam decided to forgo a first look, and instead get ready together before enjoying a macro-conscious breakfast with coffee (they love coffee). Getting ready together allowed them to be present and sink into the anticipation of the day together. Their Airbnb was right along the harbor of Portree on the Isle of Skye – perfectly situated for the day’s adventures.

Day One – Isle of Skye Adventures & Ceremony

The Isle of Skye, and Scotland in general, has persnickety weather. I purposefully kept their days extra flexible so we could adjust to maximize our time outside without rain. We ventured down single-track roads to a hidden gem of a castle ruin, away from the typical tourist locations. They scaled the bottomed-out bridge to explore the top of the ruins, while I got out my drone to capture the scene from above. The ruins overlooked the bay, and it gave us the perfect view of Skye’s impressive peaks across the water.

After a stop in Portree for lunch at a ramen restaurant, we headed north to the Quiraing – a quintessential stop for folks visiting the island.

While we did our best to avoid rain, it was inevitable. However, it didn’t dampen their ceremony as they professed their love and held each other close while overlooking the expansive valley below. They wanted their vows to be fun and unique and decided that using postcards of Skye and Scotland would serve as the perfect parchment for their love letters (I gotta say – what a fun idea!). Adrianna, Cam, and the scenery were breathtaking. The earthy tones of Adrianna’s florals and their classic, chic attire added to the lush drama of the sweeping topography.

As the sun set, we said goodbye to the Quiraing (and the downpour – we were soaked through at this point, even with waterproof gear on) and went back to our lodgings to get some rest for Day 2.

Day Two – Pivoting to the Jacobite Steam Train

Our second day of adventure was originally going to be a ferry ride to a scenic and sweeping loch surrounded by towering peaks – only accessible by water or a lengthy hike. Because October brings wilder weather, our ferry ride was canceled (the second time I’ve been snookered by weather for this ferry!). Nevertheless, I had ideas up my sleeve. In places like Scotland or with activities like chasing the aurora borealis, I allot extra time so we can flex however needed. We decided to wait out the bad weather the next day and pivot inland the day after that. After sharing some options with A&C, they chose to experience the Glenfinnan Viaduct, known for the Jacobite Steam Train crossing (you may know it as The Hogwarts Express). TOP TIP: There is a schedule of when to expect the train to cross the viaduct each day – be sure to arrive at least an hour beforehand to ensure you get a parking spot. There’s an average of several hundred folks there to see the train too!

Scroll down to see the magic of the steam train crossing and the beautiful architecture of the viaduct bring their images to life.

Vendors

Hair & Makeup – Rachel Winton Makeup
Flora -: Wedding Flower Workshop
Wedding Dress – Grace Loves Lace
Suit – Indochino

If you’re dreaming of a day like this, full of intention and connection with a splash of “epic” thrown in, reach out, and let’s co-create an adventure together reflective of YOU…