9 fairytale-inspired ideas for your Scottish elopement

Searching for my nerdy, fantasy-loving couples seeking a magical Scottish elopement experience that feels like a fairytale. . . if that’s you, then you’ve made it to the exact right place. Call it luck or call it fate; whatever brought you here, I’m about to delve deep into the magic and mysticism of the spectacular Scottish landscapes I’m fortunate to call home. With these 9 fairytale-inspired Scottish elopement ideas, you’re sure to end up with a unique adventure that celebrates your love for all things fantasy.

I mean, come on. . . who wouldn’t want to be whisked off to an enchanted land with a ridiculously hot-but-flawed partner, plucked out of reality and dropped into the curious lands of the fae? Nothing sounds better for a whimsical elopement celebration than a little extra dose of magic, which is just what these ideas will give ya 😉

9 fantasy + fairytale Scottish elopement ideas

1. Get familiar with Scottish mythology + folklore

Here in Scotland we have lots of folklore stories and mythical creatures that I’d be keen to see incorporated into more elopements, from the well-known unsolved mystery of the Loch Ness Monster to the selkie shapeshifters, the kelpies that haunt our lochs and rivers, and the Stoor Worm that’ll have you waking up with nightmares. In fact, our national animal is none other than the unicorn! Maybe you include references in your elopement details to these magical beings or other creatures found in tall tales, such as a sketch of a rainbow-coloured unicorn on your vow books, or you don a Selkie dress inspired by these fabled women of the ocean. Many Scottish traditions and rituals also derive from ancient Scots’ desire to appease the fae folk (especially those from the Unseelie or “unlucky/unblessed” Court), believed to be deeply connected to nature and wrathful toward those who disrupt their lives; you might consider incorporating protective items into your elopement such as carrying sprigs of red rowan berries or including a fishing hook alongside your details.

2. Incorporate elements of your favourite fantasy games

Do you and your love spend your Friday nights playing board games at your favourite pub with a dram of whiskey in hand? Maybe you love to transport yourselves into another world through weekly games of Dungeons and Dragons with your closest friends? Including elements of your favourite fantasy games is an easy peasy way to bring a lovely bit of your unique personalities and relationship dynamic into your Scottish elopement. This could mean you dress up as a character you adore or add an accessory to your outfit that they would wear, or you bring your best set of DnD dice to include in your detail images. Whether you plan to take a journey through the highlands and cosplay as your favourite fantasy game characters through the glens, or you’d prefer a simple ceremony inside of a mysterious library with mystical dark academia vibes (like the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh), there are endless ways to brilliantly incorporate the people, places, and items you love into your festivities.

3. Wear clothes that bring out your inner fae

Probably the easiest way to step into the enchanted world of Scottish fantasy is to wear clothing and/or accessories to bring out your inner fairy, wizard, warlock, witch. . . however you best identify—the options are endless in a world of magic. Capes, lanterns, fire torches, flower crowns, cloaks, styled hair. . . pretend you’re off to study at Hogwarts and are picking out everything you’ll need to fit in as a wee first-year in a magicked castle. Or heading off on an epic adventure into the fires of Mordor. Or maybe even being trapped in an otherworldly castle with a handsome-but-deeply-flawed fae-King.

This may be as simple as choosing a dress or a suit that doesn’t fit wedding norms, opting for a unique color or design that feels a bit more fantastical. Dima and Sudqi strayed away from the traditional white dress/black suit for their magical woodland anniversary shoot, instead choosing deep burgundy clothing and witchy-inspired accessories. Even their cake was a deep black drenched in gold drips and autumnal florals for all the dark and moody woodland vibes!

I have a list of my absolute favourite fantasy-esque designers and creators to help inspire couples who have booked with me.

4. Include fantasy-inspired or magick details

Why have regular elopement details and decor when you could pick nerdy items inspired by your favourite fantasy games, novels, movies, or characters instead? Or maybe you’d like to include some witchy magick details to honour your spiritual side. Here are a few ideas I think would be grand to include in the itty bitty details of your elopement, depending on your favourite series or magical world, of course:

• For Harry Potter lovers: a golden snitch ring box
• For LOTR lovers: personalized “One Rings” with inscriptions of your elopement date, initials, etc.
• Faux flowers made of book pages from your favourite fantasy series
• Day-of tattoos with fantasy-based symbols
• Oversized gemstone rings
• Parchment scroll-style invitations
• Invitations using medieval fonts
• Florals that match the colour palette/vibe of your favourite magical world
• Personalized wands
• Dragon-shaped candles
• Vintage glassware, chalices, and mugs
• Cufflinks inscribed with your favourite fantasy movie/book quote
• Hand-dipped candles and vintage candlestick holders
• Storm lanterns
• Fantasy cake/cupcakes
• Collection of your favourite crystals
• Sage bundles for cleansing

5. Choose an enchanting location

It’s no secret that Scotland is filled with enchanting landscapes pulled right from the sets of all the most iconic fantasy series, so couples are often travelling in from everywhere just to experience the magical atmosphere. For a Scottish elopement experience that makes you feel as though you’re in your very own fantasy land, pick a fairytale-esque location such as the following:

• Cairngorms – for an enchanted woodland setting
• Isle of Skye – for dramatic coastal landscapes that feel like Game of Thrones film sets
• The Quiraing – for otherworldly atmospheres
• Glencoe – to fulfill your Outlander running-through-the-heather dreams
• Glen Nevis – for an epic waterfall quest
• East Lothian – for a spooky-yet-alluring castle ruined on a cliff
• The Fairy Bridge of Glen Creran in Appin – to commune with the fae

6. Bring fire into your Scottish elopement ceremony

Dave and I performed in the Beltane Fire Festival for years so of course I have to include this one! Incorporating fire into your Scottish elopement in a safe manner can be a breathtaking way to add a bit of light, warmth, and sparkle into your ceremony, especially amidst our dreich climate. This could be a bonfire, a smudging ritual or even fire spinning. Feel free to chat with me about the safest way to do this!

7. Draw inspiration from your favourite films/TV shows

Scotland is full of locations that have been featured in popular films and television shows across the world, so if you truly want to step into your favourite fantasy worlds then we can make that happen. Outlander is a huge draw for Scotland elopements, filmed at places like Doune Castle (set as Castle Leoch), Blackness Castle, and Craigmillar Castle. Glencoe was featured in the opening credits of the first few seasons, as well as several scenes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Skyfall, and the 1986 film Highlander. For all my Potterheads, consider roaming the scenic highlands of Glen Coe, or possibly visiting Alnwick Castle, where some of the witches and wizards learned to fly. Lord of the Rings fans will love the Fairy Glen in Isle of Skye, as it looks much like Hobbiton, as well as the many other ethereal landscapes across the isle.

8. Learn about Scottish marriage superstitions

Like most countries, Scotland has its own set of customary wedding traditions that are meant to protect the marriage, ensure longevity, and deter evil spirits. Carrying the bride over the threshold is a classic, as is loosening knots in the couple’s clothing to prevent the blockage of fertility. It’s also common to put a sixpence in your shoe for luck.

There are certain charms that you may choose to include to reflect your beliefs or ward off specific spirits, or you may choose to perform ceremonies that are believed to predict harmony and long-lasting love in your marriage. One ritual which is called the ‘blackening’ where the groom (and sometimes the bride) are covered in various foul substances (treacle, flour, soot, mud, dung etc.) before the big day. This is said to have evolved from a cleansing ritual but another theory is that it’s to ward off any fairies who might be tempted to steal one of them away before the wedding.

We’ve even got quite a collection of mystical plants that are part of Scottish folklore such as elder, thorn, and rowan that you might fancy including in some portion of your day! Don’t forget your sprig of Scottish white heather for luck too.

9. Include ancient Celtic rituals

Last but certainly not least, many ancient Celtic rituals have been adopted by neo-pagans around the round, choosing to honour the beautiful history of this country through meaningful ceremony traditions. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to this culturally-rich country, I’d encourage you to take a wee look into rituals that may appeal to you and represent your relationship, such as elemental blessing rituals (something Dave and I did when we got married), acknowledging the seasons, or jumping the broom/besom. To learn more about a few Celtic traditions you may want to include in your Scottish elopement, take a peek at this guide I wrote dedicated to my love for this country and its traditions.