A stormy Fairy Glen elopement on Isle of Skye

Morgane + Ben, who travelled from Switzerland, experienced the magic of Isle of Skye whilst helping me showcase the beauty of the Isle of Skye in Autumn as a brilliant Scotland elopement destination. In particular, shining a spotlight on what it would be like to have a Fairy Glen elopement. Morgane, a talented elopement photographer herself, kindly offered to be part of this styled elopement session but that didn’t make the day any less of an adventure – still filled with the highs and emotions of any elopement day I’ve seen!

Black wedding dress for eloping in Scotland

They both brought their unique alternative style for this editorial shoot – matching their tattoos and rock’n’roll vibes. All-black attire (and a deep red shirt for Benjamin) suited their personality with a nod towards autumn and perfectly complimented by the beautiful dark storm clouds that loomed over us the whole day.

Getting ready together before their Fairy Glen elopement ceremony

When you’re eloping, just the two of you, there is always a question of ‘do we get ready together during our elopement?’. And there’s no right or wrong answer here! Some couples choose to get ready separately – they love the idea of enjoying the surprise of seeing each other fully ready for the first time as it’s own special event. This can be as a ‘first look’ – i.e. creating a special moment to see each other for the first time, whether it’s at your accommodation or somewhere else. Or by seeing each other for the first time at your ceremony spot (as though you are walking down the ‘aisle’).

Then again, some couples prefer to get ready together. Helping each other into their outfits. Connecting and grounding themselves before the ceremony by doing something they would typically do in their normal everyday lives.

Or any other variation you can think of!

Writing vows on the morning of your elopement

Morgane + Ben got ready together then each took time to write a few words for their ceremony. As this was an editorial shoot to inspire other couples, Morgane + Ben chose to write a few things they most love about each other at this point in their relationship to include as part of their handfasting ceremony.

Many couples eloping in Scotland choose to copy down their vows into a vow book on the morning of their elopement. Here are 4 reasons why writing your vows on the morning of your elopement is a good idea:

1. A moment of quiet to reflect on your day ahead
2. Helps to ground you and make you feel more connected to getting married
3. Gives you a chance to re-read your vows and make any last minute changes
4. Helps you say your vows more confidently as writing it down helps you remember them

Chasing misty hills and secret waterfalls in the south of the Isle of Skye

Whilst the heart of this story is set in the North of Skye, around the Trotternish loop, it began in the south of island near Torrin. This part of the island is often overlooked for the more famed sights in the North but it is a stunning area in its own right. It is well worth spending a bit of time adventuring here – the mountainous backdrops are incredible (on a clearer day than this one was!).

Misty handfasting ceremony at the Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye

The Fairy Glen is as mystical a place as the name suggests. A Fairy Glen elopement is perfect for couples who love ethereal landscapes. And there are few better places for honouring ancient Celtic wedding traditions than in this special place.

After exchanging their special words to each other, Morgane and Ben bound themselves together with a handfasting (tying a knot around each other to symbolise the joining of souls). It’s an incredibly beautiful tradition here in Scotland and a wonderful thing to honour, even if you’re not from Scotland.

Fairy glen adventure elopement

After any Fairy Glen elopement ceremony, it’s worth taking some time to explore the area a bit. The glen is quite diverse with lots of different nooks and crannies to wander in.

Most people want to see the famous fairy ring by Castle Ewen (which is a rocky outcrop rather than an actual castle ruin, I’m sorry to day!). The fairy ring is a massive draw for tourists so it can be a bit tricky to have your ceremony down by the ring itself unless you’re willing to do this really early or late in the day to avoid crowds of onlookers. Climbing up Castle Ewen is not for the faint of heart but does give you wonderful views of the Fairy Glen from above!

An autumn Fairy Glen elopement is especially beautiful as the blankets of ferns turn orange and the berries on the trees turn red. It’s such a stunning time of the year for Isle of Skye elopements in general!

Read more about Fairy Glen.

Stormy sunset Quiraing to finish off a wild Scotland elopement!

We sat in the car, warming up and patiently waiting for the heavy rain shower to pass. Being a Scotland elopement photographer teaches you patience in these moments. I’ve learned, from experience, when to wait things out and when to move to another location. I had a gut feeling after the days ever-changing weather that we could wait out the rainstorm and it was a good call! We got to enjoy some dramatic stormy clouds in the Quiraing as the sunset began behind us. We headed back to the car as the sunset peeked through under the dark blue clouds. What a sight!

If this has inspired you to consider a Fairy Glen elopement for your own magical Scottish wedding, then get in touch to have a wee chat about your ideas so far.