Castle handfasting adventure session in Scotland

Couples seeking a handfasting adventure session in Scotland are drawn to the land for many reasons. Most often people are drawn to Scotland’s Celtic traditions steep in meaning and history. These ancient ways, although forgotten by many,  resonate deeply with those souls who feel a connection to the earth.

Occasionally couples come to connect back to their lost heritage, as was the case for these two lovers, who were born two oceans apart. Although they grew up in different parts of the world, they were bound and rooted in their heritage which could be traced all the way back to Scotland.

The reason behind having a handfasting adventure session in Scotland

Eloise and Raif wanted to share an intentional ritual of commitment following their engagement. What better way to do that than by having a handfasting adventure session in Scotland – the land their ancestors once roamed freely.

After booking their handfasting adventure session, we narrowed down the locations for their handfasting ceremony, and ultimately decided on Kilchurn Castle, Scotland. Eloise and Raif wanted a quiet and secluded location, where they wouldn’t be disturbed by tourists. 

At home the couple always feel drawn to large bodies of water, and love nothing better than to simply be in each other’s presence and listen to the sounds around them. They settled on Kilchurn Castle for their handfasting ceremony, surrounded by Loch Awe.

The couple chose to take things slow, and opted for a full-day adventure session

Eloise and Raif are self-confessed history buffs and love to fully immerse themselves in the local culture when travelling. And so they decided to take things slow by booking a full day handfasting adventure session. 

This would allow them to spend more time on their handfasting ceremony rituals without feeling rushed or pressured to move onto the next location. It also gave them enough time to explore some iconic locations near Glencoe – like the Wee White Cottage (Laganbarbh Hut) and standing on top of a magnificent waterfall.

After a few weeks of planning the couple arrived in Scotland, where they prepared to bind their souls for all eternity with a traditional handfasting commitment ceremony

The weather was wild and moody on the morning of Eloise and Raif’s commitment ceremony. We met up with Fiona Stewart, the celebrant who helps our couples with Celtic-inspired ceremonies – to mark special occasions just like the one Eloise and Raif were celebrating. 

There are so many reasons to make a commitment to one another, and not all of those have to be marriage which is why I love working with couples like Eloise and Raif who choose to love each other over and over again.

Their intentional and heartfelt commitment ceremony took place surrounded by water, overlooking Kilchurn Castle

The couple enjoyed a reading from Fiona to signal the beginning of their commitment ritual – which included all five of the natural elements, starting with fire as candles were lit. The couple have a deep appreciation of and connection to nature and so including all of these elements in their commitment ritual was very meaningful.

They then stood silently as Fiona cleansed the space with sage smoke (element of air), before moving onto their oathing stones (which is where the saying “set in stone originates from”), to include an element representing earth. The stones were cleansed using water from the Loch (the fourth element).

The couple then exchanged their promises to one another, before ending the ritual with a traditional handfasting to bind themselves to one another in this life and the next.

You could feel the presence of Spirit (aka the fifth element aether) as the couple sealed their love and commitment to one another by drinking from a quaich to symbolise their partnership and of course friendship.

After their rituals were complete we set off to Glencoe for some adventure and dancing in the rain

The whole day was infused with love and adventure – we spent a couple of hours showing Eloise and Raif some of my favourite spots. Some were symbolic of Glencoe, like the Wee White Cottage, and others were off the beaten track, as the couple wanted to explore some spots only known to locals.

We ended their adventure session near a waterfall (one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Scotland), where the two ended their day of adventure by throwing their oathing stones into the icy waters to bind their promises into the stones forever.

Kind words about their handfasting adventure session in Scotland

“Despite the miles between us, her meticulous planning and expert guidance in selecting the perfect locations for our ceremony made for a seamless and stress-free experience. 

On the day, Raini led us to breathtaking spots, with Celtic tunes playing in the background, setting the perfect atmosphere for the adventure ahead. 

She introduced us to Fiona, a celebrant whose vibrant enthusiasm and cheerfulness conducted our ceremony with warmth and authenticity. The thoughtful touches, such as the quaich, the flowers and the handfasting ribbons, added meaning and magic to our ceremony at the foot of the majestic Kilchurn Castle. Throughout our delightful road trip, the weather shifted from rain to sunshine, painting a vivid rainbow and dramatic clouds that enhanced the atmospheric beauty.

Post-ceremony, Raini’s fly-on-the-wall photography style beautifully captured the essence of our day, with each photo serving as a testament to her skill and care. It was an absolute joy to relive our special day through her lens. She collaborated with us on sharing these moments online, always prioritising our comfort.

Thank you, Raini, for crafting an adventure of a lifetime and weaving a breathtaking tapestry of memories. Your dedication and artistry have given us a treasure we’ll cherish forever.”

– Eloise + Raif

Suppliers that helped make Eloise and Raif’s handfasting adventure session so special:

Celebrant – Fiona Stewart

Hair & Make-Up – Caroline Stewart

Envisioning your own full day handfasting adventure session in Scotland?

If a handfasting adventure session in Scotland, filled with castles and breathtaking landscapes, sounds like your idea of fun -then get in touch to start planning now. I’ll be there to help you figure out the best time of year, ceremony location, timeline for the day as well as lots of advice on how to have a magical and meaningful adventure in Scotland.