How much does it cost to elope in Scotland?

What is the true cost of a Scottish elopement?

[Updated for 2025]

Here we are – you’ve fallen in love with the idea of eloping in Scotland. Wandering through the cobblestone streets, dipping a toe in beautiful lochs or exploring misty vast glens. But there’s a wee thought that’s worrying away in the background… ‘how much is going to cost to elope in Scotland?’.

Figuring out how much this could cost is a daunting prospect – how far down the rabbit hole do you need to go before you have a rough sense of budget?

Well, here is where I hope this blog will help!

But before we get to the good stuff, it is important to remind you that the range of costs can be vastly different, couple to couple. It really depends on your vision, your circumstances and most importantly, what you value from your elopement experience.

In the context of weddings and elopements, talking about money/budget is hard. Professionals in the industry will often say ‘how long is a piece of string’? When asked about the average cost of weddings. This comes down to just how many different choices are involved – it can be tricky to give specific answers. And your idea of what is ‘expensive’ or ‘cheap’ is very much based on your own circumstances. But with all that in mind, I hope the following will help you understand the potential costs involved – guiding you to a realistic Scottish elopement budget.

Is the cost to elope in Scotland actually cheaper than a traditional wedding?

There is a common misconception that eloping = cheap. (Unfortunately, in all senses of the word). Whilst there are certainly ways to elope on a tighter budget – the opposite is also true. There can be expensive luxury elopements too! But what is most important is having an elopement experience that is right for you two (within a budget you’re comfortable with).

But let’s put things into perspective first, here are the average costs of a traditional wedding…

Average cost UK: £20,700 (https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/the-average-wedding-cost-in-the-uk-revealed/)

Average cost US: $35,000 (https://www.theknot.com/content/average-wedding-cost)

And when you consider these against the costs of eloping in Scotland, you’ll likely find that eloping is more budget-friendly (especially if you combine it with honeymooning in Scotland too). It might be obvious to point this out but more guests = more costs. And not just because of the food + drinks bill!

Costs which are (usually) greatly reduced when choosing to elope

• Catering
• Venue costs
• Staff hire
• Musicians
• Stationery (invites, signs, place-cards etc.)
• Decorations
• Florals
• Lighting
• Furniture + tableware
• Equipment hire
• Bar tab
• Wedding party costs (i.e. suits, dresses, gifts, makeup artist etc.)

Costs can be a motivating factor for some couples but we usually find this isn’t the sole reason that couples we work with choose to elope. Whilst often being less expensive, eloping also provides a more relaxed and you-centered experience than most ‘normal’ weddings do.

One thing that couples often don’t realise is that the cost of a traditional wedding can go beyond the material choices you make – there is cost of your time in planning and project managing (which can be significant!) and the emotional cost of managing guests + communications. It’s no small undertaking – even for the most organised Type-A couples. Much of these ‘invisible costs’ are greatly reduced when choosing to elope.

Aside from the cost of eloping to Scotland – it’s more about the experience

I know budget is something that concerns every couple – especially when everyone tells you how expensive getting married is. But before you get into the nitty-gritty of placing a firm figure on your day, I’d recommend sitting down and chatting about your vision for the day first. This way you can either adjust your vision to suit your budget or vice versa.

Most of the couples I work with share the value of experience>stuff. i.e. they prefer to invest in time spent together rather than the physical things they buy. That’s not to say that how they present themselves or add style/personality into the physical elements of their day isn’t important, it’s just that they are guided more by the overall feeling of the day than how it looks.

Here’s a wee vision excerise to help you figure out what’s important to your day…

(I recommend doing this individually so you can see where you align and where you differ)

How much does it really cost to elope in Scotland?

Here are the average costs based on the most common expenses we see as Scottish elopement photographers. (There are always going to be options which are cheaper/more expensive but these costs are based on the average ranges.)

Spending on the things you value

A wee reminder that even though the list above details some of the most common expenses, it does not mean you have to have everything on the list. If you don’t like cake, don’t have one!

With no one else to please, enjoy creating a day that celebrates the things YOU love. Make choices that really bring out your personal style, wants and values.

Luxury elopement expenses

If you do have some cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to add extra special touches into your day for that extra pizazz… Here are just a few ideas!

• Musicians
• Helicopter ride
• 4×4 guided tour to get off the beaten path
• Classic car / luxury 4×4 rental to roam the glens in style
• Hiring a special venue for part of your day
• Hiring a private chef for dinner
• A planner to help secure all your suppliers for you

Budgeting tips to reduce the cost of eloping in Scotland

To help your budget stretch a little further, here are some tips from a native Scot:

• Elope in the off-peak season to save money on travel + accommodation.
• Hire suppliers who are close to you elopement location (i.e. makeup artists and celebrants) to keep travel fees down
• Buy from suppliers locally or en-route to avoid delivery fees (i.e. flowers, cake etc.)
• Use credit card points schemes to get money back on purchases and travel
• Choosing a more central elopement location will mean more choices and likely to cater to a wider range of budgets (e.g. food and lodging can be really expensive in the Highlands due to demand and lack of options)
• Book your accommodation far in advance to keep your options as open as possible – good value places will book out quickly
• Buy your outfits from high street stores or second-hand retailers – there are some incredible options out there
• Make your own handfasting cord – whether it’s from sentimental materials or following a tutorial online

For couples who hire me as their photographer, I also have an extensive guide on eloping in Scotland which gives lots of insider tips about budgeting and things to consider.

Hiring an elopement photographer

Why photography is a very important cost in your Scotland elopement

To cut straight to the chase – your elopement photographer can make or break your day. Unlike a normal wedding photographer, your elopement photographer becomes entirely responsible for upholding the timeline of your day. They are there for the whole day which means the way they act and the decisions they make will influence how you feel about your elopement.

They will also be responsible for ensuring that you are kept safe and comfortable in outdoors. Which can be unpredictable at times. A good elopement photographer will also be able to regulate the energy of the day – knowing when you might need a break or private moment. Or equally, knowing when to ramp the energy up for moments of light-heartedness.

It’s not possible for an elopement photographer to be a silent ninja/pure-documentary style photographer. It would be weird to be in constant close proximity and them pretending they aren’t there haha.

These are just a few of the reasons why hiring an experienced local elopement photographer will be the best investment in your elopement day. This is one cost of eloping in Scotland that you don’t want to scrimp on.

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