Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland

Joyful and moody Glencoe elopement for two brides

All you need is love (and an epic Glencoe elopement)

Before COVID, Mary + Rosalie were in the throes of planning a big edgy New York wedding in a cool speakeasy bar. Where they ended up couldn’t have been further from their initial vision! Once COVID hit, they quickly realised that their plans would need to change. And secretly, they were relieved to be able to say goodbye to planning a stressful big wedding and instead seizing the opportunity to grab a small handful of their absolute favourite people to elope in Scotland.

After all the trials of postponements and nail-biting travel restrictions, there was absolutely NO WAY they were going to let a little (okay, a lot) of rain stop them from having the absolute time of their lives. And the weather forecast in Glencoe was definitely predicting A LOT of rain.

For Mary + Rosalie, they wanted to leave as little impact on the land as they could – taking only their memories and leaving only footprints. They wore pre-loved dresses, made their own bouquets using flowers from a local store, let the wind be their musical accompaniment and were very mindful to leave no trace throughout the day.

In the end, their day was a celebration of throwing caution to the (literal) wind and embracing a relaxed day full of love, loved ones, epic scenery and a warm fire in their bellies (but that might have been the whisky!). This LGTBQ+ elopement in Glencoe is one we’ll remember for a longtime and we’re very grateful to have made such wonderful new friends in Mary + Rosalie.

Featured on Junebug Weddings - Raini Rowell
Very proud to have had this wonderful elopement featured on the prestigious wedding blog, Junebug.
Honorable Mention for one of the best wedding images of 2021 globally on Junebug

Same-sex elopement ceremony in Glencoe

They threw caution to the wind and trooped up the hill, along with a few of their family + friends knowing they might end up drenched within 5 minutes. And maybe mother earth admired their wild spirit because she stopped the rain precisely for the exact length of the ceremony. And after the moment they had toasted their celebration the clouds let loose everything they had held back for those 30 mins. The smiles and frantic scrambling and child-like joy of getting caught in the rain was such a delight to witness.

There is something about the rain that makes people surrender. Opening their arms wide to the sky and embracing the beauty of the things we can’t control. It makes you feel alive.

Before their ceremony they toasted with some Scottish whisky with their friends and family. And as they stood on a windy stormy hill, they were determined to enjoy their ceremony in their weddings dresses. These two brides were not to be deterred! And they embraced some of Scotland’s most beautiful wedding traditions – a handfasting (their cords were made from special material and garments from their histories) and drinking from the quaich (friendship cup filled with more whisky!)

climbing hill to ceremony in Glencoe, Scotland
climbing hill to elopement ceremony in Glencoe, Scotland
LGBTQ+ elopement ceremony in Glencoe during storm
Hands holding during elopement ceremony in Glencoe
LGBTQ+ elopement ceremony in Glencoe during storm
wee wedding in Glencoe during storm
LGBTQ+ elopement ceremony in Glencoe during storm

Adventuring during a moody Glencoe elopement

After this, they spent a couple of hours exploring Glencoe, with its ever-changing and challenging wet conditions unless their perseverance was rewarded with an incredibly dramatic sunset over the iconic view of the Three Sisters mountain range.

Lesbian couple exploring Glencoe in stormy Autumn
Lesbian couple exploring Glencoe in stormy Autumn
Lesbian couple exploring Glencoe in stormy Autumn
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Same-sex bride enjoying getting married in Scotland
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Drinking whisky in car - two brides eloping in Glencoe
Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland
Bride kicks rain during Glencoe elopement
Glencoe elopement with stormy sunset - two brides cuddling
Bride climbing hill with umbrella during stormy Glencoe elopement
Glencoe elopement with stormy sunset - two brides
Glencoe elopement with stormy sunset - two brides holding hands
Glencoe elopement with stormy sunset - two brides cuddling
Glencoe elopement with stormy sunset - two brides cuddling
Glencoe elopement with stormy sunset - two brides kissing
Bride standing in Glencoe with stormy sunset
Bride standing in Glencoe with stormy sunset
Bride standing in Glencoe with stormy sunset
Two brides holding umbrellas in Glencoe by waterfalls
Climbing hill in Glencoe during stormy sunset - same-sex couple
Walking to car in Glencoe during stormy sunset - same-sex couple
Extreme sunset in Glencoe with bride walking to car

Elopement celebration in a cosy Scottish pub

And to finish off this epic adventure, they retreated to a cosy hikers pub nestled in the mountain valley to meet their friends and family again. Speeches, dinner and yes, plenty more whisky!

Team of inclusive LGBTQ+-friendly suppliers

Location: Glencoe, Scotland
Accommodation: Isles of Glencoe Hotel
Photographer + videographer: Raini Rowell Photography
Celebrant: Alyson Stewart


Inspired to elope in Glencoe?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch to start planning your moody Glencoe elopement with me!


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Same-sex couple celebrating getting married in Scotland