As many brides-to-be will know, it takes months, if not years of effort to look wedding dress ready on your big day, but if you’re considering saying “I do” on Scottish soil, then give a little thought to how long it has taken Scotland to look so flawless!  

The dramatic beauty and character of Scotland’s landscape makes for the perfect backdrop for the most romantic of wedding ceremonies, but this level of beauty doesn’t just happen overnight.  Scotland has been sculpted and contoured to within an inch of its life for a whopping 440 million years!  

We’re not suggesting that ginormous continental collisions and long drawn out ice-ages are positive occurrences, but hey, every cloud has a silver lining and anyone who has visited the country will know exactly what we mean.   With hundreds of jagged mountain ridges giving way to sprawling ancient forests, heather covered glens and endless windswept beaches, Scotland is simply breath-taking, but when you set sail for one of the country’s 790 majestic islands, you’re in for a whole new level of gloriousness!  Sadly, we couldn’t feature all 790 islands so we’re going to concentrate on one of our absolute favourites. 

Here’s why we’ve chosen the Isle of Skye as the perfect Scottish island to say “I do”:

• Utterly unique and incredibly romantic

• An eloping couples best friend 

• Huge range of venues from mountain tops to luxury castles

• Very accessible via road bridge and ferry

• Possibly the most inspiring photographic opportunities in Scotland

• Options to suit every budget

• Stunningly beautiful no matter what the season/weather

• Combine your ceremony and honeymoon

• A foodie/outdoor adventurer/nature loving couples dream

The Isle of Skye is a definite Team Fuze favourite as it’s not only unbelievably beautiful, it’s also easily accessible from the mainland with frequent Caledonian MacBrayne ferries sailing “over the sea to Skye” from Mallaig (30 minute crossing) as well as the option of a bridge crossing at Kyle of Lochalsh.

Anybody who has visited Skye instantly picks up on a distinctive air of magic which hovers over every inch of the island.  Whether it’s the Fairy Pools, the morning mist, the fiery sunsets, the wilderness or the crazy serrated ridges of the Cuillins, Skye feels almost supernatural, making it off the chart in the romance department!  Last year, the Isle of Skye was even voted the most romantic place in the UK by publishers Mills & Boon, and for very good reason.

There are innumerable places to get married on the island, from the opulent Dunvegan Castle to cosy Kinloch Lodge; however, Skye has quickly become an eloping duo’s dream and with epic locations more or less everywhere you look, many couples are choosing to head out in all weathers to famous locations such as the Fairy Pools, the Old Man of Storr and the Cuillins, which are all incredibly romantic and make for epic ceremony backdrops.    

When Catherine and Dominic were married in November last year, they opted to embrace the incredible Quiraing as their ceremony backdrop.  Being November, the weather was not on its best behaviour, but as you can see from the photographs captured by the wonderful Trevor at Silver Photography, the moody and swirling clouds added to the romance and created an unbelievable ceremony atmosphere.  Completely unfazed by the weather, Catherine & Dominic, together with trusty hounds, Iggy and Gizmo, took the short walk up to a spectacular viewpoint, which looked directly over the Quiraing. 

After the ceremony, the group headed back to one of Mary’s Cottages.  These mega cosy and traditional thatched black houses make for perfect accommodation for eloping couples, but there are so many options on the island to suit every budget.  For those couples looking for great value accommodation, we would highly recommend taking a look at The Little Skye Bothy and Eco Bells Glamping, but if you’re in the mood for a splurge, check out The House Over By and The Cabin.

Here at Fuze, we have noticed a considerable rise in the number of Highland and Islands elopement ceremonies being conducted and the 2019/20 diary is already jam-packed with intimate ceremonies for two.  Trevor from Silver Photography confirms the trend:  “In 2017, there was a small increase in elopements but 2018 saw a massive jump and half the weddings I photographed were little 2 to 10 person events. I am delighted about this change and it genuinely excites me as it means I get to travel even further around Scotland and get to work in some truly wonderful locations”.

Both Paula Wilkinson and Anne Widdop are available to conduct West Highland and Island wedding ceremonies, so do get in touch for further information. 

Thanks to:

Photographer – Trevor at Silver Photography

Couple – Catherine & Dominic

Date – November 2018