Help.....We want to get married in Scotland

Countryripple

Hi all,

Myself and my other half are starting to plan our wedding. We are really leaning towards a scottish venue. He was born there but moved here when he was small but we do travel over there a few times a year.

We are looking to take a weeks holiday in March and go see some possible venues. We are thinking places that will be accessable either by ferry, or by glasgow or edinburgh airport.

We think we would have about 100 people give or take a few. It would be a catholic wedding but does not have to be stuck to that. We would idealy like somewhere that has a small church in its grounds that could be hired exclusively for the wedding.

If anyone has any ideas or good reviews / advice to give we would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Neyite

Well the obvious one is Gretna Green, but flights may be tricky - its south scotland. the other idea is st. margarets chapel in edinburgh castle, which would have fantastic backdrop for the photos, however i remember the chapel being tiny, and again, not sure if a catholic wedding can be done.

in Scotland or the UK, you can get a civil service in lots of different locations - the highlands are amazing,

Dont know anyone who has got married there though.

Countryripple

Thanks for the reply. Not looking for the Gretna Green type thing though.

Yea there are some beautiful places in the highlands, but trying to keep travel for people once they get there to a minimum.

Neyite

Yah, Gretna is obvious. Meeting a scottish relative and her friend over the weekend so will sound them out for you - will post back in a day or two.

OS119

Gretna is a shithole of astonishing proportions. cheap, tacky and wipe your feet on the way out. if you look at people on the Jeremy Kyle show and think 'ooh, she looks nice in those leggings, badger hair, tattoos and bingo armour' you'll like it. if not, you won't.

its very unlikely you'd be able to get married in St Margarets Church in Edinburgh Castle - they have a waiting list as long as your arm and you can fit about 15 people and a dress inside it - and even then it will never be private, they'd close the chapel for about 30minutes, but outside it'd be swarming with tourists.

gorgeous place to get married, but if you want privacy for a 100 people or so, you'd need to go elsewhere.

cruiserweight

I am getting married in Glasgow next year and there are a few different options. I am getting married in the University of Glasgow, which would be perfect, but is not available to the general public. Although we are only having the ceremony and not the reception there.

There are plenty of places close to Loch Lomond, where you are within driving distance of Glasgow, but would probably have a civil ceremony.

You could also consider the Peoples Palace which is on Glasgow Green http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Palace It is a nice venue and Glasgow Cathedral is only 5 minutes away. Although Glasgow Cathedral is currently under renovation. Our reception is in a venue called West Bar and Brewery beside Glasgow Green http://www.westbeer.com/ it has a marriage license and we like it as well

Pollockshields Burgh Hall is also popular http://www.pollokshieldsburghhall.com/ We also considered the Piping Centre in Glasgow, we almost booked it http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/

Countryripple

Hi Cruiserweight,

Thanks for the info.

Have done a bit of looking around since the first post and i am tending to be more leaning towards a country house or castle style venue. We like the look of Glencourse house and it little church, but just not pushed on the marquee part of it.

Ideally would like something on a bit of grounds for people to stroll and for it to have a nice rustic room for the reception.

Also, can i ask, is it correct that the tradition in scotland would be that the reception is in the day and not the evening? Will this be a stumbling block if we want to have it similar in timing and order to an irish wedding?

Thanks again.

cruiserweight

Countryripple wrote: »

Also, can i ask, is it correct that the tradition in scotland would be that the reception is in the day and not the evening? Will this be a stumbling block if we want to have it similar in timing and order to an irish wedding?

Thanks again.

Okay that would be news for me if that was the case. I have only been to one wedding here since moving over, they had ceremony in the early afternoon, reception afterwards and then an evening reception with a dj and scottish highland dancing. The timing for our wedding this year will be something similar, ceremony at 2, meal at 4 or 5 and evening reception starting about 7:30 - 8 (I think I might have to check the exact details with the boss )

ebbsy

We got married in Park Circus in Glasgow in 2000, very nice.

Riding Tandem

Hi, I started planning my wedding in Scotland back in December. I thought this was going to be easy - but I seem to have hit a wall. When any of you guys planned your weddings (or doing so now), did you feel the same way.
The local registrar is telling me that I need to contact the British embassy here in my state of Florida. I cannot get anyone by email or phone.
And this marriage visa...you can only do it 3 months prior to visiting the Scotland, is this right?
If anyone has any advise, please I need some help.
Thanks.