Dreaming of getting married in the Highlands?
From the beginning of the Woodlands Glencoe journey, we knew that we wanted to create the ultimate romantic escape (and if we do say so ourselves, we think we’ve absolutely nailed it!). Therefore, it’s no surprise that every year oodles of couples’ check-out of RiverBeds & SeaBeds Luxury Lodges as newlyweds!
If you’re dreaming of a wedding free from the stress, the endless planning (and the dreaded seating plan), then eloping to Glencoe could be the way to go! Picture this: a laid-back ceremony in an iconic location with nothing but breathtaking views and the love of your life by your side. Sounds perfect, right? Here’s eight reasons why eloping in Glencoe (and staying at Woodlands) is a truly wondrous idea:
It’s easier than you might imagine
Planning a wedding, even a tiny one for two, sounds like it could be a Herculean task, but you’d be surprised how straightforward it is. All you need is each other, two witnesses, a celebrant and an epic ceremony location (we’ve got plenty)! Once you’ve got those bases covered, you can begin the legal paperwork. You can submit your paperwork (M10 form and Witness & Celebrant form) to the Registry Office in Fort William. The earliest you can submit your paperwork is12 weeks before the big day. The latest you can submit your paperwork is 29 days before the ceremony date.
The Registry Office will then prepare your Marriage Schedule (the form you sign on the big day) so that it’s ready for you to pick up when you arrive in the Glencoe (the Registry Office is just 20-minutes from Woodlands Glencoe). A fee of approximately £100 is payable to the Registry Office for preparing your Marriage Schedule and Marriage Certificate.
If you are coming to get married in Glencoe from abroad, you will also be required to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa and fill in a Declaration of Status by Non-UK Nationals.
Location, location, location
Glencoe is undeniably one of THE most romantic locations in the world, and the Woodlands Estate is just minutes away from all the hotspots (Glencoe Lochan, Three Sisters etc). There’s also lots of beautiful ceremony locations right here on the Estate. So, if a ceremony backdrop with jagged mountains, windswept glens, rumbling rivers, enchanting forests, cascading waterfalls, picture-perfect lochs (and the odd mountain goat or Highland cow) is your thing, then the Glencoe area is the ceremony location of your dreams. There are too many incredible ceremony locations in Glencoe to list, but if you need advice, your celebrant and / or photographer can help you make that decision.
Your day, your way
Forget the drama! When you choose to elope, it’s all about you. Enjoy the wedding of your dreams without worrying about anything except saying “I do”.
One of the best things about eloping is that it’s all about your personal style. If you want to keep it super chilled with just the two of you, you can! Prefer to bring a couple of close friends or family along? Done! The beauty of eloping is the freedom it allows to create the experience that feels right for you.
Wedding-moon!
Who says you can’t combine your wedding and honeymoon? The Highlands are made for exploring and Glencoe is the perfect base for your wedding-moon adventure. Whether you want to soak up the history, explore famous movie locations, wander through incredible scenery or even tour some local distilleries, Woodlands Glencoe is the ideal spot to start your journey as newlyweds. Why not make a week (or two!) of it?
Awesome local suppliers
If you’re worried about finding suppliers for your intimate elopement, rest easy. The Glencoe area is home to a fantastic network of local suppliers who specialise in intimate weddings. From florists to photographers, celebrants to cake makers and musicians to makeup artists, these local legends will help make your day extra special.
We even have an on-site celebrant AND elopement photographer (who can double-up as witnesses)!
Total flexibility
When there’s no guests to worry about, you have the freedom to do exactly as you please! If your dream is to have a sunrise ceremony in the middle of the glen on a quiet Monday morning, you can! If you’d prefer to walk to the top of your favourite mountain, done! The majority of celebrants and photographers in this part of the world love nothing more than being part of unique and interesting elopements.
Post-ceremony relaxation
Dancing the night away with hundreds of friends and family is one way to celebrate your newlywed status, but what if you’d rather hide-out and hole-up with your new Mr or Mrs?
RiverBeds Luxury Wee Lodges and SeaBeds Luxury Lookouts were created with romance in mind. Once you’re officially married, kick back in your very own sunken hot tub, get the fire pit roaring and pop that bottle of complimentary fizz! When hunger strikes, no need to head out (unless you want to) as you can order an indulgent seafood boil for two or a delicious pizza delivered to your lodge! Or why not head out for a meal at one of the fabulous local eateries? Whether you want a fancy dinner or a low-key night in total luxury, it’s up to you.
And if you want to bring guests?
If the thought of a dictionary definition just-the-two-of-you elopement doesn’t float your boat and you’d prefer to have your loved ones with you on your big day, go for it!
You might have noticed that we’re kinda obsessed with the romance of tiny elopements for two, but the Woodlands Estate is perfect for hosting intimate gatherings for small groups and humungous mega weddings too! If you want to bring a few of your nearest and dearest along for the ride, we can make it happen.
Take inspiration from Megan & Alex, who invited fifteen of their loved ones to stay in five of our gorgeous SeaBed Luxury Lookouts for three days. The happy couple married in the hills behind the Woodlands Estate and on their wedding night, they enjoyed a private dinner at the nearby Ballachulish Hotel (just 5-minutes’ walk away).
If you’re looking for somewhere on the Woodlands Estate to host your reception, why not consider renting our cosy clubhouse? This space has breathtaking views over the golf course and Loch Linnhe and can be hired for £1500 (access to a reception space with room for up to 25 guests, plus a commercial kitchen and WC facilities).
And for those looking to host a larger event, the 9th green on the Woodlands golf course is PERFECT for marquee weddings. With panoramic views and space galore, it’s the ideal spot to hire and erect a marquee for a bigger celebration. The cost to rent the space is £720 per day, and we’ll close the golf course just for you (because who wants to get hit by a golf ball on their wedding day?!)
Please note, we do not offer a wedding planning service, but we can put you in touch with some great planners.
