Quiraing elopement on Isle of Skye in Scotland

Laura from Wild Hearts Elopements first contacted me on behalf of Rebecca and Fabio last year who were looking for Scotland elopement photographer to capture their day. We connected really quickly on a Zoom call, they locked in their date with me and told me about their plans for their Isle of Skye elopement on Quiraing. And I really couldn’t have been more excited about their day from then on!

One thing that really struck me was how incredibly laid-back and relaxed they were. There was no stress about the weather on their elopement day, or about the car problems they had with their rental.

They were super excited about their Isle of Skye wedding, and as their chosen elopement photographer so was I!

Isle of Skye wedding photographer

When I asked Becca and Fabio what made them choose Isle of Skye for their elopement, they mentioned they loved moody, ethereal and kind of magical vibe of the location. Moreover, as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter fans, Scotland reminded them of their favourite fantasy movies.

Unsurprisingly, it quickly turned out that we had so much in common! Which is why I was wonderfully excited to capture their adventurous outdoor wedding in Scotland.

Furthermore, the weather on their elopement day directly reflected what Becca and Fabio love about their favourite fantasy stories. The sky was covered in clouds and it didn’t stop raining until before the sunset, when we came back from Fairy Glen to Quiraing. And I was eventually able to fly my drone to get some aerial footage and videos which I then shared with the newlyweds!

Consequently, their wedding photos turned out dark, moody and dramatic. And filled with beautiful soft light. As a result, it was a great contrast to their joyful moods and happy faces I was capturing the entire day. Almost from sunrise till sunset!

Elopement planner: Wild Hearts Elopements

Humanist celebrant: Rona Burstow

Hair & make-up artist: Bonny’s Wonderland

Shawl: Tartan Blanket Co

Flowers: Loch Duich Plants

Accommodation: Monkstadt 1745

Quiraing Elopements – where nature’s majesty frames your love story

The Quiraing boasts dramatic cliffs, sweeping green slopes, and labyrinthine rock formations. It’s a place where the raw, untamed beauty of the Scottish Highlands takes center stage, providing a captivating backdrop for your Isle of Skye elopement ceremony.

But what’s the secret to a ceremony in a stunning location, but also in a secluded and more private space where you won’t get disturbed by crowds? If you’re able to, hike deeper into the hills!

While the Quiraing itself is stunning, hiking further into the hills opens up even more breathtaking vistas. As you ascend the trails, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the coastline and the entire Trotternish Ridge. And very many surrounding lochs and valleys.

This way you can exchange vows amidst the tranquility of nature, with only the wind and the elements of nature acting as your witnesses. It’s a deeply personal and meaningful way to declare your love.

So close your eyes and imagine. The rugged terrain, the whispers of the wind, and the ancient stones beneath your feet. So adventure together. Embarking on a hiking adventure as a couple is a bonding experience like no other. It’s a journey that symbolises the path you’ll navigate together in your marriage – full of challenges, but also beauty, and uncharted territory.

How to elope on the hills of Quiraing

In order to help my other clients with their wedding planning process, I asked this wonderful couple some questions about their day. Which they happily answered! Rebecca and Fabio were very kind to share their experience of planning an elopement on Isle of Skye in Scotland. I hope their feedback with prove useful in your own planning process!

What made you decide on eloping instead of organising a traditional wedding?

First of all, we heard many wedding stories from other couples who had planned a big wedding. And how they were incredibly stressed the day of, even to the point of having no time for each other. 

With that in mind, we didn‘t see us having a big wedding. Which is why we wanted our wedding to be as stress-free as possible and to have enough time for the most important thing: us. 

Why did you choose the Isle of Skye to elope?

Since we are both big Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fans, we loved the landscapes of the filming locations used in these movies. And when doing our research about Scotland, when we first saw photos of other Isle of Skye elopements, we immediately knew that this was what we wanted!

What was special about Quiraing that you chose it as your ceremony location?

The incredible view was what made us choose the Quiraing. Beautiful photos were so important to us, because that‘s the one thing you get to take with you and keep forever. The scenery of Quiraing is out of this world!

What was your favourite part of your elopement day and why?

It‘s difficult to choose a favourite part out of all the unforgettable moments, but we loved how intimate our day was. And how we didn’t feel any pressure the entire day. Despite the rainy and cold weather, we were so happy all day long. So that is something we will never forget. 

The handfasting ceremony, the incredible dining experience and having the best celebrant and wedding photographer we could have hoped for also played a huuuge part!

Did anything in particular inspire you to have the style of day that you had? (any particular era, muse, colour, place, experience, movie, art, or were you guided by cultural values and preferences?)

Probably all of the fantasy movies and shows we watched: Harry Potter, LOTR and Outlander. Isle of Skye is just magical. And you truly do feel like you‘re in a movie yourself!

What made you choose Laura from Wild Hearts Elopements to help you with the elopement planning? How did choosing a professional wedding planner influenced you and your planning process? Would you recommend hiring an elopement planner to other couples planning to elope in Isle of Skye?

We chose Laura knowing that she had years of experience and that she also had a destination wedding herself. During our first call, we immediately clicked. 

Which is why we knew that we could absolutely trust Laura and that took a whole lot of stress and pressure off of us. 

Without a wedding planner, we wouldn’t have eloped as the process might be complicated to manage from abroad. So we absolutely recommend hiring a professional planner to everyone planning to elope in Scotland!

Why did you choose me as your Scotland elopement photographer, what was it like working with me on the day and would you recommend me to other elopers?

When we searched for Scotland elopement photographer on Instagram, your photos always popped up right at the top! We loved your photography style and when we had our first call, we knew that your laid back personality was 100% right fit for us! Moreover, you have so much background knowledge, which had built our trust in you so quickly. On the elopement day, it felt like we already knew each other for a long time. And – it was the first time for us that we weren‘t nervous standing in front of a camera!

Our final gallery of photos is all we ever dreamt of – moody, captivating and emotional. We are so grateful to you for creating lifelong memories with us.

So yes, we would ABSOLUTELY recommend you to every couple planning their dream day!

What were your favourite places you visited on Isle of Skye?

Quiraing and Fairy Glen, without a doubt!

Isle of Skye elopements in Scotland

Every year I photograph only a handful of elopements on Isle of Skye, because of its distance from my hometown of Edinburgh. I limit them to 3 a year, so please get in touch with me as soon as possible if you’re interested in my photography as Isle of Skye elopement photographer! I’d absolutely love to hear from you.

So make sure to send me the details of your plans via contact form, and let’s plan your dream elopement.

I can’t wait to chat about your wildest (or tamest) elopement dreams amongst Scotland’s rare beauty!