Planning My Wedding on The Isle of Skye -

In July 2022 someone was actually brave enough to propose to me! Of course I spoiled the moment for Clive, that’s fairly typical, but it happened, sort of. Well, someone asked if we would ever get married, I said no, and he said he was about to ask me once we were on holiday. So I said yes. Hardly the stuff of dreams especially when you plan proposals for a living with Isle of Skye Proposals. So here is how I went about planning my wedding on the Isle of Skye:

I have been photographing weddings for 12 years now, six of those here on Skye. I have a bit of experience in these matters so embraced my inner Bridezilla, began planning my wedding on Skye and started to make lists. I should say that at this point I had been single for 38 years, and so Clive’s dream of a very quiet elopement was never going to happen. There were also aspects of my first wedding that I had always been unhappy about so here was my chance to have another go.

First stop Clive and I picked a date. Then I contacted a celebrant on Skye. I am super lucky to know them personally and they are all fantastic. My first choice was free. Strike one off the list. Then we picked another date because my best friend works in a school, as does my sister in law and so we had to go with the school holidays. Much as we would have liked sooner rather than later (Clive was worried about how much time I had to plan and complicate what was meant to be a simple affair) we settled on Easter 2023.

Clive distracted me from my lists to take me ring shopping. I knew exactly the sort of ring I wanted so we hit the second hand jewellery shops and came up trumps. Having watch many many episodes of Bargain Hunt I went in prepared to haggle, only for the shop owner to tell me to make him an offer well below what I had been prepared to suggest. The ring fitted and it was meant to be. Back to the lists.

So far planning my wedding on the Isle of Skye was going well. Next we had to sit down and decided what we really wanted to do. From my first visit to Loch Coruisk I knew that was where I would want to get married. It’s quiet in that it’s a long walk or a boat ride to get there, and is just beautiful. I wanted a piper to add atmosphere and give a sense of occasion and we wanted to record the event.

I totally get that for some people it’s not all about the photos. I LOVE my job, I get the greatest pleasure from making pictures that capture magical moments and show people at their very best. I also love clients who ARE all about the photos, but I realise this is not for everyone. When it comes to having my picture taken I am in the ‘not so much’ category. I wanted a record of the day but I didn’t want my every move watched. I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of getting ready. I knew who I wanted to take my pictures, but they are friends and therefore I wanted them to out their cameras do and enjoy themselves too. I went for the option I offer couples, ceremony and a few shots afterwards for the mantlepiece. Not what you expect to hear from a wedding photographer, I know, but I didn’t want it to feel like a work day for me.

So, celebrant booked, photography sorted and location decided upon, it was time to book essentials and make a plan.

I contacted Misty Isle Boats. The number of friends and family attending would be determined by the number of people we could take. We had options but we decided that one boat was enough, and their biggest takes 60 so that would be our absolute maximum. I was also aware that the words ‘boat trip’ can strike fear into the hearts of many a land lubber, although I was surprised at how bravely some took on the. challenge!

Next we came up with a tentative guest list of our very favourite people. It was at around 40, and this allowed for me to get carried away and add extras (as I do for any event I plan) so then we needed to decide what we would do with them all!

I didn’t want a grand affair. We are in our fifties and this was to be more of a party with a wedding rather than A Wedding. I just wanted my mates around me to celebrate and to be honest we didn’t have the budget for fine dining and a big party so we decided we would just have everyone back to ours for some food and drink. We planned pizzas and chilli and Clive went into over drive buying a fancy pizza oven and making pizza bases to freeze. I photographed a local wedding where they had bought two small marquees and they agreed to sell them to me afterwards for my wedding so we had a great extension to the house.

Invites were sent out early so that friends and family could book accommodation in plenty of time and we were lucky that everyone stayed really close by.

I asked friends to help. What I loved most about my wedding was the community (albeit a temporary one) that came together for our day. It was like living in the best ever village for a week, full of my favourite people helping out and having fun. Friends helped to put up the marquees and my next door neighbour decorated it with greenery from her garden and flowers I had dried over the winter. Chilli’s were made in a whole load of borrowed slow cookers and puddings were lovingly crafted by another friend. Wedding cakes were donated very kindly, my bouquet was a gift and somehow everything just came together because my friends made sure it did.

I planned axe throwing from Ace Target Sports the night before the wedding day to get everyone together and give them a chance to meet properly and have some fun. It was a real hit!

The weather for the day of the wedding was pretty bad. We had back up plans to get married near the house or in the marquees if needs be but thankfully we were able to get there, and managed to stay just long enough for our ceremony and ten minutes of portraits before we headed back to Elgol and on home for food. We couldn’t marry in the exact spot I had wanted to because It had become a river, but it didn’t matter. That’s getting married on Skye for you. Flexibility is key!

We had a wonderful day. We were surrounded by love. We were all a bit wet and windswept when we arrived back for drinks and pizza and I will be honest, the whole day seemed a bit of a blur, but it had been all we could have hoped for and a bit more.

So, here are my top tips from planning my wedding on The Isle of Skye:

1.Book a celebrant first of all. Make sure you know what dates you need to submit your paperwork to the Registry Office by and have everything prepared.

2. Location isn’t everything but it helps to have ideas, and a back up plan for bad weather. If you are planning boats and other vehicles to be involved get them booked. Thinks about the time of day – early morning or early evening are great times to marry here as they are quieter. Midday means crowded locations and, if the sun is out, is not great for your pictures!

3. Have an idea for how the day will look. Book dinner well in advance and accommodation for guests as the island gets very busy in the summer.

4. Get in very early with florists and especially hair and make up people (I didn’t have my hair and make up done for me as it’s just not me, but they get super busy and are booked up nearly a year ahead). Book pipers and cakes as far ahead as possible too.

5. Trust your suppliers. Weddings happen every day here and they know what they are doing. If they tell you that your plan may have problems it is as well to listen. They just want you to have the very best of days.

6. Wear clothes appropriate to your surroundings. Ditch the heels and be prepared for rain. Go with a dress that you don’t mind getting a bit muddy rather than one that cost a fortune and you will worry about. It’s just a dress.

7. Most of all remember that this day is about you and your partner. That’s the bit that matters, not the frills and extras that will cause you stress and take away from what the day is really about.

My wedding wasn’t expensive. Including clothes, boats, marquees, food/drink and everything we spent about £6000. The most expensive items being the pizza oven and my Jimmy Choo boots that looked amazing and were hideously uncomfortable. I also booked myself into a nice hotel for the night before and of our wedding. Our wedding rings were made for us using old items of family jewellery so were special but less expensive than brand new. We asked that people didn’t bring gifts as many had travelled for days and spent money on accommodation. I wasted money on paying for parking for evening guests and too much drink having asked people to bring a bottle to the evening do as well, way more chilli than was required.

My Skye wedding team/suppliers:

Scottish Highland Weddings, The Skye Piper, Lynne Kennedy Photography, Love Skye Photography, Misty Isle Boats, Flowers by the Castle, Highland Cakes, Skye Petals Cakery, Portree Registry Office, Ace Target, Duisdale House Hotel,