If you want a truly unique and personal wedding, then you should definitely hold it in Scotland.
Scottish law allows couples to marry anywhere, even outdoors, as long as the ceremony is conducted by a religious official, registrar or a non-religious Humanist Society Scotland celebrant. Humanist ceremonies aren't legally binding in England.
You can even get married at night.
In the rest of the UK weddings have to take place between 8am and 6pm, but not in Scotland. Essentially, Scottish law allows you to get married wherever and whenever you want, though it helps if there's some basic infrastructure in place.
With that in mind, here are some amazing and unusual Scottish locations that welcome brides and grooms (and brides and brides/ grooms and grooms) to be.
1. The Mountain Bothy, Schiehallion.
This beautiful little bothy is run by Highland Safaris. You can only access it by Land Rover as it's perched on the summit of Schiehallion 2500 feet above sea level.
2. Errol Park, Errol, Perthshire.
Errol Park is a Victorian stately home not far from Dundee. Couples can hold their ceremony in the house's extensive walled garden which boasts a huge array of exotic plants, including 31 gigantic Californian redwoods that were planted in 1815.
3. Roulotte Retreat, Scottish Borders.
This secluded meadow near Melrose is filled with traditional French gypsy caravans called roulottes. Couples usually get married outdoors and a reception can be held in a spacious woodland art studio beside the meadow.
4. Logie Country House, Aberdeenshire.
This sprawling stately home was built in the 1670s and has a swimming pool, garden courtyards, a ballroom, a cinema, a gym and (impressively) a private island.
5. Harvest Moon Holidays, East Lothian.
This safari tent "glampsite" is all yours if you book all seven tents or treehouses. Most couples get married on the beach and hold the reception in a marquee.
6. The Coo Cathedral, Aboyne Estate, Aberdeenshire.
The coos have moved out of their "cathedral" — a former cattle byre in the grounds of Aboyne Castle — but it still has many of its original features, including a stunning vaulted timber roof.
7. West Brewery, Glasgow.
West Brewery is housed in the historic Templeton Building, which was modeled on the Doge's Palace in Venice. Couples can get married in the Hop Room, hold their reception in the main bar area and send their guests on brewery tours.
8. Cairngorm Mountain Resort, Aviemore, Highland.
The Ptarmigan building near the summit of Cairn Gorm is the highest function venue in Scotland. Couples travel up the mountain on a funicular railway and the ceremony is held on an outdoor terrace 3600 feet above sea level.
9. Highland Tipis, Perthshire.
If you want a scenic wedding but don't trust the Scottish weather, then Highland Tipis are a good solution: each tipi is large enough to hold a modest ceremony and they can be linked together to form a reception venue. Carol and Lita pitched theirs on Jura. Lita is a member of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants. Find out more here.
Photos courtesy of Rock and Roll Bride.
10. Jupiter Artland, Wilkieston, Edinburgh.
Jupiter Artland is a contemporary sculpture park in the 100 acre Bonnington Estate just outside Edinburgh. Couples can marry beside these spectacular landforms by the American landscape architect and sculptor Charles Jencks
11. Doune Castle, Stirling.
Fancy getting married in Winterfell? Doune Castle was used for external shots of the Starks' ancestral home in the first episode of Game of Thrones. It was also the setting for several scenes from Monty Python And The Holy Grail.
12. The Treehouse at the Lodge on Loch Goil, Argyll.
This lochside treehouse in the grounds of a Victorian summer lodge can accommodate up to 24 guests for an intimate ceremony, with the reception held in the Lodge's large dining room.
13. Bogbain Farm, Invernessshire.
Bogbain Farm has a huge barn that's ideal for an evening dance, a vaulted timber and stone byre for the ceremony, a large bothy to hold your meal and — most importantly —stunning views across Inverness towards the Black Isle
14. Camusdarach Beach, Arisaig, Invernessshire.
The picturesque white sands of Camusdarach Beach are part of a self catering campsite who offer couples a chandelier lit marquee to use for their reception.
15. The Byre at Inchyra, Perthshire.
This stunning stone barn was built in 1877 as a cattle byre on grounds of the Inchyra Estate near Perth. It can hold up to 180 guests.
16. Lunga House, Craobh Haven, Argyll.
Lunga House and Castle is the ancestral seat of Clan MacDougal. It overlooks the Inner Hebridean Islands of Jura, Scarba, Shuna and Luing. Couples can get married outside in the woodland arbor, in the house or on the private pier.
17. Balmakewan Farm, Aberdeenshire.
Balmakewan is a beautiful family run farm with extensive, rolling lawns that make it perfect for an outdoor or marquee wedding. It also has a farm shop so your guests can stock up on chutney, cheese and tea towels.
18. The Lighthouse, Glasgow.
This Charles Rennie Mackintosh building in the centre of Glasgow is also Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture. Couples can hold their ceremony on the centre's viewing platform with the Glasgow skyline as a backdrop.
19. Crear House and Studio, Argyll.
Crear House is an artistic retreat in the West of Scotland. Weddings are usually held in the studio, which used to be a byre and now has a twenty metre long glass wall and spectacular views across to Jura, Islay and Gigha.
20. The Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides.
As you can get married outdoors in Scotland, why settle for anything less than the stunning backdrop of the Black Cuillins? The island's stunning scenery makes it a popular option for elopements and small weddings like this.
21. The Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow.
This iconic dancehall and rock venue in Glasgow recently hosted its first wedding reception. The couple got married in a nearby church, but author Nuala Naughton had her ceremony in the smaller Barrowland 2 part of the venue in 2013
22. Comrie Croft, Crieff, Perthshire.
This 200 year old farmstead is also a youth hostel, but you won't have to share it with any tourists on your big day. It sleeps 74 so you can recoup some of your costs by asking guests to make a donation towards their accommodation.
23. The Silver Marlin, Loch Lomond.
Julie and John decided to get married on a Sweeney's Cruise boat on Loch Lomond. John explains: "We had a really relaxing ceremony with a fantastic backdrop. We still talk about it now and people actually do want to look at the old wedding photos. I highly recommend 'pushing the boat out' and trying something different for your wedding day."
Many thanks to all the photographers who provided images for this article.
Extra special thanks to Neil Douglas, Donna Murray, Caroline Weiss, Eilidh Robertson, Brian O'Neill, and Mirrorbox Photography for suggesting additional venues and for their expertise.
NB: In addition to Humanist celebrants, there are also a range of independent celebrant options available throughout Scotland, though you will also have to have your marriage solemnised by a registrar before or afterward to ensure it is legally binding.
