AN ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT IN GLEN CLOVA

Laura and Adam’s love of adventure and the outdoors led them to Corrie Fee, a truly dramatic location surrounded by rugged mountains in the Angus glens. While out for a walk in Glen Clova, and feeling inspired by the landscape, Laura spontaneously proposed to Adam. They returned there in April, with their parents and their dog, and hiked in to the natural amphitheatre where their Humanist ceremony took place.

If, like them, you are filled with adventure ache and looking to start married life on your own terms, then prepare to be inspired…

Love at first sight or gradual attraction?

Adam and I met on a ski season in Meribel, France. We both worked for the same chalet company, Adam as a chef and I was a personal assistant. It was a gradual attraction, but slowly Adam wooed me with his excellent chocolate brownies and we got together after two months. There was lots of skiing and pints of wine involved but it was the start of a beautiful thing!

What inspired your wedding plans?

I’ve never really been the sort of person to ‘imagine’ my wedding day. It’s never been up there on my list of dreams. The thought of a traditional wedding left me feeling numb, while the idea of spending a year planning and being asked ‘How’s the wedding planning going?’ had me starting to think that perhaps marriage just wasn’t for me.

I then discovered adventure elopements. I was instantly taken by the breathtaking photographs and authenticity of two people just heading off into the wilderness to make their vows. No crowds, no fuss, just them. That moved me, just the thought of heading up a mountain with Adam to get married would make me emotional. After a few discussions on marriage that took place well before the proposal we both knew completely and utterly that this would be how we would get married.

How did you choose the location?

Scotland is home. From the moment we cross the border on the drive up and hills begin to rise, the roads become quiet and the sky opens up, we both breathe a sigh of relief. It was also the ability to get married outside legally that we loved.

We chose to get married at Corrie Fee partly because I proposed to Adam there but mainly because we loved the setting, the large natural amphitheatre, mountains, trees and rivers, it felt remote but is only a short walk in and the Glen Clova Hotel is not far away.

We love your outfits! Tell us more…

My dress was a two piece top and skirt, it had quite a vintage look, all lace but the separate top gave it a bit of an edge. I loved the button detail up the back. I wore it with black Doc Marten boots and a Tartan Blanket Co. recycled woollen blanket.

I did my own hair! I have many sisters and I’ve grown up being the one who can ‘do hair!’ It’s amazing what you can learn on YouTube.

Adam wore a kilt that he rented, in the Hunting Pride tartan, with a woollen fisherman’s jumper. His minimalist sporran was from the Kilt Society, and he wore leather walking boots. His sgian dubh was actually a ‘skate dubh’ made out of old skateboards by our good friends from No Comply.

Your photos and film are breathtaking!

We loved The Caryls’ style and the quality of their work really stood out. We wanted photographers who knew how to deal with an adventure elopement. They have ample experience and it really showed on the day. Both Jim and Katy where not phased by anything and lept about the place like gazelles!

Gregg and Simon of Cinemate Films are two extremely talented filmmakers. World class, I didn’t think we would find a videographer that would truly meet our expectations but Cinemate blew it out of the park. We watched a few of their films online and we knew that we wanted them to document our day – they had such a creative eye, these weren’t your standard wedding films, these were works of art! Worthy of any edgy film festival.

Luckily, they where available at short notice as with our photographers (the joys of getting married on 1st April on a Monday!). As only our parents would attend the wedding, we knew we wanted a film to be able to show friends and family. Many of them have said how they felt they were there now and that is really special.

Were there any challenges along the way?

Our wedding planning was the easiest thing ever! We only had six weeks to plan and we got everything done in the first three! The only thing we almost messed up was the paperwork that needed to be submitted with 29 days to process, but we did it on the last day we could and it worked out fine.

Did you manage to stick to your budget?

We spent £7000 all in, £3000 of that went on photography and videography, my dress cost £300 from Monsoon and Adam hired his kilt. That budget included two nights stay in hotels, plus food, our humanist celebrant, flowers, rings and all the other bits and pieces.

Considering an average wedding these days can cost more than 4x that amount, we were more than happy with it. That is the joy of an elopement, you can keep costs down very easily and tailor it to your needs.

Any advice?


Whatever type of wedding a couple decide on, a photographer and or videographer whose work you love should be top of your list, because once the day is over the photographs will be all you have left. And if you’re going to make the effort to haul yourself to some remote location you’re going to want to document that!

If you are eloping… Like anything, you should know that it is definitely what you want. You should be prepared that even after the wedding you might find out someone wasn’t happy with your decision or try to make you regret not having a big day. Just take the time to look back through your photos and remember why you eloped and how amazing it was!

Be aware that even if you plan on getting married in a very remote location, there may be other people around and they may choose to eat their sandwiches on a rock very near by and watch! Luckily for us they had moved by the time the vows came around.

Anyone you’d like to give a shout out to?

Our photographers The Caryls and our videographers Cinemate Films were both utterly outstanding. We met all of them in person pretty much on the day but it was like they were friends just there to share the day. They were both present and invisible in the best possible way. Then the final photos and film totally took our breath away. We now have our day completely documented in the most beautiful way forever and I am so grateful for that.

The Tartan Blanket Co also for the beautiful blankets, and Glen Clova hotel for the fantastic afternoon tea as the storm rolled in.

Honeymoon or minimoon?

We took a minimoon to London straight after, then later in the summer we actually went on a 600 mile walk, completing the South West Coast Path in England which took us 47 days, camping the whole way!

And then we went on a proper honeymoon, backpacking through South-east Asia – lots of yoga, beach and Thai food!

What’s the one moment you’ll always remember?

The wonderful thing about our whole day is that we felt totally present for the entire thing. There was so little to distract or worry us. It wasn’t overwhelming in any way other than how beautiful the surroundings were. With that I don’t think there was one moment that stuck out because the WHOLE thing was just epic.

Simple and authentic – so much to love! We’re sure you’ll join us in wishing Laura and Adam all the very best in their next adventure! And you can keep following their story over at Yellow Matilda. x