A SECRET AUTUMN ELOPEMENT AT NETHER GLENNY FARM
FEATURING
Tom + Lauren kept things tiny with a secret autumn elopement at Nether Glenny Farm, complete with their dogs, Highland cows and a wood-fired hot tub.
“I think too many people get caught up in what everyone thinks a wedding should be. We decided on an elopement and a dream honeymoon. We wouldn’t change any of it.”
~ Tom + Lauren
We Fell In Love With…
Autumn colours, Highland cows, two very good dogs and the intimacy of a wedding only six people knew was happening.
Wedding videographer Tom had seen enough weddings to know that the ‘usual’ big day wasn’t for him and Lauren. So they stripped it right back for their secret elopement at Nether Glenny Farm, with the farm owners as witnesses and their dogs along for the adventure. Afterwards? Home-cooked food, a wood-fired hot tub and stargazing. DREAMY.
And because there were so few people in on the secret, we’re getting two perspectives on this one, with photographer Lindsey of Mack Photo sharing what it was like to be part of such an intimate day alongside Tom and Lauren.
Read on for some gorgeous autumn elopement inspo and stick around to the end for Tom and Lauren’s advice on forgetting what everyone thinks a wedding should be.
TELL US ABOUT YOU TWO + YOUR WEDDING JOURNEY
Tom & Lauren:
We met in 2019 on a dating app. I have filmed weddings for years, so didn’t want the ‘usual’ wedding and decided an elopement would suit us best. We both also love autumn, so we wanted October. There wasn’t much to plan for this smaller wedding, so we just did it ourselves. Luckily everything went smoothly.
Lindsey, Mack Photo:
Matt & Alison at the beautiful Nether Glenny Farm, near the Lake of Menteith, kindly recommended me to Tom and Lauren for their elopement on the farm. I had photographed there previously, so knew it well and already had plenty of photo locations in mind, whatever the October weather decided to throw at us.
The plan was for Tom & Lauren to secretly elope while staying at the Bothy, with just the two of them and their two dogs. Matt and Alison, the farm owners, were going to be their witnesses. Being part of a secret ceremony feels very special when you’re one of only a handful of people who know a wedding is about to happen.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OUTFITS
Tom & Lauren:
We went simple. I wore a suit I already had and Lauren found a dress on ASOS. We even made the bouquet ourselves. The money saved on the wedding meant we managed to take ourselves on a honeymoon to California, so for us that’s a win.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CEREMONY
Tom & Lauren:
We chose Anna to be our celebrant, she was a dream. She spent the time to learn about us before the day and made us both cry during the ceremony.
Lindsey, Mack Photo:
I arrived just before the ceremony started to capture a little of the pre-wedding prep before Humanist celebrant Anna arrived. We were treated to a perfect sunny October day, so the ceremony took place outside the Bothy on the grass.
The garden has plenty of space for me to move around without getting too close. I wanted to capture the ceremony as it unfolded and record what each of them saw, so that when Tom & Lauren look at the photographs they can remember what it felt like in that moment during their vows and the emotion they both felt.
It helped that their two beautiful and energetic dogs were there and wanted to run around, so even during such an intimate ceremony, nobody was paying any attention to me.
Afterwards we spent some time exploring the farm together. We headed up to the field at the top for the beautiful views over the Lake of Menteith, escorted in the farm’s utility terrain vehicle – always fun when you’re trying to hold on and take photos at the same time!
It wouldn’t be a visit to Nether Glenny Farm without going to see the Highland cows, so Matt carefully chaperoned us through the field. They’re beautiful animals to photograph and an iconic way to show off a Scottish wedding.
We slowly walked back towards the Bothy through the trees, which were turning beautiful autumnal colours. I love capturing the season in wedding photographs so couples can remember exactly what the setting looked like when they got married. Given the beautiful weather Tom & Lauren had, it would have been very easy for their photographs to look like summer. The orange leaves and yellow tones in the grass helped give the photographs the context of the autumn wedding they had chosen.
For our final photographs we headed back to the Bothy, where we even managed a family portrait with their two dogs, who were finally happy to lie down in the sunshine.
TELL US ABOUT THE RECEPTION
Tom & Lauren:
A little different for us. Once we had had some photos with Lindsey and everyone had left, we spent our evening by the fire, with some home-cooked food, a wood-fired hot tub and stargazing.
ANY LESSONS LEARNED OR ADVICE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
Tom & Lauren:
For us, we loved every minute of our tiny little wedding. I think more people should look at the real reasons you have chosen to marry and what it really means. I think too many people get caught up in what everyone thinks a wedding should be. We decided on an elopement and a dream honeymoon. We wouldn’t change any of it.
