1. Involve family and friends
Ask close friends or family members to do a reading, to write something that someone else reads on their behalf, or even to sing or play an instrument during the ceremony. Choose music/readings that mean something to you as a couple or ask that your chosen readers select something that reminds them of you both.
2. Write your own vows
Decide if you want to write your vows together or to keep them as a surprise for the day. But make sure you agree on a format, so that even if you’re writing them apart, they’ll still work together as a pair. We’d suggest no more than 200 words each as a good starting point and try to keep both sets to a similar length. In terms of content: keep it personal, be honest and be yourself!
3. Choose a location that is dear to you
We’re fortunate in Scotland to be able to get married pretty much anywhere we want to, as long as it is classified as an ‘approved place’ by the General Register Office for Scotland. So why not hold your ceremony at the spot where you met, where your first kiss took place or even the location of your proposal?
4. Rethink the roles
If you’ve got children, maybe you’d rather walk down the aisle with them hand-in-hand or make like the Swedes and walk in with your groom – your guests won’t forget that entrance in a hurry! Or involve your parents in a different way, like recently married Laura Stenhouse did at her wedding at The Torridon in April 2011.
“We didn’t have a bridesmaid or best man. We involved our parents as much as possible and we had my mum and Gary’s mum as our witnesses. My dad walked me down the aisle and Gary’s dad was the ring bearer.”
5. Make a statement
Do something a little bit different during the ceremony by having owls deliver the rings! Or signal the end of your nuptials and the start of your married life with a statement finish.
Go outside to let off balloons, arrange a dove release or take inspiration from the Rooneys and set butterflies free.
