Cat + Matt met while they were both stationed in Germany. During this time, they traveled all over Europe, but they count an October trip to Scotland as the first time they realized they were in love. So when they started planning their wedding, it made sense for them to skip the stress of a big wedding and return to the place where it all started, with 15 of their closest family and friends.

They chose to get married in Isle of Skye, even though they hadn’t spent time there on their first trip. They were drawn to the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and the idea of staying in a beautiful seaside lodge with their guests. We sent them a map with our favorite spots on Isle of Skye and we immediately bonded over their choice for their ceremony location. They wanted to have their ceremony in the same place that we (Alex + Lisa) said our vows to each other a year and a half earlier. And what a special occasion it was for us to return to that spot with them.

On the morning of their wedding, Cat + Matt got ready in separate rooms at a stunning lodge in Southern Isle of Skye. Cat’s room was accessible by a large concrete spiral staircase, which sort of felt like a castle! She hired a local hair and makeup artist to help her get ready, and with all of the ladies in the room together you could feel the energy in the air. Meanwhile, Matt and all of the guys got ready in a separate building, laughing and raising their voices to be heard over the music.

The ceremony site was an hour and a half drive from the lodge, so everyone plugged the address into their GPS, got in their cars, and headed out. Our car arrived first, closely followed by Matt, his dad, his brother, and his two friends. The fog was so thick that we could barely see any of the expansive views, which was the whole reason we chose this spot.

We waited. And we waited. But no other cars from the group showed up. None of our phones had service, so there was nothing we could do but wait. About an hour and a half later, the other cars finally arrived. They had gotten lost along the way and they couldn’t reroute their GPS because they didn’t have service. Simultaneously, Cat’s friend and her husband arrived late after getting a flat tire which then forced them to hitchhike to the ceremony!

Finally, with Matt and all of the guests together we hiked out to their ceremony spot, while Cat and her parents waited so they could “walk down the aisle” together. The fog from earlier had cleared out for the most part, and you could finally see the view, just in time. Their ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Cat + Matt decided to go through the process of getting legally married in Scotland (verses signing papers back at home), so they hired a wonderful officiant to lead the ceremony. They both held back tears as they read their vows to each other, and it was incredible to see them surrounded by the love of their family and friends. After they read their vows, their officiant led them in a handfasting ceremony, which is an ancient Scottish tradition where they literally “tie the knot.” They exchanged rings and then kissed to seal the ceremony. Their guests erupted in applause and then Cat called everyone in for hugs.

After the ceremony, Cat + Matt climbed into their Land Rover Defender and we set off to a couple of other locations, before returning to the lodge for an incredible 5-course dinner. They ended the evening in the lodge’s drawing room where they had their first dances and some of the most heartfelt toasts we’ve ever heard. All the chaos of flat tires, getting lost, and arriving late to the ceremony had been forgotten. The day had managed to be spectacular anyway.

Photographs

Isle of Skye Elopements

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Destination Elopements