How to get married in Scotland

April 9, 2021

You’ve already decided to get married in Scotland so you don’t need us to convince you that you’ve chosen one of the most beautiful spots in the world, (not that we’re biased or anything).

But as well as being filled with picture-perfect spots in which to tie the knot, Scotland is one of only a handful of countries in the world where you can legally marry anywhere you choose.

With such freedom it’s no wonder couples from all over the world elope here.

So just what do you need to do to organise your perfect Scottish ceremony?

First things first, you need to book a place, date and time for your ceremony and choose who you wish to marry you.

With so much choice this might make the decision harder than it seems but a good place to start is scrolling through the Your Scottish Wedding suppliers list of venues and celebrants.

Deciding what type of ceremony to have is incredibly personal so make sure you do your research properly and read here for some inspiration.

It’s also important to remember that couples who are foreign nationals who don’t live in the UK are also free to get married in Scotland but may be subject to immigration control.

For example, those coming from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland will need an entry clearance.

You can apply for a marriage visitor visa on the GOV.UK website.

According to the National Records of Scotland website “registrars have a statutory duty to report any marriage they suspect has been registered for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls.”

The paperwork

Once you’ve decided on your time, location and celebrant it’s time to fill out some paperwork.

Getting married in Scotland is incredibly straightforward as you just need yourselves, a celebrant, two witnesses over the age of 16 and the marriage schedule.

The marriage schedule is the form you will all fill out and sign at the wedding ceremony.

Remember the marriage schedule is granted by the registrar local to your chosen wedding venue, NOT local to where you live.

To obtain a marriage schedule you must each complete a Marriage Notice Form (M10 form), which you can download from the NRS website.

Then submit the completed forms no earlier than 12 weeks and no later than 29 days before the wedding day.

Remember to include the £70 processing fee and all relevant documents such as birth or adoption certificate.

If you are planning a civil marriage ceremony the registrar will bring your marriage schedule to the ceremony.

However, if you are marrying in a religious or belief ceremony either you or your partner must collect the marriage schedule in person from the registrar no more than seven days before the date of marriage.

PHOTOS | The celebrant Tim McGuire

What if I’m divorced or widowed

According to the NRS if you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must submit a certificate of divorce or annulment or a certified copy decree or decree of dissolution with your M10 forms.

If you have been divorced more than once you only need to submit the most recent documentation.

If you are widowed, you should submit your former spouse or civil partner’s death certificate.

After the wedding

The marriage schedule is what you sign during the wedding ceremony and you must return it to the registrar within three days, not three working days, of the marriage so it can be registered.

If you are on honeymoon or unable to take it back personally ask someone in the wedding party to return it for you.

Remember, if you’ve eloped to Scotland from overseas the marriage is legally binding everywhere. Simple!