Weddings in Romantic Scotland

Civil

• A non-religious ceremony which can include readings, poetry, music or even your own personal vows to one another.
• Led by a registrar, a civil ceremony can be held in a registration office, or at any other agreed venue, except somewhere religious.

Civil Partnership

• A civil partnership has a legal status similar to marriage and is for two people of the same sex.
• Civil partnerships are led by a registrar and can include a non-religious ceremony.
• They can be held at a registration office or at other locations, as agreed by your registrar.
• You can opt to have a separate religious ceremony or blessing too, which does not have to be led by a registrar or in a specific location.
• Anyone who has previously had a civil partnership in Scotland can now register to change to a marriage.
• Find out how to register a civil partnership

Religious or Belief Weddings

• A religious or belief wedding ceremony may take place anywhere that the celebrant and venue have agreed to, and vary greatly, depending on traditions.
• They can be held by anyone who is entitled to do so under the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977, such as ministers, priests, and Humanist celebrants.
• You can also be married by a friend or relative who is affiliated to a religious body and has received temporary authorisation from the Registrar General.

Same-sex Marriages

• The first Scottish same-sex wedding ceremonies took place on December 31, 2014.
• A wedding couple of the same sex can have a civil or religious wedding as agreed by the venue and celebrant.
• Many religious bodies are approved to conduct same-sex marriages, check with the National Records for Scotland for up-to-date information on these.
• Couples which include a person from another country can get married, as long as the marriage would be regarded as valid in the party’s country of domicile and they have any necessary paperwork.

Language and Marriage Vows

• As there are no legally prescribed words which have to be used in marriage vows in Scotland, your ceremony can either be conducted in English, or in any other language. This includes both Gaelic and Scots. All parties, including the celebrant, must be able to understand the language and can use a translator if necessary.

Marriage Visas

• All nationals from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States, who want to visit Scotland to get married or to register a civil partnership, will need an entry clearance through a Marriage Visa.
• More information on getting married in Scotland please click here