Caryn, 27 & Mark, 28

Blair Atholl, Scotland

Wedding Date: August 12, 2009 (in the U.K., August 12 is called the “glorious twelfth” for the very silly reason that it is the first day of grouse-hunting season. How could we resist?)

Number of Guests: 27

Wedding Cost: $20,000+ vacation expenses

Wedding Ceremony Location: State Dining Room of Blair Castle

Wedding Reception Location: Also in State Dining Room of Blair Castle

Continue reading Real Weddings: Caryn & Mark’s Scottish Castle Wedding

Reisha 33, & Scott, 33

Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

Wedding Date:  October 10, 2009

Number of Guests:  28

Wedding Cost:  $22,000

Wedding Ceremony Location:  Balgonie Castle

Wedding Reception Location:  Balgonie Castle

Why did you have an intimate wedding? 

 We wanted to have a destination wedding {the couple is from the U.S.} and the destination we chose immediately limited the number of guests that would be able to attend. We really just wanted our closest friends and family there so that we would be able to enjoy everyone and those in attendance would be able to get to know those people which they didn’t know.

Continue reading Real Weddings: Reisha and Scott’s Destination Wedding in Scotland

By Jennifer Cox

Scotland is a country with a picturesque landscape that provides an idyllic setting for exchanging vows. However, before you hop on a plane bound for the Edinburgh, there are certain guidelines you need to follow.

Most importantly, you need to fill out all the necessary documents – this includes a Form M10 (Marriage Notice Application) as well as a form with witness details. You will need to contact the local registrar where the marriage will take place – they will help you arrange for a civil or religious ceremony (depending on what you and your partner want), choose a day and time, and find out about necessary fees you’ll have to pay. A list of all local registration officers and approved places in Scotland can be found at the GROSLocate. Filled-out forms need to be submitted 4-6 weeks before the wedding. One of you might be asked to appear in person at the registrar’s office before the marriage. You may also be asked to show a valid passport and you will both need to show them your birth certificate.

The registrar will then create a Marriage Schedule – no wedding in Scotland can proceed without it. You and your spouse will sign the Marriage Schedule (with a black fountain pen, no less) following your wedding and return it to the registrar in no longer than three days after the wedding so that the marriage can be registered.

Other rules of marriage in Scotland include:

- both parties must be at least 16 years old

- you are unmarried

- you are not related

- you are of different sexes (same-sex marriages are not recognized in Scotland)

Once you’ve met all the formal regulations you can book the bagpiper and say your I dos!

Photo: Martin Pettinger Photography

Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!

Love the idea of a castle wedding? You’ll love this week’s blog posts!

Tomorrow we’re going to let you know about a fantastic castle wedding venue located in the southern U.S.

If a castle wedding in Scotland is more your style, make sure you check out Tuesday’s blog post by writer Jennifer Cox. Jenn is going to tell you all about the rules and regs for having a destination wedding in Scotland.

And you won’t want to miss Wednesday and Thursday’s posts; we’ll be highlighting two fantastic real destination weddings in Scotland by Scottish wedding photographer Margaret McAtier.

Photo: Sneak peek of Reisha and Scott’s destination wedding in Scotland shot by Margaret McAtier.

Kelly and Jeff were married in November, 2008 at Old Bahama Bay Resort on Grand Bahama Island surrounded by 50 guests! Following the ceremony they had a sit down dinner and dancing by the resort’s pool and the night ended with a late-night bonfire on the beach. Photos by Kara Pennington Photography

Isabelle, 43 & James, 31

New York City

Wedding Date: October 17, 2008

Number of Guests: 15

Wedding Cost: $25,000 

Wedding Ceremony Location: Central Park – North Garden

Wedding Reception Location: Gilt Restaurant

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

I wanted to elope and have just my husband and I, but James wanted a bigger wedding so we compromised that way. We were also thinking of cost. We were either going to have a regular wedding and invite more people or have a spectacular wedding and go all out and have fewer guests. We also wanted to do it in NY because it is our favorite city and we knew that a lot of people could not afford to come. We would not change a single thing. It was the best day of our lives and all our guests said it was the best wedding they have ever been to. We did everything based on the fact that we wanted our guests to live this moment with us and remember it forever. We wanted this to be as memorable for them as it was for us.

Continue reading Real Weddings: Isabelle & James’s NY Destination Wedding

I used to be quite smitten with Richard Gere, which is the sole reason I went to see a movie called Autumn in New York almost ten years ago.

I don’t remember much about the movie. I don’t even remember if I liked it. But I do remember that it filled me with desire; not just for the yummy leading man, but for the Big Apple itself.

 The movie’s breathtaking scenes of New York’s colorful tree lined streets and parks left me pining for it in a big way. 

When I heard about Elope NYC, I had instant flash backs of those gorgeous NY scenes. I got thinking about all of the brides out there who are looking for an inexpensive and romantic way to say ‘I do’ and I couldn’t help but think how incredible it would be to have an intimate, autumn wedding in NYC? One that was big on charm, but small on stress. Heck, any time of year would be fabulous to tie the knot in NY.

Whether you love the idea of having a destination wedding in NY, or you are a New York resident who is keen on a NY small wedding, you’ll want to check out Elope NYC.

Elope NYC is comprised of a husband and wife team (Liam’s a photographer and Judie is an officiant) who specialize in informal, intimate weddings. Most have less than 40 guests – but many have no guests at all.

“Most of our couples select a favorite park, B&B, restaurant, hotel, or private home for their ceremony, wedding portraits, and post-nuptials celebration.  These sites are far more romantic, beautiful, and even quaintly old-fashioned than traditional wedding venues,” explains Judie.

And no matter what type of ceremony you’re after (civil, spiritual, or non-denominational), Judie is your gal. Interested? Check out ElopeNYC.com for more info.

Photo One: Kiamoy.com; Photo Two – Five: ElopeNYC.com

Genesis, 28 & Kevin, 40

Paris, France

Wedding Date: December 31, 2008

Number of Guests: 2

Wedding Ceremony Location: Courtyard of The Plaza Athenée

Wedding Reception Location: The Plaza Athenée – Marie Antoinette Room

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

At the beginning of the wedding-planning process, we agreed that above all, we wanted our wedding day to honor our love.  We wanted to make sure we kept the day about our commitment to each other and about the love that we have for one another.  We wanted the day to be joyous and stress-free!  We wanted to combine both of us into the day and to have each moment of our day build upon the moment before; a blank canvas becoming our own little masterpiece. 

We began by planning a traditional wedding, but it didn’t take long for us to realize that we had lost sight of our above-mentioned goals. It was then that we refocused and decided that it would be best for us to have a private ceremony.

Continue reading Real Weddings: Genesis & Kevin’s Petite Wedding in Paris

Despite the recession, destination weddings are on the rise, says a recent National Post article. Why?

I was recently asked this question by a journalist for an article on destination weddings.

It’s pretty obvious that the biggest reason weddings away are taking off is the budget factor. Generally speaking, destination weddings cost less because there are less  guests. (The average amount of guests at a destination wedding is 48.) Less guests = less money. Plus, couples usually combine their wedding with their honeymoon which saves money.

Another reason for the increase is that the options for destination weddings have exploded in recent years . Many venues offer complete package deals that make life easy for couples who don’t want to invest the time in planning a wedding from scratch.

Also, couples love the idea of treating their guests to a good time. What better way than a destination wedding? Weddings away are big on fun and they allow couples to spend quality time with friends and family members in a shared experience that’s remembered for a lifetime.

Photo: Photography by Stacey, Amanda and Ben’s Cottage Destination Wedding

Want a contemporary NY wedding with lots of flair? Want an intimate NY wedding in a ‘wow’ setting? New York has plenty of ‘raw spaces’ that can be magically transformed for your wedding day.

Check out these unique NY wedding venues:

The Foundry

In the 19^th Century it was a foundry, now it’s on the list as one of the most interesting NY wedding venues. One look at the photos and you’ll see that it has been meticulously restored to retain its industrial character. Stunning proportions, adaptable to many uses, and available to rent for weddings up to 125 people for a seated meal.

The Foundry also has an adjacent courtyard, as well as a terrace, which features views of the Queensboro Bridge and Manhattan skyline.

Scandinavia House

When it comes to unique NY wedding venues,  Scandinavia House has of the most ideal settings for an intimate event.

Designed by the celebrated American architect James Stewart Polshek, Scandinavia House is a stunning modern building that puts Scandinavian culture on display with design materials and furnishings representing the five Nordic countries. Detailed with exquisite care, the cultural center reflects Scandinavia’s reputation for excellent craftsmanship and sophisticated design.

The building is located in mid-town Manhattan and is close to major New York landmarks.

Scandinavia House has a list of preferred caterers including Smörgås Chef, which manages a full service restaurant on our main floor.

Brooklyn Artists Gym

Brooklyn Artists Gym is an artist studio and gallery facility in the Park Slope/Gowanus area of Brooklyn, New York. The Brooklyn Artists Gym Gallery is available to rent for small weddings. The Gallery is approximately 900 square feet, with over 125 running feet of wall space.  There are over 60 adjustable lights, and the ceiling is 11 feet high.   There is also an adjacent 500 sq. ft room that can be used along with the gallery space for weddings.

Galapagos Art Space

This art space, located in Brooklyn has 1,600 square foot lake complete with island seating on the lake, a wrap around mezzanine with operatic ‘box-style’ seating is as romantic as they come.

Winner of a 2009 Building Brooklyn Award, and current nominee for the Municipal Art Society’s MASterwork Award, Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO is on target to become New York City’s first LEED certified ‘green’ cultural venue.

Spoke the Hub Re:Creation Center

Spoke the Hub Re:Creation Center, located in the heart of residential Park Slope, Brooklyn, serves as the company’s headquarters and main teaching center and its available for weddings.

Occupying two full floors of a typical Brooklyn brownstone, the main studio is approximately 16′ x 38′ and sports a sprung maple hardwood floor, mirrors, ballet barres, and a sound system that accommodates CD’s or iPod.

Ramscale

Ramscale is a 3,500 square ft. penthouse loft with a terrace that overlooks the Hudson River. It has 12 9 ft. x 4 ft. windows that offer breathtaking views of the harbor and lower Manhattan.

Divine Studio

If you’ve been looking for NY wedding venues that will wow your guests, check out Divine Studio. Divine Studio is a 300 square foot studio in the heart of Noho. The white expoxy floors, floor to ceiling arched windows and south and west daylight exposure make it a magical setting for a wedding. The space is like a blank canvas and can be transformed for intimate events.