Rohan and Simon's Kingshouse Hotel Wedding in Glencoe

Rohan and Simon got married at the Kingshouse Hotel in Glencoe, the hotel that sits on its own at the top of the glen with Buachaille Etive Mòr out of the window, in the Highlands about half an hour from Fort William. They wanted a Highland wedding that was wild and inclusive at the same time: room for family and friends, but with the spirit of an elopement. Flower garlands, tweed and walking boots, a flash mob, a ceilidh, and a Border Collie called Sky out in the rain with us.

Why the Kingshouse Hotel works for a Glencoe wedding

The Kingshouse has room for a good number of guests to stay on site, and it sits right in the middle of one of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland. Ceremony, reception and beds all in one place, and then you step outside into the mountains for photos. For a wedding or elopement in Glencoe it’s the best of both worlds, and you can’t say that about many venues.

Flower garlands, a Hindu outfit and walking shoes

Rohan comes from a Hindu Indian background and Simon is English and outdoorsy, and the ceremony was both of them at once. They exchanged traditional flower garlands as a nod to Rohan’s culture. Rohan wore a vibrant Hindu outfit. Simon wore tweed with walking shoes, because that’s what he felt comfortable in. Guests cheered and laughed, and the contrast of the two outfits said more about them than any speech could.

Out into Glencoe in the rain, with Sky the Border Collie

The rain came down hard, turning the mountains into a proper backdrop, and these two loved every second of it. Waterproofs on, walking boots on, their Border Collie Sky trotting behind us, we set out into the glen.

We visited the Three Sisters viewpoint, wandered along part of the Five Mile Walk, stopped by the little white house, drove the Skyfall Road, and even had deer wander into the background. Every photo looks wild and remote but we never had to hike for hours. That’s the beauty of Glencoe. If you know the quiet paths you can get proper adventure photos without disappearing from your own wedding for half the day, and I’d always rather get a couple back to their guests than drag them up a hill for one more frame.

Ordnance Survey maps and custom gin bottles

Their table decorations were Ordnance Survey maps, a nod to the walking group where they met. They made custom gin bottles as favours with labels celebrating their story.

A flash mob, then a ceilidh

After the first dance came a burst of energy when Rohan, Simon and the Indian side of the family broke into a choreographed flash mob style dance. Colour, movement and laughter everywhere. The ceilidh kicked off straight after, and the dance floor was packed all night.

Working with Rohan and Simon was effortless, and there was a lot of trust in both directions. If you’re planning a Glencoe wedding or elopement that mixes family, adventure and culture, it’s absolutely possible, and this is what it looks like.