Linda and Phil's Secret Winter Elopement at Neidpath Castle

Linda and Phil eloped to Neidpath Castle, a 14th-century tower house on the banks of the River Tweed just outside Peebles in the Scottish Borders, in the middle of winter. They live in Belgium, and they kept the whole thing a complete secret from family and friends. No guests, no schedule, snow on the ground, and me as one of the witnesses.

Snow falling the night before at Neidpath Castle

They arrived at the castle the night before just as the snow began to fall, and spent the evening by the fire in one of the castle’s bedrooms. That’s one of the things Neidpath does that most venues can’t: you sleep in the castle, so the wedding starts the night before and nobody has to drive anywhere.

A morning in robes, coffee by the fire

The morning was the definition of relaxed. With no guests to entertain and nothing left to organise, Linda and Phil spent it in their robes, sipping coffee by the fire. When I arrived there was no rush, no frenzy. They were writing letters to each other, to be saved and read after the ceremony.

I didn’t ask them to do anything. I made a coffee and let the morning happen.

The ceremony, with me as a witness

The ceremony was in one of Neidpath’s old rooms, just the two of them and the witnesses. I was one of the witnesses, which is a role I’ll always say yes to on an elopement. It means I’m part of it rather than watching it.

After they’d exchanged vows we had a glass of champagne, then wrapped up against the cold and headed out.

Down to the River Tweed in the snow

We made our way down to the Tweed below the castle, where the trees and rocks were covered in snow. Linda and Phil popped champagne, read each other the letters they’d written that morning, and warmed up by a fire as the sun went down.

That was the whole day. No speeches, no first dance, no cake. Two people, a castle, a river and a fire.

If you’re thinking about eloping to a castle in Scotland and want it to feel like this, Neidpath is twenty minutes from my front door and I’d love to hear from you.