St. Oran’s Chapel Elopement on the Isle of Iona in Scotland
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Rose and Adam are a couple from Edinburgh, with Rose being an accomplished artist and Adam being a musician. They had found each other later in life (both were already in their 50s), and although neither of them had been looking for a relationship at the time, it became evident quite early on that there was a very deep and meaningful connection between each other. And with this came a certainty that they no longer wanted to spend their lives as separate individuals but that they wanted to reaffirm their commitment to each other by getting married.
They both love the West Coast of Scotland and the Hebridean islands and decided that the Isle of Iona, the cradle of Christianity in the North of the UK, would be the ideal place to make their vows to each other. They also knew that they didn’t want a big wedding and that they both preferred a more intimate and personal elopement. They also wanted to make sure that their wedding ceremony reflected their Christian beliefs, and so they asked the local minister of the ecumenical Iona Community if she could marry them in the beautiful medieval St Oran’s Chapel.
The minister had asked three people from the Iona Community to witness the wedding and the same witnesses decided to also sing some beautiful hymns to make the ceremony even more special for Rose and Adam.
After a very personal ceremony, they headed out with their photographer, Martin, to do their photoshoot.
What made you choose the Isle of Iona for your elopement?
From Rose, the bride: Adam suggested Iona because he knew I’d been coming here for about thirty years and had actually dreamed I might get married here one day! We’d both visited the year before so I knew he loved the island too. We both find it a magical place.
Do you require any special permits or permission from landowners to get married or have a photoshoot here?
We got married in St Oran’s Chapel, which is owned by Historic Scotland. We had to get permission from them and pay a small fee.
Can you have a legal ceremony here or just symbolic?
We chose a Christian ceremony and the local Parish Reverend conducted the ceremony for us.
How easy is the Isle of Iona to access?
Getting to Iona is a bit complicated – from mainland Scotland you get the ferry from Oban to the Isle of Mull, travel across Mull by bus or car, then get a ferry to the Isle of Iona. You can’t bring cars on to Iona unless you live there permanently, but there is a taxi service. You can go there if you have mobility challenges but it’s a day- long journey.
What about Sustainability on Iona?
From Rose, the bride: We didn’t need to consider really as far as our wedding was concerned as our ceremony was so simple and it was just the two of us! Even our flowers were picked from the hedgerows the night before, there was no waste or mess anywhere.
Iona is very clear with it’s instructions to visitors regarding rubbish etc. All hotels provide meals made from local produce. I can’t imagine any visitors would leave rubbish anywhere, it’s such a beautiful place.
What are your top tips for planning an elopement on the Isle of Iona?
From Rose, the bride: We got married here in May and it was idyllic – warm enough to camp in a tent if you wanted. If you want to stay somewhere indoors though, you must plan months ahead for staying in Iona. Hotels are booked well in advance and cost £250 + per night. Pods are cheaper at £90 to £100 per night.
Perhaps the prettiest time is early June when the Yellow Flags are out (big yellow irises). Any time from April to September is warm enough but this is a Hebridean island, expect rain and wind! Though the weather changes all the time it’s mostly sunny in summer months.
how did you meet?
From Rose, the bride: We’re both visual artists so we met in an arts club, we knew immediately this was a romantic connection but we were quite cautious, probably because we’re in our 50’s! Once we knew we trusted each other that’s when we talked about marriage.
Why did you decide to elope?
From Rose: Our families come from opposite ends of the UK and some in their late 70’s so it seemed quite an ask to drag them all the way around the country. We decided we’d have an elopement and a small, simple wedding then parties with family at home afterwards.
What made you choose this location in particular?
We’re both from the UK so Iona wasn’t such an exotic choice, it was very meaningful though, the island is renowned for it’s spiritual history and Hebridean beauty.
Any other advice or Tips you’d like to share based on your experience?
From Rose: Iona has many peaceful quiet areas if you enjoy a walk, the village and abbey area is busy though, many thousands of tourists come here each year. Most just come for a day trip, so the island is peacefull in the evenings. The island is famous for its Celtic Christian history, but the abbey is ecumenical, welcoming all religions and conducting Christian ceremonies from all denominations.
Most of all, being on the beautiful Iona beaches on a sunny day will make you feel you’re in heaven, that’s how Adam and I felt anyway and we are so grateful that Martin Venherm captured it so perfectly! We’ll enjoy those photos for the rest of our lives.
the vendors:
Photographer: Martin Venherm
Chapel: St. Oran’s Chapel
