A Secret Song on a Scottish Shore: Jess & Stu's Achmelvich Elopement
I often don’t meet my elopement couples before the ceremony day itself. We build a rapport through calls and emails, but that first in-person meeting usually happens just moments before we begin. And while that's always a joy, it was a special treat with Jess and Stu that I could meet them twice beforehand on-site, to soak in the atmosphere of Achmelvich Beach, hear their ideas, and simply share in their building excitement.
When the much awaited day of their ceremony arrived, we met at the car park, regrouping with their witnesses and the photographer/videographer team before finding our perfect spot on the sand. It was one of those Highland days where you can’t be entirely sure of the weather. We were lucky and it stayed dry, and although the sky wasn’t the brilliant blue that turns the water turquoise, the beach was stunning in its own dramatic shades. As I well know, you're always in the hands of the elements here, and the wild, authentic setting felt just right.
Monika wrote the most wonderful wedding ceremony for our quiet elopement to Achmelvich Beach in April 2026 - it was personal and profound and she really understood us and how we worked together as people.
She took the time to find out about us, firstly via a zoom call and later with a couple of in person meetings at Achmelvich. Straight away her warm, calm personality made us feel at ease. Monika was so helpful suggesting adding handfasting and other elements to the ceremony, as well as even keeping an eye on the tide times to ensure we had enough or a beach to get married on!
We couldn’t be happier with how the day went and would highly recommend Monika as a celebrant.
Stu and Jess
In my words on marriage, I spoke of their relationship as the perfect band – a partnership where you have to listen, adapt, and know when to hold your own part while leaving space for the other's. They’ve already done this literally, writing and performing songs together, and it was clear they approach life with that same harmony. The ceremony also included lyrics from The Beatles’ "All You Need Is Love," a simple, unashamedly certain truth that felt just right for them.
Adding to the intimacy of the day was a beautiful handfasting ritual using a cord lovingly put together by their mothers, a tangible presence of the family who couldn't be there in person. As Jess and Stu joined hands, and later exchanged their heartfelt vows and rings, the moment felt profoundly personal and deeply intentional.
To be one of the few people in on such a wonderful secret was a true honour. Jess and Stu crafted a celebration that was authentically them: a quiet, meaningful promise made in a place they love, to be followed by a joyous, loud celebration with the community that loves them.
It was an absolute joy to be part of their incredible plan, and I am so grateful they shared it with me. Now, that little spot on Achmelvich beach where their story took its next step will always hold a special place in my heart, too.
Photos: Andy Gaines
What made this day even more unique was the incredible secret we were entrusted with. This quiet, heartfelt ceremony on their favourite beach in the world was just Part One of an audacious and wonderful plan. Jess and Stu, two incredibly talented and well-loved musicians from the York music scene, were planning a big wedding celebration back home at a cinema. The brilliant twist? Instead of a traditional ceremony, their guests would be treated to a surprise film of this secret elopement, revealing that the happy couple were, in fact, already married! It was a plan full of heart, creativity, and a touch creative genius – perfectly them.
The ceremony I wrote for them was woven with the thread that runs through their entire story: music. It’s how they found each other – at a gig on Bonfire Night, over a shared microphone, sealed with a wave from a van. I was delighted to learn that the very same van had made the long journey north and was there with us on the day, a silent witness to the beautiful story it helped start. The fact that their first proper online chat was sparked by a photo that reminded Stu of the Neil Young album, On The Beach, brought a perfect, unplanned serendipity to our setting.
