A Love Story Come Full Circle: Birte & Alex’s Glencoe Wedding

For some couples, Scotland isn't just a destination; it's a thread woven through their entire love story. This is so true for Birte and Alex. They first met while studying in Glasgow, and it was in the Scottish mountains that they later got engaged. So, when it came to their legal wedding, returning to the place where it all began felt like a dream come true.

They chose the Kings House Hotel in Glencoe, a location that held a special memory from a ski trip they took early in their relationship. Bringing their closest family and friends from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland to this exact spot was the heart of their vision. After navigating the Marriage Visitor Visa process with impressive speed, we had plenty of time to focus on planning their ceremony.

On their wedding day in mid-November, we were all delighted by the weather. Glencoe was bathed in the kind of crisp, clear sunshine that feels like a gift, making the brilliant blue sky seem even more vibrant against the light dusting of snow already on the highest peaks. It was a stunning backdrop, and we all knew we were on the cusp of winter. Sure enough, the following day the snow line crept further down the mountainside. It truly felt as if the Highlands had held its breath, offering them one last perfect, golden afternoon.

Photos: Natalia Swiader

The ceremony itself, held in German, was a beautiful reflection of their journey. We spoke of the "invisible threads" that seemed to pull them together back in their student days. Theirs was a love that grew not from a loud, stormy romance, but from a quiet, profound sense of connection. It was the feeling of simply being "home" with each other, a bond so natural that moving countries to be together felt less like a big decision and more like the only logical consequence of their hearts. This sentiment—that true love is a force that transcends reason and calculation—was so perfectly captured by a poem from Erich Fried, which I was delighted to share with them: "Es ist, was es ist, sagt die Liebe" (It is what it is, says love).

The heart of their ceremony was a beautiful handfasting, made all the more special by the involvement of their mothers. Each mother laid a cord over their joined hands, a symbol of the families they came from, before I laid the third to represent the new path they were taking together. Into this bond, they spoke their personal vows, promising to be an "unbeatable team" and to always be each other's home.

It was a truly lovely occasion, full of warmth and happy emotion. For me, as an Austrian celebrant, it was a special honour to conclude my 2025 wedding season with a German-speaking ceremony that had such a wonderful connection to my own heritage. Thank you, Birte and Alex, for trusting me with your day and for bringing your beautiful story full circle, right here in the heart of Glencoe.

Monika was our wedding officiant at our wedding in November, and looking back, we can't imagine anyone better by our side. We had our wedding in Scotland with our closest family and friends and were looking for someone to conduct our ceremony in German. With Monika, we found not just an officiant, but a true companion throughout the entire journey to our wedding.

From the very beginning, she supported us with great warmth, professionalism, and experience. In several conversations, she took the time to learn our story, showed us different options for the ceremony, and always gave us the freedom to design everything according to our wishes. We were particularly impressed by how lovingly and precisely she incorporated even the smallest details from our stories into the speech.

Monika was also there for us beyond the ceremony itself. We could always count on her support with questions about legal matters, required documents, and the entire preparation process. This comprehensive support gave us an incredible sense of security and made the path to our wedding much easier.

Dear Monika, we can't thank you enough. You not only accompanied us on our special day, but you made it perfect with your warm personality and your beautiful speech!

Birte & Alex