For me, It felt like a true privilege to finish the 2022 wedding season as I had started it, with a very intimate elopement on a North-West Highland beach. The couple were Lauren & Lee this time, and the location was Achmelvich Beach. The plan was as daring as Sarah & Tim’s March elopement to Balnakeil and the early conversations were similar – about the weather! How would it be, what was the risk, was it worth the journey? Because I’m local to the area I always give couples my honest view – yes the weather is unpredictable, but if you accept that and value the scenery, the atmosphere, above a guaranteed blue sky then you will be in for some magic!

Lauren had fallen in love with Achmelvich during a North Coast 500 tour last year and when considering locations for an elopement in Scotland. felt drawn back to this amazing place. That Lee, her fiance was willing to trust her choice and come all the way North to a place he’s never been to is a testament to their love and strong relationship.

With only two months of planning, we hit the ground running via emails and a meeting on WhatsApp to discuss their ideas for their beach wedding. As often with elopements, Lauren & Lee’s wish was to keep it simple, and very personal. For me as the celebrant that means it’s really important to get all the elements right by building a rapport with the couple. Like when playing a piece of music hitting that right note is really essential because in a short and sweet (and possibly windswept) ceremony the words, the symbolic gestures, and the flow need to be ‘in tune’. Fortunately, Lauren & Lee were super easy and a pleasure to work with, generously sharing their story and what they mean to each other, as well as being honest and down to earth when describing what they were hoping for.

In the end, the weather kept us guessing, and worrying until the very end, but like so often, on the afternoon of the wedding we were lucky and it remained dry. When Dougie the photographer, the witnesses and I arrived on the beach Lauren & Lee had already set up on their chosen, sheltered spot. Lauren looked stunning in her simple white dress and bouquet of dried flowers. After Lee’s quick dash back to the car park for the rings, we were all ready to go. What followed was a lovely heartfelt ceremony, very private, with a backdrop of a moody sky, dramatic waves, and cheerful diving birds. Reflecting on their story, hearing their promises to each other, and witnessing the exchange of rings was very moving and their joy was simply infectious! We all noticed that just as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife a rogue wave came up to kiss Lauren’s heels, the sea’s touching approval, what more can you wish for!

Of course, a picture, or a few, say more than a thousand words – rarely have photos captured so well how it felt on the day!  Dougie had only stepped in two days before, when the couple’s original photographer had cancelled on them. It all turned out for the best, being local to Assynt and not just an accomplished wedding but also landscape photographer he truly understands the land, and sea, and sky of the North-West, and that paired with a true interest in the couple made for a winning combination! 

Thanks, Lauren & Lee for letting us share and capture the joy!