Nicola & Ray's Achmelvich Beach Elopement

Having the chance to get to know a couple over a long period is a real privilege. I worked with Nicola and Ray for nearly a year and a half, which allowed us to plan their wedding at a gentle, unhurried pace. What they decided on was a perfect day: an intimate elopement on Achmelvich beach with their daughters and their partners, making The Albannach their base for a few days of quiet celebration before and after.

The late summer weather on their wedding day was beautiful and sunny. There was a lovely sense of anticipation as Ray and the family arrived first to set up a few things on the sand, getting everything ready for the bride.

Monika was the celebrant for our wedding this August and she was absolutely amazing! The ceremony was so lovely and personal because Monika took the time to get to know us, which is what allowed her to write a ceremony that perfectly captured us and take our three girls through the story of our relationship. She listened to what we wanted in the ceremony and guided us gently through how to include some of the wedding rituals. I really could not recommend her enough, especially if you are looking for a ceremony that feels modern and personal.

Nicola & Ray

When Nicola appeared, walking another way to the shore in her long-sleeved white dress, it was a truly moving sight. The look on Ray’s face when he saw her, and the quiet moment they shared before the ceremony began, was incredibly special.

The ceremony itself was a perfect reflection of their relationship. The opening reading, John O’Donohue’s ‘For a New Beginning’, spoke directly to the courage it takes to start a new chapter. Theirs is not a love of fireworks or spectacle, but of a quiet, steady companionship built on kindness, which was captured in the second reading, “Just to Be Beside You is Enough.”

With their hands bound in a traditional handfasting, they spoke the classic, enduring vows to one another. They sealed their union with a shared drink from a beautiful wooden quaich, a final, quiet moment of togetherness that perfectly summed up the whole day

It was one of those special ceremonies that I will always remember, not for any grand gestures, but for how calm, genuine, and absolutely right it felt. Thank you, Nicola and Ray, for allowing me to be part of such a beautiful and meaningful day..

Photos: https://www.regenweibchen.com/