Waiting for the Sun: A Symbolic Wedding at Achmelvich

Tanja and Ralph’s journey to their wedding day is a wonderful example of a path that many couples from abroad choose. After getting legally married in Germany, they travelled to Achmelvich Beach for a symbolic handfasting ceremony, bringing two close family members along to share in their Scottish holiday and witness their celebration. This approach is a beautiful solution, allowing couples to enjoy a big party at home while having a more intimate, personal moment in Scotland without the pressure of extra administration.

This flexibility also offers one huge gift: adapting to the weather. The forecast for their original date was not great, but because their ceremony was symbolic, there was no pressure to marry on a specific day. In a wonderful collaboration between us and their photographer, Sam, we were able to move their celebration by two days to a much sunnier Sunday afternoon.

On the chosen day, we met at the car park and then walked together to the little beach. I always love this part of a ceremony; it’s a chance to move beyond emails and video calls, to chat and get to know each other a little better before the main event begins. Ralph looked wonderful in his kilt, and Tanja was beautiful in her dress, and the short walk in the sunshine was the perfect, relaxed start to the afternoon.

During our search for a German-speaking wedding celebrant in Scotland, we came across Monika online.
Overjoyed, we got in touch with her. A suitable date was quickly found and we found the perfect location for our Celtic ceremony at Achmelvich Beach. Due to the weather, we had to postpone our originally planned date by two days, which fortunately was no problem for Monika.
We will carry this special day in our hearts forever. Thank you so much, Monika, for making this possible.
Ralph & Tanja

The ceremony that unfolded on the sand was a perfect reflection of their journey. We opened a sacred space by calling on the elements of the four directions, a Celtic tradition that feels so right in the wildness of the Highlands. We shared a line from a poem that felt written for them: "Die Liebe ist eine Reise, die durch ein ziemlich aufregendes aber auch unbekanntes Terrain führt." (Love is a journey that leads through quite exciting but also unknown terrain).

At the heart of their ceremony was the handfasting, a visible symbol of the connection they had already celebrated legally but were now honouring on a deeper, more personal level. To conclude the rituals, they shared a drink from the quaich. In a lovely personal touch, they had brought their own mead to fill the cup, a nod to ancient traditions.

Afterwards, they enjoyed a glass of bubbly, lingering on the beach for a while to soak in the moment and for some extra photos with Sam in the beautiful afternoon light. It was a day filled with an easy, happy love, made all the sweeter by the sunshine we had waited for. Thank you, Tanja and Ralph, for your patience and good spirits, and for bringing your beautiful love story to my corner of the Highlands.

Photos: adventureweddingscotland