Kingshouse Hotel Elopement in Glencoe

Kingshouse Hotel Elopement in Glencoe – Rachael and Malcolm.

After a pretty long break from working alongside my Bog Cotton Scottish Elopements compadre Paula, we had two weddings together in a little over a week. One was on the Isle of Skye and the other, a few days later, was a stunningly beautiful Kingshouse Hotel elopement in Glencoe.

Today’s wedding was about as simple as a wedding could be. Malcolm and Rachael had taken inspiration from another of our Bog Cotton elopements from last year and planned a loch side elopement in the heart of nearby Glen Etive, just a stone’s throw from where they were staying at the Kingshouse Hotel in Glencoe. However, Glen Etive is a one road in – one road out location and, for no apparent reason, that one road was well and truly closed to anyone other than local residents and deer. No matter, after a few frantic emails and some reconnaissance missions they found an equally epic spot for the ceremony down on the edge of the river Coupall, right by the foot of the imposing Buachaille Etive Mòr.

One of the many bonuses of working with a team of people who are used to being flexible is that the last minute change of location was no problem whatsoever. Once the amazing Bonny had finished Rachael’s hair and makeup in the hotel I liaised with Spud the Piper, Adam the videographer and Paula to make sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time and we hatched a wedding plan.

Whilst Paula and Malcolm went off to find the most perfect ceremony spot in a valley that is all perfect spots, I waited with Rachael to catch a few more pictures before heading off to meet Spud the Piper in the car park. Spud, who had calmed down after shouting at crazy tourists doing crazy tourist things on the road, played his pipes and walked us down to the chosen place by the river bank where Malcolm patiently waited.

After a wonderful ceremony by Paula we decided to head back to the Kingshouse Hotel to sign the marriage certificate, partly because it was (much) warmer but mainly because there was a cup of coffee on offer and we all need a little heating up, except for Spud because he’s hard as nails. Paperwork signed and whisky drunk we moved to a different location right outside the hotel for their quaich ceremony, with the iconic valley view stretching away behind Rachael and Malcolm, followed by a short and very relaxed photoshoot a little way along the valley at a brilliant wilderness location just minutes from the main road.

Thank you to Rachael and Malcolm for being such relaxed and easy going clients and for letting me share your elopement story here. If you are planning your own Kingshouse Hotel elopement and would like a photographer please don’t hesitate to get in touch. If you are also looking for a celebrant then I work very closely with Paula on a regular basis and it would definitely be worth checking out our joint page. We are both very happy to offer loads of useful advice gleaned from many years of working in the area.

You might also like to take a look at a couple of other weddings I photographed last year in the same area. Sara and David were the inspiration for Rachael and Malcolm’s day and they were married in Glen Etive. Thea and Oliver were married in their cottage’s garden around the corner near Fort William but then came to Glencoe for some photographs and dinner at the Kingshouse.

Rachael and Malcolm were kind enough to leave me a really lovely review. You can read that here – review.

Celebrant: Paula Wilkinson from Fuze and our own little cooperative Bog Cotton.
Hair and Makeup: Bonny from Bonny’s Wonderland
Piper: Spud the Piper
Videography: Adam from Inspire Video
Location: The Kingshouse Hotel, Glencoe

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