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Temporary Venues

In June 2002 the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 was changed to allow civil marriages to be solemnised at any approved place.

Hotels, country houses etc can apply for a period approval which, if granted, lasts for 3 years.

A couple can also apply for temporary approval at a place of their choice. Below are some examples of venues which have been used in the past.

Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar

I conducted a marriage in the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar in December 2003. Although they do not have a 3year licence they were willing to allow the couple to apply for temporary approval.

The Wallace Arnold Tour Company owns the hotel and the majority of their guests are elderly and their entertainment and outings are planned for them, therefore most of the guests were out while the wedding was going on.

There were only a small number of guests and we had the wedding in the lounge on the ground floor, looking over the River Clunie.

It was all very relaxed. All the wedding guests were sitting chatting and having a coffee when I went in.

They took their places, I married the couple and they went back to their tables and had a celebratory drink.

If someone wanted to apply for a licence to get married there, I would certainly go along with it.

Braemar Registrar

Private Holiday Home, Forglen

As Registrar for the district of Banff, I carried out the first marriage outwith offices in Aberdeenshire in September 2002.

It was a private home, which had been completely refurbished by the couple on the inside and was at the forefront of design.

The couple - both engineers - actually live and work in the USA, and come home to Scotland periodically.

It was a very small, intimate family wedding (some guests had flown in from the States).
All round it was a lovely day, but the couple purposely kept it very low key - just a few balloons on the outside walls and a few fresh flowers on the inside.

The couple then had their reception at the local Hall, all proceeds going towards the restoration of the Hall itself.

It was an exquisite wedding.

Banff Registrar

Private Farm, Insch

This marriage was large, over 100 people and they got married on their own farm in a luxurious marquee.

The weather was lovely. Everyone stood around chatting while we waited for the bride. We knew she was on her way when we heard a piper start to play. Everyone watched while she walked with her father up the field from the farmhouse.

The guests then filed into the marquee and awaited her entrance. After the ceremony they said how lovely it had been to have everything on their own land.

Insch Registrar

Insch Golf Club 16th Fairway

I conducted a marriage on the Insch Golf Course. The couple chose the 16th Fairway.

It was a small family wedding - about 30 in all. Fortunately the weather was favorable and there was no need to use the golf umbrellas, which were there on standby just in case.

After the guests had assembled the bride arrived on a golf buggy bedecked in ribbons. Her brother who had come all the way from Australia for the event gave her away.

The groom is a songwriter and had composed a song for his bride. However they both felt too emotional at the ceremony for him to sing it for her so I read the words. I believe he sang it later for her at the reception.

Insch Registrar

Private Garden, Inverurie

I am the Registrar from Inverurie and I conducted my first marriage at a temporary venue in the bridal couple's garden.

This was very enjoyable. They had a gazebo erected at the bottom of the garden in case of bad weather.

They were particularly delighted to have a temporary approval because they were then able to book lunch for their guests in a local hotel which worked out much cheaper for them than if they had booked a wedding.

Inverurie Registrar