Eve and Callum’s winter elopement wedding shoot was a demonstration of why eloping to Scotland, particularly Glencoe, during winter is one of the most beautiful and dramatic times to get married. Although it may be cold or wet at times during a winter Scotland elopement, the end result is a set of cinematic elopement pictures with snow-capped mountains and moody skies. There are not many ways more stunning to tie the knot!
The day started at Loch Achtriochtan, which is the perfect starting point for a post-elopement photoshoot due to the off-road parking, wide open space and stunning views south down Glencoe valley. We began with some relaxed walking shots next to the Loch, which I find is the best way to start a photoshoot as it gets everyone warmed up and used to the camera, before we found a nice spot for Eve and Callum to get close and intimate for some portraits – which wasn’t difficult given the temperature!
Next it was time to get some epic cliff-edge portraits! A short five minute climb from the A82 is all that’s needed for some of the best views of Glencoe’s famous Three Sisters – some of the most photographed mountains in Scotland. With this being one of the more exposed spots during the shoot, the key to an enjoyable experience is staying warm, and robes and hot water bottles were used to good effect at every opportunity. This is absolutely one of my top tips for Scotland elopements and I always bring robes and hot water bottles in case things get a little cold!
As we moved south through Glencoe, our next stop was the River Coupall valley: a popular viewpoint that offers fantastic views just a short walk from the car park. The views down the valley are truly stunning, particularly on a winter day when the snow-capped mountains almost blend in with the sky. We also took this opportunity to capture some solo portraits of both Eve and Callum – an important addition to everyone’s wedding gallery.
Our next stop was the famous Lagangarbh Hut – the prominent small white building sitting at the base of Buachaille Etive Mòr. This short walk involved winding trails, portraits on the riverbank and a beautiful views of one of the most well-known mountains in Scotland. This route can be turned into a much longer venture during warmer temperatures, and in fact, you could easily capture the majority of your elopement wedding portraits in this area, but we decided to stay close to the car so that we could remain warm between shoots.
Finally, we finished the shoot at Loch Ba – a small Loch in the lowlands of south Glencoe not far from Kingshouse Hotel, for the last few intimate portraits in front of the frozen Loch.
The beauty of Glencoe is that a hugely wide-ranging set of portraits are possible within a relative small area. Mountains, waterfalls, forests, rivers – they can all be comfortably featured within a single shoot of two or three hours. The possibilities are truly endless for a Scotland elopement. Why elope anywhere else?
For information and guidance on planning your Scotland Elopement, check out the Elopement Planning Guide 2023.
Models: The Madeleys
MUA and hair: Get It Glam
Floral crown: Hand and Bloom
