All you need to know about Gretna Green weddings, ceremonies and elopements

This iconic Dumfries and Galloway location hosts an incredible 3,500 weddings a year! We chat to Michelle Hall, director of group revenue at Gretna Green, to discover how the world-famous destination makes the magic happen

a bride and groom standing either side of a road sign that reads 'Gretna Green'. The bride is wearing a white blazer, a white beret and white boots and carrying a large pastel coloured bouquet. The groom is wearing a brown tweed suit with orange handkerchief tied around his neck — “You can’t come to Gretna Green without having your photo taken beside the famous sign!” says Michelle (Photo: Lex Fleming Photo)

Gretna Green weddings

We are an historic venue, right on the border between Scotland and England, that has been hosting weddings for hundreds of years. Gretna Green is world-famous as a place for eloping couples and, as you might expect, we specialise in intimate dos, from just the couple themselves, up to a small gathering of ten.

The Perfect Day and Overnight Stay package starts from £599 for a ceremony and overnight accommodation. We also have various other options, such as our Platinum package – this includes the Original Blacksmiths, photography, two nights in a luxury suite with afternoon tea on arrival, the wedding meal and drinks.

We’re actually more than just a single venue – Gretna Green, in fact, comprises seven wedding venues and two hotels, so as an all-round destination, we can of course host bigger weddings – anything from 20 up to 180 guests – and have an array of function rooms for receptions.

a person sitting at a round wooden table on a teal upholstered chair and dark floral wallpaper on left. A bride and groom standing looking at one another under an arch shaped frame that reads 'Gretna Green' — **Left**: Michelle Hall is director of group revenue at Gretna Green; **right**: “One of my favourite moments is seeing eloping couples on a video call to their families telling them they have just got married at Gretna Green!” says Michelle (Photo: Camilla Lucinda Photography)

How many weddings does Gretna Green have each year?

We look after 3,500 weddings across all our venues. There are 13 people in our weddings team and we also have an ‘experience team’ – they look after you during your wedding. We have frequent communication meetings to discuss all the details, from seating plans and dietary requirements to any specific requests.

We use one system, which all our key people have access to, and on the day itself you will have a dedicated point of contact.

Wedding ceremonies and drink receptions at Gretna Green

Ceremonies are held in several places: over the anvil in the Original Marriage Room; the Elopement Room (within the Gretna Green Experience); Gretna Hall Original Coach House; Gretna Hall Courtyard; Gretna Hall Cottage; or the penthouse apartment at Smiths Hotel. Our function space at Smiths Hotel is used for larger ceremonies.

After that, if the weather’s good, there’s lovely outdoor space at Gretna Hall and private gardens at Smiths Hotel for drinks receptions. We have many lovely areas indoors available too.

exterior of Gretna Hall Hotel with grass — Gretna Hall Hotel is just finalising a complete refurbishment of the second-floor bedrooms which will include four amazing signature suites with stunning views

Wedding receptions at Gretna Green

We have beautiful intimate alcoves in our restaurants that are perfect for just two people, and often the couple will choose on the day from our restaurant menus. Larger wedding parties have the choice of a selection of function rooms.

One particular favourite of mine is the Drawing Room at Gretna Hall; it holds up to 24 and has many lovely original features. There are fine views from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Solway coast.

What about an evening reception? Couples choose a reception room that is theirs for all their celebrations throughout the day and into the evening. Our four function rooms in Smiths have their own private bars, as does the function room in Gretna Hall.

If you were to marry at Gretna Green, how would you go about it? I would have a traditional elopement and not tell a soul until after the wedding had taken place! I would marry in the Original Marriage Room, dine in an alcove at Smiths Hotel and stay in the Sheridan Grant Suite at Gretna Hall. There is an incredible secret space in the suite where couples used to hide if their disapproving parents turned up – it meant they could lie low until the coast was clear!

a bride and groom standing with a bagpiper in an old stone barn with whitewashed walls and exposed wooden beams — If only the walls could talk in the historic Original Marriage Room!

Gretna Green elopements

Because we’re famous for elopements, our biggest challenge is ensuring that the couple get the wedding they want – just the two of them. We often get calls from parents, friends or colleagues trying to work out when or which venue the couple are eloping to in the hope of ‘surprising’ them. Of course, we give no information away!

Starting wedding costs at Gretna Green

We have just launched a fabulous discount for weddings next January, with 40% off our Luxury Guest package. Our popular Six Guest package is only £1,504 and gives you two nights’ stay for three couples (including the newlyweds), a meal and drinks on the night prior, wedding meal, drinks package and evening snack, and your choice of wedding venue.