Alice and Ewan combined their love of the outdoors with classic Scottish wedding traditions in a two-part celebration. First in Glencoe, and then at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum three months later
When outdoor-loving couple Alice Love and Ewan Ramsay planned their wedding, they knew it had to reflect their shared passion for Scotland’s landscapes.
From a ceremony on the shores of Loch Achtriochtan in Glencoe to a lively reception at Ayrshire wedding venue Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, their celebrations combined adventure and tradition for a truly unique wedding.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding ceremony | Loch Achtriochtan, Glencoe (National Trust for Scotland)
Wedding reception | Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Ayrshire
Dates | Ceremony: 1st August 2023; Reception: 4th November 2023
Photography | Connor McEwan Photography
Guests | 6 at the ceremony; 100 at the reception
Ceremony | Humanist ceremony with handfasting
Entertainment | Ewan piping, ceilidh band Kin Music
Read on for the full story…
An outdoor Glencoe wedding ceremony
Leather Scarpa walking boots for bridal footwear. Enamel camping mugs for the champagne toast. Cake served off the bonnet of a Land Rover Defender. Alice and Ewan’s wedding on the shores of Loch Achtriochtan in Glencoe was a Munro-bagger’s dream.
“As you can guess, Ewan and I spend a lot of time outdoors and are fond of hiking and climbing,” says Alice.
The couple, who got engaged at Skye’s Fairy Pools in February 2023, first considered traditional venues. “Initially, we followed the conventional path of compiling our guest list and visiting various venues, but that soon left us feeling overwhelmed.”
Check out another outdoor Glencoe elopement here
That changed when Alice discovered a National Trust for Scotland brochure. “From that moment on, everything started to align, and our wedding transformed back into a celebration of our love.”
Choosing Glencoe felt deeply personal. “We’ve always enjoyed walks here and loved the thought of later returning to the spot where we tied the knot for our anniversaries. Spoiler alert: we’ve successfully made that happen so far,” she smiles.
An intimate ceremony in the Highlands
Alice and Ewan kept the ceremony small, with just six guests: both sets of parents, Alice’s sister Hayley as bridesmaid, and Ewan’s friend Ross as best man.
“Having attended many weddings, we felt that sometimes it feels like the happy couple don’t actually get that much time to enjoy their day together, so we decided to do something different and split the traditional wedding format into two”
The result was an intimate Highland ceremony followed by a larger reception months later.
On the day, Ewan, a talented piper, even played ‘Caledonia’ on his small pipes as Alice walked towards him by the loch. “I didn’t really have an aisle; it was a field!” she laughs.
Their Humanist ceremony, led by celebrant Alyson Stewart of Humanist Society Scotland, included a handfasting ritual. “Alyson was superb at bringing our love story to life and made our ceremony all about us, with some funny stories thrown in.”
For more Glencoe wedding inspiration, take a look at our Highland elopement shoot
Highland adventures and unique touches
After saying their vows, the couple toasted with bubbly in enamel mugs and cut into a cherry bakewell-flavoured cake.
“We didn’t have a traditional wedding cake but instead went for something we both wanted, decorated with icing to look like mountains.”
They enjoyed a private photoshoot in a Land Rover Defender – the dream car they’d love to own – and even had to push a broken-down car out of the way to access a private Glencoe road.
Dinner at the Ballachulish Hotel featured a seafood feast. “If you can’t have lobster on your wedding day, when can you!” Alice smiles. The night ended early, with guests resting up for a celebratory hike up the Lost Valley the next morning.
A Burns Museum reception in Ayrshire
Three months later, Alice and Ewan hosted a ceilidh reception with 100 guests at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire.
“We loved the idea of extending the celebrations at another National Trust for Scotland venue,” says Alice.
With the Trust’s weddings team supporting logistics, the couple enjoyed a lively evening close to home, celebrating with family, friends, and plenty of dancing.
Want to find out more on how to plan an elopement? Read our article here
Wedding suppliers
Ceremony venue, flowers, planning and transport Loch Achtriochtan, Glencoe, organised by the National Trust for Scotland
Reception venue Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Ayrshire
Celebrant Alyson Stewart, Humanist Society Scotland
Photography Connor McEwan Photography
Wedding dress Wed2Be, accessorised with hiking boots from Cotswold Outdoor, and a ScotlandShop tartan shawl
Second wedding dress ASOS
Nails and beauty Hayley Love, Lashed by Love
Groomswear MacGregor and MacDuff
Cake Cakes by Sandra
Rings Wallace Allan
Reception band Kin Music
Wedding reception flowers and decor DIY by the bride
Post-ceremony meal FISH restaurant at Ballachulish Hotel
