Eloping to Gretna Green??

[Toelopeornottoelope]

Large families Dramas on both sides mean the expense and stress of a big wedding doesn’t appeal to me or DP so we’re thinking of Gretna green! I’d love to hear from people who have eloped there or been to a wedding there, especially if you’ve taken your children.

We wouldn’t take any family members or friends as that’s how the drama will start so would just be us and 2 kids (5 and 3)

Was it hard for them to find you witnesses?
Am I crazy for thinking my young kids will be ok sat through a wedding with no one to entertain them?
Any recommendations?
Happy with your choice?

Thanks so much!

My parents eloped from Wales to Scotland (Not Gretna though!) to get married , On valentines day..!
They've Just celerbrated their 36th Anniversary (Dad was 21, Mum 17)

They just asked 2 strangers on the street to be witness'.

I love their story.

And if I get married, I plan to elope too, just me, my Dp and our kids!
The thought of a big wedding, is'nt for me at all.
My family will be dissapointed, but my brothers all had big wedding's and I would have a party for all, on return!!

My parents eloped to Edinburgh in 1956 because my mum's parents didn't approve of my dad and you had to be 21 then to get married without your parents permission. Mum was 18, she wore her RAF uniform not sure where witnesses were produced from. They were married 50+ years with four kids, multiple grand kids....very happy.

I don't fancy your chances of your kids sitting politely through it all they are very young.

Good luck, my parents never regretted it.

PS..

Good luck with your elope!
Sound's lovely

Why bother? If you don't want the 'expense and stress' of a big wedding, just do the bog-standard signing of the register. Less than £150 all-in and no one will know unless they routinely scrutinize the banns - which no one does any more.

You've got two kids. You don't need to 'elope' because that horse is long since bolted.

My husband and I married in Gretna in 2013. Booked the whole package through one of the Gretna agencies.... They organised the car, piper, photographer, flowers and if you need them, witnesses. We took my dad and his partner with us as our witnesses. Husband is estranged from his family and mine had all come to my first wedding 6 years earlier and I didn't want to have them all there for my second.

A Gretna wedding is a glorified registry office ie very short service ...we made ours longer by having my dad do a reading for us....but only you can be the judge of how well your kids will cope with it. Maybe a small job like holding the flowers / holding the ring box during the service / as you say your vows might keep them occupied...

Thank you so much everyone for your experiences.

We just want something a bit more than a bog standard registry office down the road. Weve actually been engaged nearly 10 years but life just gets in the way and takes priority. We would tell everyone afterwards, it wouldn’t be a secret after.

I’m going to give them a call tomorrow and enquire.

My brother eloped to Central Park in New York. Organised a humanist celebrant on the Internet, a photographer too. Grabbed passers by as witnesses, and their then 5 year old son. Cost almost nothing.

We are eloping in April to Scotland, but not Gretna Green. My DD and her BF are witnesses. We didn’t want family drama (yes expecting some after) and a huge fuss. We have booked a beautiful venue, all paperwork is lodged now and we just have to turn up.

Sounds perfect, go for it.

You could elope somewhere nicer than GG! I know there are historical reasons for choosing Gretna but they don't apply now. Why not go somewhere slightly nicer?

We married at Gretna ... we just didn't want a fuss. Did take our own witnesses.

Have a research. From memory, about a decade ago there were 7 or so hotels in the area ranging in budget - and niceness!
You can go to Gretna Green- yes it is where the tourists go, there are several venues ( themes rooms really ) there ... lot vof choice and budget.. im sure they have changed a bit since we were there too!

There is a also a deconsecrated church a mile or so away, i thinking called Gretna Hall now? ( I should know as that's where we went ) which was lovely. Prefect for us but not sure what you are looking for. Married in candlelight . You could choose to book a registrar or minister I think.

The handy thing is that there are several companies who if you want, will sort out the majority of your needs according to budget. Made it fairly simple.

Sure there will be lots of research online. We did a look around before committing on our way to Glasgow once but onv that won't be an option for a while!

Best of luck and hope you enjoy a wonderful wedding wherever you choose!

Plenty nicer places than Gretna! In Scotland you can get married anywhere (e.g. on a beach) if the registrar/humanist/minister agrees, so you could go for a location that might be of more interest to the DCs, or you all as a family - make it part of your holiday.

We did it last year. We originally planned to have our (adult) children there but with covid we ended up going on our own. Got married in the blacksmith shop. They provided witnesses. It was a perfect stress free day. I wouldn't change a thing.

Quite appealing! Go for it. I was at the services last year north of there and a couple were asking if anyone had time to be witnesses later that day!

We eloped for the same reasons not to Gretna Green though.

Expect some backlash but 3 years down the line no one has mentioned it. To be honest it had all calmed down after a month or so.

At the end of the day it's about the couple isn't it not who gets to be there or the party etc which can't really happen with covid so I'd say do it now while we're in a pandemic and you're restricted anyway!

OP, we got married in Cornwall in September, just the 2 of us, at a place that specialises in very small weddings. I can't recommend them enough, we had the best day in a very beautiful place. Let me know if you want more info and I'll PM you.