Unlike in England and Wales, Scottish law permits wedding rituals performed by an approved pagan celebrant to be treated as a legal marriage under the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977. This means that it is possible for couples to have a legally binding wedding ceremony of their choice – they can even write the ceremony themselves! As Scottish law has always allowed couples to get married wherever they wish, as long as they are married by a religious celebrant, this also means that couples can get married at the venue of their choice.

But you don't have to think of yourself as a "pagan" to use our service! In our experience, couples expressing a wish to have a marriage ceremony performed by us often don't identify themselves with any named religion, instead many just have an affinity with nature, or consider themselves to be more spiritual than religious, or think of themselves as agnostics - what they do have in common is that they are seeking something with a bit more depth than a civil ceremony with a Registrar, but without wanting to take the route of a conventional church wedding. So if you are looking for a religious celebrant so that you can get married in a non-licensed venue, we may be able to help.

Possibly the most important point for people who do consider themselves to be pagan, is that the couple do not need to have a religious ceremony as well as a subsequent civil ceremony at a registrar's office in order to legalise the marriage (as is still required in England and Wales). In Scotland the religious ceremony IS the legal ceremony (exactly as if you were getting married in a church).

You are allowed to get married in Scotland even if you do not reside in Scotland. And again, unlike England and Wales, you do not have to be resident in Scotland for any period of time before your wedding. This means that anyone travelling to Scotland from outside Scotland, including overseas, can be officially married in this manner. Pagan marriages conducted in Scotland, by a Scottish Pagan Federation Celebrant, are recognised as fully legal weddings throughout Britain and the rest of the world (if travelling from outside the UK you are advised to obtain independent legal advice on this).

This means that you can, in effect, get married anywhere you want to: a stone circle, a beach by moonlight, a dappled woodland … and that you can get married how you want to.

So, why not get married in Orkney? Orkney is full of ancient sites which resonate with the power of the ancestors, enigmatic historic ruins, and some of the most stunning natural environments in the world. There are also plenty of suitable indoor venues too. And, whilst you’re here, why not honeymoon in Orkney for a perfect start to your married life?

At Orkney Pagan Weddings, we can help with every stage of organising your wedding. We are approved Scottish Pagan Federation (SPF) Celebrants so we can advise you on the legal processes involved (refer to "Legal Requirements" on this web-site for an overview), and we are based in Orkney so we can assist with suggesting and arranging a suitable venue. We are available to discuss your ideas about the ritual YOU want and will do so in person, by email and telephone, so that together we design a ceremony that fits exactly to your specific requirements. We can perform a rehearsal, if required, but most vitally, we will conduct the actual wedding ritual on your special day.

However you choose to get married, we are here to help make your wedding day what you want it to be: spiritual, unique, beautiful, and unforgettable.

Please read our contract terms.

Email us on orkneypaganweddings@googlemail.com - even if you would just like to make a general enquiry!