For many couples planning a Scottish elopement, the first images that come to mind are misty mountains, dramatic Highland landscapes, and iconic tourist spots. But for Rita and Alex, a quieter and more personal experience felt much more like them.
The Salt Lake City couple traveled across the UK with Rita’s immediate family, turning their wedding into part of a larger adventure together. Instead of planning an elaborate event from afar, they focused on creating a day that was relaxed, intimate, and reflective of the things they genuinely enjoy.
That decision eventually led them to a one-of-a-kind bookstore wedding ceremony tucked inside an independent bookshop in Edinburgh, surrounded by local businesses, thoughtful details, and a neighborhood that felt less like a destination and more like a place they’d want to return to for years to come. Junebug vendor Solen Collet, who shared their story with us, captured all the little moments that made the day feel so distinctly them.
What We Love About This Bookstore Wedding Ceremony
- A bookstore became the setting for a legal wedding ceremony
- The entire celebration highlighted small independent businesses
- They built the day around a neighborhood instead of a traditional venue
- The itinerary felt relaxed without sacrificing iconic Edinburgh experiences
- Their first dance happened inside the bookshop itself
Featured Vendor:
Solen Collet
Why Planning Around Shared Interests Made Long-Distance Wedding Planning Easier
Planning a wedding from another country can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve never visited your destination before. Fortunately, Solen has built her entire approach around solving exactly that problem.
Rather than asking couples to choose a theme first, she starts with simple questions: How do you spend time together? What would your ideal day off look like? What kind of spaces do you naturally gravitate toward?
“I try to be the eyes on the ground for couples I work with, do some quality control and ask lots of questions about how they tend to spend their time together so we can build something that represents them even if they’ve never been here before,” she explains. Rita and Alex immediately connected with the idea.
As they planned their UK road trip with Rita’s parents and brother, they loved the opportunity to support local independent businesses along the way. Once they found a stylish Airbnb in the exact Edinburgh neighborhood Solen recommended, the rest of the day naturally fell into place.
Choosing a Bookstore Instead of a Traditional Ceremony Venue
One thing the couple knew almost immediately? They wanted a bookstore involved. “They pretty quickly said they really wanted to use a bookstore for their ceremony location,” Solen says. Unlike many places around the world, Scotland gives couples remarkable flexibility when it comes to where they can legally marry.
“So long as you have the landowner’s permission and the correct information for your paperwork, you can marry pretty much anywhere.” That freedom opened up possibilities that simply wouldn’t exist elsewhere. Their chosen venue, Argonaut Books, had actually never hosted a wedding before.
The independent bookstore’s owner, Adam, previously worked for the Edinburgh Book Festival and brought plenty of event experience to the occasion, helping create an atmosphere that felt welcoming from the moment everyone arrived.
Instead of a grand entrance, the day started with simple moments. They took a quick cab from their apartment, picked up champagne from the independent bottle shop across the street, then walked over to meet their celebrant.
How They Turned an Entire Neighborhood Into Their Wedding Venue
Rather than treating Edinburgh as a backdrop for photos alone, Rita and Alex made the neighborhood part of the celebration. After the ceremony, guests returned to the nearby apartment while the couple spent an hour exploring the city with Solen. A little rain made an appearance, but in Scotland, that’s considered good luck. “They say it’s good luck because back in the day, tying the knot of the handfasting ribbons, if it got wet it would be harder to untie.”
The newlyweds wandered through Calton Hill, the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, and several of Edinburgh’s famous “closes” (alleyways) before ducking into the city’s beautiful library to escape the rain and include even more books in the story. By designing a neighborhood-based wedding instead of a venue-based one, they managed to enjoy both a local experience and some of Edinburgh’s iconic landmarks.
Wedding Advice: Focus on One Great Local Team Instead of Dozens of Endless Searches
One of the biggest challenges Rita and Alex faced was simply the distance and time difference. “It’s quite difficult for couples to chat online with vendors when there’s a huge time difference so they really need to trust that you are making good choices for them.”
Instead of acting as a traditional wedding planner, Solen introduces her couples directly to local creatives so they can collaborate together. “This really helps couples get to collaborate creatively with their florist or baker and bring even more personal details into the mix.”
For couples considering a destination wedding, this approach also creates a stronger connection to the place. Rather than booking generic vendors, you’re building relationships with people who genuinely know and love the community.
Local Scottish Businesses Brought Every Detail Together
The day may have been simple, but every detail felt intentional. The couple worked with Ochre Botanical Studios, a local florist collective specializing in seasonal Scottish flowers and foliage.
Their officiant, Fiona, brought a storytelling approach to the ceremony. “She interviews couples both together and apart to build the story of what brought them to this milestone together.” She also introduces couples to Scottish traditions, including handfasting and drinking from a quaich, a traditional two-handled loving cup that symbolizes trust and love. Every ceremony she creates is unique because it’s built entirely around the couple’s story.
Later, everyone gathered at Good Brothers Wine Bar for speeches, drinks, and aperitivo before heading to Little Capo for a celebratory meal inspired by seasonal Italian flavors.
A First Dance in a Bookstore Became the Most Emotional Moment of the Day
For Solen, one moment stood out above all the others. “It was really special to see them do their first dance in the bookshop after the ceremony. I got a little misty eyed.” Even with family present, the celebration still maintained the intimacy of an elopement. “Even though they had Rita’s immediate family with them, it still felt like an elopement. They only had eyes for each other.”
There was no pressure to make the day bigger than it needed to be, and that simplicity ended up being its biggest strength. “Most importantly, they never overcomplicated things. “I just loved working with them. They’re both really gentle and kind people who wanted to make something simple but special.”
Rita and Alex also show that there’s another way to experience a Scotland elopement. Rather than racing between iconic landmarks, they spent the day exploring a neighborhood, supporting local businesses, and creating memories in places they can revisit for years to come.
Because getting married in Scotland can be just as memorable without climbing a mountain.
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Solen Collet
Ceremony Venue – Argonaut Books
Reception Venue – Good Brothers Wine Cellars
Floral Design – Ochre Botanical Studios
Family Dinner – Little Capo
Officiant – Fiona Flanagan
Makeup + Hair Styling – The Made Up Team
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