If you are dreaming of a beautiful Scottish elopement, then Ella Mai Weddings and Elopements is the one to help. Find out more about her in our Tiny Weddings Fair brochure we’ll be giving away at the fair on 10th March in Birmingham, and in the interview below, or check out her website to find out more about how she can make your Scottish tiny wedding happen.
Please introduce yourself and what you do.
My business, Ella Mai Weddings and Elopements, is based in Scotland and I have been in the Wedding and Events industry for over five years. I absolutely love my job! I can create authentic and romantic wedding days, weeks or weekends for my couples and my love shines brightest for two kinds of weddings; elopements and small, intimate affairs. I love a big shindig as much as the next gal, but when it comes to weddings, I’m a big believer in less is more. Less spreadsheets and seating plans, less sleepless nights and logistical nightmares. My kind of wedding is all about more time with the one you love and more attention to all those nice little details that are important to you, even if that doesn’t mean expensive invites and acres of flowers that cost a small fortune. And who doesn’t love the idea of a big Scottish adventure to get your wedding off to an amazing start, just the two of you.
What do you love about small weddings and/or elopements?
I absolutely love the intimacy of small weddings and elopements. I love the fact that it’s just the two of you (or a few of your favourite people) celebrating your love for one another and just enjoying the moment. There is no worries about what are people are doing or thinking and you can really express your personalities.
Give an example of a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple?
An elopement that I recently worked on was with a couple who were actually from the area (Aberdeenshire) but wanted to elope just the two of them in an area they both loved. I helped scout the location, plan the legalities, organise suppliers and I even drove them to each place on their list that they wanted to see. They got married in a secret location in a forest and even though it started pouring down with rain, that didn’t stop the magic at all. After the magical ceremony, we all drove to the nearest town to get their favourite food, fish and chips! We went exploring through the town and found an amazing antique shop (they loved collecting antiques and old books!) that they never knew existed. They spent most of the afternoon, wondering around the huge shop and laughing about inside jokes they had. It was so very romantic.
How do you think the couples are different when working with a large wedding versus a tiny wedding?
I find working with couples that are planning a tiny wedding or elopement much more relaxed and creative, which I believe is the way it should be with your dream day! Couples aren’t worried about seating plans, who is going to sit next to who, what family and friends think of the food or what the entertainment is like. They are just thinking about where they want to be and how they are going to express their love for one another and having an adventure too!
What are the main differences in the way you do business when dealing with a couple planning a smaller wedding?
When doing business with a couple planning a smaller wedding, it really doesn’t feel like ‘business’ to me. I love getting to know my couples, finding out all those quirky ways, personality traits and what they love in life and about each other, so that I can help create a wedding that is their perfect match. We can have fun getting creative with their itinerary and planning things that perhaps they never could with a larger wedding.
What makes you unique in the service you can offer a couple planning a smaller wedding?
When creating the perfect wedding day for my couples, I don’t just stop there. I help create an itinerary of places to sight see, things to try in beautiful Scotland. I want to create not just one unforgettable day but a week or a weekend! Planning luxury accommodation and places to eat to just enjoy being with each other and experiences new things as newlyweds.
Do you feel there has been an increase in tiny weddings in the past few years or have you always worked with a lot of small wedding parties?
I have planned many weddings over the past 5 years ranging from large to small intimate weddings and I have definitely noticed an increase in couples wanting to elope or want smaller gathering of their closest family and friends. I really noticed this about a year ago which is when I decided to specialise in small weddings and elopements (also because they were my favourite to plan!).
If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world, any theme, any couple; where or what or whom would it be?
If I could plan a wedding anywhere in the world, with any couple or theme, I would always choose Scotland. The pure beauty, untouched landscapes and the adventures that can be had here are just so very special. Specifically? The Isle of Skye without a doubt. A ceremony next to the Fairy Pools? Yes please! The couple would be all about the love and adventure but still want the little luxuries in life. I would find them the cosiest, luxurious cabin or cottage amongst the scenery. The couple would then have a day of exploring the highlands, then a helicopter tour of the Scottish Islands the next and finishing off with a wonderful candle lit dinner made with only the finest local ingredients.
Follow our Facebook page for helpful and inspiring articles and information, and Ella Mai’s Facebook page to read stories of her lovely real weddings in stunning locations in Scotland, and show your interest in our Facebook event to see updates. Event better, sign up to our mailing list to make sure that you get all our news. Follow the Tiny Weddings Fair on Instagram or Ella Mai on Instagram for lovely photos of Scottish landscapes, and inspiration of small and unique weddings held there. Drop Ella Mai an email (info@ellamaiweddings.co.uk) if you have some questions about how she can help you, or have a look at her website. If you’re planning on coming to the Tiny Weddings Fair in Birmingham on 10th March, then get your tickets now for 50% off the price you’d pay on the door.
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