Thinking Of Getting Married At Gretna Green - Any Tips Please? :-)

Quaintonlady

After getting engaged recently we are thinking of getting married at Gretna Green. We fancy the original Blacksmiths venue, and just going for a meal afterwards and renting a cottage not far away for a week, as I have two children who will be coming with us. They will be 10 and 12 by then. We will also have a small well behaved dog with us so need somewhere where she is allowed to stay with us. So far we have been pleased with the service from Gretna Green One Stop Weddings. Anyone got any reccommendations, tips, ideas, stories of their own wedding which may help us out at all? We are on a tight budget, and think only a few friends/family may attend so we are looking at a small wedding. We would still like it to be wonderful though, with a perfect honeymoon setting. :-)

jellytastic

We got married in gretna at the old blacksmith shop august 2008, as there was just the two of us we stayed at Smyths in the penthouse which was wonderful! On the morning of the wedding I went into the high street and found a hairdresser who styled my hair, it was next to a florist but I had taken my own bouquet. When it was time for the service, we walked across the road in the rain under a smyths umberella, we waited for the minister to arrive whilst the museum curator who was taking care of weddings found us two witnesses who were visiting the area. We had already hired an official photographer for £70 and he took pics of us on our mobile phones too so that we could send them home to our family. After the service, which was perfect, I gave my bouquet to the daughter of the 2 witnesses and we had a little chat. Then we walked back to Smyths and had a lovely meal with champagne provided by the hotel. When we got back to our suite we had fresh fruit, chocs and a cuddly teddybear and more champagne provided by the hotel.
I loved my wedding at Gretna Green, it was a perfect day and I do hope to go back sometime.

At the hotel there were alot of wedding parties, many with children but I would imagine that it would be a bit rubbish for a 10 and 12 year old to stay any length of time at Smyths. There are eating places where the Blacksmiths shop is and gift shops - it is very touristy and not everyones idea of a romantic venue - but to me it was perfect and Im sure you will have a super time. good luck x

Liquorice_Twirls

Not being awful but have you actually visited Gretna or just browsed on the internet. It's bang on the motorway for starters and is full of coach loads of folk gawping at the wedding parties.

It has a very romantic history but for me that's where the romance ends, and from what I hear it sounds very expensive for basically a public wedding.

Why not stop in the Lakes which isn't far away and would give you a more intimate, scenic experience?

Littlemadam83

We asre getting married in Gretna in May. We went up there just to see what it was like before committing. Yes there are literally coach loads of tourists. But it held some kind of magic for us, when everything in Essex didn't feel right.

I am not sure on places that accomodate dogs. But there are a great number of beautiful cottages around, so that would be ideal.

If you have any more specific questions just ask. We are getting married at The Anvil Hall which is down the road from The Blacksmiths and we have hired a horse and carriage and a Piper. The small wedding reception will be at the Smiths. Service so far there is outstanding and she wasnt pushy at all. There is stuff to see around the area, and we just fell in love with it. I also love the fact people will be looking and going, "ahhhhh how sweet" if they see us.

Please ask anything you want!!

Tam xxx

jellytastic

We got married on 9th august 2008, a saturday at 1pm and there werent 100s of tourists around! If you get married in the Blacksmiths shop there are several areas to choose from and it is made private for you so that museum visitors cannot spectate. Although personally I loved it that everyone who did see us enter and leave knew that it was a very special day for us.
Gretna is right off the motorway, from our penthouse we had views over the M6 on one side but from the other it was rolling fields and the actual wedding venue. It certainly doesnt spoil the romance of anything.
I had previously been married in a church with all the traditional trimmings but my gretna wedding far outshone my previous one.

Quaintonlady

Thanks very much for your reply. It is nice to hear people had such a wonderful day there. My partner has been there and thinks it would be just right for us, so here's hoping! :-)

Tigerlilley1980

Gretna is lovely. I live 3 miles away and yes it is touristy, but from what I've heard still very popular for weddings so it must still hold some appeal. My wedding photographer is up there a lot doing weddings. Smyths is a very up to the minute hotel, and there isn't much to do in Gretna as there is one street of shops and a designer discount shopping centre, with m and s and posh designer shops. Carlisle is three miles away and the lakes are very accessible. It is a lovely area and I'm sure there are some lovely cottages to stay at. hth Tiger x

Mrsday2Be2

We looked at Gretna for ours and then found Comlongon Castle which was running a Winter Special for £400 if you get married at midday... if you go to their website https://www.comlongon.com you can see why we fell in love with it.

Sadly, we've had to postpone our wedding until mid March, missing out on the special, so we'll have to see where we end up with the ceremony now!

pinkmami

I got married in Gretna Green - much prettier than Gretna itself. Gretna is just like another town. I booked all of mine over the net & booked the Blacksmiths Cottage behind the Gretna Hall Hotel. And I've very glad I did. We chose 10am & no tourists around at all. Sun shining, birds singing & the excitement of getting married in secret & calling home to tell everyone the news. Beautiful place to get married & got excellent photos taken by Colin Wyper. When we arrived we drove around to see the other venues just to be nosey & I'm so glad I chose the cottage. The registry office in Gretna is opposite a shop (had young kids drinking when we passed!!) & TBH I didn't like the location of the Anvil Hall neither as it was in the middle of a housing estate. Definately opt for Gretna Green.

We stayed in a cottage at Browhouses in Eastriggs. Right on the Solway Firth & very private. Beautiful setting. For food I can recommend a fish & chip shop in Dumfries as that is where we had our "wedding breakfast"!!!

MissyAmarie

Congratulations! I am getting married in Gretna green in may also! What date in may are you getting married?

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

We asre getting married in Gretna in May. We went up there just to see what it was like before committing. Yes there are literally coach loads of tourists. But it held some kind of magic for us, when everything in Essex didn't feel right.

I am not sure on places that accomodate dogs. But there are a great number of beautiful cottages around, so that would be ideal.

If you have any more specific questions just ask. We are getting married at The Anvil Hall which is down the road from The Blacksmiths and we have hired a horse and carriage and a Piper. The small wedding reception will be at the Smiths. Service so far there is outstanding and she wasnt pushy at all. There is stuff to see around the area, and we just fell in love with it. I also love the fact people will be looking and going, "ahhhhh how sweet" if they see us.

Please ask anything you want!!

Tam xxx

vickiem30

How about looking at the Parish Church; it looks lovely. The good thing about Gretna is that you can get a good deal on cars and photographers.

I'd also thinking about organising it yourself. The organisers do charge a premium and the place is so geared up for wedding that it's not difficult to sort the whole day out yourself.