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Inchcolm Island wedding venue really is a spectacular location for a wedding. Incholm Island, Burntisland, KY3 0UA was supposedly visited by St Columba (an Irish missionary monk) in 567 and was named after him in the 12th century.
As a wedding venue in central Scotland, Inchcolm Island is perhaps more challenging to reach than most – but my word, it is worth the effort! The journey to reach the island is usually taken by boat and the memorable journey departs from Hawes Pier in picturesque South Queensferry, going directly underneath the Forth Bridge.
Your journey to Inchcolm Island wedding venue takes you down the majestic Firth Of Forth estuary, heading east towards the North Sea. The boat journey of 4 miles takes approximately 45 minutes. Be sure to have your camera ready to capture photos of seals resting on navigational buoys and rocky outcrops!
The boat trip to Inchcolm Island wedding venue is an experience to be sure, yet the advantages of getting married on an island may not become apparent until you are there. Not only do you get centuries of history poured into this stunning building (dating from the 1100s, before it became an abbey), you also get the windswept island scenery that comes with it. What better place could there be for atmospheric, romantic, and unique wedding photographs to commemorate your big day?
Incholm Abbey
Incholm Island wedding venue enjoys a unique vantage point in Fife, owned and managed by Historic Scotland and much loved as a Scottish wedding venue for many years. Inchcolm Island is home to the best-preserved group of monastic buildings in Scotland. Alexander 1 sheltered here during a storm in 1123 and vowed to build a monastery in thanks for his life being saved. Unfortunately, Alexander died a year later before he could fulfil his promise. Alexander’s brother David invited Augustinian Canons to create the Island priory. Inchcolm Abbey has seen over 700 years of history and continues to do so to this day. The medieval site has seen many battles over those centuries, from the naval raids of the 1300s to the defence required throughout Word Wars I and II.
Established as an abbey since 1235, this wonderfully preserved building oozes history, character, and beauty from every inch of the stonework.
Inchcolm Abbey itself has the most beautiful interior – simple yet stunning, with a high ceiling and large windows. All around ruins further add to the dramatic feel of the location. The cloister has survived remarkably well considering its age, being the most complete cloister example in Scotland. Three covered cloister walks providing further interest for stunning photos, no matter what happens with the variable Scottish weather.
Superb views to Edinburgh and Fife
It is entirely possible to focus your attention on the Abbey and believe you are in another century. Yet close by, just across the water, are superb views of Fife and Edinburgh – another jewel in Scottish history.
Seeing photos of the island can provide just a hint of what it is like to visit in person. If you are looking for a simple yet striking venue for your wedding, what better place than an Abbey steeped in so much history? Many couples have opted for minimal decoration when making their wedding plans since the Abbey is the star of the show. The custodians of Inchcolm Island will ensure the room is prepared for your wedding, so you can relax and enjoy the day – and the boat trip, of course.
How to get to Inchcolm Island Wedding Venue
Few couples who get married need to hire a boat to reach their wedding destination. However, Incholm Island is quite unique in this respect. Making suitable arrangements is far more comfortable than you may imagine. Small parties can merely book advance tickets to sail on a publicly-available crossing on Maid of The Forth Inchcolm ferry and sightseeing cruises or Forth Boat Tours.
Alternatively, larger parties can arrange a private charter of the boat. Up to 100 guests can safely be accommodated inside the boat if the weather is not agreeable. In case you are wondering, the bride will typically travel in the Captain’s cabin, so she is not seen by anyone else in the wedding party until she makes her grand entrance in the aisle of the Abbey.
Inchcolm Island Photo Opportunities
It is difficult to put into words how many opportunities exist on Inchcolm Island wedding venue for taking wedding photos. There are many striking opportunities for varied and fascinating interior and exterior wedding photos. The Abbey, the surrounding ruins, the cloister walks, the shoreline… it is all there to be taken advantage of. Add in the views over to the mainland and Fife, the Forth Bridge, and the Firth itself, and you can see why this makes a popular choice for those looking for somewhere a little different to get married.
If you are looking for a suitable wedding reception venue to carry on your celebrations into the evening, Orocco Pier is just a 10-minute walk from Hawes Pier.
As experienced wedding videographers and wedding photographers at Inchcolm Island wedding venue, contact us to discuss taking your wedding photographs and filming your wedding at this unique wedding venue in Fife. We’d love to have a chat with you about ideas for exquisite wedding photos and video at Inchcolm Island.
Clare and Drew – Inchcolm Island and Whiski Rooms EdinburghI highly recommend Jonathon as both photographer and videographer!Jonathon and his team did a wonderful job on our wedding photographs and video! As a destination couple from the States, we could not have asked for better communication. Jonathon was personable, prompt, concise, and extremely helpful! We dealt with different time zones and it was never an issue. Not only was he helpful with communication, but also gave us a beautiful video and exceptional photos! I highly recommend Jonathon as both photographer and videographer! We could not have been happier with how they turned out and loved working with Jonathon and his team 🙂
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Emma and Dan – Inchcolm Island and Orocco PierCaptured our day perfectly in the style we wanted – nice and relaxed shots, nothing too formal.We can highly recommend Jonathon for wedding photography. He captured our day perfectly in the style we wanted – nice and relaxed shots, nothing too formal. He made us feel at ease on the day and he coordinated our guests well in a non-intrusive way.
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