As an experienced Inchcolm Island wedding photographer, we can guarantee this is a spectacular location for a wedding!
Inchcolm Abbey, Inchcolm 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 setting in central Scotland, Inchcolm Island is perhaps more challenging to reach than most – but it is worth the effort!
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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 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.
Have your camera ready to capture photos of seals resting on navigational buoys and rocky outcrops!
Are you getting ready to tie the knot and need wedding photographers in Fife? Drop us a line to see if we’re free.
Inchcolm Island wedding photographer reviews
We’ve been chosen as Inchcolm Island wedding photographer at many weddings and promise you excellent service and fabulous photos. But don’t take our word for it:
The boat trip to Inchcolm Island is an experience, to be sure, yet the advantages of getting married on an island may not become apparent until you are there.
This stunning building (dating from the 1100s, before it became an abbey) contains centuries of history and features windswept island scenery.
What better place could there be for atmospheric, romantic, and unique wedding photographs to commemorate your big day?
Inchcolm Abbey
Inchcolm Island enjoys a unique vantage point in Fife.
Historic Scotland owns and manages it and has long been loved as a place to get married.
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 thanks to his saved life.
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.
The medieval site has seen many battles over those centuries, from the naval raids of the 1300s to the defence required throughout World Wars I and II.
Established as an abbey on Inchcolm Island in 1235, this wonderfully preserved building oozes history, character, and beauty from every inch of the stonework.
Inchcolm Abbey 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 Scotland’s most complete cloister example.
Three covered cloister walks provide further interest for stunning photos, no matter what happens with the variable Scottish weather.
Superb views of Edinburgh and Fife
When you’re having an Inchcolm Island wedding, it is 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 hint at what it is like to visit in person.
If you are looking for a simple yet striking setting 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 show’s star.
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
Few couples who are getting married need to hire a boat to reach their wedding destination.
However, Inchcolm Island is unique in this respect.
Making suitable arrangements is far more comfortable than you may imagine.
Small parties can book advance tickets to sail on a publicly available crossing on the 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.
If you are wondering, the bride will typically travel in the Captain’s cabin, so she is not seen by anyone else at the wedding party until she makes her grand entrance in the aisle of the Abbey.
Inchcolm Island photo opportunities
It isn’t easy to describe how many opportunities exist on Inchcolm Island for taking wedding photos.
Many striking opportunities exist for varied and fascinating interior and exterior wedding photos.
The Abbey, the surrounding ruins, the cloister walks, and the shoreline… are all there to be enjoyed.
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 your celebrations into the evening, Orocco Pier is just a 10-minute walk from Hawes Pier.
As experienced videographers and wedding photographers at Inchcolm Island, contact us to discuss taking your photographs and filming your wedding at this unique wedding location in Fife.
We’d love to chat about ideas for exquisite wedding photos and videos at Inchcolm Island.
Contact the wedding team at Inchcolm Island
You can contact the Inchcolm Island wedding team here:
Address: Inchcolm Abbey, Inchcolm Island, Burntisland, KY3 0UA.
Phone: +44 (0)7918 337 097
Email address: weddings@hes.scot