Stay in a Dumfries castle after a Gretna Green wedding
Brides and grooms-to-be planning to get hitched in Gretna Green in Scotland will find that they will be part of a fascinating wedding history spanning some 250 years.
Thousands of young lovers first began to head to Gretna Green so they could be married in a rush under the lenient marriage laws in force in Scotland. Many of the stories tell of couples coming to the area after a long time on the road, being chased by an angry father intent on intercepting them.
Now, over 4,000 couples come to Gretna Green every year to say their vows - representing around 13 per cent of all the weddings actually performed in the whole of Scotland.
You too could become part of this tradition by getting married under modern Scottish law over the renowned anvil in the original blacksmith's shop, which has stood on this spot since 1712.
What better way to follow up the wedding than with a Scottish honeymoon and a stay in some of Scotland's luxury self-catering accommodation?
Having a Gretna Green ceremony is undoubtedly one of the most romantic options for a wedding and you could put the icing on the cake of your perfect day by looking to hire a castle in Scotland.
Find accommodation in a castle and you will be able to see and do a number of things while in this part of the country.
You could head off into the Galloway Hills, where you can walk among moors, lochs and forests, or perhaps explore some of the exotic gardens in the area, such as the Logan Botanic Gardens in Port Logan.
Here you will find lots of plants from the southern hemisphere, including Himalayan poppies, eucalyptus groves and African daisies.
You might also want to visit Graigieburn Garden, particularly if you have an interest in literature and poetry, as this was the site that influenced Robert Burns.
On the five-acre plot you will find an eclectic mix of plant life ranging from blue poppies and martagon lilies to beech trees.
If you - or your new husband or wife - harbour a love of golf, there are several great courses to choose from in Dumfries, while the Galloway Forest Park provides numerous nature-spotting opportunities for animal lovers.
Whatever you decide to do, a castle stay in Dumfries is the perfect way to celebrate a marriage in Gretna Green.
