Tag: Gretna Green

Gretna Green announces its Summer Of Love

·         Iconic destination launches a bespoke ‘love package’ for the perfect summer staycation

·         Package to include ancient ‘handfasting ceremony’ where visitors can cement their love for each other during their stay

·         The Summer of Love offer to be available from July 2022

Gretna Green, The Home of Romance, rebellion, and runaway marriages, is celebrating all things love this summer as it launches a bespoke new offering.

The limited edition package will include a night’s stay at Gretna Hall Hotel, a meal for two at one of Gretna Green’s fabulous restaurants, a bespoke Anvil Handfasting Ceremony over the iconic Blacksmiths anvil and to toast and celebrate in style, a delectable love-inspired limited edition ‘Summer of Love’ cocktail designed by resident mixologist, Yash Dhiman.

Visitors will also receive tickets to the recently launched Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience – the UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage – where they will be taken through a history of marriage through time and become a part of the World’s Greatest Love Story. With Gretna Green marrying couples from as far back as 1754, visitors can learn all about the many different love stories spanning across the decades.

As part of the visit to Gretna Green, couples will also partake in a handfasting ceremony – a traditional practice where a ribbon is wrapped around each person’s hands ‘binding’ their love for one another. The perfect way to make a romantic break extra special and totally unique. 

The iconic destination at the gateway to Scotland, historically known as The Original Home of Romance, is also home to unique experiences and delicious eateries for all the family. Set in the stunning Scottish countryside, it boasts two luxury hotels, and is the perfect place for a summer staycation.

In addition, because of its ideal location near the English border, it offers a great day out for travellers passing through the South of Scotland on their way up North, or vice versa. 

Isabel Rhodes, CEO of the Gretna Green Ltd family estate, said: “We pride ourselves on being a unique and interesting place to visit, offering something for everyone. There really is no place like Gretna Green!

“We want to showcase all we have to offer here at Gretna Green and welcome you all from across the UK to join us in celebrating a Summer Of Love”.

‘The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience’ Launches at the Gateway to Scotland

●        The UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage is now open

●      The Famous Blacksmiths Shop has been transformed into an immersive, storytelling experience at the heart of the iconic Gretna Green destination

The iconic Blacksmiths shop at the heart of Gretna Green has re-launched following a £1.5 million transformation into an new immersive attraction.

The newly transformed The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience is the UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage and, alongside the newly refurbished hotels on site, is now welcoming visitors to the iconic destination at the ‘gateway to Scotland’.

 At the heart of the scenic village, fondly nicknamed the ‘land of love’, the famous wedding destination and tourist attraction oozes historic tales of love and marriage dating back many generations.

The aptly named ‘Gateway to Scotland’ has been operating for over 250 years and has hosted thousands of weddings since its very first ceremony back in 1754.

The creation of The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience will future-proof many more love stories. As part of the new attraction, guests are taken on a magical journey of true love, starting with virtual chats with some of the original Anvil priests and ending with a 360 degree immersive show celebrating what love means to us all.

This outstanding new UK visitor attraction explores the ‘World’s Greatest Love Story’ and everything that love and marriage means to us today.

Guests can browse original love letters from the 1700s and learn from the Anvil priests themselves about how Gretna Green’s location on the border of Scotland made it the home of runaway romance.

Visitors can even experience a ‘sneak peek’ of a wedding in action and have the chance to add their own love story to the wedding wall.

The Famous Blacksmiths Shop now also houses two wedding venues. The original Blacksmith’s marriage room where couples have been running away to get married since 1754 has remained untouched and still provides the iconic wedding experience of getting married over the historic anvil.

Next door is a brand new wedding room “The Forge”. This space has also retained all of its original features providing a backdrop for the big day steeped in history whilst also incorporating modern aspects such as the opportunity to project imagery of your own love story across the walls.

In addition to this, Gretna Green has also unveiled newly refurbished hotels on site – the  4* Smiths Hotel and the historic Gretna Hall. Both of the hotels have received large-scale investment including an impressive new penthouse suite at Smith’s Hotel and a full refurbishment of rooms at Gretna Hall.

The launch was a celebration of love with guests including Gretna Green wedding couple, Dennis and Marie, returning for the first time since their wedding at the venue in the 60s!

They were joined by local social media superstars, Cole and Abbie, who took part in a handfasting ceremony celebrating their love and commitment to each other.

Susan Houston from the Gretna Green family estate, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have launched this immersive new attraction here at Gretna Green.

“This is our way of telling our love story to the world and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from across the country and the globe to our famous destination at the gateway to Scotland ”