Gretna sets new wedding record

Gretna saw 84 Valentine's Day weddings

Scotland's "love capital" has set a new record for the most weddings in a single day.

Eighty-four couples - including ones from Germany, Russia, Jordan and the USA - tied the knot in Gretna on Friday.

Every year thousands of couples flock to the small town in Dumfries and Galloway to get hitched, but Valentine's Day is always the busiest day.

This year's record turnout re-enforces its status as the country's most popular marriage venue.

Sheila Wallace: "Love really is in the air"

In June, the Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 scrapped the restriction of civil marriages to registration offices, allowing councils to approve other sites for ceremonies.

This, according to Senior Registrar Sheila Wallace, has led to a rise in the number of weddings in Gretna.

"Love really is the air here and there is just a wonderful atmosphere," Mrs Wallace said.

"There is supposed to be a fall in the number of people getting married these days, but there is no evidence of that here.

"There are 17 more couples getting married this Valentine's Day compared to 2002."

Outlawed marriages

"The recent change in the law regarding civil weddings has been good news for couples and Gretna."

Mrs Wallace said that the town was already on track to have more weddings this year than any other.

Of the 84 couples who married in the town on Valentine's Day, 31 tied the knot at the Gretna Hall Blacksmith Centre.

Couples are coming from as far as Jordan

A further 27 weddings took place at the register office and another 26 at local hotels and visitor centres.

The town became a destination for young lovers after the Marriage Act was passed in 1754 in England, which outlawed marriages without parental consent if either party was under 21.

A tradition developed of couples travelling over the border to Scotland, which had more lenient laws.

It has remained a popular marriage destination ever since and last year Gretna staged more than 5,000 weddings.

The wedding industry is thought to be worth millions to the local economy.