Islay (pronounced eye-la) lies on the West Coast of Scotland within the group of islands known as the Inner Hebrides.
Islay registration office covers the island of Islay and Jura.
Address: Jamieson Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay, PA43 7HL
Tel: 01546 605521 (Option 4)
Email: Gemma.Cameron@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Schoolhouse, Craighouse, Isle of Jura, PA60 7XG
Tel: 01546 605521 (Option 4)
Our Registrars
Gemma Cameron – Registrar for Islay
Started in Registration – July 2009
‘I have working in the registration service for nearly 15 years! I have been so lucky to have been involved in some of my friends and families biggest moments, conducting their wedding ceremonies and registering the births of their babies. I have also met lots of new people in this job from all over the world and it is always such an honour to be a part of their wedding day. I really enjoy getting to know the couples in the lead up to the day, ensuring their ceremony is personal. We have so many scenic locations to choose from on Islay, from one of our beautiful beaches to the historic seat of the Lord of the Isles Finlaggan, no matter where we are conducting a wedding it makes you realise how lucky we are to live in such a stunning part of the world.’
Mandy Walker – Assistant Registrar
Started in Registration – July 2024
‘Before coming to live on Islay I worked in Registration in Cumbria, performing ceremonies at licenced venues across the county. I’ve found ceremonies on Islay, and in Argyll and Bute overall, are more unique and personal compared to the majority I have taken part in previously. Luckily, couples considering holding their ceremony on Islay have an extensive choice of what to include from the options offered when they plan and personalise their special day. Being involved in their preparations and conducting their ceremony is indeed a great privilege, one I wholeheartedly enjoy. The scenic locations on Islay offer amazing photographic settings like no other and every ceremony I’ve been involved in so far has created special memories, rain or shine!’
Heather Cameron – Registrar on Jura
‘As a registrar it is a pleasure to be involved in helping plan and be part of a couples wedding day, such a happy and important day in their future life together. Outside and beach weddings are very popular but living on an island in the west coast of Scotland the weather can be challenging at times however it all adds the unique experience of an island wedding!’
Testimonials
We had an absolutely wonderful ceremony. It was personal because we had liaised with Gemma to ensure we include poetry, song and a piece of pipe music played by a friend Chris Barber. Gemma chosen an Excellent script to accompany our ceremony which was meaningful and purposeful. Afterwards Gemma dropped the marriage certificate into the Beaumont hotel where we were staying. I cannot praise her highly enough for her sensitivity and care in making a very special day for us both. Thank you, Dave and Elaine.’
Dave and Elaine – Sept 2023 – Islay Registration Office
Travelling to Islay
By Road – 110 miles from Glasgow to Kennacraig where the ferry terminal is located.
By Ferry – Caledonian Macbrayne or Kintyre Express
By Air – Islay Airport
At 25 miles long and 15 miles wide Islay has approximately 3000 inhabitants and is known as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’ It was once the seat of the Lord of the Isles and the ruins of their council buildings can still be seen today on an island in the middle of Loch Finlaggan. More famous now for its whisky distilling, there are currently 9 working distilleries on the island. It is also home to the Botanist Gin and Nerabus Gin. There is also a daily 20 minute flight from Glasgow and Edinburgh and a twice-weekly flight from Oban.
Islay Marriage Room
The ceremony room located in Bowmore, the island’s largest town, is tastefully decorated and can accommodate up to 10 guests. Floral displays are provided and a music system is available to play your choice of music. There is disabled access and free on-street parking nearby. For larger wedding parties there are various venues on the island able to accommodate including many of Islay’s beaches boasting beautiful views across the Atlantic or one of the many historical sites on the island.
Jura
Jura is situated in the Southern Inner Hebrides, just off the west coast of Scotland. You can travel via Islay by taking the car ferry from Kennacraig or by flying from Glasgow Airport to Islay. You can also travel with Jura Passenger Ferry direct to Jura from Tayvallich in the summer season.
Jura’s name comes from the Norse language meaning Deer Island. The island offers isolation, tranquil and peace for those who are looking to get away from it all. Jura is much more sparsely populated than neighbouring Islay, and is one of the least densely populated islands of Scotland. In a list of the Scottish Islands ranked by size, Jura comes eighth where as ranked by population it comes thirty-first.
The local registrar is based in the Jura Service Point in Craighouse the main village on the Island.
