The History
It is usually assumed that Gretna Green's famous "run-away marriages" began in 1754 when Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act came into force in England. Under this Act, if a parent of a minor (i.e., a person under the age of 21) objected, they could prevent the marriage going ahead. The Act tightened up the requirements for marrying in England and Wales but did not apply in Scotland, where it was possible for boys to marry at 14 and girls at 12 years old with or without parental consent. It was, however, only in the 1770s, with the construction of a toll road passing through the hitherto obscure village of Graitney, that Gretna Green became the first easily reachable village over the Scottish border.The Old Blacksmith's Shop, built around 1712, and Gretna Hall Blacksmith's Shop (1710) became the focal tourist points for weddings. The Old Blacksmith's opened to the public as a visitor attraction as early as 1887. Since 1929 both parties in Scotland have had to be at least 16 years old, but they still may marry without parental consent. In England and Wales, the age for marriage is now 16 with parental consent and 18 without.
Nowadays
Gretna Green is now hosting over 5000 weddings each year in the Gretna/Gretna Green area, and one of every six Scottish weddings. Gretna's two blacksmiths' shops and countless inns and smallholding became the backdrops for tens of thousands of weddings. Today there are several wedding venues in and around Gretna Green, from former churches to purpose-built chapels. The services at all the venues are always performed over an iconic blacksmith's anvil. Gretna Green endures as one of the world's most popular wedding venues, and thousands of couples come from around the world to be married 'over the anvil' at Gretna Green.
Useful Pages
Here are some great shots to give you some ideas!
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