Joanne Shine and Nick Drummond tied the knot under new laws in Gretna on Tuesday.

The new rules mean couples can opt for non-religious weddings in hotels, castles or even their own homes or gardens.

The pair from Stockport, Cheshire, exchanged wedding vows at The Mill Hotel, Kirkpatrick Fleming, near Gretna.

Civil marriage ceremonies may have been looked upon in the past as second choice, but it is what more and more people are opting for now

Alison Quigley Chief registrar

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

Dumfries and Galloway Council is the only local authority in Scotland to have approved venues.

Chief registrar Alison Quigley said: "Marriage has changed over the past 20 years.

"Civil marriage ceremonies may have been looked upon in the past as second choice, but it is what more and more people are opting for now."

She added: "As a council we recognised there was a big demand for this kind of ceremony and have recruited around 20 civil marriage celebrants, who are trained and ready for action right across Dumfries and Galloway as the list of approvals grow."

It was also a big day for Noeline Bourne-May, who is the first civil marriage celebrant to perform a ceremony under the new rules.

Venues can be approved for up to three years or for a one-off ceremony.

The first four approved places in Scotland are at Comlongon Castle, Annan; Mabie House, Dumfries; The Mill, Kirkpatrick Fleming and the Old Blacksmith's Shop, Gretna Green.