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Statutory registration of marriage began in 1855 in Scotland. Prior to that, any record will be in the parish registers. Not all marriages were recorded and not every register has survived.

What is found in a parish marriage register varies considerably.

Most commonly it is the contract, i.e. when the couple went to the session clerk and said they intended to marry. Sometimes only their names are recorded, sometimes there is extra information.

In earlier times "pledges" were recorded. This was a sum of money paid by each member of the couple. If the marriage went ahead within forty days with no scandal attached to it, the pledges were returned.

Sometimes the register records the fact that banns were read, occasionally giving the date of each reading.

Sometimes the register adds the fact that the couple did marry and gives the date of the ceremony.

15th May 1847 was a Saturday.

The testament dative and Inventare of the goodis gear debtis and soumes of money
Q(uhi)lkis [= which] perteinit to umq(uhi)lls Andro William Johne and Jonet Clarks bairns Lawfull
to umq(uhi)ll Andro Clark of wester moffat within the parochine of Bartrumshottts the tyme
of ther deceasses q(uhi)lk wes in the moneth of Januarij and ffebr(uar)ij 1669 years and in the
                                                                                                                           moneth of
marche & May 1670 years ffaithfullie made and givin vp be Jonet and Issobell Clarks father
sisters to the defuncts & nearest of kine to them & ex(ecuto)rs datives surrogat In place of Mr
Johne Livingstoune Pro(curato)r fiscall of the com(missa)riat of glasgow who is ex(ecuto)r dative
                                                                                                                           decernit to the
s(ai)d defuncts goodis gear and debtis Be decreit of the commissar of glasgow upon
the ffourt day of Junij 1670 years As the samein [= same] bears

Buchan Observer, 7-1-1913:

PATERSON - SELBIE. - At Station Buffet, Ellon, on the
3rd January by the Rev. Robert Paterson, U.F.,
minister, Savoch, James Henry Paterson, Peterhead,
to Annie, adopted daughter of Mr and Mrs John
Selbie, Mosside, Annochie, Auchnagatt.

Aberdeen Daily Journal, 3-3-1914:

PATERSON. - At 8 Rose Street, Peterhead, on 1st
March, Annie Selbie, wife of James Henry Paterson,
Pearl Assurance Coy. Deeply Regretted.
Press & Journal, 29-8-1983:

         PATERSON
Peacefully, at Aberdeen
Royal Infirmary, on Friday
August 26, 1983, Belinda
Margaret Scott, aged 56 years,
beloved wife of James G*
Paterson, Colwyn,
Nethermuir Road, Maud.
Funeral private. No callers
and no letters please.

* the notice says G instead of J

Press & Journal, 12-9-1995:

         PATERSON
Suddenly, at Kirkburn
Court, Peterhead, on
September 11, 1995,
James John Paterson,
aged 81 years, beloved
husband of the late
Belinda Margaret Scott
(Formerly of Nethermuir
Road, Maud), a dear dad
of Gordon, Belinda and
James and a much loved
granda. Funeral arrange-
ments later.

From the minutes of Denny kirk session:

            Denny March 5th 1792
The Session met and Constituted Apeared John
Gray and Isobel Brown and Acknowledged that they
were clandestandly married at Denny the 25th May
1791 and being sutably exorted and rebucked were
absolved from the scandal and they also payed their fine.

A stone in the old kirkyard at Ellon has the inscription:

Erected by his widow in memory of her husband George Brichen late land steward Turnerhall who died at Kinharrachy 17th January 1881 aged 84 years. Also his wife Jane Todd who died 5th Dec. 1909 aged 86 years.

James Godsman, in his book on Ellon, lists amongst the tenants of East Kinharrachie, "Robert Breichen, 1740-1797, and his brother, Dr. George Breichen, 1744-1821."