Let’s never forget weddings are for everyone: while the wedding media’s demographic tends one way, here at English Wedding we’re looking to celebrate a rainbow of couples and today’s UK beach elopement is absolutely one of my favourites! Our couple Wendy and Nigel shine through their day: their happiness is infectious and the images by Devon wedding photographer Thomas Frost are simply out of this world. I’m so lucky to have found this gorgeous pair through the website of talented wedding dressmaker Felicity Westmacott – and oh my, what an incredible DRESS!

A beautifully shot, romantic elopement in Lefkada – beautiful bride Shelby and new hubby Daniel headed away from it all for a dream wedding, and their images by lovely Maxeen Kim are EVERYTHING. It’s been the toughest of years for so many, but I take my hat off to this gorgeous pair for eloping – for focusing on being married, and for staying strong through all the uncertainty of 2020. Shelby is stunning in a Wed2B dress; Daniel’s summer wedding look is from Next. The florals are exquisite – and planner Claire from Lefkas Weddings gets a glowing review from our happy couple!

If 15% of couples consider eloping most years, then I bet 2020 had ten times that figure… the tears and postponements and new rules have had us all tearing our hair out in frustration. But come 2021, I imagine more of us will be calmly planning to elope – and trust me, it’s a wonderful thing to do. If you read our ‘Married Now, Party Later Revolution‘ feature you’ll get what I mean. And if you read about Laura and Daniel’s STUNNING elopement to New York (in safer times!) I think you’ll be sold on the idea. NYC is a dream elopement location, but you can tie the knot pretty much anywhere these days. These gorgeous guys went big, hit the city and got amazing shots from English Wedding member Artisan X Photography.“english

Are you fed up of being indoors and do you feel cheated that your wedding has been postponed and your honeymoon cancelled? Who could have predicted that something we can’t even see would ruin the plans of so many. Well, here’s an idea for when you feel safe enough to have a night or two away from home… Why not plan something really cool and elope? On the Isle of Skye, wedding photographer Penny Hardie sees all kinds of tiny weddings – they don’t even have to be legally binding, in fact many aren’t.

Ready to Run Away? Isle of Skye elopements... (6)

If there was ever a time for doing things differently, it’s right now. Elopements have been creeping in popularity for a handful of years. Styled elopements like this one can inspire us all to place marriage and commitment before the massive party we call a wedding. So here’s an option for you: book a registrar and a photographer, and go get this done. You’ll be married, and you can still celebrate in style when social distancing is nothing more than a memory.

Beautiful images by Michelle Cordner Photography from a styled photography workshop with Agnes Black. Full supplier list below!