Are you considering eloping in the UK? Great choice! The UK is a small set of islands but you’re spoilt for choice in our little country.
Let’s take a look at eloping within the UK…
Table of Contents
Firstly, what is an elopement and why are they growing in popularity?
Eloping is, at the heart of it, a smaller and more intimate wedding ceremony with you at the heart of it. The days of running away to Gretna Green under the shadow of darkness are long forgotten. Now eloping means planning a day entirely based around you as a couple and your preferences. If that means just the two of you or your families then that’s perfectly up to you. Perhaps it just means shedding the formalities and leaving behind the traditions that don’t suit you and doing something very casual.
Travelling to the UK to elope
If you and your partner are not British citizens then the process can be a bit long winded with marriage visitor visas required to come to visit, plus all people must post notice of their marriage at least 28 days before the ceremony. It’s also worth noting that, currently, the rules are stricter in most parts of the UK (not Scotland or Northern Ireland who are a little more relaxed!) about where you can get married compared to other countries. You have to be in a licensed building so can’t get married up a mountain or on a beach…
As such, it may be easier to have your legal ceremony in your own country and have a celebrant led ceremony in the place of your dreams here.
One of my couples recently got married online while in the UK by a celebrant based in Utah with guests zoomed in from around the world! The world really is getting smaller…
Elopements within the UK
When you hear the word elopement most people think of heading off to far flung places and getting away from everyone they know, but of course that’s not always what eloping means. A lot of people fancy a small and intimate wedding with just their nearest and dearest in a beautiful location. If that idea is sending excited flutters through you, then maybe heading away for a long weekend or combining your wedding with a holiday within the UK could be a great way for you to elope without heading far from home. I think a lot of us forget just how beautiful the UK is and the sheer variety there is across the British Isles.
Eloping in Scotland
As mentioned before Scotland is a little more relaxed with the rules about where you can get married legally, if you’re a citizen. But of course there are stunning sceneries a plenty for celebrant led weddings. You’ve got rolling hills and mountains, beautiful coastlines for miles, islands, distilleries and castles galore. Scotland is genuinely breathtaking.
From the Isle of Skye with Cuillin Hills and the Old Man of Storr (one of the most photographed landscapes in the world) down past the famous Glencoe to the romantic cities of St Andrews and Edinburgh you could spend weeks in Edinburgh taking photos! My husband and I actually honeymooned in Scotland and zigzagged through the highlands wandering on the edges of lochs and marvelling in the scenery and explored the smaller towns of the Borders. It’s all amazing!
Here’s a few fabulous venues to check out for your Scottish elopement…
Carrick Castle – can you imagine anything more perfect than saying your vows overlooking the beautiful waters of Loch Goil? No, me neither! They also have intimate indoor venue offerings for weddings of up to 24 and you’re then in the Loch Lochmond area perfect for a relaxing, quiet holiday.
If you’re after somewhere snuggly in the Highlands then check out Eagle Brae. These 5 star log cabins are like a warm hug and perfect for smaller wedding parties and getting out and about in nature.
If you’re searching for a bit of decadence and feeling like royalty for a day then you won’t go far wrong with Dalhousie Castle just outside of Edinburgh. The food is incredible, as are the surroundings and then you’ll enjoy a night in a four poster beds (if you can sleep after the tales of ghost stories!)
The beautiful Barcaldine Castle is perfect for smaller weddings and near the gorgeous town of Oban and stunning coast line (like the couple seen below who got married there).
Eloping in Wales
Wales is another area of the UK that is obscenely beautiful. Snowdonia is absolutely gorgeous year round, based around the eponymous mountain, Snowdon which is great for hiking (or has a 100+ year old railway to whisk you to the top too). If you’re thinking of Snowdonia then make sure you check out the beautiful Lyn Idwal lake.
If beaches are more your scene then consider Abersoch (shown below). You have miles of sand and a gorgeous little seaside town, ripe with potential for awesome photography. I love how in Abersoch the roads up from the beaches almost feel like rainforest – it’s a gorgeous town! Not far (in Welsh standards!) from here is the summit of Great Orme or the Watkin Path Pools which are also absolutely stunning if you want a minimal ceremony surrounded by nature, just the two of you.
In Anglesey you have the beautiful Trearddur Bay which is another lovely little town with a gorgeous sandy beach around a cove. And still in Anglesey you have the amazing Llanddwyn Island which puts you back out in nature.
That isn’t to forget south Wales at all either. There are elopement venues a plenty like the gorgeous Nantwen and Musselwick Farm right on the coast.
Eloping in Northern Ireland
As mentioned before Northern Ireland is a little more relaxed with the rules about where you can get married legally, if you’re a citizen.
There is more natural beauty to enjoy across the Northern Ireland coast, with the most famous being Giant’s Causeway the famous UNESCO World Heritage site and Hamilton’s Seat. But if you’re a Game of Thrones fan then not far away you also have the Dark Hedges which is other worldly too (and Ballintoy Harbour which appears in the series as well). Plus you have windswept beaches, beautiful castles like Dunluce Castle and Dunseverick Castle for incredible backdrops. There is so much to love about Northern Ireland and it’s perfect for intimate, beautiful couple photos.
Eloping in England
There is so much beauty and fun in England from the varied beaches to vibrant cities. You’re also inundated with choice when it comes to small venues to get married in from the number of registry offices, if you have the relevant permissions to get married in the UK.
Why not consider one of the north’s vibrant cities as a backdrop like Newcastle of one of Yorkshire’s sweet seaside towns like Whitby (with a stop at the Whitby Abbey ruins too of course!)
Traveling down the country you have the famous Lake District and Peak District (which I’ve put sections on below as they attract people to the UK all by themselves!) as well as beautiful, historic cities like Chester. Let’s not forget about the beautiful Cotswolds which is quintessentially English and feels like a step back in time.
Northern England Elopements
The North of England is absolutely beautiful for natural scenery covering the Lake District, Peak District, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. That’s not to forget the amazing towns like Newcastle if you want an urban vibe for your elopement, or Durham for old world charm.
Check out these beautiful venues for an elopement in the north of England and then read on for some more specific info about the Lake District and Peak District.
Little Seed Dale is beyond cute! Northside Farm just outside Newcastle is for unique couples looking to plan something fun and a little different. Ramside Hall in Durham is a gorgeous tree top location. And don’t forget the stunning Durham Castle, here are my couple taking a boat trip for two after their Durham Castle ceremony!
Lake District Elopements
The Lake District is absolutely stunning with rugged landscape where you can hear the echoes of Wuthering Heights.
The beautiful (but often busy) villages of Kendal and Windermere are picturesque beyond belief and a great base to explore the 16 lakes and general area. The benefit of the Lake District is if you rent a car, which you’ll need realistically, you can plan a day of just driving and stopping at any place that takes your fancy.
West Water is often voted the UK’s top view for example and in my years of hiking Scafell Pike and Buttermere have always topped my must-see list. The photos you’ll get in the Lakes will be a beautiful combo of mountain, water (and maybe even a boat trip?!) and potentially atmospheric British weather!
Take good shoes for some schlepping across the moors as it can be a little hard going underfoot on occasion (I wouldn’t fancy it in heels!) but definitely worth the views!
Some of the Lake District elopement venues I love are Cote How, The Gilpin, Silverholme Manor and Low Hall The Lakes – all are intimate, beautiful and remote.
Peak District Elopements
The Peak District is hands down some of my favourite hiking in the UK. The view that greets you over each hilltop seems to beat the last and some of them can take your breath away. If you’re hikers then Jacob’s Ladder is my top pick! But other amazing places to get to are Padley Gorge and Bamford Edge – they won’t disappoint!
There are also some idyllic locations to stay in the peak district for your elopement. Biggin Hall is intimate and beautiful, Eyam Hall is welcoming and warm, and Callow Hall is stunningly beautiful.
Cotswolds Elopements
There is nowhere more chocolate box cute in the UK than the Cotswolds. With honey coloured limestone cottages everywhere you look and cows roaming through the rolling countryside, you can’t help but relax thoroughly when you’re in this part of the world.
The Fish has to be up there with my favourite venues if you want a luxury, foodie break. Pauntly Court is another stunning venue and family owned still. Kin House is a huge venue but hosts intimate affairs in stunning fashion too. The Swan at Bibury also hosts intimate weddings in beautiful surroundings.
East of England Elopements
If the endless hills of the north of England aren’t appealing to you then the east of England could be right up your street as the broads are as flat as far as the eye can see. Here you’re find equally beautiful but very different scenery. The endless network of manmade rivers in the Norfolk Broads are stunning, dotted with wildlife, windmills, canal boats and further afield beautiful windswept beaches.
There is a tonne of nature to get lost in with lots of woodland venues like Happy Valley if you fancy tying the knot surrounded by nature. If you still want a bit of elegance then Godwick Hall could be exactly what you’re after.
Cornwall & Devon Elopements
You could forgive yourself for thinking you were in Europe on a nice sunny day in Devon or Cornwall. The long sandy beaches of Cornwall and the pretty towns and white cliffs of Devon are a site to behold. There is an abundance of coastline, fishing villages, natural beauty and this really is a great option for amazing photos and romantic elopement.
Some beautiful smaller venues also exist in this beautiful part of the world.
In Cornwall you have Tregellund, the Tremenheere Sculpture Garden, Stennack Farm and Polhawn Fort as some of my stand out favourites.
In Devon definitely check out Tunnels Farm, Ash Barton Estate (shown below and boasting a beautiful deconsecrated chapel onsite), The Lost Music Hall and The Brickhouse Vineyard.
Having a register office wedding
Registry offices remain a popular choice for intimate micro weddings in the UK.
Here are some of my favourite local registry offices:
In Hertfordshire where I live you have Hertford Registry Office and St Albans Registry Office as well as Cheshunt Registry Office.
In London my absolute favourites (although you’re spoilt for choice as most of the town halls are gorgeous!) are Islington Town Hall, Chelsea Old Town Hall, Camden Town Hall and Old Marylebone Town Hall.
Register offices remain a popular choice because they are inexpensive and speedy. Some of the buildings are seriously unattractive and look like hideous office blocks but if you pick carefully you can find a real gem out there to marry in! Then you can head off to make your day your own… I’ve been to local pubs, teepees in gardens, on party buses, had picnics in parks and all sorts – the day really can be your own.
Planning a beautiful UK elopement
Just because you’re planning an elopement or intimate wedding doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful. If you want a stunningly decorated dinner for 6 people or a micro wedding decked out with incredible florals then go for it!
If you want to celebrate with just a few people and head straight off for a holiday, head to the pub for drinks or have a high-end dinner at a Michelin star restaurant that would be out of budget with 100 people then the word is your oyster. The freedom of eloping means you can do exactly what makes your heart sign!
Do I still need a wedding photographer for an elopement?
In my opinion, yes! Just because you’re deciding you don’t want 150 guests around you and may not end up with a gallery overflowing with photos of favours and table name cards, it doesn’t make your day any less worthy of documenting. After all, what is the most important thing in any wedding day? The couple at the centre of it committing to each other.
With elopements, it’s a fabulous opportunity to get photos of the two of you together, as well as your ceremony. Of course, we can also take photos with your family and friends, if you invite any.
The wonderful thing about smaller days is how relaxed they can feel so if you end up getting ready together, walk the aisle together, spending time taking photos, enjoying drinks. It can all be about you (and the people you love most). And the best bit? We can do whatever you want photo wise rather than spending hours taking formal photos with every last combination of great aunt and great uncle that are at your wedding!
If you’re planning to elope in the UK, whether coming from overseas or within the UK, and want to chat more about having it documented then I’d love to hear all about your day. We can find out if my style of happy, relaxed photography that captures you just as you are might be a good fit for your UK elopement. If you have any questions about planning a small wedding then get in touch, I’d be delighted to help!
