We Want to Elope ... But is it Legal?

By CAROLINE

How to elope legalLY in the UK

With over 30 years in the wedding industry, I have seen many weddings, and as specialists in eloping in the Lake District, I explain what elopement weddings are, the differences between elopements, including the legal and non-legal versions, and how to plan your own elopement wedding. Although I am based in the Lake District, the advice can be applied to locations anywhere in England and Wales.
Feel free to watch me explaining the differences between legal elopements and non-legal elopements in the video below, where I will be covering:
What is an elopement wedding? Is it legal? Why should you elope? How to plan an elopement wedding

Or scroll down to read my top tips on eloping.
Please add a comment below if you have any questions, or if there are any areas I haven’t covered!

In this 20 minute video Caroline explains:

Eloping Somewhere Special with Your Soulmate

The Elopement story

I have been hosting elopement weddings for years, and they have come a long way from the secret and cheap options people perceive them to be. No more shimmying down the drainpipe in the dead of night to run away and marry in secret!

The COVID pandemic saw couples reducing their wedding guest numbers to within government guidelines. These restrictions encouraged some couples to reconsider what they really want. Couples could plan to get married their way by choosing to elope. Sadly, many faced resistance from friends and family who preferred a larger wedding celebration.

The pandemic sparked a new approach, and together with the economic climate, a rising trend in elopement weddings continues today.

Is eloping LEGAL OR NON-LEGAL?

The majority of people want to be “married” and are looking for a legal wedding. In England and Wales, a legal wedding is conducted by either a registrar or a member of the clergy in a registry office, Church, or approved Licensed Premises.
If you can find an appropriate venue in keeping with your wedding location and theme, and you have two witnesses, you can arrange a legal elopement.

Make Sure it is Legal

Some couples opt for wild and wonderful elopements on a mountainside or under a waterfall. These are not legal elopement weddings in England and Wales. The photographs may look fabulous, but a separate legal ceremony is required in a registry office, church, or licensed venue at a different time. Bear this in mind when planning something a little more adventurous for your wedding day!

ADVENTUROUS ELOPEMENTS IN AMAZING LOCATIONS

LICENSED VENUES

One option is to find a venue in an amazing location where you can marry legally, using the setting as part of your wedding. You can then have additional time off-site with your photographer to capture dramatic portrait photography.

We offer “Adventurers” elopement weddings at Cote How. Our team facilitates the ceremony from our venue in the foothills of Loughrigg Fell, an easy walk to the Lakeshore of Rydal Water. Couples then hike to Rydal Caves after their legal ceremony for a stunning photoshoot.
You can read more about our Adventure Elopement Weddings here.

TRUE ELOPEMENTS

A true elopement can still be like it was back in the day! This wedding style appeals to couples ‘head over heels’ in love and recently engaged, who don’t want to wait! Our short-notice weddings are perfect in this case.
Elopements are simple weddings for just the two of you and can be easily arranged. You can incorporate your wedding into a holiday or short break in a romantic holiday destination.

HUSH HUSH OR ANNOUNCE YOUR INTENTIONS?

I speak to many couples planning to elope and always ask if they intend to share their plans. Sadly, about 50% of elopement couples keep their plans secret to avoid pressure and well-intentioned “advice” from others. But it is your day! A wedding day is one of the happiest days of your life. It should be relaxed, centered around the two of you, and filled with joy.

PRIVACY - Venues with EXCLUSIVE USE

Many hotels offer elopement packages with a private ceremony, but sometimes space for privacy is limited. The package can include a meal in their restaurant and an overnight stay. However, for privacy and exclusivity, look for venues where you can stroll around the grounds or enjoy an outdoor wedding without other customers milling around.

There are a few dedicated wedding venues that are small enough to offer full exclusivity. These tend to be small, family-run independent venues, rather than larger hotels.
My couples always comment that a lack of privacy is one of their biggest concerns and is a deciding factor when venue hunting.

DESTINATION WEDDINGS

With only two of you to organise, it opens up a host of opportunities when searching for a desirable location for your elopement wedding. Many couples opt for a destination wedding in a place with a connection to them as a couple. It may be where they got engaged or enjoyed a romantic break. Often, it has sentimental value or was special to them as a child.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY Wedding BENEFITS

Forget spending the national average of £30,000 on all the wedding bells and whistles! When there are only two, you can afford a little luxury. Pushing the boat out is common when eloping. Without a guest list, there is a wider choice of more desirable locations, providing the perfect opportunity to indulge in the things you have always dreamed of.

Check out our “Indulgers Elopements” here

FINDING A LICENSED ELOPEMENT VENUE

If you are struggling to get started, first decide if you want a legal wedding. Next, decide on your location. Then, research available venues. Each wedding venue must be approved and licensed by the local County Council, who provide a list of approved premises.

A FIRST LOOK

For elopement couples who like some tradition, such as a ‘first look’ on the aisle, we have the perfect solution. After breakfast in your hotel, get ready and arrive at your venue independently. Alternatively, arrange for one of you to check in to your wedding venue early and get ready onsite ahead of your partner. At Cote How, we have a dedicated Getting Ready Room in our Beauty Suite. It’s the perfect place to prepare privately in a relaxed environment.

GETTING READY – Bring a Stylist

Putting on a wedding dress and doing your hair alone can be tricky. Stylists will arrive at your hotel room early to help. Alternatively, they could meet you at your venue if you have booked extra time to get ready on-site, for a real pre-ceremony treat.
Getting ready in the venue’s Beauty Suite means you can relax in style. You can sneak a peek out of the window to see your fiancé arriving too!
The registrars will interview you privately and separately from your partner ahead of the ceremony. Your ‘first look’ as you walk down the aisle can be that super special moment you have both waited for!

Which elopement style is for you?

Dedicated elopement venues like Cote How offer advice on the best elopement style for you. We have elopement wedding options to suit both preferences.

We offer a RUNAWAYS morning elopement, with arrival drinks and an intimate ceremony in a choice of locations. After celebration drinks, there is time for photographs around the grounds and along the lake shores of Rydal Water.
Our afternoon ADVENTURE R’S elope involves a hike up to the caves into magnificent higher landscapes.

Our INDULGERS elopement is for couples who want an early check-in, a getting-ready room, and a honeymoon suite. We serve a light lunch whilst you prepare for your afternoon ceremony, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

All our elopements are in our central Lake District location. We offer fantastic scenery, yet total privacy and exclusivity. Eloping means to indulge a little more… after all, we only ever plan to marry once, so make it memorable!

Thanks & Further Reading

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog. If so, please comment and share this post with someone you may know who is looking to elope and needs some help, or download our handy guide. Thank you to our fantastic recommended photographers for sharing their images, including Jenna Carpenter, Steve Rhodes, Jo Greenfield, Simon Hughes, and Steve Hillman.

You may also be interested in this blog: A Luxury Elopement Wedding for Lakelovers or How to choose your Lake District Elopement Wedding Photographer

Facebook Tweet Pin