How To Elope
Plan Your Cote How Elopement Wedding
How to Elope: Plan Your Cote How Elopement Wedding
Only a few years ago, many people imagined eloping meant running away to Gretna Green in secret. Today, an elopement means a wedding day that’s about the two of you. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to plan your Lake District elopement wedding at Cote How, including:
- What you need to budget for
- Where you could stay
- How to get here
- Advice if you’re bringing children and/or a dog!
- Things to consider if you’re eloping in secret.
What is an elopement?
What is an elopement? The definition is open to interpretation, but generally it’s a wedding for two people and can include a dog or your children. An elopement wedding is often combined with a mini-holiday, while a traditional wedding is usually a single-day event. Some tell family beforehand, while others announce their marriage afterwards. We’ve welcomed couples in their twenties through to their eighties, so there’s no typical age for an elopement!
Most of our couples travel from outside Cumbria, and many make a short break out of it. If it’s your first visit to the Lake District, don’t worry. We’ll help you with recommendations for accommodation, suppliers, and planning.
An elopement is much simpler than many people imagine, and we’ll guide you through each stage. Many couples are surprised by how relaxed an elopement feels. Without a large guest list or a busy schedule, you have time to pause and enjoy the experience.
Plan Your Elopement - A Step by Step Guide
Step 1 – Choose your venue: You can’t book a legal ceremony without booking a licensed wedding venue. Your venue also dictates which team of Registrars you use. If you’re getting married at Cote How, the Registrar team are based in Kendal.
Step 2 – Book your legal ceremony: Contact the Westmorland & Furness Registrar team and ask for the date/time you have been advised. Once you have booked a ceremony date, you need to give notice of intent to marry at the registry office where you live at least 29 days before your wedding day. Ideally, allow at least 6 weeks to book and plan an elopement, unless you apply for a special licence.
Step 3 – Book somewhere to stay: We find our couples are more relaxed when they arrive in the local area at least the night before. You have plenty of time to do a recce if you have never visited the area, get ready with a stylist in the morning and avoid a long journey in your wedding outfits. You also avoid unforeseen delays.
Step 4 – Choose your suppliers: We always recommend a photographer. The moments they capture are priceless to share with family and friends who aren’t with you on the day, and for you both to look back on.
Not every couple requires every type of supplier on our recommended list. At Cote How, recommended suppliers give couples confidence and the best experience. Services and details you might include:
- Photographer
- Hair/make-up stylist
- Flowers
- Cake
- Wedding car
- Dog Chaperone
We honestly would encourage any couple thinking about an elopement
Budget for your Elope
How much does it cost to elope? Below are some typical costs*:
- Registrar – £644–£758
- Photography – From £550 for 2 hours
- Hair & Makeup – From £225 per person for hair & makeup (no trial)
- Wedding Car – From £350
- Accommodation – Varies
- Flowers – Varies (book in-house or bring your own silk/dried flowers)
- Dog Chaperone – Prices start from £150
(*Prices shown are a guide and may vary depending on the season.)
Top tip: One of the attractive things about an elopement is that you only pay for the parts of the day that really matter to you.
Plan your Elope Escape
How long should you plan to stay in the area? One night is suitable if you’re travelling from nearby. We recommend two nights for a relaxed wedding morning and evening. Three or more nights can turn your wedding into a mini honeymoon!
Where should we stay? The Lake District is teeming with places to stay, and we recommend staying near Rydal, Ambleside, and Grasmere for convenience. Choose which type of accommodation works for you:
- Within walking distance – perfect for couples wanting to leave the car behind
- Spa hotels – perfect for busy couples who need a little pampering.
- Family-friendly hotels – perfect for couples with children
- Self-catering – Perfect for couples with dogs or children, or who enjoy more freedom/require a longer stay.
- Travelling on a budget – Check out B&Bs/Camping pods.
To get you started:
- No.1 Rydal Cottages – Self-Catering Cottage (dog-friendly), a 2-minute walk from us, bookable from £755 for 3 nights in low season
- Horseshoe Cottage – Self-catering Cottage. A 5-minute walk from Cote How, bookable from £659 for 3 nights.
- The Salutation Hotel in Ambleside – a 5-minute drive. A spa hotel in the centre of Ambleside with rooms from around £239 per night. Dog-friendly rooms available.
- The Grand, Grasmere – 3 miles away in the village of Grasmere, this family-run hotel with lake views has rooms from around £223 a night.
- White Cross Bay lodges near Windermere, 15 minutes from us by car. A 3-night stay in September 2027 starts from £285.
Top tip: Don’t forget to check out recent reviews, as places may change over time.
Eloping With CHildren
Elopements at Cote How are family-friendly:
- Plenty of outdoor space
- Thoughtful hamper of toys to explore.
- Mini adventures along the lakeshore for photographs
- Exciting activities in the wider area if staying longer.
Check out our Children Blogs if you’re getting married with children and would like more advice.
The whole process was so easy and stress free
Eloping with Dogs
We know that a dog is part of the family. We recommend bringing your dog for a post-ceremony photo shoot, rather than your ceremony. It’s the perfect compromise for dogs and humans!
Our trusted dog chaperone can collect your dog, care for them during the ceremony and make sure they’re in all the important photographs. They can care for them until you’re ready to have them back later that day. You might find it helpful to read our blogs about including your dog.
Eloping with Best Friends
Sometimes members of the same family aren’t born under the same roof! If you have two best friends who are like family, you may wish to consider a bespoke elopement package so your friends can:
- Witness your ceremony.
- Share a celebratory lunch or dinner after your wedding.
- Explore the Lake District with you.
There's nothing at all we would have changed
Eloping in Secret
You may decide to keep your elopement plans secret. Maybe you don’t want any fuss, or perhaps you don’t want to feel under pressure to invite certain people. Maybe family dynamics are stressful, or you are very private and hate being the centre of attention. Whatever the reasons for keeping your wedding day secret, you are not alone.
Couples eloping in secret tend to:
- Announce their marriage with photographs when the sneak peeks arrive.
- Celebrate with family and friends at home once the dust has settled.
- Combine their secret elopement with a holiday so as not to arouse suspicion.
- Keep their secret long enough to enjoy their wedding bubble for at least the rest of the day!
Elopement FAQs
Can we elope with children? Absolutely. Read more about our specially designed Little Ones elopements.
Could we bring our dog? Yes, for outdoor ceremonies or lakeshore photos and with a dog chaperone.
Do we need witnesses? No. We consider it a privilege to witness your ceremony.
What if it rains? We always have a ‘Plan B’ and our beautiful Lakeland house has a ceremony space ready to go, just in case.
Are we able to have a first dance? Of course! Take a private moment after your ceremony or record your song on a portable device and capture your first dance during your photo shoot.
Can we have confetti? We include beautiful, sustainable, natural confetti.
Can we stay overnight? Yes! We have a honeymoon suite for wedding couples only as part of our luxury Indulgers Package.
What about short notice bookings? We offer special rates on elopement dates that take place within 8 weeks of booking. If challenging circumstances mean you want to be married as soon as possible, the Registrar team will advise you on applying for a special license.
What should we wear? Anything you like (within reason!) Couples get married in everything from traditional wedding attire to walking boots and a fleece. We recommend bringing suitable footwear for photos along the lakeshore.
May we invite guests? An elope can include your children. Or we can create a bespoke package to include two best friends. Any more than two guests is a micro wedding. We have micro wedding packages for up to six guests.
More than Just a ceremony
While you’re in the Lakes, the area around Cote How has something to suit everyone. Most couples tell us they wish they’d stayed at least an extra night to enjoy everything the Lake District has to offer after the excitement of the wedding day. We’ve written a blog to help you plan your romantic Lake District holiday.
An elopement is more than just your wedding ceremony. It’s a chance to press pause on busy lives and enjoy time together in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful valleys.
If an elopement sounds like the perfect wedding style for you, get in touch and let’s get planning!
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Thank you to our wonderful elopement couples for sharing their images, and to their fabulous photographers, including Jo Greenfield, Jenna Carpenter, Sage Green Photography, Tiree Dawson, Chris Freer and Rachel Joyce.
If you’ve enjoyed this blog, below is some recommended reading you might find helpful:
