Intimate weddings at small venues are on the up; but have you considered eloping? Here, we discuss how to plan an elopement wedding in the UK and why elopement-style ceremonies are so popular right now, with industry insights from photographers, fashion experts and florists.
It was post 2020, once the wedding industry started to get back on track, that we noticed as a small wedding venue something in our couples had changed. After a year or more of facing restrictions on how many guests they could invite to their weddings, our brides and grooms actually started to question whether they wanted a ‘big day’ after all?
The micro wedding trend has been gathering speed for several years now, with couples no longer buying into the traditions they once did, or feeling the pressure from family or friends on who to invite, or how their celebration should look, feel or cost. Individual, personal celebrations are in; intimate weddings that focus on the couple and a small collection of family and friends have officially taken over, and for those who want to take this idea one step further, there’s elopement.
You might be thinking, ‘Huh, elopement? Doesn’t that mean running away and tying the knot in Vegas, potentially with an Elvis impersonator as your witness?’. And, you’d be forgiven; this is the picture we’ve previously held of a ‘run away wedding’ but these days, it’s just a name for a more casual celebration, focused on you and your love, without the pressure and fuss that some people just don’t want.
As a small wedding venue, we’ve worked with so many couples who want the feel of a more exclusive ceremony and the freedom to do as they please afterwards - be it a taxi straight to the airport, or pop down the local pub for a pint!
We love the freedom an elopement-style affair offers, too, and so if it’s something you’ve been thinking about, read on to find out what an elopement wedding means when staying in the UK, our advice on how to plan one and the best suppliers in the business to work with. As well as plenty of industry tips on the decor, fashion and photography trends that make the most of this kind of setting.
Let’s start with the basics: what is an elopement wedding, and why are they so popular?
We’re so glad you asked! An elopement-style wedding, especially in the UK, can mean different things to different people, and there really is no right or wrong way to do it. At The Old Vicarage, we especially encourage our couples to customise their day however works for them; keep the traditions they love, drop the ones they don’t, and make their own.
“A simple way to sum up an elopement wedding is to look at the trend of small, low-key ceremonies we’re seeing a lot in the UK right now, often at registry offices,” explains Chelsea Croft, Director of The Old Vicarage. “We’ve all seen those gorgeous photos circulating on social media of couples running down the steps and jumping into a beautiful car, with a city-chic feel. It puts the couple and their vows at the heart of the day, instead of a huge show with hundreds of guests, an unending budget and getting up at 5am to start hair and make-up - we understand that not everybody wants that.”
But, not everybody wants to get married at a registry office, either, which you’ll have to share with other couples and families, and is often in the centre of town. Plus, while you might not relish the idea of an 18-hour day, that doesn’t mean this special moment needs to be over in a flash, either.
“Our elopement package strikes the balance in-between the two. The couple are welcome to do finishing touches and outfit changes in our bridal suite, before walking the aisle and saying their vows. After which, they can have photos taken and enjoy champagne and canapés with just a few guests, or up to 30 loved ones, before continuing on with the rest of their day,” Chelsea continues. “For some, it’s off to a restaurant for an evening meal, others go home for a garden party, and we’ve even known some couples to head straight to the airport for their honeymoon, knowing that they still celebrated with family and close friends, giving them the chance to congratulate and get a few snaps.”
We find that this type of occasion suits modern couples who want a fun, casual day. That doesn’t mean less romance, though! We encourage couples to romanticise every detail and be creative. It’s an opportunity to create your own aesthetic, timelines and atmosphere and spend time capturing the content you want, too.
Faye Wilde, Gigil & Bloom, The Ivory Edit
So, how to plan an elopement wedding in the uk, I can stay in the UK for my elopement-style day - I don’t have to travel abroad?
It’s true, elopement weddings are traditionally associated with travelling abroad, leaving friends and family behind for a ceremony that’s just about you two. But, the soul of a very intimate wedding which takes only a few hours instead of a whole day and night, feels the same - and is much more attainable in the UK.
Who wouldn’t want to exchange vows on an Indonesian beach, at the foot of a Canadian lake, or overlooking the rooftops of New York? However, as wedding prices continue to soar, we know that these types of weddings take a huge financial investment, too. Plus, the popularity surrounding staycations has continued to grow, and so we find that couples are happy to combine the idea of a small ceremony with us in the countryside and a holiday renting a historic cottage or barn conversion, spending a couple of special days enjoying quality time with the people closest to them.
So, in essence, yes, you can still make your wedding all about you and duck out of the pomp and fuss that comes with a huge day, without having to travel a thousand miles. Instead, just make your own rules!
Faye Wilde Photography, Classic Wise Car, Glen & Tom
What do couples most commonly ask when planning this kind of wedding?
For some people, an elopement wedding is exactly what they’ve been dreaming of, they just didn’t know it yet. They love the idea, but if they’re not familiar with this style of celebration, it’s important for us to talk through all the details.
“The first thing people ask is how many people should they invite,” says Chelsea. “Our maximum is 30 guests, but within that we encourage them to forget what’s expected or what other people want them to do, and really follow whatever feels right for them. If that’s none - great! We’ll be your witnesses. If that’s two or three, absolutely no problem, you still have the whole venue to yourselves. Personally, we think 10 people feels atmospheric and really special.”
“Another big one is should we still use suppliers,” continues Chelsea. “To which, I’m always like, yes! Please do! We don’t want couples to think that their day can’t be beautiful, personalised and curated. We suggest still working with a florist for casual arrangements that you can even take home with you, as well as getting dressed up and wearing the wedding outfit of your dreams. On a day like this, atmosphere is everything and watching two people share their love for each other is only made more precious with a harp softly playing in the background, or a singer crooning your favourite songs while you enjoy canapés and bubbly afterwards, so go all out on entertainment, too.”
“Finally, it’s food that we get a lot of questions on, and we totally understand why. When people think of a wedding, they think of the wedding breakfast - there’s always some sort of meal. But, one of the reasons our elopement packages have such a casual feel and can be so accessible price wise, is because we limit food to canapés,” Chelsea explains. “Our canapé selection comes from our gorgeous wedding menu and is rooted in seasonal produce.”
“Most couples book their favourite restaurant for later in the day or host a BBQ or garden party back at home, which is also a way of bringing a few more people into your celebration if you kept the ceremony to witnesses.”
Do you know of any great Nottinghamshire elopement-friendly suppliers I can work with?
As elopement weddings continue to get more popular, some of our favourite Nottinghamshire suppliers are re-defining their offerings to make room for this style of wedding. To make things easier, we have a directory which you can access through our website of trusted suppliers with elopement-ready packages.
For example, Faye Wilde is an editorial-style photographer who shoots in both digital and analogue film, working with an exclusive number of couples a year. With limited availability, it can be really hard to get a spot with Faye, but her elopement sessions are more flexible, so fingers crossed you can snag a booking.
We also love Gigil & Bloom, Southwell’s local florist founded by Sophie Earle, who specialises in creative, trend-leading arrangements. Sophie’s Ready to Roll package is ideal for small, low-key weddings allowing you to order just bouquets for yourself and bridesmaids, as well as buttonholes without a big minimum order. To make this service as effective as possible, Sophie offers colour scheme choices, and makes arrangements based on your preferences, using the best seasonal flowers available that week.
This is just a taste of the ways suppliers are making their services more elopement-friendly, so have a look at our directory on the site to see more.
Any ideas on how to make your mark on a venue, even if only for a few hours?
Absolutely; think about what the most important moment of the day will be and focus your efforts there. For elopement weddings, it’s usually walking down the aisle and saying your vows, so you might want to create a meadow aisle aesthetic, lining the walkway with floral installations or rustic herb-filled pots. Or, you could emphasise where you’ll say your ‘I dos’ with plinths topped with floral arrangements in vases or footed bowls.
We love the likes of floristry studio Elder & Wild’s buckets and bouquets service, which empowers couples to get hands on with their flowers, decorating the venue themselves. This way, you’ll get several buckets filled with seasonal British flowers, plucked from the studio’s very own growing garden in Nottinghamshire. It’s much more flexible price wise, and you’ll still get buttonholes and a bouquet, all of which can be packed up and brought home with you!
Without a sit-down meal, we also encourage guests to romanticise the little details after the ceremony. Perhaps you want to accessorise the champagne glasses with ribbons, add edible flower garnishes to cocktails, or bring your own serve-wear for the canapés. You might not be having the whole shebang, but you can still bring a beautiful cake to be cut, and make a feature of it with a stunning cake table. Incorporating textile artistry with draping linen and pooling silks is one of the biggest wedding trends for 2025, mastered beautifully by textile designer Mia Sylvia’s statement table designs which make a wow moment of champagne towers or cake cutting.
Faye Wilde, Bunch Studio, Frances Day Bridal
Do I still need a photographer for such a small wedding, and how will it differ from traditional wedding photography?
In a word, yes! Whether planning a wedding for two, or 200 people, this is about your love - so it’s important we capture it, with photos you can keep forever. We’re huge fans of elopement-style photography because it focuses on the couple, allows for more creative imagery and instead of being a staged, ever-so-slightly boring part of the day, is a fun way to connect with your partner, too.
Sophia Abbott of Sophia Alexandra Photography says that as you’ll only be at the venue for a few hours, capturing special moments together often starts in the morning, eschewing the typical tradition of staying apart the night before the big day. “Couples having this kind of celebration usually want the whole affair to feel low key, so they’ll likely wake up together at home, or even make a staycation of it, and rent a picturesque cottage in the surrounding countryside,” she starts.
“My style is all about having fun - I want to see couples laugh, giggle, kiss, even tickle each other! Let’s get some music on; we’re here to enjoy every moment, not feel stuffy or traditional. So, morning photographs might look like enjoying a glass of champagne in dressing gowns, helping each other get dressed - a groom might button up the dress, while she sorts out his tie. I love this feeling of togetherness; supporting and helping each other, starting out this important day as one. I’ve even been speaking to a couple about capturing a bubble bath on their wedding morning. What a perfect start to the day!” says Sophia.
Couples tend to arrive at The Old Vicarage together and while the giving away of the bride is beautiful, modern partnerships are choosing to walk the aisle together more and more. “Catching those nervous smiles and the holding of hands as two people take these, quite literal, first steps to becoming married is so special. Breaking this tradition isn’t for everyone, but again it feels contemporary and reinforces a partnership,” agrees Sophia.
One of the biggest differences is that your photographer will have more time for you, instead of endless aunts, uncles, grandparents and family friends. As mentioned, the vibe is fun, not stiff, so grab a glass of wine, go on a walk, chat about the ceremony and your vows. These are the genuine moments your photographer will be taking note of.
Inspire me! What photography trends are in, especially for small, elopement weddings?
“The biggest, over-arching trend for elopement wedding photography is all about movement. We’re departing from static or posed pictures, and instead building excitement through action shots, walking, running or picking each other up. This way, we get to see expression and emotion, as well as details on clothing and how they move, too,” Sophia explains.
“The overall aesthetic should be cinematic, like catching a moment in someone’s story. A great example of this is Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo’s London wedding; the photos of them crossing the street, wearing sunglasses and her mini dress went wild. We can see how this action-filled style is reflected in what brides are wearing, too, with shorter dresses and fun accessories that you can move in,” she continues.
So, how can you recreate this vibe on your day? Sophia recommends taking a short walk together. Southwell has plenty of historic, pastel-hued buildings that would be a beautiful backdrop. Or, stop to open a bottle of champagne together, playfully spray it around and into a glass and enjoy a drink at an alfresco table to re-read your vows or share presents.
“Another note on trends: detail shots are in, but flat-lays are out. Again, it’s all about movement. Flat-lays of stationery, perfumes, shoes etc feel a little, well, flat. While close up shots of hands together, a dress whooshing or handbag swinging are dynamic,” Sophia adds.
Sophia Alexandra Photography
I’m planning an elopement wedding at The Old Vicarage, what shots should I get?
Sophia, who is a long-time friend of The Old Vicarage, says that this venue hits all the right notes for an elopement-style wedding. “A favourite shot of mine is looking up to the front steps of The Vicarage, right before the door. Elopement brides tend not to wear super voluminous dresses, and grooms often don’t don a three-piece suit either, so you can ask them to sit on the steps, perhaps with a glass of wine on the floor, and have a candid chat. It’s almost like catching the couple de-briefing about the day so far, as if you shouldn’t be there. That huge, period door also feels very editorial - it could be straight from a magazine,” she says.
Another idea brings the ‘runaway bride’ nod to life: “The Old Vicarage has a gorgeous driveway, so you can make the most of that with a fabulous old car, or something really sporty. Chelsea and her team worked with some brilliant suppliers on a shoot here which nailed exactly that, full of movement and with a cinematic feel. They had the couple almost running to the car as if they were about to flee, like Bonnie and Clyde! You could recreate that feel here and it would be so fun, especially to then go on to a restaurant for dinner or back to yours for an after party.”
Speaking of elopement bridalwear, what are the sartorial trends to look out for?
We adore that a small wedding day is all about you, and as Julia Kellam, founder of Frances Day Bridal in Southwell, says, you can take this opportunity to have fun with fashion.
“I see this kind of wedding as your moment to do whatever you want and be bold. I call it the ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ effect, and those who grew up watching Sex and the City will know what I mean: statement clutch bags, theatrical gloves, rosette corsages. Do what she would do, and invest in a piece that makes your heart sing; a total and utter treat,” says Julia.
“For smaller weddings, the multi-functional bridal look is stronger than ever before with designers continuing to offer more interchangeable choices and options. At the heart of this is the mini dress, which is this season’s must have style. For elopement weddings like at The Old Vicarage, you’ll likely do something before and after, so an easy-to-wear style like this is ideal,,” Julia laughs.
So, who should we look to for the perfect mini? “Keep your eyes on Jesus Peiro,” she says, of one of Frances Day Bridal’s long-term designer partnerships. “The 2025 collection will feature a stunning selection of full-skirted mini dresses which are the ultimate day-to-night look. We’re going to be seeing much more of this at New York Bridal Fashion week, so we’ll keep you posted!”
And, how to top off a playful, but romantic, bridal mini? A fashion-forward clutch, of course. “Statement clutch bags, earrings or headbands and hair accessories create an on-trend feel. We find that traditionally brides embrace this design-led accessories for the evening reception, but with a more causal wedding, you can make your fashion mark from the beginning.”
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