“Fancy getting married?” “Yeah, why not?” “Want to invite everyone we’ve ever met?” “Er… nah.” We love a giant nuptial extravaganza as much as the next visually-oriented creatives, but enlist us for your London elopement photography (or invite us further afield) we’ll be very happy indeed.
And you’ll have a magnificent time, too: no parents to placate, no drunk cousins causing havoc, no judgemental aunts to hide your tattoos from – plus, you can go gallivanting off to wherever you feel like with nary a thought for transporting masses of guests (one of the most fun elopements we’ve ever shot was Sam and Tommy’s, the Welsh couple who ran off to Edinburgh to be married in secret, with hotel staff as witnesses and a peacock watching through the window.) No wedding is too small: we’re available for as little as an hour on some dates; get in touch and tell us what you’re planning.
Scroll on down for some of our top elopement tips, too, from who to invite (if anyone) to how to plan your photography…
POLLY & CHARLES, just married at the NED
Charlott & Sven in Marylebone
Alice & Sam in Islington
Elle & Tom, Regents Park
Blanca & Javier in Bloomsbury
Cindy & William at Luca
Fiona & Sean in Chelsea
Caroline & George at the Dorchester
Jessica & George at Dorset Square
P & T in Marylebone
Polly & Charles at The Ned
Reena & James at the Andaz London
HOW TO ELOPE IN LONDON, LOS ANGELES OR BEYOND
• If you are inviting a few guests, make sure they're the ones you really do want – there's no escaping them on the day if you're a very small party. Don't let anyone pressure you to bring along someone you don't genuinely want there.
• You might just want a few official pictures to document the little-big day: that's totally fine. Let your photographer know that's what you're after. Or, perhaps you'd prefer a proper portrait session somewhere picturesque – in that case, get your photographer involved in planning from the get-go, so you'll have the best schedule and location for lovely light, etc.
• Once you've said "I do", that doesn't need to be the end of it: a party for friends and family after the fact can be a handy halfway point between eloping alone and a big ol' wedding shindig. Do whatever works for you: there are no rules.
• Figure out your priorities – if it's getting far away from home that's making you choose elopement, then really go for it! Choose a destination you're both massively excited about: it could be somewhere that's already special to you both, or perhaps somewhere entirely new (it's totally not crazy to get married somewhere you've never been before, even if people tell you you're bananas).
• If the main goal for eloping is escaping your families, then keep it secret. Once your relatives know, there'll inevitably be at least a few who don't approve… and it'll be easier to deal with their negativity after you're married when it's irrelevant than beforehand, when it might start making you doubt your plans.