Elopement
The term ‘elopement’ seems to be around a lot at the moment and elopement weddings seem to be very fashionable. But what does it actually mean? With so many people choosing to marry later on in life, already having family, having a very large extended family or marrying after a previous relationship - people don’t want a big wedding with all the ‘pomp and circumstance’. Elopement weddings give couples chance to have an intimate wedding on their own or with a select number of friends or family.
Gone are the days of people secretly running away to Gretna Green. Now an elopement wedding can be exactly what you want it to be with the focus completely on you, your taste, spending time with your loved one/ ones, doing what you want to do, and there is a whole host of stunning venues in Devon and Cornwall that are springing up to do this.
Lowerbarns in Cornwall is a stunning venue perfect for two or a small wedding. There are a number of spaces where you can have a civil ceremony or have your own humanist ceremony with their own celebrant. They are happy to hold lgbt weddings and you can even take your dog. They really can create a wedding especially for you. In their words “For those couples wanting a secluded, intimate and ‘designed for romance’ wedding, Lower Barns Small Boutique Wedding Venue makes a beautiful backdrop for our Elopement and Runaway Weddings in Cornwall”.
Ta Mill in Cornwall make life really easy for you should you want to elope. They will sort it all for you including the witness and the bouquet! You can then celebrate in style in the onsite hot tub, toasting your marriage with a complimentary bottle of champagne!
Millbrook Estate in North Devon allow you to stay for 2,3,4 or 7 nights meaning your run away wedding can be incorporated into a mini moon.
Another option is that you can hire your own celebrant and have your own sort of wedding ceremony where you want - it doesn’t have to be a registered venue - it could be a wood, beach, moorland or even your back garden. You would still need to do the ’official’ bit at your local registry office in order for the marriage to be legal but a celebrant led wedding means it is completely unique to you. Cornwall Celebrants say “We can offer a bespoke, personal ceremony, include poetry, songs, prose readings (including spiritual or religious), rituals such as handfasting, unity candles, cup and jug or any other rites from other traditions. We are also happy to work with religious ministers, elders or leaders to include more overtly religious content. It’s your ceremony and we will ensure that it is conducted in accordance with your ideas.”
You can find your local celebrant here.
Here is a selection of images to inspire your elopement wedding.
