Carlos and Iliana flew over from sunny Miami to have the most romantic and intimate elopement, in London - on the winter equinox - entirely their way.
Elopements are having a moment right now. More and more, couples are choosing to make vows and tie the knot in the way that feels most personal and special to them.
And I am here for it.
A city elopement can be crafted in a way that feels right for you, from sightseeing to grabbing a burger in a big white gown it's an expression of your personalities and can feature as few or as many guests as you like.
This beautiful London elopement proves that entirely. Carlos and Illiana retraced their steps to where the original questions was popped - Tower Bridge - and filled their day with personal vows, sightseeing, Christmas lights and their own personal 'Love Actually'. Iconic.
Every elopement has a different flavour from the venue (London is spoilt with choices of Town Halls and eateries) to where you go for photos or how you party.
For this couple they started in style with early morning coffee and glam whilst writing their vows to each other at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel.
They chose to get ready together then headed, via vintage black cab, to the iconic Old Marylebone Town Hall. Steeped with history they were the only couple to grace the halls with their early morning ceremony and truly could make the most of the natural light on the shortest day of the year.
Once they'd tied the knot we pulled passers by off the street to pop confetti canons before heading to see the sights, working our way towards Tower Bridge.
Thinking of having a London city elopement? Here's some top tips:
ONE: Use local knowledge.
Either hire a photographer/planner who knows the area (or can scout it for you) or if you are from the area then use the spots that you know well and feel most like you. For this wedding I scouted and created the perfect route for C & I after multiple planning calls so that I could make sure that everything made sense for them and was doable in the limited amount of daylight we had.
TWO: Don't SkimP on glam
You may be eloping to be budget savvy, you may hate being the centre of attention or the traditional 'wedding' doesn't suit your vibe. All are perfectly good reasons to elope (and their are many more!) but just because it's an elopement doesn't mean you can't truly feel yourself. Wearing great outfits you love, getting hair and make up done, it's all part of the process that makes it feel like a special and memorable day. Plus if you're feeling yourself, you'll just radiate in your pics.
THREE: HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER (Or one that does both) THAT YOU Like on a human level
You have to spend your milestone day with this person (and sometimes only that person!) They are potentially the only 'guest type' person and you'll be in close proximity to them all day. So if they crack jokes that creep you out or give you a weird vibe then they are not the right person for you. I always say if you wouldn't have a drink in the pub with your photographer then look elsewhere.
FOUR: TELL PEOPLE ON YOUR OWN TIMELINE
Some couples tell their families they are off to get married, some announce it with their photos. It's your wedding, your marriage and your timeline. Do what feels good for you and your families will know you got hitched when you're ready for them to know.
I created a hybrid elopement package for Carlos and Iliana so that I could cover their prep, ceremony and their celebrations afterwards. It's so special to have both photos and a video from their big day and I'm glad I could provide that for them.
Are you eloping or have some ideas about how you would want your day to go? Get in touch and save your date!
