There’s a growing trend in the UK which you may have heard of, in fact if you happen to be at the wedding planning stage yourself it may even have crossed your mind as being a jolly good idea. The plot twist of many romantic novels – think daring rendevouz with an unsuitable beau and a moonlit dash to Gretna Green by horse & carriage with cross relatives in hot pursuit! Alright, maybe I’ve watched a little too much ‘Poldark’ and it didn’t work out quite as planned for Downton Abbey’s Lady Sybil when she first tried to run away with the chauffeur, but elopement weddings are definitely gaining popularity.
And with miles of stunning coastline to explore, what better elopement destination in the UK than beautiful Cornwall?
We’re biased of course. Being wedding photographers in Cornwall means that we get to enjoy our job in fabulous surroundings. Many of our brides and grooms want their family and friends to experience being in such an amazing place too, but if a huge party really isn’t your thing then an elopement wedding could be the perfect solution.We have photographed many elopements in Cornwall and there is undeniably something very special about them. They are so relaxed. Everything is focused on the bride and groom and the whole day can just take its time. Our eloping couples have told us that they wanted to do things their way. Sometimes families are just too large and the stress of organising a huge event was simply too much. Similarly if special family members are no longer around it can be too emotionally painful to host a big wedding without them. Some just wanted to do things their way, simply to be by themselves or to have an adventure.
For those couples who are more mindful of their budget, an elopement can make perfect sense. Many venues offer special elopement packages throughout the year. Mid-week and off-peak dates are popular, although some venues will happily offer you a winter Saturday. Smaller, perhaps quirkier, venues are ideal for elopements too and don’t forget that you’ll already be in an ideal honeymoon location! It doesn’t have to be just the two of you either. Many of our eloping couples do bring a handful of close family or friends with them, and then throw a party for friends when they get home.
At Iconik Photography we have been lucky enough to photograph many elopement weddings in Cornwall. Our brides and grooms put so much effort into their elopements and really let their characters take over. If you want to watch the sunset, paddle in the sea, have a mini photoshoot at a local landmark, go horseriding or paddle-boarding then you can!
There are many gorgeous elopement venues in Cornwall. We can’t possibly list them all but here are just a few amazing ones: Boho Cornwall, Ta Mill, The Green, Lower Barns, Ever After (just over the border into Devon but it’s so beautiful we have to mention it!), Pentillie Castle and The Carbis Bay Hotel in St Ives.
So if you’re thinking about eloping but really aren’t sure what to do next, why not give us a call. We are experienced wedding photographers and would love to chat about your plans. If you’ve never visited Cornwall or even the UK before we can definitely point you in the right direction for a day to remember.
