How to plan an elopement in the UK and Europe?
Do you dream of marrying the love of your life but dread the thought of planning a wedding? An elopement might just be the perfect thing for you. A small and intimate ceremony on the beach with close family and friends or saying “I do” beneath the presence of the Greek gods at the Acropolis in Athens? Elopements sound amazing, don’t they…
Whilst elopements don’t require as much planning - and cost - as a wedding, they do require a certain amount of thought and preparation. In this blog post we’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about elopements in the UK and in Europe, and how you can plan your dream elopement in either place.
What is an elopement?
With more couples choosing to elope, the definition today has somewhat changed. Originally, an elopement was a ceremony conducted without any family or friends of the couple knowing. This might have been because they were forbidden to marry, and so the two lovers would run away and elope together so they could live freely. There would be an elopement ceremony between the two lovers, without a reception of celebration after.
Nowadays, elopements are entirely different - although they still hold that romantic notion of being free to choose exactly how you want to get married. Elopements are all about you and your partner! The ceremony and the vows exchanged are the focal point of the day and you needn't worry about everything that comes with planning a wedding.
What do I need to do before I elope?
Eloping requires a lot less planning than a wedding, but there are a couple of things you need to do before you elope:
Decide on the location: Do you want to experience the magic of another country or stray further afield on home turf? Have a think with your partner of all the potential options.
Check the law for that country: It’s important to be clued up on all the rules and regulations so you can plan the process smoothly - we cover UK and Europe regulations further on in this blog post.
Decide the dates: Do you want a summer wedding? If you’re heading to further pastures you might be able to experience warmer climates later on in the year so you can have an autumnal wedding but still enjoy warmer days and hopefully cheaper prices! Once you’ve got the dates you can start to arrange other elements of the ceremony.
Decide on guests: You might want the ceremony to be just you and your partner, or you might want close family and friends to be present! Elopements are small so between 2-12 guests is a good number - any more and you’re opting for a micro-wedding scene.
Book venue: You need to get married somewhere! Beach? Stately home? Castle?! Find your perfect venue and make sure you get everything booked in for the dates you want.
Book travel: Once you’ve got your venue and your guest list confirmed you can sort out the final thing, getting there! Make sure you and your guests have arranged any trains, flights or taxis to get to the venue.
Plan the ceremony: Now you’ve got the venue, guest list and travel all sorted you can start the fun part. Planning the ceremony - exactly what an elopement is all about. Do you want a celebrant or a friend to conduct the ceremony? Will you have music, write your own vows? Imagine your dream ceremony and make it happen.
Buy rings: If you’re planning an exchange of rings as part of your elopement make sure you’ve bought them beforehand, maybe you want a custom design or your rings to be engraved.
Book a photographer and videographer: Even though you’re not holding a great gatsby-esque bash that doesn’t mean you still can’t have some amazing photos and videos of your special day. Having a photographer and videographer to document the day means you’ll forever have a reminder of your special day and a way to share the celebration with everyone.
“Do I need to be engaged before I elope?”. This is a very common question when considering elopements - you can become engaged before you elope but it is not a requirement. Whatever you fancy, go along with it and let the magic happen!
Elopements in the UK
There are certain requirements if you want to elope in the UK:
You must be 18 years of age - in England and Wales if you are younger than 18 and want to get married you will need permission from a parent or guardian. In Scotland and Northern Ireland you do not need parental permission if you’re under 18.
You must be free to marry
You cannot be closely related
You must understand the concept of marriage and freely consent to marriage
If you’re from outside the EU or you are not a British Citizen you need to apply for a marriage visitor visa which costs £95. Once your visa is accepted, you can use the visa to visit the UK for up to six months, so be sure to plan your elopement to fit in that timeframe.
You need to ‘give notice’ to marry at your local registry office 29 days before you plan to marry, including details of the location. It’s important to know where you want to get married and ensure it’s all booked! Once you have given notice, you can then get married in as quick as 29 days but you must hold your ceremony within 12 months.
To get married in the UK you need two witnesses. Witnesses can be anyone you know, staff at the registry office or even strangers off the street, however to reduce stress it’s important to plan your witnesses in advance.
Popular Elopement destinations in the UK:
Gretna Green: The world’s original eloping destination, it’s history and romance still lives on. After the 1754 marriage act which prevented couples under age 21 marrying in England and Wales without parents consent, many couples crossed the border to Gretna Green in their bid to marry their one true love. Gretna Green is still one of the most popular elopement spots, with more than 3,000 couples eloping each year.
South West: The South West of England is host to eleven areas of outstanding beauty, national parks and four UNESCO sites. Graced with the beaches of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Scilly and more you’re spoilt for choice if you’re craving a beach wedding.
Scottish Highlands: Are you a fan of breathtaking scenery and adventure? The Scottish highlands come complete with castles, lochs, high peaks, valleys and waterfalls. Elope in the highlands then embark on the adventure of a lifetime with your partner.
Wales: Many couples choose to elope in Wales for it’s peaceful rural landscapes and scenery or those with a love of hiking embark on a Snowdonia Adventure. Why not do both?! Elope at the top of the mountains and then honeymoon whilst taking in some of the finest scenery in the UK.
Cotswolds: Quaint and slow paced with beautiful villages, the Cotswolds is one of England's gems. Home to idyllic architecture and cosy pubs the Cotswolds are perfect for couples who want a charming and romantic elopement but want somewhere with just enough activities. From quality shopping to village fetes and jazz festivals, there’s always something fun going on in the Cotswolds.
Elopements in Europe
If there was ever a romantic elopement, it would be an elopement in Europe. The canals of Venice, or declaring your love on a beautiful sandy beach in Cyprus. There are so many options. But there are a couple of things you may have to consider before eloping in Europe. With 44 countries, there can be a lot of differentiation between rules and regulations regarding elopements.
There are certain countries where it is easier to elope than others with Cyprus, Greece, Gibraltar and Iceland being amongst the easiest and France, Germany, Spain and Portugal being the hardest. If you want to get married in France either you or your partner must have lived there for 40 days prior, submit all the recommended documents which must be translated and approved, you must pass physical tests which must be reviewed by a french doctor. When thinking about where you want to get married in Europe, consider all the requirements and if you and your partner are able and willing to complete them all.
If you’re British and you’re getting married abroad you can use this government tool to find out exactly what documents you need. You’ll also need to contact any local authorities wherever you’re planning on getting married to get a list of exactly what you need to do. If it’s allowed under UK law and you follow the correct processes in the country where you get married it will be recognised in the UK!
There are certain documents required for all countries, these are:
Full birth certificates with both individuals names
Passports
If you are divorced or widowed - you must provide divorce papers and death certificates
If you have changed your name you must show legal proof of the change
Marry abroad has a full list of countries and the required documents for each, which you can look at here.
Stuck on where to elope in Europe? Here are some of the most popular destinations:
The Swiss Alps: Are you an avid Skier? Why not intertwine your elopement with a Ski holiday. The Swiss Alps are home to many beautiful ski resorts and mountainous regions with forests and snowy peaks for days, all you need for a picture perfect elopement.
Santorini: Santorini has incredible views and is a popular destination for marriages in Europe. From terraces to rooftops, villas, rocky peaks and beaches - it’ll be a challenge picking the perfect elopement spot. Make the most of your trip and sample some of the finest delicacies Greece has to offer and make sure you swim in those crystal blue waters.
Iceland: There are some incredible spots to elope in Iceland; Kirkjufell waterfall, Hornstrandir National Park which is home to Penguins and Arctic Fox (perfect for any wildlife lovers) or the iconic Mount Maefifell - a volcano covered in bright green moss surrounded by a black desert landscape, it’s mysterious and exciting.
Italy: Italy is incredibly romantic and luxurious. Imagine an elopement at Lake Garda or Lake Como - beautiful surroundings, bright colours, the heady mediterranean sun and twinkling blue waters. And you can sample all the amazing Italian food in celebration.
Lapland: Do you dream of a winter wedding? Why not elope to Lapland, the ultimate festive location. Stay in an arctic treehouse or a beautiful igloo. There are so many unique options for your ceremony - teepees, forests, a cosy cabin or even an ice chapel and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the northern lights!
Croatia: Croatia is famed for its beautiful beaches and clear waters but it’s home to so many other beautiful scenes. Host your ceremony by the waterfront, on a boat, by a beautiful lake or amongst the mountains overlooking the mighty Adriatic sea.
Do you need an elopement photographer?
My name is Aryan and I am a documentary wedding photographer and videographer based in Scotland, whose passion is to capture weddings & adventure elopements and tell your love story. To me, photography is equally an art and a creative service. My goal is to blend in and shoot the action from close-by without ever disturbing or interfering – I blend into the background and I am always on the lookout to capture the next beautiful moment and weddings are my natural habitat.
Want to discuss your elopement with me? Contact me here and let’s get the ball rolling for capturing your special day.