Lake District Elopements // Your Ultimate Guide to Eloping in the Lake District
Table of Contents
Why plan a Lake District Elopement?
The Lake District is the most picturesque place in England, if you want an awesome hiking elopement in the UK this is one of the top places. Lake District elopements are becoming more and more popular because of the natural beauty of the area. If you like rugged mountains, stunning lakes, lush green valleys and quaint English villages this is the place for you!
When is the best time of year for Lake District Elopements?
From a photography standpoint, autumn and winter are the best because the colours of the landscape just look incredible. It will be cooler in the winter so you’d best read my staying warm during your winter elopement guide, click HERE to check that out. Autumn & Winter would also be the offseason so locations will be quieter.
Spring & Summer will no doubt be warmer but also much busier as the Lake District is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations. One other thing to consider is that in summer there will be midges (tiny bugs that bite) and this can make things quite uncomfortable.
Which airport should you fly into when eloping in the Lake District?
If you’re flying into the UK for your elopement wedding then the closest international airport to the Lake District is Manchester Airport.
What is the best way to travel to and within the Lake District?
You really need a rental car to be able to fully explore all the incredible locations in the Lake District. The drive from Manchester Airport should take around 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on where you chose to stay.
Where should you stay in the Lake District?
There are so many great options as the Lake District is a popular tourist destination so you have hotels and B&B’s everywhere. I always recommend that my couples get a cute Air BnB though as they are so much better for your getting ready photographs.
You could get a little cottage in a remote spot or somewhere in one of the towns like Windermere or Kendal. A lot of couples like the towns because there are so many great pubs, restaurants & tea rooms to try nearby.
What are the best locations for photos in the Lake District?
There are so many incredible locations for photos in the Lake District! Pretty much everywhere is stunning but the further you head from the towns the fewer crowds you will see so that’s a good place to start your planning. Some of the nicest locations would be Wast Water (voted Britain’s number 1 view!), Blea Tarn, Friars Crag, Buttermere & Scafell Pike.
The Lake District really is a perfect place for an elopement because the whole area is gorgeous. You could drive through the whole Lake District National Park and jump out of the car every 2-3 minutes because of another insanely pretty view.
Can you legally get married outdoors in the Lake District?
No, you cannot legally get married outdoors in the Lake District. The Law in England does not currently allow legal ceremonies to take outdoors, there must be an official shelter.
When I have couples travelling to Northern Ireland or Scotland where you can get married outdoors I actually recommend that couples get the legal bit done in the courthouse before travelling to the UK.
Here are a few reasons why symbolic ceremonies are so much better for international elopements.
- It saves you a lot of hassle and form filling.
- You aren’t limited when choosing locations for your elopement ceremony.
- You get to make your ceremony 100% about you with zero legal obligations to do or say.
- You get to decide if you want a celebrant or not during your ceremony.
- You don’t have to worry about forgetting or losing the paperwork in the midst of all your travel logistics.
Elopement Planning Resources
If you’re planning to elope I’ve made a bunch of helpful posts to help you. All you need to do is scroll down and you’ll see 3 links to blog posts that will help you plan an amazing elopement!
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