This UK couple is out to prove that great style can be achieved no matter how small-scale the affair. Opting for a destination elopement, they designed a simple ceremony for two in Brooklyn Bridge Park with Mirelle Carmichael along to document the day. And in a Laure De Sagazan and Designs By Ahn bouquet, the glowing bride managed to steal the show, nonetheless. See more here!
From The Bride…Neil and I met over 12 years ago so it came as a complete shock when he got down on one knee and proposed. I thought we were fine, we didn’t need to, we were happy just as we were. But then he asked, and I was elated… if a little overwhelmed!
Some girls have their wedding day all mapped out. I was not this girl. Both of us struggled to define exactly what we wanted our wedding day to be. The only thing we were very clear on was that, for us, marriage was a commitment between two people. I like you and you like me. We wanted the wedding to reflect this and so we decided to elope and go it alone (much to the disappointment of friends and family!). Above all, we wanted our marriage to be an adventure…and so we decided to start with one.
We chose New York because we both love the city and everything it has to offer. Many brides want a beautiful backdrop for their wedding. Ours was the urban landscape of New York which, for us, holds a beauty all of its own. A cityscape may not be every brides dream but it made our wedding day feel real rather than a fairytale.
Neither of us wanted the day to be stressful which might sound at odds when I tell you we are both from the UK. But it could not have been simpler. We found a lovely officiant, an amazing photographer and picked a date. We were all set. We flew over a few days before and picked up the license from city hall. The beauty of eloping to New York is that you can get married just about anywhere (unlike the UK) so we decided to choose somewhere together once we got to New York, rather than a ‘wedding package’.
We got married down by the Hudson in Brooklyn Bridge Park because it offers beautiful views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge, before jumping a cab to the High Line for photos. The people of New York could not have been lovelier, stopping to ask us if this was a ‘real wedding or a photo shoot’…so much fun! We finished the day watching the sunset over the city on the rooftop of the Standard, listening to jazz and drinking cocktails before heading back to the Nomad Hotel for dinner. The twinkly lights of New York offered our perfect backdrop.
Our family and friends forgave us (I think!) and we held a celebratory reception at one of our favourite restaurants back home. Again, very simple. In our eyes we had the best of both worlds, we got to share our wedding day together and also with our nearest and dearest. Perfect.
So whilst it isn’t for everybody, we wouldn’t change a thing.
Photography: Mirelle Carmichael | Floral Design: DESIGNS BY AHN | Wedding Dress: Laure De Sagazan | Ceremony: Brooklyn Bridge Park | Officiant: Cheerleader For Love