With the cost of weddings rising year on year, and the completely overwhelming nature of planning a huge celebration weighing heavily on the minds of the newly engaged, it’s no wonder that elopements and micro-weddings are becoming more popular. More and more couples are choosing to slim down their guest list in favour of a more intimate and poignant celebration of their love, and I am totally here for it. Here’s why.

 

A couple shares a romantic kiss on an elegant staircase in a historic building with ornate decor and paintings.
Group of formally dressed guests stand outside ornate wooden church doors for a special occasion.
Couple walking together outside a historic Gothic church with ornate stone architecture and iron railings.
A series of candid moments captured at a formal gathering showing interactions in an elegant room with patterned wallpaper.

turning down the heat


Wedding planning is Stressful with a capital S. There’s a huge amount of pressure placed on one day, and even more so when it’s an extravagant affair attended by over a hundred friends and family members. So let’s take this wedding from a rolling boil in danger of spilling over, to a slow-burning and delicious simmer that lets you really savour every moment. Of course your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life, and you want it to be perfect, but that can be arranged on a much smaller scale without your third cousin twice removed having to bear witness. With less logistical nightmares and rogue guests, it’s far easier for me to capture a relaxed and happy couple who are absorbed in their love for each other rather than the fact that Uncle Larry’s therapy dog has eaten all the canapés. Fact.

details, please

If you’ve glanced at my portfolio, you’ll know that nothing brings me more joy than a good flat lay. Even a crisp rosé can’t compete with a stunning composition of all the little details that make your wedding yours, captured for all eternity. With a big wedding, it’s easy for these details to get lost in the crowd and not get the individual recognition and attention that they deserve. You put in all the effort to customise and curate the items that will spark joy on your special day, so let them do just that. I’m talking bespoke veils, custom jackets, heirloom jewellery and loud socks. Give me the origami made from your love notes, the exact shade of lipstick you wore on the first date and the classic car from that old movie that you both adore. By keeping other aspects of your day minimal, you can let those choices that express your personality pop.

let love lead

Have a camera, will travel. It should be my motto really. I’ve run headlong into waterfalls, traversed Icelandic beaches and teetered on the edge of the Trevi Fountain, all to get the perfect shot for my wonderful couples. By selecting a micro-wedding, more of your budget can go towards the setting of your dreams rather than feeding the five thousand. If you’ve always dreamed of marrying on safari, let’s do it. If your parents eloped to a tiny hilltop church in Greece, my passport’s packed. If you want Tuscan vineyard charm, I’ve got you. Let your imagination run wild with the endless possibilities of a destination wedding. If people want to celebrate with you then they’ll make the journey, and if not… more cake (and stunning photos) for you!



Elegant Georgian architecture of The Royal Crescent in Bath with ornate columns and windows along the curved facade.

captivating connection


Obviously, I’ve saved the best until last. Nothing sets my soul alight quite like being able to capture the deepest and purest connection between two human beings in just a single photograph. Your wedding is a celebration of the love that you share and the life that you are building together. Nothing else matters. Whether you’re gathered ankle-deep in the surf with your twenty favourite people, or the two of you are tucked into the side of a mountain with just a certain luxury wedding photographer and the celebrant for company, this moment is yours and yours alone. Forget the tiered cake and the ballgown, swerve the dodgy DJ and ‘doing the rounds’ after a glorified roast dinner and just be with the love of your life, celebrating a connection that will still sparkle even after the champagne goes flat.



 

So, you’ve probably guessed it by now. I LOVE micro-weddings. I love the intimacy, the romance, the passion and the excitement of two people in love, running away from the rest of the world and starting their married life on their terms, with only the people and the surroundings that bring them the most joy. That, for me, is about as pure as love can get. If you’re considering a micro-wedding, then it’s a gigantic yes from me and I would be honoured to be by your side, bringing your dream wedding album to life.




Danielle x