Elopement photography – English wild and windy wedding

So this was a fairly new one for us, although we’ve done a few bride and groom only weddings before this was our first official elopement! Yeah and we loved it, can’t wait for lots more elopement photography in the future – bring it on :)

So to start with a few words from the most important people on the day – ‘We are absolutely thrilled with our images! Thanks again for all your hard work and braving the weather for these photographs. They are stunning and exactly what we wanted. We are so fortunate to have found you both – some of the best photographers in the world!’ Now on to the story or scroll down for all the pics….

US couple elope to England

Catherine and Rashad had headed over to the wild countryside of Teesdale from their home in Tennesse to tie the ceremonial knot. The official knot had been tied twice already once at the courthouse and once in the mosque but this was the first outing for the wedding dress, wedding suit and their real ceremony for each other. They’d found the gorgeous Chapel on the Hill. A boutique style conversion of a chapel in the hills (hence the name!) above the river Tees, with awards galore for it’s architectural conversion, this place was simply stunning. A day to get over the jet lag and these guys were ready to say their own special vows and seal the deal…just where to say them…

Teesdale highlights

So we’d headed up to Teesdale a few days before to familiarise ourselves with this beautiful part of the country…So from our own cosy airbnb we set out on a search for some great spots to share with Catherine and Rashad for their elopement photography. These guys had left it up to us completely…no pressure then…we needed a handful of epic spots to capture the essence of their chosen English elopement location. So we found a castle, an abbey, waterfalls, woods (just clinging on to autumnal colours) and with the help of our airbnb host a great wild craggy spot for those all important words. All under the bright blue skies of an English autumnal day.

Wild and windy elopement day

Hmmmmm, just a slight erm 50mph gusty breeeze that’s all, oh and very low cloud! Quite the contrast to the day before (and the day after!) Fortunately Catherine and Rashad were as crazy as we were and so laid back they just took it all in their stride! We enjoyed a chilled out morning with these guys in the bright amazing chapel, the nerves definitely kicking in as the tie went on and suited and booted it all became very real :) Braving the wind (which on top of the hill was crazy strong) for a ‘first look’ outside the iconic red door of the chapel just had to be done and set the scene for the ‘wild’ look for the day.

Holwick Scar, was the fabulous location we’d found for ceremonial words…again it was a little windy (slight understatement!) but just perfect for a memorable elopement ceremony location. With history too this spot was an old droving route for the sheep to come down from the moors making their way to market. We made the most of the English landscapes and headed on to our next spot a bit more history with a castle built on the site of an old Roman fort going back to the year 78AD!!!! And it turns out this was the first castle that these two newly weds had seen in real life ! :0 Funny what you take for granted as ‘normal’ when castle’s are here there and everywhere in your own country!

It was soon time for pie and cake in a quirky cafe we’d found in Barnard Castle, with a few pics around and about the quirky shop fronts of this market town. Just time after our refreshments to capture the last of the light and some autumnal colours on the way back to the Chapel on the Hill. Back there the wind was as strong as ever – just check out Catherine’s horizontal hair in their last pic!!!!

Elopement photography – why we loved it

Well we’d had an absolutely awesome day with this equally awesome couple :) These guys truly loved each other and you could just feel it in their little looks and sense of ease with each other – magic. They’d actually met via their dogs, who feel in love first and eventually their owners got chatting the rest is history as they say.

A fresh set of eyes – we loved trying to see our green and windy isle through the eyes of someone new, where dry stone walls, sheep and tiny roads all stood out as novel – as well as being able to show someone their first real castle! 

Ooo and the silicon wedding ring that Rashad had chosen, what a cool and practical idea :)

Thanks Catherine and Rashad we had a fantastic day with you both and your super laid back ‘go for it no matter what the weather was throwing at you’ attitude. Congrats and all the very best for everything in your future together.

Elopement photography by Pixies in the Cellar • Blog • Home • Prices & Contact

Airbnb prep and first look: Chapel on the Hill, Forest-in-Teesdale

Silicone wedding ring: Groove

Cafe for lunch in Barnard Castle: No 15 Coffee House and Deli

Outside cafe: No 8 The Bank – thanks for the amazing gesture of mini Prosecco bottles guys xxx