Becky and Matt's York Elopement - A Magical Day of Sun, Surprises & Street Buskers!
It was an incredibly special day when Becky and Matt said 'I do' in the enchanting city of York. They were welcomed by the glorious sunshine that illuminated the captivating architecture of this ancient city. Accompanied by only their two best friends and children, it was a truly unique experience.
The morning of the elopement began with a flurry of activity and excitement at a gorgeous four-story townhouse bed and breakfast. Matt waited on the lower floors of the charming four-storey townhouse bed and breakfast while Becky prepared on the top floor, enjoying her own space to get ready for the big day. The guys left for a pub visit, while the ladies finished makeup, hair, and getting dressed.
After getting ready we made our way through the cobbled streets in the glorious sunshine to York Register Office, a beautiful Georgian building fronted by pillars on Bootham, a stone's throw from York Minster.
The ceremony was a beautiful and intimate affair. With only their two best friends and children present, Becky and Matt exchanged heartfelt vows that brought tears to everyone's eyes. As they said ‘I do’, the sun shone through the glass roof of the Registry Office creating a magical atmosphere. They were announced husband and wife to cheers from all present, before we headed outside and made sure we covered them with confetti - yes, a handful of guests is more than enough to create a confetti cloud!
Following the ceremony, the wedding party headed to The Minster Inn for a quick pint/gin before going for some informal group photographs in the Museum Gardens.
Dan - the best man - had a hilarious moment, as we made our way along York's high street, taking the role of flower boy far too seriously. You only need to see the photos and you know what I mean, a six-foot-tall guy with a rugby build prancing along throwing petals is a sight to behold and definitely resulted in many amused tourists and probably the feature of a few IG stories and Tik Tok feeds!
The couple had booked a private room at Fancy Hanks for their meal, we made our way there through the bustling streets, having to carefully dodge Becky's sister along the way in order to keep it a surprise. The plan was to surprise Becky's sister, who had been told to turn up just for a meal in York, only to be met by a bride, groom and their witnesses. The surprise paid off, caught on camera perfectly, and went down a treat - the news of the elopement was out!
As my time with the group drew to a close, we made our way to York Minster, where Becky and Matt shared a beautiful first dance with a street busker to an audience of bewildered tourists. Afterwards, Becky changed into something more comfortable - including some white Doc Martens, for the evening's festivities, we said farewell and they partied into the night.
It was an amazing experience to be a part of a small and special group celebrating someone's wedding day. I photographed the elopement for a longer time than usual and ended up with some beautiful photographs and also made four new friends. Congratulations to Becky and Matt and thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!
