How to elope cheaply?

[MirrorTime]

We have decided to get married, we both have ginormous families and can't afford, nor do we want, a big affair, so to make it fair we have decided to elope. Both sets of grandparents eloped to Gretna Green so we feel like this is our preferred location, and the grandparents would likely love that nod to them. The packages seem ok value but we don't need accomodation or food ect, we really just want to pay for the ceremony and get on with our day!

Also open to any suggestions of nice places for an elopment ceremony (cheaply!). We are based in the North East but happy to travel!

Why do you have to elope? Surely you could just get married in your local registry office without telling anyone? I don’t think you can just turn up anywhere in this country and just get married. You can just walk into New York City Hall I believe.

We would like to tell everyone afterwards, not run the very real risk of bumping into someone we know on the day. We are aware that we have to give 29 days notice

Some registry offices are surprisingly lovely. You could start by looking at the ones in the north east / Northumberland to see if any would suit you. Or if you are set on Gretna find out what venues the local registrar goes to as some of these may be cheaper than Gretna itself.

I used to work with a woman who got married at the local registry office during her lunch hour and came back to work in the afternoon.
No elopement, no expense.
We were all quietly impressed.

We eloped. Went to Edinburgh City Chambers. Got an Airbnb, got ready together, cost of the ceremony, out for lunch and some drinks. We also got a photographer but you don't need to do that. Many photographers do an elopement package. It's cheaper and only have an hour or so. We used our photographer as a witness and she brought a friend as the second

We just went to the local registry office (lovely old building). Had neighbours for witnesses, popped into the pub for a quick pint afterwards, then a night away in a nice hotel. The whole thing was simple and intimate and very lovely.

Just book to get married at Gretna Green. Easy drive there and back from NE. All done in an afternoon!