Covid meant their Vegas elopement was cancelled, but their quaint four-guest celebration at home in the UK was more perfect than they could have dreamt.
Who are April & Danni?
Both of us are nurses, so if we aren’t in the hospital, you’ll usually find us on the beach. Even in the winter, we still need our fix of mother ocean. Failing that, we’ll be in a coffee shop or the pub, of which Brighton is plentiful.
We have been together for a couple of years now, and we worked together before that. Nurses are sort of pack animals. You’ll often find us together! So we spent a lot of time together at work and socially with our colleagues and friends, we were really like one big family. I always loved working with April, and I idolized and admired her incredible ability to stabilize critically unwell patients with such compassion and kindness, even in high-pressure situations. Over time, I realized it wasn’t just her incredible nursing abilities and friendship I loved, it was everything about her, and I just needed to be with her all the time!
Tell us about the proposal.
It had been a super gorgeous summer’s day. After being on the beach near our house all day, we took a stroll down to the beach we had our first date on. I had this whole big speech planned, but I basically just got down on one knee and managed to say ‘I love you’ before bursting into tears! All the while clutching onto a ring which had ‘will you be my wife for life?’ engraved on it.
Your inital elopement plans were cancelled, thanks COVID.
Our initial plan was for an elopement to Vegas with two of our closest friends, followed by a trip to Los Angelas for a few days partying in West Hollywood with them before we went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. The trip was all booked, and then coronavirus decided to scupper those plans! We obviously couldn’t travel to the USA, and we also knew it was likely that we wouldn’t be able to take all that time off when we would be needed in the hospital. The travel company wouldn’t give us a refund because they said it was our choice not to go, which was a bit gutting, but we were mostly just grateful to be healthy and safe. So we set about making plans for a little United Kingdom elopement instead. And in the end, we had a perfect wedding more than we could have ever hoped for!
How did you choose your tiny guestlist?
We always wanted a small wedding party to focus on each other and celebrate making that commitment together. Our families are kind of complicated, so we snuck off with four of our nearest and dearest and had a magical little day just for us. It was all of our favorite things. Our favorite people hanging out on the beach with a little picnic of canapes and champagne. The whole day was super relaxed.
Tell us about the elopement day.
Danni and our ‘Best Woman’ took an early morning sea swim. An epic way to start the day before an equally epic breakfast. We watched a beautiful video of some of our close friends and family sending their messages of love on our big day. Which was an extraordinary (and emotional) moment!
The rest of the morning and early afternoon involved more swimming, clifftop hot tubs, and lots of champagne out in the Cornish sunshine soaking up the stunning sea views.
Before the ceremony, we got ready separately, which was the only time we were apart for the entire day. Our ‘Bridesman’ walked April down the aisle and our ‘Best Woman’ gave Danni away, a light sprinkling of tradition.
It was a beautiful afternoon, and the ceremony mostly took place out on the balcony overlooking the sea. The magnificent Registrar said that a flutter of butterflies came up behind us as we made our vows. Thank you, mother nature! Once we were married, we put on the beautiful flower crowns that our friend had made us, and then we felt like ultimate queens.
Our wedding party wandered down to the beach with a picnic of canapes and champers, the tide was relatively high, and the surfers were out. It was like the most incredible beach day ever!
We went back up to the hotel at sunset for dinner. Where we listened to some nineties tunes in the privacy of our own dining room and snuck in a little boogie before bed.
Photography by Arianna Fenton Photography
Accessories Wanderlust Life Jewellery
Cake Topper Rosy Dot Design
Catering & Venue Scarlet Hotel
Celebrant Ceremonies In Cornwall
Florist Beach House Flowers
Getting Ready Pyjamas Missguided
Gown Boutique Phase Eight
Shoes Doc Martens
Wedding Favors Brighton Gin, Paperchase
Wedding Rings Carrie Elizabeth
