When Jeanette and Drew, who recently moved to the UK together, decided to get married, they wanted to do so as simply as possible. With all their family back in America, they decided an elopement was their best bet. They wanted to blending the excitement of a classic Vegas elopement with the charm of the city’s historic backdrop.

“We moved to the UK together and after years and years of dating, so London felt like the perfect place for our elopement”, Jeanette shared. “We spent so much time in Camden while we were dating, it just felt right to make it official here.”

They knew they needed a little help to bring their vision to life, so they brought on Weddings with Akilah & Co. as their wedding planner. “We had no clue about the wedding industry, it was overwhelming”, they explained. “Akilah not only helped create the perfect day but also guided us through all the paperwork to make it legally official in both the UK and US.”

After their simple ceremony, they hosted a small reception at the Gothic Bar in the St. Pancras Hotel. With its towering ceilings and ornate decor, the venue matched their vintage theme perfectly. They even snapped a few photos on the iconic stairs where the Spice Girls filmed their Wannabe music video.

But the day didn’t end there. Instead of winding down, they took a detour to a tattoo parlour to get hand tattoos before finishing the night by sharing a meal back in their hotel room. “The staff were so kind to us and we had so much fun getting tattooed,” said Jeanette. “Akilah had then set up our hotel room beautifully with candles, tons of flowers and a delicious three course meal. After a long day, coming back to such a gorgeous and relaxing environment for just the two of us felt so special.”

If they could change one thing, it would be to plan their wardrobe earlier. “We were pretty relaxed about everything, and my dress came in just two days before the wedding! It needed alterations, which was probably the most stressful part of the process,” Jeanette explained.

“Focus on what you want as a couple”, she advised in conclusion. “Don’t worry about other people’s expectations, just plan a day you know you’ll enjoy. We spent a lot of time thinking about what would be the most fun and memorable for us, and it paid off. We wouldn’t change a thing.”