Laura + Louis


A beautiful morning in Manchester, for a city elopement with two lovers.


Laura + Louis got in touch as they wanted their tiny, Manchester registry office photographing, with an editorial and romantic feel to mark their legal wedding. We met after their ceremony at the Manchester registry office, and wandered around the city to create some intimate, city chic elopement portraits.

I love that couples are embracing small weddings, and celebrating in ways that feel personal to them. City elopements are the perfect way to celebrate the both of you, whilst still getting some romance and fashion. Whilst elopements are typically seen as adventuring off into the highlands, with city centre elopements, you can create a stylish, bustling, cosmopolitan adventure and still have that romantic and runaway feel.


We started around Manchester's iconic library walk, using the pockets of dramatic light, it was so quiet on a Monday morning and we had the place mostly to ourselves. We took some detours on our way to The Ivy, and used all the architecture we could to craft some fashionable and editorial portraits. After getting married at the Manchester registry office, Laura + Louis headed to the Ivy Manchester for their reception, where they were met with champagne to celebrate with their witnesses.


Stylish, small, and romantic. A gorgeous Manchester wedding.

Couple walking hand in hand through an arched stone corridor with dramatic lighting.
Stylish couple walking down stone hallway in formal attire with natural lighting.
Elegant couple in formal wear posing together in black and white photography.
Intimate moment captured in warm lighting with architectural details in background.
Romantic portrait in soft sepia tones with classic architecture.
Couple sitting together on steps in formal wear with white sneakers and heels.
Intimate portrait on stone steps with vintage-inspired warm tones.
Couple embracing between classic red British phone booths against stone wall.
A couple holds hands while walking past elegant stone columns in warm sepia tones.
A couple strolls together past classical architecture columns in black and white.
A romantic couple in formal attire holds hands in front of an urban backdrop.
A stylish couple poses together on a city street wearing formal attire.
A couple stands in a sunlit stone archway creating dramatic shadows.
A romantic lift pose in a curved stone hallway with dramatic lighting.
A couple dances in black and white against a sunlit stone wall.

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@esmewhitesidephotography