Brigid and Isaac with their back to the camera as they walk over big rocks while holding hands. Isaac is in a blue shirt and Brigid in a burgundy floral shirt. There are white cliffs in the distance.

If you know me, you know that I love a beach elopement.

So when Brigid and Isaac contacted me from all the way across the pond with dreams of eloping by the English coast, I was like SIGN ME UP!!

Brigid and Isaac live in the US and have always been very connected to the ocean and to nature. They love a good hike, finding interesting flora and fauna, and they’re very into their crafts. They’re both such gentle, warm, and nerdy souls who truly care about doing good in the world and carving out their own cosy corner of it — which makes them exactly my kind of people! So in many ways this was a dream elopement for me.

Cow Gap: the perfect seaside elopement setting

We met up on the outskirts of Eastbourne on a sunny June Sunday just at the tail-end of a scorching heatwave. It was warm but not unbearable, and there was a cooling breeze from the sea as we embarked on our short and incredibly scenic hike over the cliffs to Cow Gap, with Isaac and Brigid pointing out cool plants and critters along the way.

This was my first time at Cow Gap, but I certainly hope it won’t be the last. I really thought it made for the perfect elopement setting, with its stony beach and white cliffs. Despite it being the afternoon on a late June weekend with wonderful weather, there were hardly any people there. It felt pretty quiet and secluded, and although there was the occasional passer-by, we were still able to enjoy a private and peaceful ceremony. I would definitely recommend Cow Gap to any nearly-weds thinking about eloping by the sea 🌊

Celebrating Brigid and Isaac with a truly personal ceremony

Brigid and Isaac chose an elopement because they wanted a celebration that was just for the two of them. A celebration all about each other.

I told their love story, from how they first crossed paths in middle school, to when they became actual friends at uni, and how that friendship evolved into the beautiful relationship that they have now, over many visits to the arboretum next to their uni, pandemic lockdowns, and various hiking adventures. There were a few tears, and also plenty of laughter.

Brigid laughing during their beach elopement ceremony.

(I always have tissues at the ready, of course!)

I asked them to pick one wedding reading each as a surprise for their partner:

Brigid chose “Scientific Romance” by Tim Pratt which I ADORED — the perfect reading for a nerdy couple who love sci-fi/fantasy.
Isaac’s pick was “To Love Is Not To Possess” by James Kavanaugh, a thoughtful poem which really focuses on equality, independence, and freedom in a loving marriage.

They also exchanged personal vows which they had written separately and kept as a surprise from each other, and their vows were so so gorgeous. (If I wasn’t a professional, I’d be crying too!)

A Lord of the Rings inspired elopement

Brigid and Isaac love Lord of the Rings, so I was very excited to wear my hobbit outfit for this elopement!

After they exchanged their personal vows, they did a joint reading of Tolkien’s The Song of the Ent and Ent-Wife! It’s a deeply moving poem that serves as a very appropriate reading for LOTR fans (and not the first time it’s been a reading at one of my ceremonies).

Brigid and Isaac both reading together from the same notebook as they stand shoulder to shoulder and smile at each other. Holden their celebrant stands to one side. The sea and rocky beach visible behind them.

I also usually keep my elopement scripts a surprise for maximum emotional impact (unless my to-be-weds specifically want to see the script beforehand). When Isaac and Brigid exchanged rings, I surprised them by asking them to repeat these words — stealing a line that Arwen says to Aragorn:

“Wear this ring and remember
I would rather share one lifetime with you
Than face all the ages of this world alone”

It resulted in a really lovely and emotional ring exchange moment! 💍🥹

Brigid putting a ring on Isaac's finger while they look at each other with love. Holden their celebrant is smiling in the background.

Brigid and Isaac showing off their wedding rings by holding up their hands. The sea and rocky beach visible in the background.

A special handfasting with a handmade cord

A close-up of Isaac and Brigid's hands as they perform the handfasting ritual. The handfasting cord is made of colourful strands of yarn and has shells and flower beads attached to it.

I loved every single thing about this elopement, but I have to say, this handfasting was hands down one of the most special things I’ve ever been a part of.

I’m not crafty myself, so I always understand if you want to buy a ready-made cord (and support small businesses! win! 💖) — but I have to say, I have the softest spot for people who DIY it, creating cords that are so incredibly meaningful and personal. Brigid and Isaac were those people.

Brigid is into fibre art, and Isaac into leathercraft. Together, they made a cord that incorporated all these different elements:

Hand-spun yarn made from Gotland fleece (the same kind of fleece used to make the elven cloaks in the Lord of the Rings movies) - the grey of the yarn symbolises their desire to grow old together
Yarn dyed themselves with their own homemade lichen dye, from lichen they foraged during one of their favourite holidays together - representing their adventures they’ve had and will continue to have
Leather strips to represent the durability of their relationship
Resin-cast dried flower beads to represent their love of nature

They also used some of the same yarn to knit the socks they were wearing on the day!

A close-up of Brigid and Isaac's black shoes and the knitted socks they're wearing.

Holding their handfasting cord and helping them literally tie the knot felt so precious and momentous. I will never forget it.

When they had tied the knot, I pronounced them partners in life, and they celebrated with a kiss!

Holden the celebrant helping Brigid and Isaac tie the knot with their handfasting ritual.

Brigid and Isaac laughing while they hold onto their handfasting cord, as Holden also beams at them, with the sea in the background.

Post-ceremony adventures & building their wishing stone collection

After the ceremony, I said my emotional goodbyes to them and went on my way. They stayed on the beach for a while longer with their wonderful photographer Pril, to search for rocks and shells and take more glorious photos. I’m so excited to share these photos here — it looked like they had such a magical time! This is one of my favourite things about choosing an elopement, is that you get to go on a wild adventure with just the two of you.

Brigid and Isaac were hunting for rocks for a particular purpose: to use as wishing stones at their family wedding celebration in the US.

Wishing stones is a lovely ritual where every guest holds a stone and use it to make a wish for the couple. After the ritual, the rocks can then be gathered and displayed at home, or returned to the elements (e.g. thrown into water).

Isaac and Brigid first started with collecting pebbles from the beach where they got engaged in the US, and then added to their collection at their Cow Gap elopement!

Brigid and Isaac bent over examining something small that they're holding, in the midst of big rocks.

Brigid, Isaac and Holden all smiling and posing for the camera in front of the sea.

What the couple said

“Holden was an AMAZING officiant. They really took the time to get to know us, and crafted a beautiful elopement with lots of laughter and beautiful words. They were also great to plan with, and we loved working with them. Highly recommend!!”

Looking for a celebrant for your beach elopement?

Hi! 👋 I’m Holden (they/them), a queer wedding celebrant based in London, specialising in playful ceremonies for the seriously in-love, rooted in authenticity and inclusivity.

If you’re yearning for a beach elopement like this one, then please reach out! I’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about my elopement ceremonies
Get in touch today using my enquiry form
Or follow me on Instagram and drop me a DM!

(Also, are you in need of a photographer for your beach elopement? I can HIGHLY recommend Pril from Stephanie Dreams Photography, who took all of the stunning photos at this elopement! And I’m always armed with plenty of other photographer/supplier recommendations ❤️)

Suits and seashells: Brigid + Isaac’s Sussex beach elopement and handfasting