CELEBS LEAD THE LOW-KEY WEDDING TREND
Before the pandemic, the average cost of a wedding hovered around £15k. But with current restrictions allowing just six people to attend nuptials in the UK at a COVID-secure venue, couples are shunning the fanfare and opting for a low-key do instead. Online statistics in 2020 showed shifting demands, with internet searches for ‘simple wedding’ up 272 per cent and ‘elopement’ spiking by 73 per cent. These celebrities show us how to do it in style…
LILY’S VEGAS CHAPEL
Singer Lily Allen, 35, and Stranger Things actor David Harbour, 45, surprised everyone when they announced their low-key Las Vegas wedding in September via Instagram. Mid-pandemic but still able to travel, the couple were married by an Elvis impersonator at a little wedding chapel in Vegas, and the only guests invited were Lily’s two daughters, Ethel, nine, and Marnie, eight, from her previous marriage to Sam Cooper. Afterwards, the newlyweds held their reception at an In-NOut Burger, with Lily feasting on a burger in her vintage Dior wedding dress. Speaking about the wedding, Lily said, “We didn’t plan to announce it to anyone, it was meant to be a private affair.”
PROUDLOCK’S CHELSEA BASH
Made In Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock, 32, recently confirmed that he had tied the knot with model Emma Louise Connolly, 29, in a secret ceremony back in December. The couple were originally meant to say “I do” at Cowdray Park in front of 200 guests in April last year, but were forced to postpone four times due to the pandemic. Instead, Proudlock and Emma Louise went ahead with a low-key wedding on 15 December, saying their vows in front of 15 guests at St Albans Church in Fulham, southwest London, and celebrating with a small reception at members club The Ned, as it was before stricter restrictions were announced on 16 December. Proudlock and Emma Louise shared loved-up shots of their nuptials on their Instagram pages, captioned “Love wins!”.
LAURA’S LOVE IRELAND
Love Island came to Dublin when the show’s hosts, Laura Whitmore, 35, and Iain Stirling, 33, secretly tied the knot in mid-November. The TV couple got married in a small ceremony at Dublin City Hall in front of 25 guests and Laura’s dog, Mick. Laura only announced the news of their big day on 1 January via Instagram. Acknowledging that the couple kept their wedding private, Laura said, “A year ago Iain asked me to marry him and we had the most magical, perfect ceremony. We loved having it to ourselves.” The couple are expecting their first baby early this year.