A COUPLE enjoyed 'the best day of their lives' with a secret elopement in the Lakes.

Bradley Eratt-Bryant, a 27-year-old recruiter, married Levi Eratt-Bryant, a 26-year-old chef.

The couple first met when Bradley was working in a store, and Levi came in as a customer.

After hitting it off Levi used to meet Bradley after work every day to go on long walks.

"It was very clear that we had met the one from the first day," said the pair.

Levi said: "Bradley was moving away in a month's time to go to drama school, so for the first three years of our relationship, we did long distance.

"We knew we would make this work because we had so much in common. We are practically best friends. Both love gaming, Marvel films and travelling."

When Bradley was living in Leeds, Levi decided to propose to Bradley.

He proposed in a car park after a meal. Bradley was 'very happy' that they got to have the moment in private.

The couple were meant to get married in 2020 however, the week when they were about to send out the invitations, the Covid pandemic happened.

"After the pandemic, we always talked about doing a secret elopement," said the couple.

On July 1 2022, they got married at Merewood Hotel.

The couple, from Grimsby, said: "We loved how our engagement was private and personal. We both agreed we wanted our wedding day to be that way. We wanted a day that was personalised to the things we love.

"We decided to get married in Windermere after seeing the beautiful scenery. We loved to travel so we wanted to travel for our wedding.

"We walked in separately to the song Lover by Taylor Swift. 

"The whole ceremony was filled with laughter and love. The room had a beautiful interior that matched the theme of our suits.

"Our rings had our favourite quote on the inside from the TV show WandaVision 'What is Grief, if not love persevering'.

"Once the ceremony was over, we left to the first song we ever listened to together on our walks many years ago, which was Budapest by George Ezra.

"At the end of the day we went back to our room, popped the champagne to celebrate and sat together on the sofa to look at the amazing view from our window. The best day of our lives."

The couple spent their honeymoon in Turkey where they stayed at an all-inclusive hotel in Turunc.