LOVEBIRDS who met at a university party eloped in the Lake District. 

Peter James Goodwin, a 27-year-old research fellow in psychology, tied the knot to Sophie Irene Goodwin, a 30-year-old building information modelling technician. 

The couple met at a mutual friend's birthday party while studying at university.

"I made the decision to go to that party at the last minute, but I’m really glad I did," said Peter.

"The first thing I noticed about Sophie was her eyes. I was sure I recognised them from somewhere and I just couldn’t work out why. We started talking at that party and kept talking for hours. Sophie made me laugh and smile so much during that conversation that I knew I didn’t want that conversation to end.

Sophie said: "I think we were both drawn to each others’ eyes. Peter’s eyes remind me of warm sea shores. I liked Peter’s quick wit and intellect. To me, he was the most interesting person in the room. He made me feel so at ease and could make me laugh so effortlessly. He was, and still is, such a gentleman."

On May 18 2019 Peter took Sophie for a walk in a park they both loved with a high-up view of Lincoln. As they sat on the rocks at the top of the park, Peter asked Sophie to marry her.

The pair eloped and married on August 24 2023 at Cote How in Rydal, Ambleside. Since being engaged, they had several ideas about what their wedding should be, and they realized all they really wanted was to be with each other on that day.

"The highlight of the day for me was watching Sophie turn the corner and walk towards me during the ceremony," said Peter.

"She looked beautiful, and I still remember her face when she teared up at my vows. I also loved the scenery of the area. It was perfect for our photos. It was great fun exploring with our photographer. Everyone we saw kept congratulating us, even when we were scrambling up the hill towards Rydal cave."

Sophie explained that for her, the most amazing moment happened when there was an RAF fly-over at the moment she slipped the ring onto Peter’s finger.

She said: "It wasn’t planned at all, but it made the moment so special. I also loved how much we laughed between our photos and when we were dancing in Rydal caves."

After the wedding, the pair, who lives together in Nottinghamshire, stayed in the Lake District for a week, and they are hoping to go abroad later this year.

"We’d like to thank the team at Cote How for a lovely wedding day, our photographer Tiree Dawson, from Ambleside: His and her hair stylists and the hidden beauty salon, and of course all our family and friends for telling us to go for it," concluded Mr and Mrs Goodwin.