Bonjour my pretties! How has your Monday treated you so far? Did you spend the summer solstice weekend sunning yourselves in the glorious weather for a change? Or perhaps you ticked off some items from the wedmin list...

This afternoon sees another 'Ask Lolly' post where I try my very best to try to solve the wedding trials and tribulations of you lovely lot by offering my thoughts and nuggets of advice on your big day dilemmas.

This is also an opportunity for you folks to weigh in with your thoughts and opinions too - after all we love to hear what you have to say on wedding matters and I'm sure there's more than one of you in a similar predicament.

So without further ado let's hear what our latest bride in distress has to say. It's something a little more unusual this month...

Sorry couldn't resist a melon joke...

My wonderful beau and I have been discussing the pros and cons of weddings. While neither of us are considered shy by anyone we know, the idea of professing our love to a crowd is really intimidating!

Although we know we would have a celebration on our return, at my request as he's not too fussed, both of us would rather avoid a 'traditional' setting. I suppose I should hurry up and get to the point!

Essentially there's so little information about organising an elopement. We would like to do as much as possible by ourselves without giving the game away to our wonderful friends and family.

We would like to stay in England and would rather avoid a religious setting. What could we plan in to the rest of the day to enjoy our new marriage?

So far all I have is to eat at one of our favourite cafes!

I'm sorry this is so rambling,

Thank you for reading:-)

A melon.

Well hello there friend of the fruit variety. I have to say that this is the very first time that I've ever received a letter from a Melon but you made me laugh so at the very least I felt I had to respond to your plea for help.

So you've decided to elope have you? I have to say that I am more than a smidgen jealous of your decision to do so, the boy and I were a hair's breadth away from packing our bags and dashing off on a marital adventure ourselves a couple of years back but somehow we just didn't follow through. There's always a big part of me that wonders what it would have been like though...

First things first I suppose there's so little information about organising an elopement because it really is up to the couple themselves to dictate what it is they want to do on their wedding day. Since there's no longer great aunt Betty to worry about nor a million and one family politics to battle with, the pair of you can indulge in what makes you happy.

So apart from the actual 'marriage' part, the world my dear is your oyster...or alternatively your fruit salad

If we're being practical then I would ask you if you've still looked at the legal bits and bobs related to getting married. I'm assuming that you've picked your registry office (since you mentioned that you're not religious) and that you've given notice of your intent to marry and filled in the necessary paperwork or have an appointment to do so...If you've done all that then you must have your wedding date already pencilled in the diary which is a fantastic starting point if there was ever one.

You've not given too much away in your letter Miss Melon - of course I completely understand because you want to remain as anonymous as possible so as not to give your secret away - but it is difficult to gauge what it is that interests you and your beau or to tailor my suggestions for certain activities to a specific area/ city.

You've not said where you're thinking of tying the knot - you mention that you'd like to stay in England and that scheduling in a meal at one of your favourite cafes is on your hit list so I've taken that to mean that you'll be marrying either in your hometown or in an area that is familiar to you. If this is the case then you'll have plenty of time to scope out a plan of attack before the day arrives.

If there's one thing that I cannot stress enough then it's to allocate some time and a bit of your budget for a photography session with an amazing photographer - there's plenty to choose from either from our list of front page sponsors or from our handpicked directory - The Love Lust List if you're stuck. Having some treasured pictures of you and your beau to pour over in years to come will be priceless - you could even mock up a 'just eloped' sign to use in a couple of images for your invite to your celebration on your return...

Since the day is just about the two of you why not make the 'getting ready' part of the morning super romantic. Is there a certain breakfast meal the two of you particularly love? Why not create a special keepsake box documenting the day so that your nearest and dearest can look through the contents and gain a sense of the occasion despite not being there in person. Fill the box with a newspaper from your wedding day (complete with date) and perhaps splash out on a polaroid camera to snap candid shots of the two of you as you dress for your ceremony. You can even add your marriage certificate and some dried flowers from your bouquet after the event is over.

In your letter, you indicated that a meal at your favourite cafe was high on your priority list. It might be worth ringing ahead to book your favourite table - if you have one - and ordering a bottle of champagne to be put on ice for when you arrive. They might even cater for private dining if this is your bag so it's worth asking if is possible. I remember falling in love with a secret room at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh hidden off of a stone turret stair with only space for two people; it was the most perfect hide-away with a waiter just a bell-call away and I swore if I ever eloped then it would be here.

You could mark the event in other ways too - you could take inspiration from the team at Iscoyd Park who help brides and grooms commemorate their day by planting a tree; perhaps ask at your local park or arboretum if this gets your juices going. Alternatively you could pop along to a jeweller to get your rings engraved with your wedding date or a treasured phrase. Or if you're feeling particularly adventurous when it might be worth booking an exhilarating hot air balloon experience.

Don't think that the day should end when the sun goes down either, why not prolong the romance and dress up for the evening by splashing out on tickets to the opera or even organise your own fireworks display or indulge in a wine tasting for the two of you. Hell even room service in a fancy suite sounds right up my street.

I suppose the moral of the story here is to do what makes you happy. Sit down and take inspiration from your favourite memories or plan something that you've always wanted to experience and then do it! Don't try to fit too much in either; you don't want to feel like you're rushing from one activity to another - after all it's your wedding day.

Sit back and enjoy the journey!

What do you lads and lassies think? Have any of you eloped in the past or are planning to? What activities did you/ are you planning to incorporate into your big day?

We want to hear your thoughts and ruminations...

All my love Lolly xxx