How to have an AMAZING Elopement Wedding In and Around Sydney

You’ve probably heard the term ‘Elopement’ before but you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. Perhaps you had always planned a big wedding but now the small matter of a Global Pandemic has gotten in the way, or perhaps you’re just after ideas for how to have a wedding that is unique and intimate, without having to follow along with years of traditions that don’t feel true to you. Well, believe me, you’re not alone.

So what exactly is an Elopement?

There are many definitions of Elopement but here’s mine:

‘A small and intimate wedding experience that fully focuses on the couple. It’s about showing your love and commitment to each other in a way that feels honest and true to you.’

Clearly, this could mean many things to many people, and really, that’s the point. 

Marriage is a celebration of love. It’s the moment at which you declare to the world that you will build a life with your partner, care for and respect each other and take on life’s challenges together. This is a defining moment and taking the opportunity to fully embrace your decision and soak up the love your partner has for you, the moment that you will look back on and treasure for the rest of your life, may mean you would prefer to do something a little different.

Elopements are becoming increasingly popular in recent years as couples seek to break away from the traditional wedding ‘guidelines’, embracing just the parts that matter most to them.

So what might an All-Day Elopement look like?

When we used to think about the idea of Eloping, the vision that would usually come to mind is of a young couple running off to Las Vegas to get a ‘quickie’ marriage in an Elvis Chapel, or something similar. Heck, we’ve seen it in the movies time and again!!

However, the world really is your oyster when it comes to planning and the possibilities are endless…

Would you like to go trekking in the mountains?

Ride the train into the city and climb the Harbour Bridge?

Fly to another country and get lost in its little old alleyways?

Elopements could be adventurous and wild, or they could be glamorous and sophisticated. It could mean flying to a far-flung destination or it could simply mean a few friends in the backyard. The great thing is there is no right or wrong answer!

Why do you call it an ‘Elopement Experience?’

There is a common misconception that Elopements are just a quick alternative to the big traditional wedding, that you will simply get married and get a few photos, but this is doing yourselves and the whole experience an injustice.

Your wedding day is one of the biggest days in your life, and making the conscious decision to do it your way is a liberating one, one that will provide you joy and one that gives you the opportunity to make it completely unique, from the moment you wake to the moment you fall asleep.

Choosing to Elope means you can free yourself up to spend money on moments over material things, creating a day that is unique, super special and true to you.

Whatever you decide to do, remember this, Eloping is no consolation prize. This is your chance to craft an experience that you can immerse yourselves in, have fun with, and will provide you AWESOME memories to remember back on for years to come. For this reason, I absolutely believe that you should make the experience about the whole day or even a number of days, crafting something unforgettable to tell stories about for years to come.

When it comes to documenting the day, I’m not just your photographer, I’m here to help smooth things out and guide you, help you research ideas and build a day that will be truly unique to you. I’m here to capture the little things that you might miss as well as create epic photographs in the locations you have chosen.

So how might this work?

To get the ideas flowing, I have put together a unique Elopement timeline for an experience in Sydney, which demonstrates how you can make the most of your big day.

As you can see, there is so much that you can squeeze into your day if you want to, whilst still being relaxed and enjoying the whole experience.

For me, as much as I love to photograph traditional-style weddings, there is something super special about being an intimate part of a couple’s Elopement. It’s a real privilege to be invited into such a special moment and I never take it for granted.