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.
What exactly is an Elopement?
There are many definitions of Elopement but I like to think of it like this:
‘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 as a couple.’
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 to the norm.
Elopements have become 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. The idea that this should be a short couple of hours to ‘sign-the-papers’ has also gone out of the window, with modern couples opting to spend a fraction of the amount of money they would otherwise have spent on a traditional wedding, to create a day (or longer) experience.
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 all 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? Have a picnic by a lake? Ride the train into the city and climb the Harbour Bridge?
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!
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 all your own, from the moment you wake to the moment you fall asleep.
Whatever you decide to do, remember this, Eloping is no consolation prize. This is your chance to craft an experience that you can fully immerse yourself in, have fun with, and that will provide you AWESOME memories to remember back on 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. Having someone there to capture the little things that you might miss along with creating beautiful photographs in the locations you have chosen is something that will allow you and your family and friends to relive the day for years to come.
To get the ideas flowing, I have put together a couple of unique Elopement experiences and an example timeline, in and around Sydney, which demonstrates how you can make the most of your big day.
- A Sailing Experience off Palm Beach, in the stunning scenery of Pittwater, with a stay at a beautiful old Fisherman’s Cottage on the cliffs and dinner cooked by your personal chef?
- Rising early for a Sunrise Beach Ceremony and exploring the city alleyways.
- Camping at a Blue Mountains/Kangaroo Valley/Hunter Valley Retreat, and bringing a few of your closest friends in to have a celebration dinner in the evening.
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 your life and I never take that for granted.
If you’d like to have a chat about ideas for your Elopement then feel free to get in touch.
Chris
