Should We Elope to Noosa or The Sunshine Coast?

 elope: to run away secretly in order to get married. “later he eloped with one of the housemaids" run off/away together, slip away, sneak off, steal away; run off/awaywith a lover. "perhaps they'll elope to Gretna Green"

A large and increasing proportion of my Marriage Celebrant in Noosa business consists of elopements. Easy to understand why when there are many advantages. Not for everyone clearly not for those who have dreamt all their lives of a big occasion with every family member and friend present as guests from the brides and grooms sides and a Princess type day perfectly choreographed from start to finish. Popularity is definitely increasing though, just some of the reasons are a time factor, sometimes couples simply do not want to wait and rather than having to quickly put together a guest list and expect many not to be able to attend at relatively short notice, they decide to let it just be the 2 of them with their witnesses. Legally speaking that is all that is required, a bride and groom and 2 witnesses over the age of 18 who may be family members and may also be any nationality. They will be required to be present at, understand the ceremony and sign legal documents at the end stating this. Most celebrants will even be able to arrange witnesses if the couple are in Noosa on a holiday from overseas or interstate without family or friends with them.

An Elopement in Noosa or anywhere on the Sunshine Coast enables you to havethe ceremony you desire, free of intrusion or interference from well meaningfamily members or friends who insist you adhere to wedding traditions or to dothings the way they did, or at worst try to commandeer the entire event untilyou feel you have little or no part to play. Couples sometimes want to avoidfamily conflict and separated parents who may not have been able to put theirdifferences aside enough to communally enjoy the celebrations for their adultchild.

Every ceremony I perform, my main piece of advice is not to lose sight of actually what you are doing, as all too often the true meaning gets lost in translation somewhere along the way of all the arrangements with possible stress lurking at every corner. A beautiful Brisbane couple Michael and Alicia chose to do exactly that this past weekend. Giving me just about the minimum notice possible in legal terms and armed with a few very close friends including Emma who is a photographer, the keys to a luxurious holiday home and a huge quantity of the love they share, they exchanged their vows just the way they had always imagined with many laughs and memories and very little stress.

Peeling back the layers to expose the raw emotion and passion felt by each partner. Choose an amazing Sunshine Coast location or Noosa elopement location to exchange your vows perhaps at sunset or dawn alongside the infinity of the ocean, the rusticity of the hinterland or a mountain or a rugged headland in the Noosa National Park....and yes! I do perform weddings there, it is a special place for me too, among my bookings this year, I have two with a hint of adventure at Hell's Gates and at Devil’s Kitchen on the Noosa National Park Headland.

Sticking to a budget may be another good reason to pass up a large ceremony; you can still have the flowers, the dress, the hair and makeup and the wedding night! but cutting out the guest-list may be a great way to keep costs down and perhaps have a celebratory party at a later date. “We Eloped” is now a popular post on Instagram and Facebook these days and the concept allows the couple a small sense of keeping something to themselves akin to the same feeling they may share for the first precious weeks before they announce a pregnancy. All of our lives these days are played out in the public arena and retaining a few special moments between couples is rare and special.

Sunshine Coast Marriage Celebrants are able to arrange all aspects of the elopement making it particularly straightforward for interstate and overseas couples. Most, like me, will have suppliers with whom they regularly work, making the entire process a breeze. From recommendations for a secluded location to assistance in obtaining a council permit for it if required, handling all the legal paperwork swiftly and easily and supplying advice and contacts for flowers and a quality photo session during the ceremony, the images from which, can accompany the later announcement to family and friends. Most brides will also have their hair and makeup professionally done beforehand, and do book accommodation with a touch of extravagance for your wedding night.....you can afford to splash out on some luxuries for your day to remember, especially since you have slashed that guest list!

None of this, however, is obligatory and you are more than welcome to “come as you are”..... just the two of you and your two witnesses of course!