To elope or not to elope? That is the question! There are so many options for weddings nowadays, from the full traditional shebang to the local Registrar or City Hall to getting hitched in your favourite field with a celebrant. However for some of us, we’ve realised that we’re hankering for something else, which, after much discussion, unfolds into an elopement wedding.

This option no longer means disappearing off to marry in secret, without a word to anyone. There are pros and cons to any wedding, whether you’re at home surrounded by family and friends, or it’s a spur-of-the-moment decision; but in reality most ‘elopement’ weddings aren’t spur of the moment at all.

Photo credit: Lauren Fair Photography 

Elopement weddings have become ever more popular for a variety of reasons. The most obvious one is that the costs involved are a lot less than a big wedding, thus enabling you to really get everything that your heart desires. They enable you, as the couple, to focus on what’s really important to you, i.e. each other. It’s also a way to cut down on the number of guests; elopement can mean a small number of guests, rather than just the two of you.

For those of us with wanderlust, combining a wedding and a dream destination is what it’s all about. What better way to celebrate your new life together than combining the trip of a life time with the love of your life! And of course, don’t forget that fabulous party when you get back home so that you can celebrate your nuptials with your nearest and dearest.

I’ve known a number of couples who’ve ‘eloped’ and only one was a real spur-of-the-moment affair – a Las Vegas wedding where they drove up to the chapel in the morning and decided if it felt like the right thing to do – they did! The rest of them needed planning in advance: a beach-side ceremony in the Caribbean combined with a two week honeymoon, an intimate wedding with both sets of parents in Mauritius; another Vegas wedding mid-way through a six month round-the-world trip; even a couple living in Thailand who ‘eloped’ to New Zealand for their wedding so that immediate family living in Australia and New Zealand could attend.  All of them required planning, and, for sure, a local wedding planner will pay dividends to help you create the perfect ‘I do’ day. Hiring a wedding planner means you won’t forget something crucial, like the wedding meal – yes, this really did happen, and a family feast from McDonalds was the result!

An elopement wedding is usually a well thought-out decision by the bride and groom, where they can indulge themselves by doing things exactly the way they want, without having to compromise. Life is so busy for most of us that getting that special time to be truly alone with your beloved can be a hard task indeed; and your wedding day is ultimately about the two of you. There’s no doubt that friends and family will be disappointed, but if they see that this is what will make your hearts sing, then they’ll ultimately be happy for you.

Photo credit: Wed and Wander

As an elopement couple, you have so many wonderful locations to choose from, thanks to local wedding planners who are free to select the best locations and vendors to suit your BIG day. No more having to compromise – you really can have it all!

Nikki and Jeff were one such couple. They were seeking an extremely private beach wedding, which was off the beaten track. They were originally looking to marry on Koh Samui, but after doing further research, they discovered that Koh Tao was a better fit for the vision they had for their elopement wedding. They wanted to celebrate their love in the simplest of ways and just be together, and with Koh Tao being that bit more remote, it offered them the rustic charm, white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters and that real ‘tropical feel’ that they were looking for in a destination wedding.

Photo credit: Aidan Dockery Photography 

After listening to their ‘wish list’ and offering them several options for the location, they chose the beautiful bays at Sai Nuan beach for their private wedding; they married, just the two of them, under a palm tree with their toes in the sand and the waves lapping the shore just a few metres away. And with a highly personal and heartfelt wedding address delivered by our celebrant, the result was an elopement wedding that reflected the couple perfectly.

Want to know more? Then drop us a message, or take a look at our Elopement and Services pages for more info.