Want to get married without the wedding?
Elopements are fully legal marriage ceremonies without the fuss (or expense) of a full-blown wedding. Choose your favourite location and your very favourite people, then bring me along to make it official! I will craft a beautiful, intimate and
highly-personalised ceremony for you and your besties to enjoy.
Planning your elopement
Let’s chat (in secret!) and start planning your elopement. Fill in your top-secret booking form and pay your deposit to Save The Date for your elopement. We will discuss why you’ve chosen to elope, where you’d like to elope and what you hope to take away from your ceremony.
Fill out my brief couple’s questionnaire and start thinking about all the reasons you love each other because it's time to write your vows! Beautiful, personal vows are the hero of any elopement, but don't be nervous... I'm an English teacher! I will help you write meaningful personal vows from the heart.
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We'll complete your legal paperwork and design your elopement together, usually about three months before your ceremony. On the day, we'll complete your Declaration of No Legal Impediment and fulfil the legal aspects of a marriage as a part of your elopement. You'll need two witnesses to sign your marriage certificates. It's that easy!
The legal requirements
While elopements are usually associated with busting out of your second-storey bedroom window and running away to marry the love of your life, there are still many legal aspects that must be fulfilled. There is no such thing as a last-minute elopement!
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Like with a traditional wedding, you are still required to lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month prior to your planned elopement (though no more than 18 months). As a part of this process, I must sight your official documents to verify your identity and ensure that you are eligible to marry. For example, if you are under the age of 18 or you have been previously married, you must provide additional documentation to prove your eligibility.
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You must also complete your Declaration of No Legal Impediment before the ceremony can take place.
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Your ceremony must include:
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Celebrant’s Authority, including a brief explanation of the nature of marriage according to law in Australia
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Legal vows
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Signing of certificates, immediately after the ceremony.
The rest is up to you! You and your witnesses are required to sign three separate documents to certify your marriage. One is sent to the state Births, Deaths and Marriages register, one is retained by me and the third is yours to keep. This certificate cannot be replaced.
The ceremony
On the day of your elopement, I will arrive early to set up my high-quality Bose S1 Pro speaker system and make sure you’re ready to go. If you have someone arranged to play the music for your ceremony, I will help them to connect to my speaker using Bluetooth and let them know to watch for my cues.
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With a big, reassuring smile, I will be there to calm your nerves, every step of the way.
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Once you’ve moved on to have some more beautiful photos, I will be off on my way! It will have been my absolute delight to share in your special day.
Optional extras
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Need me to travel outside of Inverell? No worries. I love an adventure! Let me prepare a quote!
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Thinking of a weekday elopement? Let’s do it.
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Want a rehearsal, to scope out the location and practise the all-important kiss? Great idea!
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Like me to order your official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages on your behalf? I’m on it.
I’m happy to work with you to customise your perfect elopement package. This is the stuff that dreams are made of!