Fernanda and Kevin marked a decade together with a dreamy mountain elopement on a dramatic clifftop. With a handful of close friends in attendance, their intimate ceremony featured sweeping views, romantic pastel blooms and elegant black tie style.
We love that they made the most of their elopement destination with a weekend-long celebration, kicked off with personalised vows, a stunning photo session and private dinner with their favourite people.
So, what’s your love story?
“Kevin and I met in uni and have been together for ten years. We’ve been through a period of long distance, and let’s just say we’re thankful we have pulled through and grateful for where we are now.”
Why did you choose to elope?
“Due to the pandemic, none of our family could travel abroad. We thought why not elope at our ten years. We were very happy with our elopement and the decision we made. Having said that, we are still hoping to have a reception in one or two years’ time.”
How and when did you announce your elopement?
“It was a rather rushed decision, and we announced the elopement through video calls to family and close friends two months before the ceremony. We were able to have a Zoom call for our family to be there during the ceremony.”
How did you choose your elopement location?
“We chose Lincoln’s Rock as the location as recommended by our photographer. Being in Australia, I have always imagined my ceremony being outdoors in nature, and the Blue Mountains is the perfect spot.”
Who attended your elopement?
“We had an intimate group of five close friends with us. Two of them had flown in and we were thrilled that they were able to make it.”
Did you write your own vows?
“Yes we did! Our key takeaways are to ensure you have sufficient time planned to write your vows, and have second and third reviews after two or three days with fresh eyes. Also, to remember your vows are for each other and no one else to keep it personal. One thing we did was keep the word count similar to each other.”
What was your wedding outfit search experience like?
“I went to multiple bridal dress shops during my search and I would recommend all brides-to-be to do the same and keep an open mind. I tried on different types of dresses and brands to compare and when I tried on my dress, I just knew it was ‘The One’.”
How did you style your elopement?
“As our location was on a cliff, I thought it would be great to have a ground arch. It was absolutely amazing, especially for a windy location. I chose a pastel palette of light pink, blue and white.”
How did you celebrate after the ceremony?
“We had an intimate dinner with our friends at the resort where we stayed. We had a private room at the restaurant and the food was divine. We’d booked two days’ accommodation for everyone and had so much fun!”
Were there any challenges you faced when planning your elopement?
“The biggest challenge was the ever-changing pandemic environment. On top of that we were only able to communicate with our celebrant, florist and photographer through calls and texts, but they made it so smooth and easy. It’s unbelievable how things have turned out so perfectly – all credit goes to this great crew.”
What did you enjoy most about your elopement experience?
“The best thing is how the location, my dress and flower setup all turned out to be so dreamy! It was above and beyond my expectation. When we were saying our vows, it felt as if it was just the two of us and we both got quite emotional.”
Do you have any advice for other couples looking to elope?
- Ensure you have enough time to plan for everything, from the wedding dress, location confirmation, florist, etc. One thing that can be overlooked is the time it may take for wedding rings to arrive.
- The day before the ceremony, have a quick run through of the event in your mind and lay out everything that you’d need and pack them up. I forgot an accessory, but luckily there was a backup!
- Thankfully it didn’t rain as we didn’t have a plan B, but I highly recommend everyone to have an indoor plan.
- Lastly, do it! We loved out elopement and the intimacy is a huge plus.
Who helped make the magic happen?
Location: Lincoln’s Rock, Blue Mountains, NSW | Photography: Salt Atelier | Officiant: Blue Mountains Celebrant | Flowers: The Flower Cottage | Wedding Dress: Mia Ateliers | Hair & Makeup: Jean.xmakeup | Wedding Rings: Graff | Dinner: Darleys Restaurant at Lilianfels Resort & Spa
How to Plan Your Own Epic Elopement
Eloping might seem less complicated than hosting a traditional wedding, but there’s still a surprising number of questions that need to be answered to plan this special experience. How to Plan Your Epic Elopement will help you work through every detail step-by-step to realise your dream of a private and personal celebration that’s big on love and small on stress.