We Eloped! Summer 2016/17
I’m just getting organised for an intimate ceremony on NYE – the couple are from overseas and 4 close friends will watch as they make one of the most important decisions in their lives – and so it seems timely to write a piece on small weddings and elopements. Traditionally, people think of elopements as running off to get married in secret – nowadays, for me at least, an elopement (0r mini elopement as I call them) is a ceremony of ten or less guests and is often planned weeks or months in advance. I mini-eloped – just us and our immediate family at the beautiful Matakauri Lodge near Queenstown.
15 minutes before the ceremony I was looking at my watch saying “I’m ready!”. It was intimate, relaxed and memorable. No nerves. No last minute chasing things up. No bridezilla moments. And we loved every moment of it. And we were right on budget. Elopements aren’t for everyone – you may have to consider the feelings of far more people than we did – I know it was painful enough when I agonised for weeks about telling my Besties that I wasn’t having bridesmaids – but guess what. Without exception they all understood and said “whatever makes you happy – it’s your day”. However, life isn’t always that straight forward and it’s all part of weighing up the pros and cons of either a traditional occasion or slipping away quietly.
If you are thinking of an elopement get in touch and I’ll happily talk you through options with you. Or another option is to check out the wonderful Judy from Central Otago Weddings – she is an expert in in elopements and destination weddings and has access to some of the country’s most stunning locations.