Every couple is unique, and every love story deserves to be told in a completely one-of-a-kind way. For some couples, a traditional wedding might not be the best option — they might want something a bit more thrilling, filled with adventure, and the types of memories that only come when you journey off the beaten path and leap feet first into the unknown!

If this sounds like you, then you should definitely consider a hassle-free, stress-free adventure elopement (instead of a traditional wedding) in South West Western Australia. If you’re beginning your elopement journey and don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered! Our ultimate guide to eloping in Western Australia covers everything you need to know about having a destination elopement in this fascinating region of the world — filled with memories that will last a lifetime!

Who Should Elope

Elopements are perfect for couples looking to have an adventure in an exciting location! 

Most adventure elopements take place in the heart of nature, surrounded by breathtaking views and unique landscapes — this is where romance meets adventure! If you both have a love of nature and a desire to travel to exciting new places (easily in our ‘safari style’ Land Rover Defender 90!), a destination elopement in Western Australia is the perfect choice.

An adventure elopement is also a great choice for couples seeking a more intimate and stress-free wedding ceremony. Elopements tend to have smaller guest lists — or none at all  — compared to traditional weddings. So it’s just you, your love, and Mother Nature doing the styling!

The stripped-down ceremony also means that there are fewer details to keep track of, which keeps everything simple and streamlined. It creates a low-stress environment that lets you just focus on enjoying the day.

… Other Reasons To Elope!

Still not sure if elopement is the right choice for you? Here are a few other reasons why couples choose to elope vs having a traditional wedding:

• Family Overseas: When you have family overseas it can be hard to get everyone together in the same place for a traditional wedding. An elopement is the ideal way to create a gorgeous and deeply meaningful wedding ceremony even when your family cannot make the journey to celebrate with you.
  
  
• An Introvert’s Paradise: If you don’t love being the centre of attention, an elopement is a great alternative. It’s low-key and still provides all the meaning and impact of a traditional wedding. You can just focus on the emotions of the day without worrying about the glaring spotlight that tends to come with a traditional wedding.
  
  
• Smart Investment: Investing in an elopement is the smart way to spend and is significantly more cost-effective than a traditional wedding. You get all the beauty and emotional impact, with more money in your pocket to spend elsewhere! (obviously on more adventures!)
  
  
• Speedy Turnaround: This might not be a reason to elope but we’re throwing it anyway! We pride ourselves on delivering sneak peeks the very next day, with slideshows following in a further 10. That means you can show everyone your day as soon as possible, even if it’s only the two of you!

A Brief History Of Elopements

An elopement is a small, intimate gathering with up to 10 guests. The exact definition varies, but if you ask us, one of the crucial elements of any elopement is the intimacy that comes with a close-knit guest list (anything too large changes the dynamics and becomes more of a performance!)

Some of the first elopements took place in the town of Gretna Green in Scotland. Starting in 1754, Gretna Green started arranging “runaway marriages” between couples whose families disapproved of their plans to marry. 

During COVID, these simplified, small-scale marriages developed their own style and traditions and became trendy. People could still marry despite restrictions and the entire wedding industry felt the shift afterwards. From those humble beginnings, elopements have become a worldwide trend, allowing couples all over the globe to celebrate their love on their own terms.

How To Choose An Elopement Location

One of the most important things to consider when planning how to elope is to choose the right location. The location you choose will depend a lot on what you’re looking for in an elopement experience!

If you’re looking for incredible natural views, a stunning coastline, and some of the tallest and most magical forests in the world, eloping in Western Australia is probably the right choice for you. 

Western Australia is a truly unique place, and one of the world’s best elopement locations for nature lovers! As one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots, South West WA is teeming with an incredible variety of flora and vibrant landscapes to explore on your international elopement adventure!

Best of all, there’s so much to do and see in Western Australia — you’ll never run out of things to explore and constantly have new experiences. You can even stay for a while after your elopement ceremony and enjoy a built-in honeymoon with plenty of new discoveries and memories! 

The most important destination elopement tip is choosing what you want and what you envision for your big day as well as the days before and after. Do you want to stay somewhere quite cosmopolitan and enjoy all of the amenities? Or would you rather be tucked away together in a cosy cabin and keep it simple? Also, think about what kinds of activities you’re interested in (hiking? climbing? kayaking? horseback riding?) and the level of accessibility you’ll need. 

No matter what you’re looking for, we’re here to make your occasion a success and create an unforgettable experience. We truly believe the epicness of your adventure has to match the significance of marriage and we won’t stop until that becomes your reality.

How To Travel To Western Australia

Western Australia is one of the best places to elope in the world, but it’s also a region that’s off the beaten path, so you’ll definitely want to plan your trip carefully — and if you need any help arranging flights or figuring out transportation, don’t hesitate to ask us! 

Here are some important things to keep in mind when travelling to Western Australia for your occasion:

• Closest international airport: Perth Airport

• Closest regional airport: Margaret River International in Busselton, which flies from Melbourne and Sydney

• Direct flight options: You can fly directly into Western Australia (Busselton) from both Melbourne and Sydney

• Hire a car in Busselton: Once you arrive in Busselton, you’ll be able to rent a car for all your transportation needs. While Margaret River is cosmopolitan, it’s important to note that it’s not London! If you want to really explore and make the most of what this region has to offer, having your own wheels is the way to go.
  
  Pemberton is a tiny old timber town with a big heart, home to giant karri trees which set it apart from anywhere else in the world in addition to its amazing produce, local artisans, and wine. It’s also only 1.5 hours from Margaret River, so it’s totally doable to experience both towns — both very different but equally amazing in their own right! And Nannup, a small town surrounded by forest (where we live), is exactly in the middle!

• Travel in style with a chartered classic car service: Want to step up your travel plans? If you’re looking to experience Australia’s coast (seriously epic) in style, consider chartering a classic car service. Companies like Kombicuz and Mr. Mustang allow you to travel through Western Australia in a classic Volkswagen van or vintage muscle car — a really stylish way to add some flair to your adventure elopement in Western Australia!

What Do You Need To Elope In Western Australia?

To legally elope in gorgeous Western Australia, there are a few administrative tasks (a mini eloping checklist) you’ll need to complete and a few bits of paperwork you’ll need to fill out. We want your experience to be as stress-free as possible, so we’ll match you with the perfect celebrant who will do it all for you! Here’s everything you need to know:

• A Notice of Intended Marriage Form: This must be filed at least a month before your wedding date. This means you’ll need to plan ahead a little bit to make sure everything’s filed on time. This form should include the name of your celebrant or minister as well, so make sure you’ve decided on a wedding officiant before filing your Notice of Intended Marriage Form. You can access the form and find some additional information here.
  
  
• A Birth Certificate or Passport: To obtain a Notice of Intended Marriage Form you’ll need to present a valid birth certificate or passport as a form of identification.
  
  
• Submit Your Paperwork Within 14 Days Of Your Wedding Ceremony: Once your wedding ceremony is complete, you’ll have 14 days to submit all the necessary paperwork in order to receive your official wedding certificate (our celebrants will do this for you). Once that’s done, congratulations! You’re legally married.
  
  
• Two Witnesses: To legally get married in Western Australia (and to be considered legally binding globally), you will need two witnesses present. If it’s just the two of you, Lukas and I will be honoured to be your witnesses!

If this sounds a bit stressful or overwhelming, no need to worry — we’ll be your go-to resource to help you with any and all paperwork you might need. Everything will be done for you!

Destination Elopement Guide: A Few More Quick Tips

What To Wear For Your Adventure Elopement

When choosing your attire for your destination elopement, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that you’re going to need to wear something that’s appropriate for the rugged environment. 

When choosing your dress, opt for something you can move in! We’ve discovered that silk and satin allow for flexibility of movement and tend to avoid catching on to the forest floor or rocky terrain. Try to avoid a big dress, as it can be tricky on the narrow forest paths.

You’ll also want to make sure the train of your dress isn’t too long so that you’ll be able to move freely (or bustle it up!). For more info on what to wear for your adventure elopement, check out our full guide on what to wear for your elopement!

TLDR: Enclosed shoes like RM Williams, Converse trainers, and Doc Martens are the winners in our book!

Write Your Own Vows For That Extra Personal Touch

One of the great things about an adventure elopement is that you can tailor it to fit your exact vision — a totally unique experience that you can’t always get with a traditional wedding. 

In that spirit, we always recommend that couples write their own vows for their adventure elopement in Western Australia. This is one of those romantic elopement ideas you don’t want to pass up. It’s your chance to say exactly what’s in your heart and to be as honest and authentic as possible. Since you’re not saying vows in front of a crowd, you can speak to each other — not your audience!

FAQs

Why book an all-inclusive elopement package?

One of the most frequent destination elopement tips we give to couples planning a destination adventure elopement is to consider booking an all-inclusive elopement package. These packages offer absolutely everything you’ll need for the perfect elopement! From travel arrangements to making use of our lifetime’s worth of experience exploring the South West and over a decade’s worth of photography experience and local connections, your day is our whole priority.

When you work with us as part of an all-inclusive elopement in Western Australia, you’re not just hiring an experienced wedding photographer, but a wingwoman who will be by your side to organise your entire elopement journey. AND you’ll have local experts like Lukas with a lifetime knowledge of the South West’s hotspots and a deep connection with the community! We’ll be there with you every step of the way, to help you plan your dream elopement from beginning to end. 

In other words, this is a totally stress-free option that allows you to focus on enjoying your day and other elements of your trip — the South West has so much to offer! Need some advice on where to go, and what to do? Ask us!

How do I know the celebrant you pick is right for me?

We consider ourselves to be great matchmakers! Before we pick a celebrant, we’ll discuss in detail all the qualities you’re looking for in a potential celebrant and make sure whoever we choose meets all of your qualifications.

How do you select your vendors?

Victoria has 12+ years in the wedding industry and has cultivated many great relationships with incredible vendors — all of whom are highly experienced and respected as leaders in the field. We offer nothing but the highest-end experience, and that means we only work with the best!

What is the cost of eloping versus the cost of a traditional wedding?

The average traditional wedding costs between $36,000 to $51,000, while a typical elopement costs only about $5,000-10,000. The much lower price is just one of the many awesome things about eloping!

Our All-Inclusive Elopement Packages In Western Australia

Our epic elopement packages in Western Australia are fully inclusive and feature everything you’ll need for an unforgettable and totally stress-free adventure elopement. We believe eloping should be easy, and each of these packages is designed to accomplish that goal!

The Wild Original

The Wild, our signature package, is for those who thrive on adventure! This is the beating heart of our business and what gets us up in the morning. If you’re looking for an epic elopement in Margaret River or Pemberton, then this package is for you! 

Choosing which location depends on who you are as a couple. Love forests, coastlines, and a slightly more cosmopolitan experience? Go for Margaret River. Want an exciting 4-wheel drive through the largest locked dune in the Southern Hemisphere with surrounding karri forests and epic sunsets? Opt for Pemberton. Either way, if you’re both drawn to dramatic landscapes and getting back to who we are as humans, we’ll take you on an unforgettable adventure into the heart of all of Western Australia’s biodiversity hotspot locations!

This package includes a thrilling off-road adventure to some of the most amazing places in Western Australia — hard-to-reach secret locations that are only accessible by super-skilled 4-wheel drivers. It’s perfect if you’re planning an elopement that just features the two of you, but it’s also totally fine if you’d like to bring a few guests. 

We’ll perform the ceremony in an easy-to-access location and adventure off with just the two of you — so you’ll get alone time with each other to really embrace being in that beautiful newlywed bubble! Then, after our off-road adventure, you can regroup with your guests for some post-elopement celebrations.

We know amazing restaurants in the area, as well as exceptional private chefs who can cook you some absolutely unforgettable meals that are seasonal and locally-sourced, with a focus on paddock to plate (farm-to-table). We even know one chef who will open his winery for a private mini-reception! As a biodiversity hotspot, we’re proud of what the South West offers — an AMAZING array of produce, world renowned wines, and craft beer too. It’s a place for all tastes! 

The Wild Deluxe

Everything you love about The Wild and more… Think of this as an elopement and mini moon in one; A 3 Day Elopement adventure of romance, luxury and a dash of magic. This package allows you to soak up the beauty and relax in the wonderful Margaret River region, feasting on it’s local delights. We will take care of ‘everything’ for you! This is a fully inclusive package with all the trimmings. See our packages here and check out all what this amazing experience entails.

The Classic

The Classic offers many of the amenities and advantages of The Wild package but with an even more streamlined and stripped-down experience. If you’re looking for something logistically easy (with guests), this is the one for you. 

This package is ideal if you have a slightly longer guest list (up to 10) since the simplicity and accessibility of this package make it easy for a larger party to travel to your elopement location. It will still be in an amazing and one-of-a-kind location, but it won’t be as far off the beaten path as the elopement location you’d get with The Wild package.

What’s Included In An All-Inclusive Elopement Package In Western Australia?

All of our all-inclusive adventure elopement packages in Western Australia include the following:

• Organising and planning.
  
• All necessary permits and paperwork.
  
• Photographer and intrepid navigator (that’s us!)
  
• Celebrant and all other celebrant-related legalities and logistics. While arranging for the proper celebrant for your marriage, we’ll also take care of all the administrative requirements for filing a Notice Of Intended Marriage form.
  
• All the finer details including a champagne toast, journey snacks (essential!), and cocktails on the beach (with the Wild package only)

We do our elopements in the week. This is so we can book our fav vendors and also when the locations are available through DBCA. We sort out all legalities including permits and park passes. 

We’re also proud to hold our tourism WA commercial licence — meaning that we’re allowed to perform wedding ceremonies ourselves and serve champagne in National Parks!

Optional Elopement Package Add-Ons

• Florals (included in The Classic all-inclusive package)
  
• Hair and makeup (included in The Classic all-inclusive package)
  
• Accommodations
  
• A curated romantic meal for two (plus a cake and hamper!)

If you’d like to add any of these little touches that make elopements unforgettable, just say the word and we’ll make it happen!

Additional Activities For Your Elopement Itinerary

In addition to planning everything for the perfect elopement ceremony, our all-inclusive elopement packages in Western Australia also offer the option to dive into some thrilling activities that allow you to get up close and personal with the rugged beauty of the region. We go above and beyond to ensure we’re the foremost experts in this slice of Australia. 

These include:

• WINE & FOOD: Western Australia’s climate is ideal for local, seasonal wines, and produce. Spend some time exploring world-class wineries and craft breweries in the Margaret River Wine Region. Here’s a list of our top fav food and wine spots:
  
  
  • Morries (tapas galore)
    
  • Swings & Roundabouts (yummy yummy food in Margaret River town)
    
  • Margaret River Valley Wines (one of our fav local drops)
    
  • Rustico (best lunch place ever)
    
  • Brewhouse (amazing food and great beer in the centre of Margaret River)
    
  • Beer Farm (simply awesome!)
    
  • Pemberton
    
  • Jaspers Pemberton (utterly delish with big emphasis on seasonal local food, beer, and wine)
    
  • Hidden River Winery & Restaurant (top notch – so lucky to have this in Pemberton!)
    
• WELLNESS: Whether you enjoy spa treatment, sauna, hot tub, ice bath, beach yoga, or relaxing on one of the best beaches in the world, Western Australia has something for you! To really recharge and unwind, check out MEND Margaret River.
  
  
• ADVENTURE: Fan of the thrill? Try climbing the historic Gloucester Tree, used as a fire lookout until 1947, or an aerial adventure at Pemberton High Ropes! If not, surfing, snorkelling, and hiking spots are just around the corner. The Cape to Cape Walk, one of Australia’s most famous walks, is a particular favourite of ours! Keen on mountain biking? Hire bikes from Three Tanks (our own shop!) and adventure off into Nannup, Margaret River, and Pemberton together!
  
  
• SOUTH WEST BEAUTY: Beauty is all over the South West with wonders like Injidup Natural Spa and the natural Aquarium ready to visit.
  
  
• EXPERIENCES: Fancy creating your own gin? Or perhaps you’d prefer to enrol on a bushtucker tour to learn about our native foods and culture.

A Note On The Weather

The weather in Western Australia can vary wildly based on the time of year you choose to visit. The temperatures can reach the high 30s  in the summer and around 10 degrees in the winter. 

You’ll need to plan ahead to make sure the weather will be amenable to the type of experience you’re looking for — and you’ll find amazing things to do no matter when you plan your elopement!

If you’re expecting lush, green landscapes, the winter and spring are perfect times to visit, but if you prefer a dry, golden landscape, the summer and early autumn might be best. Feel free to ask us if you need any advice about what time of year is most suitable!

Your Wild Elopement Begins Here …

If you’re considering an adventure elopement in Western Australia and are ready to get started, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out any time and we’ll get planning! We can’t wait to hear about your vision for the day and work together to deliver something well above your expectations!