Over the years I have been lucky to be able to meet so many couples and families in love and making the most of this life. There is no doubt that 2020 has been an eye-opener for many and especially for me. I now realize how important are everyday moments, and how important is to step out of the material things we seem to place so much importance and rather give time and importance to our feelings and memories.

If you all your plans have been thrown out of the window thanks to our friend Rona, then you can still plan an epic elopement and I am here to help you every step of the way. When planning your elopement here are a few things that you should keep in mind to be able to rock your epic day:

1.- Having an elopement doesn’t mean missing out on the party:

More and more couples are choosing to ditch traditions and they are opting for different formats like elopements, first looks, and wedding festivals. Having an elopement is just a different format of a wedding day, you can choose to have a commitment ceremony without a celebrant or having a celebrant present to legalize your union, and later on have a bash with your family and friends to celebrate.

2.- You will still need a wedding day timeline:

Sorry but you won’t be able to get out of this one that easy! Even if your celebration is smaller, you don’t want to feel like you have forgotten something or that you could have done this and that if only you had enough time on the day. Make sure that you still have a wedding day timeline, starting by the time of your ceremony and making your way up with the preparations and down with the celebrations. Here are a few post on wedding timelines.

3.- Craft a meaningful union ceremony:

There are a number of different ceremonies across different cultures. Do your research and opt for something meaningful that makes sense to both of you, and make it yours by adding pieces of your story like photographs, anecdotes and music.

4.- Have a reveal on the day of your elopement:

Having an elopement will allow you to be more flexible with the time, and also to be more mindful of your feelings on the day. Some couples opt to get ready in separate locations or if in the same house, then at different ends of it, and then they choose to have a first look: that is when you see each other for the first time in your wedding outfit. This is a great way to build up the surprise and have a special moment. Other couples choose to get ready together, dressing up each other is a way to show to each other how much you care for your relationship.

Fran Jorgensen is a Melbourne based wedding photographer in love with natural light. My aim is to chase natural emotions and golden light. Through my work I hope to be able to transport you back to your epic day in years to come.