WINTER ELOPEMENT WITH SNOW, FIRE & BOOZE FOR 2

I'm a big fan of change.
It really doesn't.

This started out as a simple shoot - all because I fell in love with a picture of Snow Gums posted on FB.  Then my little ol' brain went into overdrive....
Maybe it could be a wedding inspired shoot - cos well, that's what I do.
Maybe some other wedding peeps would want to get involved - so that we can all show off our #skills and prove that Winter Weddings can be just as beautiful.
Maybe we could a real couple!!  How cool would that be!
Maybe we could find someone who will fit into my Mum's teeny tiny, but ever so flipping gorgeous wedding dress.
Yes.  Yes. Yes.
It ended up being all the YES'!!

So what started off as Game of Thrones-inspired styled shoot - ended up being an actual real life elopement with a gorgeous couple, wearing my Mum's wedding dress, amongst the Snow Gums, in the actual snow, tying the knot, for actual reals!!

What a team we were - honestly, it was more than I could have ever dreamt of.

This is Amie and Nick's take on the day...

What is your proposal/meeting story - or both?:
Rather unromantically, we met at work while Nick, originally from Yorkshire, was in Australia as a Rowing Coach. From the beginning we had an innate understanding of each other, despite having grown up on opposite sides of the world in completely different circumstances. On our first date, we bonded over our collection of broken bones (literally), and the ease with which we made each other laugh. A week later, Amie had booked a one-way ticket on Nick’s flight back to the UK. In August 2016, we packed up our bright purple Vito Mini Van (Manny) and set out on a 5-month journey around Europe. Nick proposed under the full moon, beside a tree on the look-out at Prague Castle.

Are there any significant stories behind why you chose any of your vendors?: 
(editor's note - they were all picked for them - see above!)

Any special traditions or heirlooms you included?:
We both wore our old, leather boots that took us from the Highlands of Scotland to the gardens of the Alhambra, and beyond. Amie also wore a pair of forest-green garnet earrings that her grandmother gave her a long time ago. Wearing our own well-worn boots on the day helped us to feel more like 'us', and they hold even more memories now.

Even though we eloped, we still had a 'first dance' in front of a fire-pit to the sweet sounds of a couple of bohemian musicians singing Oo De Lally from Disney’s 1973 Robin Hood - Fidel even ‘announced’ us onto the makeshift dance-floor.

What kind of ceremony did you have & why?:
We had a very intimate ceremony, consisting only of the two of us, our gorgeous celebrant (Meg), two funky folk musicians (Fidel & Sarah), and, of course, photographer extraordinaire Anna (and chief wisecracker, Mr. T).

Words don't come close to describing how beautiful the location was that Anna had scouted. It was about a 45-minute hike uphill, through the snow, to a small clearing on the side of the mountain. The aisle was a path between a few large rocks and bundles of candles in glass jars, leading to a large tree that had been charred by bushfire. We walked up the aisle, hand in hand, to Fidel & Sarah singing Emmylou by First Aid Kit (which they had learned especially for our elopement).

We wrote our own personal vows, which made up the majority of the ceremony. We kept these vows secret from each other, so saying them out loud during such an intimate ceremony in the snow was exceptionally romantic and personal. By choosing an elopement that consisted of just the two of us, we stayed true to what we knew we always wanted for a wedding; a day that was quiet, relaxed, and reflective of the path we have walked together, the couple that we are, and what our dreams are for the future.

What does your marriage mean to you?:
It means the confirmation of the deeply emotional, respectful and appreciative promises we've made to each other. Our marriage is just a more 'official' declaration of the kindness, creativity, passion, courage and understanding that we endeavour to greet one another with every day. Knowing someone so intimately, through the exceptional and unexceptional, and still saying "I want to experience the rest of my life with you, standing by my side as an equal" is a pretty amazing thing!

Any 'holy shitballs, I didn't see that coming' moments?:
Amie's grandmother evidently jinxed her with an unexpected visitor the morning of the wedding (thanks a lot, nan!). Aside from the universe having a daft sense of humour, the moment that took us both completely by surprise was the reception set-up that Kate and the gang had worked tirelessly all day to put together. It was like stepping into another world.

The bits that stand out the most - that you remembered (before seeing your photos!):
While exchanging our vows, hearing the sound of falling snow hitting the branches of the tallest snow gums we’ve ever seen.

Bits you missed, but your photographer got!:
There's an absolutely stunning picture of Nick holding a bouquet, being pelted with snowballs by our celebrant Meg!

Anything you wished you'd done differently?:
Amie had hair halfway down her back but decided to cut it all off ‘just because’. That was 4 months before we made the decision to elope. Boy, was that a mistake! Other than that total lack of foresight, and our total lack of gloves, there isn’t a single thing we would change!

Please list all the amazing people who made your wedding the bee's knees:
Photography: Anna Taylor
Design & Styling, Furniture & Props:  Kate of Good Day Rentals 
Florist: Marnie of Poppy’s Getting Married
Make-Up: Ashley Hopkins Makeup Artist
Hair: Janey Umback
Celebrant: Meg of Raise Your Glass Ceremonies
Musicians: Fidel and Sarah
Cake: Gina of Miss Ladybird Cakes
Catering: Mr Hall
Ceremony Location: Lake Mountain
Prep & Reception Venue: Binah Guesthouse Glenburn
Shed doors @ Binah Guesthouse: JD Ryan Constructions