Wedding Frequently Asked Questions
About weddings, marriages & elopement ceremonies
The answers to some of the most frequently asked questions relating to
getting married, weddings and eloping in Perth!
Elopement or Wedding? What's the difference?
What is an elopement?
An elopement used to mean 'running away to get married'. It can still mean that, and I've married many couples in Perth who don't live in Perth.
But more and more couples are eloping in their hometown. What are they running away from? Outdated traditions, and all the expectations and 'rules' that can surround a 'wedding'.
To elope is to really free yourself from doing anything for anyone else, and really focussing on the two of you and your relationship. And yes, it is legal to elope.
Most of the Perth elopements I've done have had only the couple, the two-legally required witnesses, me as the celebrant and perhaps a photographer (who can also be one of the witnesses). However, some couples have wanted a few of their very best people with them as they tie the knot, which is why The Elopement Package includes up to ten guests.
How is The Wedding Package different to The Elopement Package?
If you're planning on having more than 10 guests at your marriage ceremony, you'd be looking at The Wedding Package. We still have the laid-back, relaxed vibes of an elopement, but once there's a crowd, there's a bit more to organise.
For starters, we'll need a microphone and sound system to make sure everyone can hear! I'll need to be onsite for longer than an elopement. You may want to have an extra catch-up in the form of a rehearsal/walk and talk through before the day, where we talk through the ceremony so everyone knows where it's at.
All of these are included in The Wedding Package, along with the opportunity to have a longer ceremony with a few extra bits - like me telling your love story - if you wish.
Tiny wedding / micro-wedding / elopement?
There has been a lot of discussion about trying to define words like this lately. I like to keep things simple and only offer two packages - The Elopement Package and The Wedding Package.
If you're not sure how your ceremony fits into these categories, let's talk about it!
Blog post - Eloping at home - a Perth city urban elopement
Where should we elope?
In Perth, or south-west WA of course!
Seriously, whether you live in Perth or want to come here to elope, it's an awesome place for elopements. There are loads of options whether you're thinking bush, beach or the city.
You could elope in a public park, like city parks Kings Park, Hyde Park and Stirling Gardens.
I've done elopement ceremonies in backyards and AirBnbs and I'm happy to work with you to find the best option for you as a couple.
How long before the wedding should I book a celebrant?
For me, the sweet spot for wedding bookings is 6-8 months in advance, and for elopements 2-5 months before the day.
I take wedding bookings a maximum of one year in advance, so if you already have a date for your ceremony, it's good to have it locked in to my calendar so no one else books me for your date. If you don't have a date yet, we can still meet up and chat about your plans.
The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) is a legal document that must be completed and lodged with your celebrant at least one month prior to the ceremony date.
There are some ID and information requirements for this document to be prepared, so to avoid the stress of time pressure, make sure you leave time for this by contacting me ASAP. Once lodged, it's valid for 18 months, so even if you're not sure of your exact date yet we can still get the legal side of things started!
Can we have dogs at weddings?
For me, the answer is always YES! Dogs are family and should be there if it's important to you. The only exception is if your pup would be stressed by the event, or you're marrying in a National Park or venue where dogs are prohibited.
If you have concerns about your pup's behaviour at the wedding, consider involving a dog trainer in the leadup to the event. And always make sure there is a person who the dog is comfortable with who will be the pup's caretaker, and that they have water for pup to drink - and poo bags!
If you're eloping, then it's not so much of an 'event' and doggo can just be around you as you say your vows, perhaps at the park or your backyard.
Of course, you know your dog best, and if being at the wedding would be stressful for them, you can always show them the photos later.
Blog post - Can we have dogs at weddings?
What's the deal with witnesses?
The minimum number of people who can be at any marriage is five - that is, the marrying couple, the celebrant, and two legally-required witnesses.
Blog post - Who can witness a wedding?
What is an Earth-friendly / conscious / eco - wedding?
A conscious, Earth-friendly eco-wedding is designed by making considered choices about every element of the event. It’s choosing the best option that serves both you and the planet.
As consumers, every time we spend money we are supporting something. Planning your wedding or elopement is an awesome opportunity to use your buying power to support businesses, companies, products and people who are helping, rather than hurting, our planet.
On my About page, you can read more about how I aim to tread lightly on our planet as a business..
Blog post - Perth's best elopement and wedding vendors
How can we make our wedding more eco-friendly?
You can use this Wedding Footprint Calculator - a free resource from Mindfully Wed - to calculate your wedding's footprint and get ideas of how to reduce and offset any impact.
Some examples of eco-conscious, Earth friendly ceremony choices include:
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reducing waste by only including the people, elements and things that really matter to the two of you
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hiring your outfit, or buying one vintage or second-hand
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choosing not to have balloons (which may end up choking wildlife in our waterways)
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using locally-grown, spray-free flowers instead of flowers that have been grown on the other side of the world
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including a tree-planting ritual in your home ceremony
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choosing a caterer that uses local organic produce and composts food scraps
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consider a vegan or vegetarian menu or less meat in your catering
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decorating with reusable, non-harmful items such as local flowers and cotton bunting
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reminding guests to bring their own water bottle or hiring a reusable water dispenser and glasses, to avoid single-use plastic water bottles and cups
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repurposing items you already have instead of buying new, eg clean jam jars instead of vases
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giving your guests a packet of seeds, a plant or a charity donation as a gift
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offset your wedding by planting trees, eg through Greenfleet
Resource link - Wedding Footprint Calculator by Mindfully Wed
