A top-secret elopement in Kings Park
- Sally Bruce
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 27
With a six-week turnaround from first enquiry to married, we co-created a beautiful, simple, intimate and top-secret elopement in a classic Perth location.
Planning to elope in Perth in secret
Many elopements are planned and conducted in secret. This couple, who are travelling the world together, chose to keep their elopement on the downlow. Their family and friends in the UK knew they were engaged, and a big engagement party was planned there. But they knew they wanted to elope here in Perth before returning to the UK. What a way to put down roots in a city you love!
Getting married in Kings Park
Kings Park is an iconic choice for a Perth wedding or elopement. It really is the jewel in the crown of our beautiful city of Boorloo/Perth. With city and river views, it also hosts over 300 species of our state's unique flora in the WA Botanic Gardens.
There are several venues you can hire in Kings Park for weddings and elopements. Booking a space ensures the area is reserved for your event. I recommend hiring one of the gazebos or sheltered areas so we have cover in case of intense sun or rain.
Dryandra Lookout elopement ceremony
I've done several elopements at Dryandra Lookout in Kings Park.
A beautiful spot for a small elopement ceremony, it's away from some of the busier spots in Kings Park, there's free parking right there - and the views are amazing.
Remember that there's some truth in the joke that "W.A." stands for "Windy. Always." This spot can get windy, and I know to be extra careful with the marriage paperwork so it doesn't end up in the Derbarl Yerrigan/Swan River!
Quick turnaround for marriage paperwork
A legal deadline that we have to keep in mind for marriage ceremonies is the one month's notice for lodging the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) document.
With my carefully planned process, we were easily able to get the NOIM prepared, signed and witnessed before this deadline - meaning this couple were legally good to go for their chosen date.
Read more about legal marriage paperwork
Writing Marriage Vows
Using my Vow Writing Guide, the couple each wrote heartfelt words which were added to the legally-required vow wording. I encourage and help my couples to write their own vows because this is the best way I know to make your ceremony uniquely yours.
Choosing legal marriage witnesses
Two of the bride's workmates were delighted to be the legally-required witnesses at the ceremony, and another friend came along as the photographer.
Read more about legal marriage witnesses
Elopement ceremony in Kings Park
Unbenownst to nearly everyone, on a glorious, not-windy Thursday afternoon in May, we gathered in Kings Park for a simple, romantic, and personal elopement ceremony.
We started by signing the pre-ceremony paperwork
Just ten minutes after this photo was taken, they were officially married and I declared them husband and wife.
Just married cake and bubbles
I think it's important with secret elopements to have some celebration afterwards to acknowledge the big thing that's just happened. Our small group enjoyed toasting the happy couple with a glass of bubbles and celebrating with delicious cake. A beautiful impromptu speech was given by one of the witnesses too.
The big reveal - we're already married!
Several months later, at the 'engagement' party in the UK with their family and friends, they announced that they had already eloped in Perth.
Love this idea? See this blog post Should we elope and have a party later?
I loved helping this couple elope in secret! They said:
"We couldn’t have had a more positive experience planning and carrying out our elopement with Sally.
She made the process of getting married in a foreign country so simple and so stress free and it meant that me and my husband were able to enjoy our day and celebrate our love without worry.
We highly recommend Sally as a celebrant for an elopement or wedding and honestly wish we could do the whole process again."
"We honestly can't thank you enough Sally! If there's any other way we can recommend you or if anyone is ever on the fence about elopements or weddings we would be happy to talk to them!"
