What Does Elope Mean? Elopements Explained for Australian Couples
The short answer: To elope used to mean running away to get married in secret. Today an elopement means a small, personal wedding, usually with just the couple or a handful of people, and without the usual big reception. It doesn't have to be secret. In Australia a legal elopement still needs a celebrant and two witnesses.
What does elope mean in a wedding?
The old meaning: running away to marry in secret, often without your family's approval.
What it means now: a wedding kept deliberately small and personal. Couples elope to spend less, avoid the guest list fight, travel somewhere they love, or make the day about the two of them.
A modern elopement is often:
just the two of you, or up to about 20 or 30 people
somewhere meaningful: a beach, a mountain, a city street, or overseas
planned around the photos and the experience instead of a reception
told to family before, not after
Elopement vs micro wedding vs registry wedding
Elopement: about 0 to 10 guests. Anywhere you like. Usually no reception, or just a dinner. Legal with a celebrant and two witnesses.
Micro wedding: usually up to about 30 guests. Often at a venue, restaurant or home, with a meal or small party afterwards.
Registry wedding: a small number of guests, often limited by the room, at a Births, Deaths and Marriages office. Usually no reception.
The lines blur. Plenty of couples have a small ceremony, then a bigger party afterwards.
How to elope in Australia
Book an authorised celebrant.
Lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month and no more than 18 months before the date.
Have two witnesses aged 18 or over. You always need witnesses, even if it's just the two of you. With Lovefool, Emily can be one of them. She's done it many times.
Say the legal words and sign. Your celebrant takes care of the wording.
Order your official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Can you elope overseas?
Yes. Many Australian couples marry legally at home, before or after the trip, and have their elopement somewhere like Italy, France or Greece. That way the ceremony overseas doesn't need any foreign paperwork, and you still get an Australian marriage certificate.
Read How to Elope in Italy from Australia and Marry at Home, Celebrate in Europe.
About Lovefool Elopements
Lovefool Elopements is a photographer and celebrant team from Newcastle, NSW. Emily photographs on digital and 35mm film. Izzy is an authorised Australian marriage celebrant. They run elopements and micro weddings in Australia, and on Lake Como and in Sicily from late August to mid-September 2027.