A Short & Sweet Legals Only Wedding in Australia – An Elopement Turned Honeymoon Adventure
There’s something truly special about couples who choose to travel the world and include their wedding as part of their memorable adventures. Travelling from overseas, this lovely couple chose to marry in Australia before continuing their travels around the country.
Their short and sweet legals only wedding was relaxed, meaningful, and perfectly timed to launch their epic honeymoon.
By keeping their ceremony intentionally simple, they were able to focus on what mattered most: being present, stress-free, and officially married — without the pressure of a large wedding day.
How to get married in Australia if when you won’t be in the country a1month prior to lodge the NOIM form
Many couples travelling from overseas to get married in Australia will make an appointment with the Australian Consulate in the country they reside in, to sign the electronically completed NOIM form we provide them with (to ensure it’s all correctly completed prior to this appointment), in the presence of an Australian Consular Official.
This NOIM form can then be scanned and emailed to us, and providing everything is in order, the marriage can take place from 1 month from the date we receive the scanned NOIM form. You’ll find more info about the process of eloping in Australia from overseas here.
A Relaxed, Heartfelt Private Ceremony
The couple exchanged vows in a short and sweet legals only wedding ceremony at The Elopement Deck, a private and tranquil ceremony space surrounded by lush greenery, and trailing plants.
The setting feels intimate and secluded, with soft natural light, timber decking, and greenery creating a calm, relaxed atmosphere, perfect for a legals-only elopement.
With 2 close friends as their Photographer and witnesses (yes, your Photographer can actually be one of your witnesses), the ceremony was personal, heartfelt, and beautifully unhurried.
Standing hand-in-hand, they shared a genuine moment together. Perfectly showcasing how a short and sweet legals only wedding can still be incredibly meaningful. No fuss. No pressure. Just love, laughter, and a moment that truly felt like them.
Overseas based family were able to share in the moment in real time via livestream.
5-Star Review for Celebrant Jamie Eastgate from the Newlyweds
“From the moment we first contacted Jamie, he was incredibly helpful, responsive, and reassuring.
He made the entire wedding process feel enjoyable, and genuinely special, which is exactly what we hoped for.
Jamie and his wife Cara are friendly and professional, and it was clear from the start that Jamie is deeply thoughtful in how he approaches his work.They truly care, and that care shows in every detail.We chose the private elopement deck, which was absolutely beautiful and ideal for an intimate ceremony.It felt secluded, calm, and well protected from the weather, perfect for us.We could not recommend Jamie and Cara more highly and would encourage anyone considering getting married in Brisbane to choose them.Thank you, Jamie and Cara, for creating such a memorable and heartfelt experience for us.” A+F
Urgent Marriage Registration & Collecting the Certificate in Person
Because the couple were continuing their travels and required their marriage to be legally recognised back home, timing was crucial.
They opted for urgent registration of their marriage, opting to collect their official Queensland marriage certificate just two business days later, in person from BDM Queensland. This in-person collection option is relatively new and is a fantastic solution for international couples who are short on time and when it’s inconvenient to wait for documents to be posted.
It’s worth noting if you would like to collect your registry issued marriage certificate in person from the BDM QLD office, once we’ve submitted it we have no control over how long it takes them to register your marriage. That’s completely out of our hands. We could offer a ‘guestimation’ based on if it’s peak season or otherwise, but we wouldn’t be betting any money on their timeframes.
Apostille with DFAT – What Overseas Couples Need to Know
Once the official marriage certificate was collected, the couple made an appointment to have it apostilled by DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) before leaving Brisbane. An apostille is often required for international recognition of Australian marriage certificates, depending on your country of residence.
The process is straightforward when timed correctly:
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Urgent registration increases the chance your marriage certificate is ready sooner
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In-person collection saves valuable days of postage
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DFAT apostille appointments can be completed before departing Australia
For couples travelling from overseas, this planning can make all the difference, allowing you to return home with everything you need in hand all legally finalised.
Proof That a Short & Sweet Legals Only Wedding Can Still Be Special
This elopement is a perfect example of how a short and sweet legals only wedding can still feel deeply personal, beautifully styled, and completely stress-free. It gave the couple exactly what they wanted: a meaningful wedding day and the freedom to head straight into their Australian honeymoon adventure.