A six-guest elopement, sunset vows & blood moon eclipse dinner
Daylesford has always held a special place in Lachlan and Chris’s hearts, making it the perfect setting for their intimate celebration with just six guests.
They chose Sky High, Mt Franklin as the backdrop for their day, exchanging personal vows while taking in sweeping views of rolling hills, farmland, and bushland.
Wanting the experience to feel like a warm family getaway, they kept the celebration beautifully small and deeply personal. Thoughtful touches – from curated welcome boxes for their guests to shared moments over incredible food – made the celebration feel both meaningful and relaxed, a true reflection of their love.
Small in scale, but rich in every moment, Georgia Verrells was the talent invited to capture the day in photography and Super 8, documenting every heartfelt moment.
The meeting.
We met through work back at the beginning of 2015, and had a growing friendship that eventually blossomed into our little slice of magic.
The proposal.
Lachlan was saving the proposal for our trip to Italy but then one afternoon on our balcony at home, gorgeous sunshine, pink and blue shaded skies, a glass of prosecco each – 2 birds flying together overhead – and that was the moment Lachlan ended up dropping to one knee and proposing in the comfort of our our home – a moment that was just ours.
Choosing a small celebration.
We like to keep our private life a little more private, and really thought about different settings and combinations of people and in the end decided that the only thing that really mattered was us, and our parents of course.
Style inspiration.
The Daylesford area is somewhere that we love and is embedded in our life – and is potentially somewhere we would like to live one day, so that was our starting point. We then found the incredible ‘Skyhigh’ Mount Franklin, which is a stunning property on the hilltop with sweeping majestic views of the Daylesford and Hepburn shires.
From there we decided to go with a country style, chic and rustic vibe.
The outfits.
We immediately knew we wanted to do beige suits and ended up finding that the best fit and nicest looking was from YD.
Favourite moment.
Too many to choose from – the whole day was a dream. It couldn’t have been more perfect. However, sharing our vows was especially personal and beautiful. We also had a spectacular sunset during our portraits with our incredible photographer, Georgia. Then came our amazing dinner during the Blood Moon eclipse, which meant we could see more stars than usual – it was the most magical sight. Very lucky.
Meaning of marriage.
To us, it’s a commitment to each other, to choose each other every day and a way to fully express what we mean to each other. It means that our love and friendship will forever be the most important thing in our lives.
Celebration soundtrack.
Aisle: Can’t help falling in love – Music Travel Love
Celebrate: Higher – VINCINT
First Dance: Hero – Music Travel Love
Funny stories (or near disasters).
It was pretty dire weather in the week leading up, extreme rainfall – cold and dreary. All the way up until our wedding day, the sun was out, the sunset was sublime – we were very lucky.
Planning surprises.
I think it took us all of one afternoon to lock in our venue, photographer, celebrant and caterer. So, it was a pretty perfectly aligned scenario.
Sharing the news.
People sort of knew, but we ended up just announcing with our first batch of stunning sneak peek photos.
Words of wisdom.
It’s all about you both. Make it what represents you as a couple and enjoy every moment on the day you marry your best friend.
Special touches.
We really wanted the weekend to feel like a special getaway for the whole family, so everything was thoughtfully planned around that.
We started with a beautiful dinner at the house the night before, setting the tone for the weekend.
Each guest received a curated welcome box, complete with little touches like Polaroid cameras so everyone could capture moments throughout the celebration.
We also prepared a guest itinerary for the weekend, along with boutonnieres and corsages included as part of the experience.
On the day, we spent time together with a relaxed picnic at the lavender farm before heading back to get ready for the main event.
To round it all out, we shared a lovely family breakfast the following morning before everyone headed home, giving us one last moment together to reflect on the weekend.
The grooms then stayed another night and then had a week in Daylesford together.
Chris and Lachlan’s Vendors
Ceremony location: ‘Sky High’ Mount Franklin is sublime!! What an incredible property set on top of rolling hills and beautiful Australian landscape. The house itself is an architectural dream, providing a modern twist on an almost a retro vibe that is completely designed and curated around 360 views of Mount Franklin/Daylesford/Hepburn. It was exactly what we were looking for – a home we could properly settle into for the weekend and celebrate with our own dream micro/intimate wedding. Providing a landscape like no other
Reception location: ‘Sky High’ Mount Franklin. The house: Everything feels so considered, from the materials to the layout, but it’s still warm and comfortable, but superbly designed. The floor-to-ceiling windows and the views out over the hills are surreal, especially at sunrise and sunset. It has that rare feeling of being both expansive and really grounding at the same time. What an experience – slow mornings, long lunches, music playing through the house, a few wines looking out at the view, dinner followed by star gazing – it all just unfolds really easily. Sky High is all about the FEELING. We felt joy, peace and were completely present. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay and have our wedding. Thank you Sky High xoxo
Celebrant/Officiant: Stanley Browning was the absolute best to work with. From the very beginning, he brought such a warm, friendly, kind and genuine energy to the process. He made it feel super easy and was an absolute dream to have officiated our day. He was able to be ‘off book’ and create a ceremony that felt incredibly real, and personal and was able to reflect our love in such an authentic way. On the big day, Stanley brought such a calm and welcoming presence and fitted in perfectly with our families. He was able to be friendly and light and also have everyone completely engaged. All of our guests commented on how genuine and authentic the ceremony was. We couldn’t have imagined a better person to marry us. If you’re looking for a celebrant who is kind, passionate and real about what he does, Stanley is the one. Thank you Stanley x
Photography: Georgia Verrells was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding, she was perfect. From the beginning, she just got what we wanted. Just a natural, documentary-style approach that made everything feel effortless and at ease. It never felt like a photoshoot, more like she was part of the celebration, capturing it as it unfolded. On the day, she was calm, warm, and incredibly intuitive, knowing exactly when to guide and when to step back. We felt fully present the entire time, and she genuinely enhanced the joy of the day. The photos are beyond anything we could have hoped for. They don’t just look beautiful, they feel real. She captured everything, from the big moments to the subtle, emotional ones we didn’t even realise were happening (and yes… we haven’t stopped crying since!)
Videography: Georgia Verrells brought a really lovely energy to the whole experience. Warm, professional, and just genuinely easy to be around. If you’re considering Georgia, we would strongly recommend locking her in. She’s incredibly talented, but more importantly, she knows how to capture a day in a way that feels TRUE to you. We feel very lucky to have had her as part of ours. P.S make sure you get the Super 8 film done. Forever grateful.
Florist: Tanya Hauer – Dried Floral Bouquet. Creating the most gorgeous dried arrangements with beautiful pops of terracotta and warm, earthy tones that suited the day perfectly. Everything felt so considered and cohesive. The table bouquets were stunning, and the boutonnières and corsages were just as beautifully crafted, they elevated the whole look and tied everything together seamlessly.What we loved most is how natural and timeless everything felt. The flowers didn’t just look incredible on the day, they’ve lasted as a keepsake which makes them even more special. Tanya was also so easy to communicate with, warm, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in making sure everything was perfect. We couldn’t recommend her more highly x
Catering: Emma James Catering was truly a highlight. From the very first bite to the last, the food was absolutely incredible, some of the best food we have ever had. It was all so fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavour. Emma and her team made the experience feel so personal and special. Every dish felt carefully curated, and you could tell how much care and attention went into every detail. It struck the perfect balance between refined and comforting, which is exactly what we wanted. Our guests are still talking about how amazing the food was, it really elevated the entire atmosphere of the evening. The service was also seamless, warm, and professional, allowing us to fully relax and enjoy every moment.
We couldn’t recommend Emma James Catering more highly. If food is important to your celebration, you will be in the best possible hands. Trust the process and trust that food will have you in absolute awe. Thank you Emma and co x
Styling: Chris and Lachy
Suits: YD
Rings: Gregory Jewellers
Cake: CakeInk
Cake topper: Tanya Hauer – Dried Floral Bouquet
Stationery / Signage: Chris and Lachy
