Ruby colourway and city laneways: a Melbourne elopement
Ashlee and Liam’s Melbourne city elopement – zero guests, zero fuss, and every bit of style. Just the two of them, stepping into the day with outfits that exuded flair. Effortless, editorial, and unapologetically them.
Ashlee elevated her sheer skirt look with delicate sheer sleeves and the sweetest little bag, every detail was considered, but never overdone. Liam met the moment in an emerald green jacket, a bold and refined look.
They moved through the city streets with photographer Dee of Finder Seeker by their side – no audience, no pressure, just a love story unfolding exactly how they wanted it to.
And when it was done, they slipped into the newlywed glow of an intimate long lunch at Reine and La Ru for a celebration that felt equal parts understated and indulgent.
The meeting.
We are high school sweethearts. We were a year apart in school, a mutual friend introduced us, and we hit it off.
The one.
There wasn’t one big defining moment. It happened gradually, as we grew together and realised how naturally our values and goals aligned, and how well our personalities supported each other. It created a sense of comfort and ease in our relationship that only deepened over time. As time went on, it turned into a quiet certainty that we were exactly where we were meant to be. Being together just felt like home.
The proposal.
Liam popped the question at our home on a Friday night. I called him on the way home from work, saying I couldn’t wait to relax on the couch after a busy week. Much to my surprise, I walked into our beautifully decorated home. He got down on one knee, and it was the easiest “yes” of my life. We celebrated that entire weekend with our friends and families.
Planning process.
It was an easy decision for us to have an elopement, we knew we always wanted to do it that way. Our planning process, as a result, was fairly simple, and everything was planned and booked within six months. We knew that we wanted to stay true to ourselves and do everything our way.
Style inspiration.
I had envisaged a classic courthouse winter wedding with our own little signature charm. We wanted to have fun with the day, with a relaxed feel, walking through the Melbourne city streets. Some of our favourite things to do are share a cocktail and a nice meal, so we wanted to replicate that but make it extra special.
When people around us started to get married, what resonated most with us were those who eloped. When we saw their photos sharing a long lunch, we knew that’s exactly what we wanted. Neither of us loves being the focal point, so it just made sense for us. Most of our inspiration just came from our own vision of how we wanted to spend our day. We really just followed our hearts and knew what was right for us. I took some inspiration from our photographer’s (Dee from Finder Seeker) previous photo shoots from other Melbourne Marriage Registry elopements and Pinterest helped me to envision how I wanted the florals and other details to look.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was a simple courthouse wedding. It was special to us because it was so intimate. Your wedding day should be about you, right? So that’s what we went with. We were able to really focus on each other, our vows and our love for each other. We felt like we were the only ones in the room – because we almost were!
The outfits.
I knew I didn’t want a classic wedding dress. I still wanted a white dress, but something a little different. Originally, I was looking for a mini dress, but I came across this one with the sheer under skirt from MWL bridal, and I could really envision myself in it. When I tried it on, I knew it was the one. After a few alterations to add the straps, it was perfect. I really enjoyed accessorising my outfit. There are so many cool bridal shoes and handbags out there. I really tried to have fun with that and add a little flair to my outfit.
Liam wanted a sharp suit but was adamant he didn’t want the classic black wedding suit either. He loves the colour green, so he went searching. After trying on a few different shades at The Gentry, he decided the emerald green would be timeless and suit the overall vision of our day.
Favourite moment.
Our favourite part of the day was definitely our long lunch at Reine and La Rue. We sat there for hours, enjoying each other’s company and reflecting on our special day. Not to mention the spectacular food and sharing countless celebratory drinks. We look forward to being able to return there for our anniversaries in the years to come. It definitely holds a special place in our heart.
Meaning of marriage.
To us, marriage means a lifelong commitment to support one another through everything life brings. Through the joyful moments, the quiet everyday experiences, and the more challenging times. It’s about choosing each other, every day, and growing together through the experiences we share. We value not only the big milestones, but also the small, ordinary moments that make up a life together. Our love deepens with every memory we create, and we’re excited to continue building a life filled with meaning, smiles, and unwavering support.
Wedding soundtrack.
We obviously didn’t have the opportunity for the classic first dance, so, after our long lunch we headed back to our hotel room for a dance. We owe this idea to my makeup artist – thanks Adi! We shared a (couple of) first dance(s) in the room to Forever You and Me by The Teskey Brothers and I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Morgan Harper Jones.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
Later in the night, we headed to Kisume for a few drinks and a snack. We expected that we would fly under the radar that night and call all our family and friends the next day to surprise them with our news. Much to our surprise, we bumped into our close friends at Kisume. It was a lovely twist to the night though and we were able to tell them our special news and share a celebratory drink.
Words of wisdom.
If there’s anything we can say, it’s follow your heart and do it how you want. Your wedding day is about you and how you want to experience your special day. We knew from before we were even engaged that the ‘big day’ just wasn’t for us. When we look back on our wedding, we are so happy with how it turned out. People always say to make sure you spend some alone time together on your wedding day, and we were lucky enough to spend the entire day together with no distractions. It was exactly what we wanted, and we couldn’t be happier.
Ashlee and Liam’s vendors.
Ceremony location: Victorian Wedding Registry
Reception venue: Reine and La Rue
Celebrant/Officiant: Mark from Victorian Wedding Registry
Photography: Dee from Finder Seeker Photography
Florist: Pollon Flowers Melbourne
Hair and makeup: Adi Shreeve sourced through The Creative Directory
The dress: Made With Love Bridal
Shoes: ALDO Shoes
Rings: Ash – Kate & Kole, Liam – Uniform Black
Suit: The Gentry
Bow ties / ties: Otaa
Catering: Reine and La Rue
Bar: Pepe’s Italian and Liquor
Honeymoon: We took the elopement route and spent our funds on a once in a lifetime trip around Europe
