Real Elopement – Bella & Zac, Melbourne VIC
For Zac and Bella, a private, secret elopement was always on the cards. Four weeks out, they were chatting about the year to come and realised they had a gap in their calendar – and just like that, they were planning their stunningly chic, perfectly intimate celebration.
Keeping each element simple and true to them was their planning ethos, resulting in a day impactful in meaning, emotion and excitement and ultra-sleek in style.
Scroll on to see each elegantly timeless epoch unfold through the always artful lens of Sarah Godenzi and Directors Edge.
The meeting.
We met at boarding school. Zac went to an all-boys boarding school, and I went to an all-girls boarding school. The schools would often do activities on the weekends, and so that’s how we initially met.
The one.
After we graduated high school, our worlds started to intertwine through mutual friends. Our first kiss was after karaoke, and from there, we fell hard pretty fast. I think we both knew from our first kiss that we’d found ‘the one.’
The proposal.
We skipped right over this when we decided to elope. We never wanted a big wedding, and neither of us really enjoyed the spotlight. Zac did get down on one knee the day before our wedding, though – so we had one day as fiancés before becoming husband and wife.
Deciding to elope.
A big wedding was never on the cards for us. Everything about a private and secret elopement really sums us up as a couple. Four weeks out from our elopement date, we were chatting about what the year ahead looked like for us. We looked at the calendar, Zac had a bye from football, and you needed to lodge your intent to marry 28 days prior to your wedding. We found the beautiful Charis White to officiate the same day, headed to a police station to have our forms witnessed, and called our three best friends to ask if they would witness our day.
Planning process.
Despite only having four weeks, the planning process was completely seamless and stress-free. We kept everything really simple and true to us. There were the key vendors to arrange – celebrant, photographer, videographer and location. Once we had locked these in, anything else we organised in the short time frame we considered a bonus.
Style inspiration.
Honestly, we just wanted the style to be us. I definitely had a vision for our photos – classic and timeless, but we wanted to have fun with it and for our personalities and love for each other to shine through.
The outfits.
My dress was from Effie Kats. The only size I could find was two sizes too big – I ordered it anyway, as I didn’t have any backup plan. When it arrived, I didn’t have the “that’s the one” moment as it was so big it fell straight down. I could see the vision though, so I popped down to my local alterations – one week out from the day. Thankfully, with no backup plan, the alterations were perfect.
Favourite moment.
I think it has to be the first moment we saw each other. We’ve been together for eight+ years – so it was fun to feel giddy and nervous to see each other.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage is choosing each other every day. Being each other’s home, comfort and place of calm. Marriage is creating a life together, moving toward mutual goals, having fun along the way, and never getting caught up in the race of life.
Elopement soundtrack.
Aisle: Bless the Broken Road
Post ceremony: Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours and Islands in the Stream
Planning surprises.
I think we were probably surprised that we pulled it all off with very little time and very little stress.
Sharing the news.
We had pre-existing plans to catch up with our close friends in Melbourne over the weekend to share the news and FaceTimed our loved ones in Western Australia. We had laid the groundwork for years to lower our family and friends’ expectations that we would have a wedding – so there wasn’t much shock when we announced we had eloped. We have always promised that we would have a party with all our loved ones – so the planning process for that will start soon.
Words of wisdom.
Do whatever speaks to you as a couple. We can all get caught up in expectations or seeing what others are doing around us. Do what is authentically you, and you’ll have the best day.
Controversial – but not telling anyone we were eloping played a massive part in the absence of any stress or expectations for our day. It was quite surreal getting ready and saying “I do” with our three best friends and knowing that no one else in the world knew what we were doing.
Elopements are often an opportunity to realise your personal style without requiring an epic budget or maximum stress. Like Bella and Zac, Lindsay and Charlie leaned into a super chic vibe whilst enjoying an ultra-cool inner city celebration.
BELLA & ZAC’S VENDORS
Ceremony location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne VIC
Reception venue: Drinks at Cellar Bar, Nobu for dinner and cocktails.
Celebrant: Charis White
Photography: Sarah Godenzi
Videography: Directors Edge – Glen
Florist: Petite Fleur
Hair: Bella
Make-up: The Glam by Alexis
The dress: Effie Kats
Shoes: Betts
Rings: The Preswick Place
Groom’s suit & bow tie: Frank Rocca
Groom’s shoes: Peter Jackson
Honeymoon: Maldives soon!