Some of the loveliest weddings I do are the quietest ones. Prince and Sagandeep — a warm young Indian couple — didn't want a big hall or a long guest list. They wanted each other, two of their closest friends, and a calm corner of a Sydney garden. So that's exactly what we did: a cute, simple elopement in my backyard, in front of the stone Buddha, with nothing to rush and no one to perform for.
Just the two of them, and their best friends
There's a quiet confidence in a couple who choose to elope. Prince and Sagandeep knew what mattered to them — the marriage, not the machinery around it — and they trimmed the day down to its very heart. No stage. No seating plan. Just the two of them, and the two friends who mean the most, standing close enough to reach out and touch.
For a lot of couples I meet, this is the dream once they realise it's allowed: you don't need a crowd to be properly, legally married in Australia. You need each other, two witnesses over eighteen, and a celebrant. Everything else is optional. Prince and Sagandeep leaned all the way into that, and the day felt lighter for it.
Modern wedding, traditional values
This is why small weddings feel more special. Just the two of you is more than enough. 🤍
Just an intimate ceremony in a private garden — your vows, your rituals, and all the legal paperwork handled for you.
Micro weddings, from two guests up — because sometimes the smallest ceremonies hold the biggest moments.
A backyard, a Buddha, and a calm kind of magic
The garden did a lot of the work. The stone Buddha, sitting serenely in its alcove with a bamboo screen behind, gave the whole ceremony a still, unhurried feeling — the kind of backdrop that makes people lower their voices and soften their shoulders. Sagandeep in her deep-red suit and Prince in his burgundy jacket looked wonderful against all that grey stone and green.
It's one of the things I love about hosting intimate weddings at home: the setting is already gentle and personal. There's no venue clock ticking, no next booking waiting to come in. We could take our time over every part of it, and the couple could actually breathe and enjoy their own wedding.
Making it official
Once the vows were spoken and the rings were on, we signed the paperwork with their two friends as witnesses — and just like that, in front of the people they love, Prince and Sagandeep were married under Australian law. Simple, warm and completely valid: an elopement is every bit as legal as the biggest wedding in the biggest hall.
If you're picturing a day like this but you'd be coming as just the two of you, don't let the witness rule stop you — I can arrange the two witnesses your marriage needs, so you can genuinely elope and still have everything the law requires. It's one less thing to solve.
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Moments from their day
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The two of them, in the garden
A moment by the Buddha
The ring exchange
Thinking of eloping in Sydney?
An elopement in Australia is simple, but there are a few real rules behind the romance. You'll both need to be over 18 (or have a court order), free to marry, and you'll need two witnesses over 18 who can understand the ceremony. If you'd rather it be truly just the two of you, that's fine — I can provide the witnesses so nothing's missing.
The single thing to sort out ahead of time is the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), which has to reach your celebrant at least one calendar month before the day. Once that clock is ticking, an elopement can be as small and as soon as you like — a garden, a backyard, a lookout, or a quiet room, with the people who matter close by. Tell me the day you're picturing and I'll take care of the rest.
Common questions about eloping in Sydney
How many people do you need to get married in Australia?
Just four: the two of you, two witnesses aged over 18, and your authorised celebrant. There's no minimum guest list beyond that, which is why an elopement is completely valid in law. Prince and Sagandeep married with their two closest friends as witnesses — small, warm and every bit as legal as a 300-guest wedding.
Can you elope in a backyard or garden in Sydney?
Yes. A private backyard or garden is one of the most relaxed and affordable places to marry — no venue hire, no time limit, and a setting that already feels personal. Prince and Sagandeep eloped in my garden in Bella Vista, with the stone Buddha as their backdrop. You're welcome to marry in your own garden, mine, a park or any spot that means something to you.
What if we want to elope with just the two of us — who signs as witnesses?
Australian law needs two witnesses over 18 to sign the marriage certificate, but they don't have to be people you know. If you'd like to elope as a couple with no guests, I can arrange two witnesses for you, so you can have a genuinely private ceremony and still meet every legal requirement. You can read more on the elopements page.
Is an elopement as legally valid as a big wedding?
Every bit. An elopement isn't a lighter version of marriage — it's the same marriage with fewer chairs. The law cares about the process, not the party: a lodged NOIM, the vows spoken aloud, and a certificate signed by the two of you, your witnesses and your celebrant. Do that with two friends in a garden and you're as married as any couple in any ballroom — recognised here, and, with certified copies, overseas too.
Picturing a small, beautiful wedding?
If it's the two of you and a handful of the people you love — a backyard, a garden, somewhere quiet and yours — tell me the day you have in mind. I'll keep the paperwork calm and the ceremony genuinely you.
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