An Intimate Kangaroo Valley Elopement

I’m so happy to share this Kangaroo Valley elopement with you today.  While the pandemic of 2020 definitely ravaged the wedding industry, it also resulted in a few real positives. One of these was of course that many of us were given the wonderful gift of being forced to slow down. To spend more time reflecting on our lives, and the things that are important to us. Specific to the wedding industry, it resulted in lots of couples changing their wedding plans to suit the relevant restrictions. Weddings went ahead but were smaller, more intimate, possibly more meaningful. Kendall and Oliver’s Kangaroo Valley elopement was one of those.

I’ve actually shot a few different elopements over the last six months, one of which was during the height of our lockdown period in NSW. You can click here to see this covid elopement on my blog. This was the first wedding at which I acted as both photographer and marriage certificate witness!

Michelle was with me at this wedding. You can scroll to the bottom of this post to see her film of the day.

An intimate Kangaroo Valley elopement with just 2 guests – Michelle and me

This Kangaroo Valley elopement was a TRUE elopement. No-one knew that Kendall and Oliver were going to get married – not even their families. Zero guests. This actually meant that, for the second time in my career, I acted as one of the witnesses to the marriage and sign the register! The other witness was Michelle who was shooting a video.

The day began at the Old Bakery on the Main Street of Kangaroo Valley where both Kendall and Oliver got dressed. Nikita Lauren came along to expertly do Kendall’s hair and makeup, which looked amazing. While this was happening in one room, Oliver was getting dressed in the next room. We managed to juggle this such that neither saw each other before they were fully dressed and ready for their Kangaroo Valley Elopement.

A special ceremony location for this Kangaroo Valley Elopement

Kendall and Oliver explained to me that they weren’t really sure where to have their ceremony, as they didn’t have a venue booked. They had asked their celebrant, my friend Sue Jackman, if she had any recommendations. It turned out that she knew an absolute cracker or a location just 10 mins drive outside the valley. I couldn’t believe it when we arrived in a small turning bay out in the bush, and walked 30 seconds to the escapement edge. What an incredible spot for a ceremony!

The ceremony was short and very sweet. The wedding register was signed using a massive boulder as the signing table. Local florist Valley Moss made Kendall’s boquet. After these formalities were done, we drove out to a super-special-secret portrait location I know near Kangaroo Valley.

Those cool buses

In the bush near Kangaroo Valley there’s this incredible old bus, sitting semi abandoned. I know the owners, and was able to get permission for us to use this bus for our portraits at this Kangaroo Valley elopement. Even a few hours from sunset, the light here is incredible and shady due to being deep in the valley. It was the perfect place to end a wonderful day.

Kendall and Oliver, thank you SO much for having Michelle and I along to document your elopement. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of the smaller and more intimate celebrations that have been occurring as a result of Covid, and I hope that they continue even when the pandemic is gone. If you’re planning an elopement or a wedding in Kangaroo valley, and you’re looking for a local photographer, I’d love to hear from you!

A couple read their vows to each other at their intimate Kangaroo Valley elopement A newly married couple stand in front of an abandoned bus at their Kangaroo Valley elopement

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