FAQs

Essentially, adventure elopements are all about getting married out in nature. Whether it involves a 3 hour hike, a helicopter ride, an abseil, a boat ride, a scuba dive, or just a leisurely stroll outside your cabin.

At Wander and Be, we live and breathe adventure elopements. We’re highly knowledgeable, experienced and creative. We do more than advise and plan the best celebration of your life. We take a considered approach to your needs, wishes, interests and styles. Every elopement is one of a kind, just as you are.

We are based on the NSW South Coast and in Canberra, which means we mostly cover the areas from Sydney, all the way down the coast to Narooma and inland to Canberra and the Snowy Mountains.

In saying that, we do often travel far and wide so if there is a particular destination you’re considering that is outside this radius, we’d still love to hear from you.

Yes absolutely!

Make no mistake, eloping is 100% legal. Whilst you will be getting married out in nature, or somewhere that is not a traditional wedding venue, in Australia it is completely legal to get married where you’d like. Just bear in mind, some Councils and National Parks in Australia may require you to obtain permit when using a public space to hold an elopement ceremony. Just reach out to us and we’ll let you know of any permit requirements.

Yes you can!

In general, eloping in a National Park in New South Wales (NSW) is possible, but there are some regulations and restrictions to consider.

Firstly, it’s important to note that eloping in a National Park requires a permit. You will need to contact the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to obtain a permit for your elopement ceremony. Depending on the location and size of your ceremony, a fee may be required.

Secondly, while eloping is allowed in some areas of the National Parks, there are some areas where it is prohibited. You will need to check with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to find out which areas are suitable for your elopement.

Thirdly, it’s important to respect the environment and wildlife in the National Park. This means following the Leave No Trace principles, not disturbing the wildlife or natural habitats, and avoiding damage to any cultural or historical sites.

Lastly, it’s important to keep in mind that the weather in the National Parks can be unpredictable, so it’s important to plan accordingly and have a backup plan in case of bad weather.

At the earliest, one month from now!

You’ll need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form to Jacqua Celebrant at the latest one month before the date you’d like to get married.

Once signed, your NOIM form is valid for up to 18 months and means that now you can get married!

When it comes to planning your elopement at such short notice, our biggest advice would be to hire an elopement expert, photographer and guide, like us.

Whilst you could whip up plans within a month of where to elope, including a timeline and some vendors in the area, we have found that couples have reached out to us after trying to organise it themselves, exhausted with stress.

Elopements are all about having an stress-free experience and is the ideal start to your marriage. We’re here to take all of that panic and worry out of the equation so you fully immerse yourself in the magic of your day.

The process is really simple and Jacqua will organise everything for you. Firstly, we need to get your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form completed and your signatures witnessed by Jacqua. She will also need to sight some IDs. Passports are best (valid or expired - however not cancelled). Australian Birth Certificate and Drivers Licence are also accepted. If you’ve been married before, we’ll need to include these details and Jacqua will need to sight your divorce papers.

If you’re applying for a partner visa within Australia, Jacqua can write up a Letter of Support to include in your application with your signed NOIM form attached.

There are a few other legal documents that Jacqua produces along the way. A Declaration of No Legal Impediment, to be signed pre-ceremony. Two Certificates of Marriage that we sign with two witnesses at the end of your ceremony. Once the ceremony is over, Jacqua will register your marriage with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. Jacqua will apply & pay for your Official Marriage Certificate (currently $67 in NSW and $72 in the ACT) which will be sent to you via registered post. That’s it, folks. Simple!

If you would want them there, yes! One of the biggest misconceptions of elopements is whether family can be involved. They absolutely can. Many couples love to elope to escape the drama associated with families at big, traditional weddings. However, at an elopement, you can do things however you’d love.

Family and friends can be a part of the day whenever you’d like them to be. For example, many couples may prefer to have a small adventure on their own for part of the day, and then welcome friends and family to the ceremony they will have.

Most elopement ceremonies run for 20-25 minutes. If you’d like yours short, we recommend nothing less than 15 minutes otherwise you’ll seriously blink and miss it. If you are interested in lots of elements within your ceremony like a reading, a ritual and / or long personal vows, it could run for around 30 minutes.

Yes please, especially if you are getting married in a National Park or isolated area with no shelter. On the off chance, there’s inclement or dangerous weather conditions on your day, it means you won’t be stressing and we will all be very thankful for planning this ahead of the day.

Absolutely!! We work with many incredibly talented people in the wedding industry as well as knowing the best places to stay, eat and play plus hidden gems. We’ve compiled a nerdy spreadsheet of all our favourites, so please go ahead and ask. We will send our top picks to match your style and location.