A tiny secret wedding on a forest mountaintop in Tasmania

Offbeat partner: Anna, Editor

Offbeat partner: Mikey, Social Worker

Date and location of wedding: Forest at Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania, Australia — January 31, 2017

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

We got overwhelmed when we started looking at wedding planning a few weeks after we got engaged. Actually, we got overwhelmed just starting to plan our engagement party. We couldn't really agree on the number of people to invite, the theme, the location, or anything else. We're both from different parts of Australia and neither of us wanted to get married in the other one's hometown, so we decided to make it simple and run away to the most beautiful part of Australia (Tasmania!) and get married in secret on a mountaintop, with only our parents and siblings as witnesses.

We planned it so that we actually got married a couple of weeks before our engagement party, and announced it at the party. It was great seeing everyone's reactions! It also meant that we could invite everyone we wanted to the party without having to stress too much over costs, because it was a fairly casual backyard-style party rather than a traditional wedding.

The wedding itself was perfect for us and I wouldn't change a thing about the way we did it. We chose January 31 because I get weird about significant dates, and that was three months to the day after Mikey's unexpected and amazing proposal in New York on Halloween (honestly, probably the best day ever). I wanted to have a Halloween wedding, but Mikey did not, so a secret wedding was the next best thing. At least my garter had a little ghost on it!

Tell us about the ceremony:

We got married in the forest on the grounds of Cradle Mountain Lodge. Our celebrant recommended part of one of the walking trails where you come around a corner and there's a big platform looking out into the forest, so Mikey and the family waited at the platform while my mum walked me down the aisle (it was more of a boardwalk, really). My dress kept getting snagged on that mesh they put on boardwalks so they don't become too slippery, so that was a bit embarrassing and meant it took a bit longer than it should have.

My dad wasn't there to walk me down the aisle because he died almost seven years ago, but Mum did a great job. Our small wedding party only included my mum and sister, and Mikey's parents and sister, so there was no procession or anything, and the whole ceremony was quite short. We wrote our own vows and both our mums cried. Mikey's were very sweet, because he's a sweet boy. He promised to love and support me, to do his best to bring me happiness, and to watch Shutter Island (my favourite movie, which he's mighty sick of watching) with me whenever I want.

Mine made everyone laugh, because I don't like to take things too seriously. I said that I hoped our parents would give us heaps of money so that we could travel and have loads of adventures. I don't know why everyone laughed, because that part wasn't a joke. After the vows, we signed the paperwork, had a bunch of photos with the family, and then went off for some pictures of the two of us.

Tell us about your reception:

We had a fantastic meal in the Highland Restaurant at Cradle Mountain Lodge after our photos. They did a great job of catering for everyone. My sister is vegan and I'm vegetarian and have a nut allergy, so some places struggle to accommodate both of us. The food, wine, and dessert were all sensational.

What was your most important lesson learned?

You can plan a wedding in less than six weeks! My biggest stress period was after we decided what we wanted to do (run away to Tasmania and come back married before our engagement party), but before we booked anything. We found a brilliant wedding planner/hero, Tracey Bruce from Pop Up Weddings Tasmania, who booked the whole family's accommodation and flights (from three different cities in Australia), our car hire from the airport, my hair and makeup, my bouquet and Mikey's boutonniere, our photographer, and our dinner. She was also our celebrant! My advice is to find a planner you trust and let them organise eeeeeeverything. I would highly recommend a secret tiny wedding if you'd like something low-cost, too.

Vendors

Photographer: Kristy L Photography • Wedding Planner and Celebrant: Tracey Bruce, Pop Up Weddings Tasmania • Venue: Cradle Mountain Lodge • Dress: Tuscany Bridal • Hair and Makeup: Kat Flesfader

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