We matched on Tinder in 2015. We spent an afternoon together and immediately felt at ease in each other’s company. Eddie is an electrician and a surfer. Amanda is a primary school teacher and mindfulness coach.
We love slow and simple things like being in nature and travelling. Our goal in life is to be happy, and we are. We are the yin to each other’s yang. We never take life too seriously. Our motto is “who cares”. It keeps life uncomplicated. Not long after meeting, Amanda travelled through Central America, and the time apart really cemented our love for each other. Eddie moved south to the Byron shire and we began our life together in Brunswick Heads.
We now have a 2 year old daughter, Winnie. The cost, extravagance and stress of a traditional wedding just wasn’t our style. We wanted our wedding to only be about us, with no ego and no agenda other than becoming husband and wife. Getting married with only ourselves to consider was extremely liberating.
We were researching a trip to Tasmania and were captivated by the pavilions at Freycinet Lodge. We saw that they did elopements. I turned to Eddie and asked “should we do this?” Eddie, the most casual guy, said “yeah, let’s do it.” We weren’t formally engaged, which added an element of surprise for our friends and family.
Our elopement was a total secret, with only Amanda’s immediate family present. We made an announcement on social media the day after and the love and elation from afar was so special. Everyone was so supportive of our decision to elope. My father had passed away suddenly at the beginning of the year. Deciding to marry in the depths of grieving was a beautiful process. It really brought to light what was important to us. It was especially healing for Amanda’s family. Our goal was to spend the day relishing each other’s company and being totally relaxed. We love that we remember all the details and moments. It wasn’t a whirlwind or a blur, but a slow and nourishing day we will always cherish.
Freycinet National Park is dramatically picturesque. The Hazards mountain range frame the turquoise waters of Coles Bay, creating a breathtaking backdrop for a ceremony. I didn’t even consider styling the event; there was nothing you could add to improve the location. I didn’t step foot inside a bridal store, or any store for that matter. Everything was either purchased online, borrowed or vintage, another way we kept the experience stress-free. Bec + Bridge released a bridal range around the time I was looking for a dress, and when I saw the long sleeved gown with the thigh high split, I knew it was the one. The classic silhouette complemented Tassie’s stunning scenery.
During the ceremony, our celebrant paid tribute to my dad. It was heartbreaking not to have him there, but I felt him with me the whole day. Winnie was overdue for a nap by 3pm, which kept things moving and kept us grounded. We paused to pop a bottle of champagne midway through the ceremony. It was fun and spontaneous. A wedding can take a million different formats. Evaluate your values and really get to the core of what you want out of the day. Keep that at the core of your decision- making. Honour your relationship, let go of societal expectations and commence your married life creating a path that excites and honours your relationship.
Photography @ninahamiltonphotography | bride’s dress @becandbridge | bride’s faux fur coat Elka Collective @elka_collective | groom’s suit @asos | venue & catering @freycinetlodge | hair & makeup Tamsin Nolan @tamsinnolan_makeupartist | flora @silvertreebotanics | celebrant Caroline Bentley from elopetotasmania.com.au | styling Amanda Woodrow | rings YCL Jewels @ycljewels | bride’s heels @tonybianco | groom’s shoes @drmartensofficial | bride’s jewellery Earrings & vintage pearl pendant (worn by bride’s mother on her wedding day) on YCL gold choker @ycljewels | Winnie’s dress @jamiekay
