Judy and Matt eloped near the Kings Tableland in the the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. Doing something traditional was never on the cards , and from the moment Matt proposed with a black diamond engagement ring, the tone for their unique day was set.

“We wanted a day that was very personal, relaxed, and a nod to our youth with goth/ baroque touches,” Judy shares. “A traditional wedding just wasn’t us. We really did want to run away and get married—just the two of us—and our daughter, of course.”

The day was held in an Airbnb in Wentworth Falls, a place they chose not just for its beauty, but for the sense of peace it brought them. The morning was spent soaking in the underground spa. In fact, the entire experience felt easy and stress-free, not least of all because they hired Elope Blue Mountains to organise everything.

Their officiant, Kyle, crafted a personal ceremony which included a touching tribute was made to their dear friend Brad, who had passed away. “There were a lot of tears,” Judy said. “Kyle did such an incredible job, it felt like we were in the company of an old friend rather than someone we’d just met. We also did a Love Lock ritual (our daughter being the keeper of the key) which was really special.”

The decision to elope allowed Judy and Matt to focus on what truly mattered to them. “By choosing to elope, we essentially gave ourselves a mini getaway holiday,” the bride explained. Instead of pouring funds into a large-scale event, they invested in an experience that was authentically theirs.

Post-ceremony, the couple took advantage of the breathtaking scenery of the Blue Mountains with sunset portraits at Kings Tablelands. “If there’s one thing we might have done differently, it’s bringing a few more tissues for the tears and maybe make-up to touch-up before those photos,” Judy said. “But none of that really mattered, staying true to ourselves and ensuing the day was about the love and commitment we were about to make was the most important thing.”