Abby & Callum tied the knot just recently in August 2025, and after planning with them for close to a year, I’m beyond stoked to share this Central Coast elopement! This isn’t a true elopement, but rather a fun way to do your wedding, making it unique to you. As a Central Coast wedding photographer, one thing I love is when couples work directly with me and/or a celebrant to create their dream day—taking tips and tricks from multiple POV’s to streamline their vision.
So here’s the deal. Was this an elopement? No…. A micro wedding? Technically no…. A traditional wedding? Also no.
One thing Abby and Callum were sure about when we first started planning was having a small ceremony and having a big party. So bringing this vision to life was a lot of fun! One option for them was eloping one day or earlier in the day and having a ”surprise we’re already married” moment. Which is always a favourite of mine. But this didn’t quite feel right for them.
Another option, which is what we ultimately decided to do, was a micro wedding ceremony. This ceremony was for 30 people max. Immediate family only. And then inviting their extended family and friendship groups to the reception.
For Abby and Callum, this was the perfect balance of an intimate wedding and also a big party to celebrate! As a Central Coast elopement and wedding photographer, this is my ultimate dream for my couples. A happy balance of love and party. A relaxed day with focus’s on your wants rather than the celebrations and social commitments.
Throughout the planning process, I found out that vows were not on the cards, so one thing I suggested was private vows during their portraits. Some people might find this weird. But as someone who is not a fan of public speaking herself. This is the perfect option. Many couples who are not confident speaking in front of crowds often skip the vows and only do what is legally required. However, the vows are one of the most special parts of the day.
They are the heartfelt moments, the parts that leave tears in their eyes, and the bellowing laughs. This is the memorable part. So skipping this part of the day is kind of skipping one of the best parts of getting married. One thing that couples who choose to elope always say is ”I’m so glad we kept our vows private, there was so much less pressure,” and this is 100% true.
I always recommend private vows to all my couples as an option, the second that I find out that they are second-guessing doing them. And I’m so glad Abby and Callum took me up on this. It was short, sweet and heartfelt. Happening in a way that felt true to them as a couple. It was perfect!
During the portraits, we jumped between two locations, Kim’s Beachside Retreat at Towoon Bay and their private Airbnb. This gave us great variety in shots and also made the portraits a little more interesting and stress-free, because nobody was watching them.
After the portraits were finished. We headed off to the reception, where Abby and Callum were waiting for their guests to arrive so they could personally greet their guests. They knew from the get-go they were not into the grand entrance. And this was perfect for them.
This Central Coast elopement/wedding was perfect for those looking to host a less traditional wedding and something a little more like them. I adore being a part of weddings that break the mould of what is expected and instead create days that are memorable to them.
Remember, your day can look however you want it to.
Check out another Central Coast elopement here
If you’re on the hunt for a Central Coast wedding photographer, I’d love to hear from you!