How to Elope in Western Australia

Is eloping for you? So many times in the wedding process, a frazzled bride will exclaim "We should just elope!" But few actually go through with it. Given the high cost of a wedding, and the prominence of celebrities eloping, this might be an option worth considering. There's always a feeling of romantic rebellion when eloping is mentioned. It can be a good way to save money, but you should keep in mind the pro's and con's of eloping. Although it might be a good idea at the time, will you regret not having a wedding in the years to come? You might want to keep in mind a few of the things below:

PROS

It's cheap - Eloping is significantly cheaper than the traditional wedding. Would you rather spend money on the reception or on plane tickets to the Caribbean? Of course, there is the cost of the rings and the honeymoon, but these last beyond the few hours that the average wedding ceremony and reception go for.
You may also be avoiding family arguments, especially if one partner's parents disapprove of their choice of spouse, or if a divorced set of parents can't stand to be in the same room together.
It's simpler - You don't have to spend a year on wedding planning.
The Style - You can marry whenever and wherever you like.
It's Fast - If a fast wedding is what you are looking for, eloping might be the way to go. Note: In Australia eloping is not like Las Vegas - you must lodge a notice of intended marriage one calender month before the date.

CONS

It only happens once - Your wedding day will be one you will remember for the rest of your life.
Regret - Will you look back on it and regret not having your friends and family there with you to share this special day?
Memories- Although eloping might be a good idea, will you miss not having the memories of a wedding day in the years to come?
Friends and Family - There will be disappointment among family and friends when they've learned you eloped. Your parents will almost certainly regret never being there when you get married. If your parents' wishes are a concern, you may want to think twice before eloping. Mothers of the bride especially tend to have hurt feelings when they find out that their daughters didn't invite them to their wedding. If your parents already don't approve of your fiance, this might be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, and your new husband may never have a good relationship with the family.

If you and your fiance decide that eloping is the right option for you, consider these variations that might avoid some of the pitfalls of eloping:

Have a ceremony that's just the two of you, but throw a reception afterward for all your friends and family.
Hire a professional photographer to come with you to your ceremony, then send out great pictures of the event with your wedding announcement.
Invite your parents and best friends to come with you - the small group can go out for a celebratory dinner afterward.
Elope now, but make plans to have a blowout five year anniversary party. You might even include a cheeky note with your wedding announcements saying something like "Our wedding day was just the two of us, but we hope you'll come celebrate when we make it to tfive years on June 26, 2014. "

If you do decide to elope, be sure to not act too quickly. Consider carefully where you want to marry, and look into the marriage license laws of Australia:

Marriage Laws in Western Australia (extracted from Government of WA Department of the Attorney General)

A Notice of Intended Marriage - Form 13 must be completed and lodged with the person who is performing the ceremony (proposed celebrant) at least one calendar month, but no more than 18 months, before the preferred date of marriage. The notice form is obtained from the proposed celebrant.

The marriageable age in Australia is 18 years for both men and women. Marriage of somebody who is 16 years but less then 18 years is possible only if the person they are marrying is 18 years or older. In this situation, parental consent and a judge or magistrate's order are required for the minor. Two people under 18 years of age cannot marry each other.

The bride and groom must show the proposed celebrant documentary proof that they are 18 years old or older. That proof must be a birth certificate if born in Australia. If the bride or groom were not born in Australia, then the celebrant can accept a valid overseas passport in lieu of a birth certificate.

If either person has been married before, that person must show the celebrant proof that they are free to remarry. That proof is usually a decree nisi of dissolution of marriage that has become absolute or a death certificate.

If your are considering heading to the Perth Registry Office you will still need to fill out a Notice of Intended Marriage - Form 13 at least one calendar month prior. For all the details of Marriage in the Perth Registry Office, CLICK HERE for full details.

How to elope

Opting to elope over planning a traditional wedding can be a refreshing and fun way to tie the knot. Want to elope and wondering how to elope? The date for application is at least one calendar month which will give time to order your dress and the availability of the hotel destination and officiant, an elopement can be planned in one day to as long as one wants to take. Below you will find the 7 steps to successful elope planning.

The average wedding takes six months to a year or more of advance planning - destination wedding planning can be done in a matter of weeks, sometimes even days.

The 7 Step how to elope checklist

The first step - is deciding to elope and forgoing the joys of arranging long-lost relatives peaceably around tables. Eloping isn't for everyone, but for some, there's endless appeal in taking your vows in a vacation-like setting. And when you choose to elope over planning an elaborate wedding, you're guaranteed to free yourself from a enormous amount of organizational stress.
Determine your budget
When you combine a marriage ceremony with a honeymoon location - elopes can be a bargain, compared with the cost of conventional weddings.
A honeymoon elope can save money and instead of having to pay for 250 guests to enjoy the wedding buffet - you could have the honeymoon of your dreams. If you have an elope wedding, your guest list will be cut in half - or more. Less people means less food, less drink, less chairs... Also, with a beautiful setting such as a beach or country setting, you will not need to shell out money on decorations like you might otherwise.
Facility rental, invitations, expensive dresses & tuxedos for the wedding party are just a few of the expenses one can eliminate by traveling to another location. An elopement wedding and honeymoon costs in the neighborhood of $5,000. Many hotels offer elope packages or even smaller wedding packages. You could Honeymoon at the best hotels, enjoy luxury dining, see the world through a unique perspective, and return home with enough left over to throw a small intimate reception with immediate family & friends.
While there are not official statistics on the average cost of an elopement, elopement packages including a hotel for a week, the officiate, photographer and album, ceremony site, cake, and musical selection tend to range between $2,000 to $8,000.
Read WA State marriage laws HERE for for all for all the information about marrying in WA. Notice of Intended Marriage - Form 13 must be completed and lodged with the person who is performing the ceremony (proposed celebrant) at least one calendar month, but no more than 18 months, before the preferred date of marriage. The notice form is obtained from the proposed celebrant.
Choose where to elope and honeymoon
Anywhere from Broome, The Swan Valley or Margaret River. There are many wondrous places in WA to have a wedding - from a beach wedding in Broome to a country retreat in Denmark. Whether it's in a registery office in Perth or in a charming homestead, getting married in a far out of town setting can add to the enjoyment of the day and create memories to treasure through the years.
Choose your elopement ceremony (location, time, officiant, vows, rings, dress, flowers, photographer, attendants, music) What tradition parts do you want at your wedding. Flowers, a proper wedding dress these are now the decisions on what areas you want to keep traditional.
Decide if it will be just the two of you elope or invite your closest friends and family who you want to attend. Figure out when to tell everyone, will it be a post elopement announcement or a pre elopement one?
Once you have returned from your elopement and honeymoon send out announcements to your family and friends to proclaim your good news. Use a favorite picture from your ceremony or honeymoon and break the news on stationary fashioned as an announcement card. Decide if you are going to have a post elopement party with your family and friends that where not present to celebrate your wedding when you return home. Wear your wedding clothes and display pictures of the event and your guests will feel like they were there.