ELOPEMENT CHECKLIST

1.     Choose a budget

2.     Select a destination.

3.     Contact a Celebrant and check your legal obligations and wait times + witness requirements

4.     Choose a date and be flexible to ensure you get the professional team and package you want

5.     Contact wedding suppliers and find the perfect package to suit your needs and availability for the time of year you wish to elope

6.     Make travel arrangements

7.     Book your accommodation

8.     Plan your ceremony with your Celebrant

9.     Write your vows 

10.  What to wear.  Settle on the look your going for and make sure it suits the location and environment you have chosen.

11.   Hair and Makeup – is this apart of your package or are you arranging this yourself?

12.  Flowers – are they included in your package or have you opted for no flowers?

13.  Simple or Fancy (or both like ‘Fancy and Free’)

14.  Guest List (if any?)

15.  Plan the Party or your private celebration after the ceremony ie. picnic, long lunch, dinner, or a romantic night in.

16.  Announce your elopement wedding day if your inviting guests, otherwise you can surprise everyone after the event with your amazing wedding album or film.  

BENEFITS OF ELOPING

• More flexibility and freedom

• Less Stress

• Intimacy

• Wedding Moon - elope and be on your honeymoon at the same time

• No obligations to fulfil other’s needs

• Budget or Lavish affair 

• Save money

• Save on planning energy and your time

• Elope at any time you wish – minimum legally obligated timeframe is 4 weeks in advance of your wedding day.  You can easily plan an elopement in 4 weeks.

• Hassle free

• No anxiety sharing your vows in front of a massive crowd of people

• No tension on the day of your wedding

• Rise and shine with a happy heart and not one that is nervous as hell

• Go with the flow but plan – elopement weddings still require a bit of planning

• Do what you want, how you want, and when you want. 

• Get romantic – this is the time to think out of the box and be creative with your lover

• Surprise your family and friends with the amazing photo album and film of your elopement during a BBQ or lunch/dinner. 

CONNECTION ~ WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

“Some personal thoughts on touch and connection during covid 19 by Noosa’s Celebrant: Natalie Skye ~ The Sunny Celebrant ”

Hugs, physical touch, connection, love vibes. That’s what this little Noosa Celebrant is missing the most from the covid19 lockdown. 
When performing weddings it’s not just about the words and vows that are shared. It’s also about the vibes and the feelings, sharing in the love, hugging it out with congratulation kisses from cheek to cheek and high fives in the air.  I call this connection.  It’s easy to connect with someone via phone, skype, email and at the shops, but deep connection when your face to face with someone, to me, is about being in the moment, feeling into the energy of that moment and running with your emotions which usually includes some form of physical touch.  Particularly during an elopement when the sacred space is so intimate, emotional and heightened with passion. It’s an all in frenzy of feels and vibes!

For me, my love language has always been a mix of all the love languages but since I was a young child, physical touch has played a big role in my up bringing and now as an adult. Never in my life (until NOW) have I been told I can’t touch someone; I can’t hug it out, I can’t congratulate someone physically, I can’t handshake and there will definitely be no kisses on the cheeks, high fives, fist pumps or holding of rings.

To be completely honest, it sucks!  I won’t lie.  And feeling the lack of connection in my community and during a ceremony WITH physical touch is something I am really having to get use to (and get my head around) on every level. It feels strange, it feels awkward, it doesn’t feel natural or right.  That is just for me though.  Perhaps for some people, they are probably loving it right about now as physical touch may never have been their love language and may never have been something they were ever comfortable with in the first place – so this is their time to lap up the comfort zone feels in their personal space.

So what does this new norm now look like for me moving forward at a wedding? Well, to be fair, I’m playing it by ear…. (yes, that still means abiding by the law - if I have too) …. feeling the feels and the emotional highs and riding that wave with air hugs and kisses 1.5m away from couples. Although it feels very strange and somewhat not right, my intentions are pure, and I know my couples feel the love and my well wishes that beam like liquid light from my aura for them.

I’m not sure if I could ever live in a world for years on end where we have no touch or physical contact again, because for me, connection on every level is like blood to the veins.  It’s where my soul is rewarded and my cup is filled to the brim because of people, connection, touch, love and a sense of real communion and sacredness.  At weddings, this is paramount.

I’m looking forward to the day that I can hug it out again with all my couples and not just couples, but their families and friends also, and the amazing professionals that I plan and work with at weddings.  When you are a Celebrant who feels deeply passionate about love, people and connection, these feelings of mixed emotions must only be natural – so I’m telling myself.  I seriously can’t wait for the restrictions on social distancing to lift (hopefully sooner rather than later) where we can all once again HUG IT OUT, CONNECT, FEEL, KISS, HANDSHAKE, HIGH FIVE, FIST PUMP, SMACK SOME ARSE CHEEKS AND BRING THE PHYSICAL TOUCH back to the celebrations.

I can’t wait to connect with a cuddle again soon. Unit then, it’s virtual hugs and a heart full of excitement for a new wave of connection to come.

Laughter & Love Always,

Natalie X

Noosa and Sunshine Coast Celebrant

The Sunny Celebrant

Little Cove, Noosa Wedding location ~ perfect for elopements

There are so many amazing locations throughout the Sunshine Coast where you can create that sacred moment in time to day ‘I Do’ but for now, I am going to shine the spotlight on one of my absolute favourite secret little gems ~ Beach access 24, Second Point, Little Cove Deck. I think you will agree with me that the view is amazing which overlooks the entire Laguna Bay, Little Cove, Noosa Foreshore, Noosa North Shore and also the Blackall Ranges. This location is approx. 150m walk east from the Little Cove Beach entry and parking is located in the back streets in Little Cove (up the top) or via the Noosa National Park entrance. Parking can be an issue so many couples choose to walk from Hastings Street (approx. 1km away) or get an Uber to this location.

The deck area is perfect for small weddings and elopements for up to approx. 15 guests and offers a dead end access from the main boardwalk which makes it very intimate for a ceremony, as it’s not really a thoroughfare (except for the surfers occasionally wanting to jump off the rocks to get to the waves).

A photo shoot at this location will not disappoint as the scenery offers large rocky terrain around the waters edge, the sandy shores of Little Cove Beach, the rainforest backdrop of the Noosa Boardwalk (where this deck is accessed from) and also the Noosa National Park should you wish to venture into this zone also. Spoilt for options.

The best time of day for this location is in the morning due to the shade that the rainforest provides the deck area allowing for the views to create an incredible backdrop. In the afternoons it can be quite bright as it faces west and is only recommended for a sunset (or just before sunset) ceremony if your really keen for a PM timeslot.

This deck was recently built with the upgrade of the Noosa National Park Boardwalk and therefore is built to perfection and blends seamlessly with the environment.

If your on the hunt for the best location for your intimate Noosa elopement, don’t pass up the opportunity to check this spot out. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Example of Ceremony Timing for this location: 10.45am Ceremony service. 90 minute photo shoot commencing at 10.40am and continues until 12.10pm. Lunch reservation at Sails Restaurant Noosa at 12.15pm, accessed from the same ceremony boardwalk.

So, from here all you need to do is pick the package that suits you best, lock in my Celebrant Services (Natalie Skye) for your chosen date and get excited about your up and coming wedding. The planning from there will be a breeze. I can’t wait to hear from you soon…..

PS) This photo was taken in December 2019 with a ‘Fancy and Free Weddings’ couple who chose a gorgeous package and were so thrilled with the location that I had picked for them. The time of day this photo was taken - approx. 11am.

LOVE WINS

Do you hear that noise?  The sound of champagne popping at your neighbours house, down the road, around the corner and at your work place!! Australian's all over the country are breaking out the bubbles (especially me) and celebrating the 'same sex marriage' win as Australian gay couple's finally get to be legally recognised for who they love!  What a breakthrough for this country, and I'm so proud of the Australians who fought for what they believed in, by voting YES and standing up for our rights as a nation.  

No longer do same sex couples need to make plans for an overseas destination wedding to New Zealand or the UK to do the deed, when the place they call home ~ Australia ~ can now be the destination for their nuptials. 

It's such an exciting time as a Celebrant to share the joy with gay couple's who now wish to tie the knot and sign the marriage registry in a ceremony that is filled with the same rights and legalities as Australian heterosexual couples. 

I've always been one to attract gay friends over the years, ever since I was a school kid. This is mainly due to being so open minded, non-judgemental and probably far too bloody honest for my own good.  All attributes that everyone seems to love about me, along with a genuine naivety at times that comes with the territory of growing up as a kid in the country (well Mackay actually back in the 80's when it was just a small country town). So it's only natural when you have gay friends, to be filled with joy and happiness (and relief) for their love to be recognised.  And it's not just their love that is on the line - they can now apply for home loans and other investments  together as a married couple which changes everything when it comes to being financially savvy and secure.  This is such a huge breakthrough for Australians and our given right, as we are a nation of choice, allowing the people to share their view, have their say, and be heard. 

So if your thinking of getting hitched, and would love the big gay wedding affair, or prefer an intimate destination elopement, please check out our desired 'fun and fancy' wedding packages which we offer throughout the Sunshine Coast here in Sunny Queensland.  We specialise in Noosa wedding packages for gay couples, but all our packages are flexible for changes (so if fireworks is what your after, it can be arranged) and we travel anywhere for love. And I mean ANYWHERE.  Guaranteed! 

We are a friendly, gay-loving marriage equality team that believe 'love is love', so spread the love on your wedding day and get married on the Sunshine Coast with us.  It's the smart, sensible, fun-loving, crazy, wild, free spirited thing to do.  It's the right thing to do.  And because your so good at it, all you have to do is just say 'YES'.  It's that easy with Fancy and Free Weddings - the GAY ELOPEMENT GURUS.  

Talk soon... Love Nat X 

Worldwide Destination Weddings ~ Noosa Voted as No.1

Fancy and Free Weddings is proudly featured and supported by Great Destination Weddings!  It's wonderful to be recognised for our amazing Noosa elopement packages....

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Top 5 Reasons To Elope to Noosa Queensland Australia →

Our climate & ceremony locations – everyone loves this place because the climate is seriously perfect all year round.  Noosa is a place you can wear your thongs 365 days a year – the weather is wonderful and winters are mild and sunny and the summers are moderate to perfect, just like the waves.  

Our people and professional wedding team – Noosarians are fun loving, laid back, stylishly cruisy people who welcome tourists with open arms, with a passion to show off our stunning beaches and our elegant alfresco restaurants.  Our wedding team compliments some of the best talent in this country.

Our budget saving packages – Noosa is more affordable than ever before, with 4 star accommodation under $100 a night, meal deals galore, and wedding packages to suit every budget, fancy and style.  You can fly directly to the Sunshine Coast airport and cruise to Noosa only 30mins away.  Plenty of public transport is offered via the Noosa River Ferry, Buses and Cabs.  But most people prefer to walk everywhere when they visit Noosa because everything really is so handy and at arm’s reach.   

Our relaxed way of life - you don’t need to go to Fiji or the Maldives to feel like you’re getting away from it all. You don’t need the Indian Ocean to experience azure water, incredible clarity and amazing weather and scenary.  Noosa is right on your doorstep and offers it all.  We only have one 1 rule in Noosa – chill out with elegance and don’t sweat the small stuff – and remember, it’s all small stuff!

Our activities and events - there are so many activities in Noosa, from surfing, standing up paddle boarding, kayaking, horse riding, mountain climbing, abseiling, rock climbing, hiking, beach combing, parasailing, boating on the river, cruising to the Everglades, enjoying the Eumundi markets, shop till you drop, ice cream picnics, eating at the best restaurants in Australia, drinking the best wine known to man and taking in the serenity.  Too many activities to list them all….but you get the picture. Waves of fun for everyone at any age!

So do yourself a favour, make Noosa your number 1 destination this year to get away from it all and get married on your holiday!  And if you're already married….let’s have some fun with a renewal of vows ceremony – why not?

'12 Tips for Having a Great Noosa Wedding' written by Natalie Skye 'The Sunny Celebrant'

A light-hearted, entertaining look at what makes a great wedding, plus all the things that could possibly go wrong on your wedding day, and how to avoid them!   Written by Sunshine Coast celebrant, Natalie Skye, who is a woman in-the-know, having been part of 550+ weddings in her time.

We’ve all been to weddings that are fun, entertaining and simply amazing, then we also remember the weddings that aren’t quite so favourable in the memory bank… the chaotic unorganised mess that turns into your worst nightmare. Getting drenched as a guest, because of no ceremony wet weather back up plan, walking kilometers in heels to get to the wedding destination and drinking on an empty stomach, and still not eating enough, so you leave the wedding starving and ready for a Maccas drive through on the way home.

Either way, weddings are a great time to reflect on your journey, your own love, and sometimes to just go with the moment and have the time of your life. Party with loved ones, strangers and bar staff alike.

So many people ask me, “What makes a great wedding?” Here are 12 honest tips, that are beyond the obvious ones, which may help you on your big day:

1. Beware of the Budgie Smugglers
If you have a beach wedding, be aware of what's in the foreground of your scene.  Everyone loves the sun in Noosa, and old men in G-string budgie smugglers are often a common sight on our beaches. It’s not a good look on your wedding day and only creates more work for your photographer to photo-shop the photos. 

2. Don’t Look Like Count Dracula
Wear waterproof mascara – ok, you’re not a crier and you’re definitely sure tears won’t be a-part of your day, but had you considered the weather, surprise elements, romantic gestures, champagne spray, sea mist or Aunty’s shirt swiping your makeup as she congratulates you. 

3. Avoid Inviting a Scene
If you’re having a secret affair with your neighbour before you enter into marriage, make sure that person isn’t aware of the ceremony date, location and time of your wedding, to object during the service. It creates an ugly scene – seriously!

Try to avoid having drunk and crazy guests at the ceremony or better still, at the wedding altogether. Yes, they can be fun at your Bucks or Hens, but tacky at a wedding.

Make sure family feuds don’t impact your day by policing distance between individuals that could be major threats to your smiles, laughs and peace at your wedding. 

4. Plan a Surprise
Have a surprise element in your day, to really shake things up with your guests. Bring in fire twirlers, a stand-up comedian during dinner, a digeridoo artist, the use of animals during the ceremony or sky dive as your arrival. Make the moment count, and give them all something to talk about for years to come!

5. Don’t Be Late
Be on time for your own wedding – it’s not a good look to see the Groom throwing up in the bush, 200m away from the ceremony site, all due to that last keg of beer he consumed at 5am that morning. Get with it, and if you can’t, get help to get with it.

6. Hydrate
Drink water on the day. Fainting really isn’t a good look at the alter. Stay hydrated, decrease the nerves, laugh off the anxiety and roll with the punches… well, kisses and hugs, actually. Bring on the coconut water – that stuff is gold, and brilliant for a hangover!

7. Ban the Bossy Boots!
Pick the right professionals. Don’t be bossed around on your day, or uncomfortable with the people around you. Be honest, choose wisely, and know you are in great hands. Otherwise not only will you be disappointed in your day, the photos will also reflect the energy and vibe. Trust and be in-tune when you book.

8. Laugh
I know you’re overwhelmed by the entire experience and this is completely natural, but if you want to have a great day, then humour plays a HUGE part in every moment from getting ready, to show time. It’s all in the smile and the laugh. Create humourous vows for a relaxed vibe during the service.

9. Try Not to Topple
Wear heels that work! If you’re walking on the beach, then seriously reconsider those stilettos. If you’re not a heel lover, go with flats – it’s your day, so be comfortable no matter what. 

10. Don’t wear a woollen suit in summer!
In fact, wearing a woollen suit in Queensland should just be banned – full stop.

11. Dance Like it’s 1999
Seriously, is there a better time to make a goose out of yourself and shake a tail feather. It’s the only day of your life you can get away with pretty much anything. 

12. Film it
The day goes way too fast and your mind is in a spin the entire time because you’re on cloud 9, but on a schedule, so lots of the little details – guests’ reactions to things, and other wonderful moments – are often missed, unless life is captured. Having an edited version of your wedding ceremony and your day is one of the best investments you can make.  A picture speaks a thousand words, a movie speaks a million.