We have to let you in on a little secret, guys… Portia and Norton were technically married for a whole year before they got to put their dream day into action! “We were all set to elope overseas and signed our marriage certificates in Australia a few weeks before we were scheduled to leave – but alas, due to COVID, we went into lockdown and travel restrictions were enforced,” shares the bride. “We were in marriage limbo for one whole year before we had our ceremony! But it was worth the wait for such a special day.”
Together for “10 amazing years” prior to getting hitched, Portia and Norton have done things their way, all the way, from moving cities to travelling together – but we’re especially loving the groom’s surprise proposal for his graphic designer gal, which had her totally shook! “We had organised a couple’s photoshoot with the amazing Jade from Visual Poets Society as we realised that we didn’t have any substantial photos in the eight years we had been together (just a tad camera shy!). Little did I know that Norton had organised to propose at the end of the shoot – it truly caught me off guard. It was the most beautiful moment and we are forever grateful that it was captured on camera.”
Three years later (“they say waiting makes the heart grow fonder, right?!”), it was Bulb Creative‘s capable crew on hand to document the celebration, snapping every detail big and small – from Portia’s stunning ethereal gown to her stunning Kate & Kole ring. Though the duo escaped on their own for an intimate elopement, having an amazing bunch of vendors made the day all the more special, with the bride officially calling it: “Best team ever!”
Shall we get into the nitty gritty? Let’s go.
THE VENUE “Our original plan was to elope in the beautiful Scottish Highlands so when we weren’t able to travel overseas, we knew that we wanted to keep a similar feel, only in Australia – so Tasmania it was! We also love the cold (contrary to living in sunny Queensland our whole lives) and wanted that cosy winter vibe for our special day, which we most certainly got! As lovers of nature and mountains, we knew that we didn’t want a ‘venue’ per se but an epic location in a beautiful landscape that made us feel at home. That’s what particularly attracted us to The Elopement Collective – they focus on creating your special and intimate moment in beautiful surroundings. We ended up deciding on Hobart as our location, a gorgeous mix of water and mountains with an enchanting European feel.”
THE DRESS “I always knew that I wanted a minimal yet ethereal dress, which ended up being quite difficult to find in Australia. I found Kamperett online and absolutely fell in love with their gowns. They are based in California so I was a bit hesitant to order my dress online without trying it on first, but I knew that it was the one so I went for it! The process of ordering was so simple and the dress turned out better than I could have imagined. Norton wanted a monochromatic look and decided to go with an all-black outfit. The fab team at YD. were so helpful and made the experience super easy.”
FAVOURITE DETAILS “We kept our day quite simple and the things that we did include were chosen with intention and love so, to be honest, it was all our favourite. From the little things like our vow books to our outfits and jewellery, it all represented us and our style as a couple.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT “Although there were many memorable moments throughout the day, one of our favourites was once our vows were done and we were officially married, we had a little boogie together to celebrate! Another special moment was slow dancing at sunset overlooking the water while we were getting some photos taken. It was like there was no one else around us and we were able to completely embrace each other in that moment.”
LITTLE LOL “Our day turned into a bit of an adventure when we were headed up Mount Wellington for our ceremony and hit a roadblock (literally!) due to the dense fog on the mountain. We decided to go with the flow and head back down to Salamanca Place, and were met with a magical sunset over the water – not quite our original plan but equally as beautiful!
WE’RE GLAD WE… “eloped and had an effortless day that represented us and made us feel so comfortable. You really get to focus on each other and the things that truly matter. We cannot recommend it enough!”
STANDOUT VENDORS “We are beyond happy that we chose to use The Elopement Collective for our special day and to be honest, all of our vendors were so fantastic. From the get-go our celebrant Josh Withers made us feel so comfortable and completely eased our nerves. Photographers Harley and Ainsley from Bulb Creative are so delightful and through all of the last-minute changes of the day, they were composed and joyful, which really helped us relax and enjoy each moment. Kim from Makeup Bar Hobart was fabulous and so talented at what she does! Lastly, Lani from The Romantics created the most beautiful bouquet – I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Once you’ve taken a look at these pics, guys, you’re going to want to head on over to Bulb Creative’s directory listing and give them a shout because there’s a whole lot of beauty going on. Plus, we can’t recommend the jewellery buffs over at Kate & Kole if you’re still on the hunt for that perfect bling ring. Enjoy!
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer & Cinematographer Bulb Creative Planner The Elopement Collective Florist The Romantics
Stationery Forever Press (vow cards) Ceremony Salamanca Place, Hobart Celebrant Josh Withers Rings Kate & Kole (bride), Avenue J (groom) THE BRIDE Gown Kamperett Shoes Novo Accessories Alix Yang (earrings), Kirstin Ash (earrings) Hair & Makeup Makeup Bar Hobart THE GROOM Jacket & Shirt YD. Pants & Belt Zara Shoes Julius Marlow Barber Monks and Co