Elsewhere offers a curated marriage-making experience combining your essential elopement ingredients:
~ An epic celebrant - to get you married memorably
~ An exceptional photographer - to capture every emotion
~ An incredible place to stay - a place as special as your love.
But actually, Elsewhere offers more than that. It takes the researching, planning, and stress out of your hands. It says: trust us. We’ve got you. We’ve done this together before, many a time, at this very place, in this very way, and we’re here to make getting married as cruisy and enjoyable yet remarkable for you as possible.
escape
Our exclusive accommodation partner, Otways Loft, has been hand-picked for specific reasons. The space is a true labour of love from the owners; what they have created is among the most unique and unforgettable to be found in regional Victoria. The treehouse is embedded in nature and crucially, situated away from the ‘noise’ – the noise of the city, of people, of the hype or commotion associated with standard ‘weddings’. The Loft’s rooms have a cosy and rustic yet luxe style, making it the perfect romantic escape for newlyweds. Read more about the details of our package here.
connect
Our offering is distinct from a ‘microwedding’. We’re about elopements in their original, stripped-back, intimate-as-ever sense, and for this reason we strictly limit guests to a maximum of 6 adults (inclusive of your two legal witnesses) if you are wanting to hold the elopement on-site at the accommodation itself. This is part of our longstanding agreement with the property’s host and it’s because of this agreement that we have an exclusive partnership to provide elopements in conjunction with them. We think this is pretty cool.
If you wish to have a few more guests (up to a maximum of 15), this is possible only if your ceremony and any celebratory drink / bite / time shared with your guests occurs off-site (eg. near one of the Lake Elizabeth car parks, or at another Otways location nearby), as opposed to gathering as a group at the accommodation which is not permitted.
Aside from the accommodation’s policies, these guest limits also exist to sculpt the experience into one that is truly focused on just you two. This gives us the capacity to really slow the pace and relax into the flow and spontaneity of the day. In our experience, the best marriage-making moments are the most present, connected-feeling ones which unfold organically. Such moments more readily do when it’s barely more than us and you.
immerse
It’s particularly satisfying knowing that couples not only get to make a meaningful morning or afternoon out of their marriage, but a memorable mini trip out of it. To turn it from a blink-and-it’s-over moment into a few days’ experience… or even beyond, with the opportunity to return and stay at the beautiful site of your marriage on future anniversaries or milestones!
For us, it’s not about an in-and-out, quick and dirty, 'no-frills' version of marriage. It’s simpler and smaller-scale than a wedding, yes, but it’s about the creation of an immersive experience around this exciting milestone nonetheless, one that goes an extra step beyond your ordinary elopement and one that feels no less special than getting hitched any other way.
FAQ
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Our elopement package is exclusively available on midweek dates. This means you can choose from a Mon - Thurs OR Tues - Fri stay, with your elopement taking place on one of your two full days in the Otways (ie. on the Tues, Wed, or Thurs). Perhaps most common is scheduling the elopement for the day after check-in, with our two hours together taking place in the afternoon (edging towards sunset for best lighting for photos). That said, we’re totally open to morning hitchings too! We're here to guide you towards your own perfect plan.
We accept bookings a minimum of 6 weeks out. This is because your pre-marriage paperwork, the Notice of Intended Marriage, must be completed, signed, and lodged with Kahani at least one month before your marriage in order for it to be legal.
If you’ve got a specific Tues / Wed / Thurs date in mind, let us know, however a preferred month or two will give us the best chance of aligning availability! -
We have a three night minimum stay for our package. If you wish to extend your stay beyond the three nights included, please ask before locking us in. We’ll let you know if it’s possible and quote accordingly.
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We’re about elopements in their original, stripped-back, intimate-as-ever sense, and for this reason we strictly limit guests to a maximum of 6 adults (inclusive of your two legal witnesses) if you are wanting to hold the elopement on-site at the accommodation itself. This is part of our longstanding agreement with the property’s host and it’s because of this agreement that we have an exclusive partnership to provide elopements in conjunction with them.
If you wish to have a few more guests (up to a maximum of 15), this is possible only if your ceremony and any celebratory drink / bite / time shared with your guests occurs off-site (eg. at/near Lake Elizabeth), as opposed to gathering as a group at the accommodation which is not permitted.
Aside from the accommodation’s policies, these guest limits also exist to sculpt the experience into one that is truly focused on just you two. This gives us the capacity to really slow the pace and relax into the flow and spontaneity of the day. In our experience, the best marriage-making moments are the most present, connected-feeling ones which unfold organically. Such moments more readily do when it’s barely more than us and you.
In sum: afraid not. -
For your elopement marriage ceremony to be legal in Australia, there must be two witnesses in attendance. These two people must be over the age of 18 and understand spoken English. They will also be required to sign your marriage certificates.
Ryal can act as one of your witnesses but unfortunately Kahani can’t act as the celebrant and a witness for the same ceremony so you would still need to arrange one other.
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The overnight stay of four guests (ie. the couple and up to two others) is always included; please chat to us before booking if you intend to have children and/or extra adults stay as additional fees may apply.
A celebratory drink / meal / time spent with your guests on-site at this accommodation is possible provided the 6 guest limit is strictly adhered to and provided non-overnight guests depart by the evening. Otherwise our couples are best to organize an alternative venue for celebratory time with their guests pre- or post-elopement. This applies to those who choose to stay at the Loft but have the elopement itself off-site (with the 15 guest limit). -
In most cases, yes! But chat with us first if this is key for you.
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You’ll meet up with Kahani (either in-person in Geelong/Lara or online via Zoom) to chat through which elements you wish to include to structure your ceremony. Short and sweet as elopements may typically be, we believe they can still be as tailored and as meaningful to the two unique individuals getting married as any other type of ceremony. The legal processes and paperwork involved in getting you married will also be covered in this catch-up. In addition, Kahani uses questionnaires to help her get to know you two so that she can infuse your ceremony with your history and/or whatever else may be important to you both as a couple.
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Yep! A gorgeous 2-3 minute professionally-edited Super 8 video, in fact. The nostalgia of this type of film is unbeatable. Scroll to the bottom of our package page for more info and example edits.
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As our elopements are the super pared-back sort, we anticipate you might be after some flowers, possibly hair/makeup, maybe a yummy platter, but likely not much more… upon booking, we'll send a few recommendations for these bits and bobs your way!
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Step 1: Suss our availability if you haven’t already. If it’s aligning splendidly, you might like to jump on a quick call with Kahani to make sure we’re the right fit.
Step 2: Sign our contract and pay your first invoice to secure the booking. Your first invoice covers the accommodation portion of the package and is non-refundable.
Step 3: Pay your second invoice, due one month before your elopement. Your second invoice covers the celebrant and photography (plus videography, if applicable) portions of the package.
the duo
Ryal and Kahani have been making magic at far too many weddings to count both individually and as a duo, but through Elsewhere they relish the chance to slow it down with couples, to enrich their experience of getting married, and to bring the focus right back to the most important, most special, most marvellous part of it all: you two.
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marriage celebrantKahani has a refreshing and relaxed ceremony style. She likes to think of her personality as excitable yet relatable, and she loves to infuse a seamless blend of humour and romance into the words she weaves. She’ll legally marry you but perhaps more importantly, her approach to both the prep process and each couple’s ceremony itself is a highly personalized one. She’s also Elsewhere’s Admin Queen. Kahani is rather terrific at being (or seeming) sophisticated and eloquent one moment and an absolute dag the next, and she’s rather terrible at keeping earrings in her ears.
Also found at @kahanicelebrant.
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photographer
Ryal brings such warmth both to the photos he produces and through his personality as a photographer which makes all the difference to a couple’s special day. He loves capturing the little in-between moments just as much as the big ones, and while offering guidance, his approach is ultimately to represent a couple exactly as they are rather than imposing on them a constructed style of his own. This lends itself extra beautifully to an elopement-style celebration. Ryal is rather terrific at mumbling silly things to make people laugh and he’s rather terrible at abstaining from cake the moment it’s served at a wedding, almost before anyone else gets a piece.
Also found at @weddingswithryal.
kind words
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Kahani has an uncanny ability to feel like your oldest friend from the moment you meet her. It was clear that her organisational skills and attention to detail were second to none, so we knew the legal side of the process was going to be a breeze. But wow, we couldn't have anticipated what a warm, witty, authentic person she would be, and how at ease we'd feel around her. From that first meeting, we knew Kahani was our girl. She is so genuinely pumped to be part of each couple's big day. Although this busy bee is always in high demand (for good reason), she is so responsive and endlessly helpful with any support you may need. She will consistently make you feel unique and special, and be your biggest cheer squad. In her hands, we never felt any stress, just excitement. Nerves? Don't know 'em. Kahani has an exquisite way with words which is quite simply unparalleled. We knew she would craft a magical ceremony for us, and our expectations were exceeded. Make sure your mascara is waterproof, because her poetic genius may break you before you even arrive at your vows.
Jess and Pete (part one)
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Ryal - the man, the legend, the Husband Whisperer. How he managed to relax my awkward, camera-shy husband will always remain a mystery to me. Ryal knows exactly how to create the perfect shots. He will give you all the necessary prompts to achieve this, but does so with such a chilled energy, everything feels and looks so natural. Beyond the jaw-dropping hero shots, he has an incredible eye for all the little details that weave the most beautiful tapestry of ambiance. We also opted to have him film a video on Super8, and it was the best decision. Don't even think about it, just do it. Ryal truly showcases a masterclass in storytelling. This was particularly important to us when eloping with zero guests - Ryal was even our legal witness. The Super8 will take our loved ones on a journey through our special day as if they were there with us. We will be forever grateful that we chose Kahani and Ryal to create our perfect elopement. This duo is a powerhouse of talent and we'd give them more than 5 stars if we could.
Jess and Pete (part two)
escape to forrest
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three night midweek stay in Forrest
personalized elopement ceremony for a max of 6 guests (on-site) or 15 guests (off-site)
two hours of professional photography.
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$5,260