Luxe Elopements

Byron Bay, Tweed & Gold Coast. Luxe Elopements are for couples who want to express their love intimately, styled and effortlessly.

2019 + 2020 Brochure

Download the ultimate Elopement guide packed full of industry tips!

Wedding Tips

Top Ceremony Locations

Our Ceremony Cheat Sheet!

So, you’ve been dreaming about that beach wedding you’ve always wanted. But where? Hawaii, Bali, Thailand… nope those are out (Thanks COVID!). But don’t worry we have some of the most amazing beaches right here in Australia. Byron Bay and the Tweed Coast offer some of the most insta worthy locations in the world. There’s a reason the Hemswoth’s and Zac Effron call Byron home.

Whether you’re planning a beachside ceremony or an intimate beach elopement, we are here to help get you find the perfect place to say your I-do’s. We’ve put together this list of our top 6 best ceremony locations dotted across Byron Bay or Tweed Coast.

Tip: View on desktop to click through image galleries 

 

1. Broken Head Beach and Headland, Byron Bay
Sunrise
Previous
Next
  • Away from Byron Bay tourists 
  • Private with only locations around 
  • EPIC headland for portraits 1.5km round trip (not suitable for kids)
  • Secluded beach cove for wet-portraits 
  • Plenty of parking 
  • Nature Reserve: Not dog friendly 
  • Council permit: FREE

 

This is one of our favourite locations for a Byron Bay wedding ceremony, protected by the headland and offering unbroken views of the Cape Byron. Less than 10 minutes’ drive from Byron Bay, its secluded bush nature makes it feel like you’re miles from anywhere. Surrounded by a literal rainforest, the Broken Head Nature Reserve extends to the headland and the Three Sisters Lookout, an easy to medium walk that is a 1.5km round trip. The walk made totally worth it when you take in the panoramic coastal vistas. The beautiful location creates a dramatic backdrop for your wedding portraits. 

The Tweed Coast – a hidden gem!

What about the Tweed Coast? It’s a hidden gem so many couples overlook. Tucked in between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay the Tweed Coast has as much, if not more, to offer that Byron Bay for your wedding or elopement (Tweed Coast Guide).

Say goodbye to tourists and hello to the number #1 rated beach in Australia – Cabarita!

Why not avoid the “Byron price tag” and elope to the Tweed Coast instead at any of these great locations. Kingscliff is the main beach town surrounded by Cabarita, Casaurina, Hastings + Fingal. 

 

2. Cabarita Beach and Headland, Tweed Coast
Previous
Next
  • Voted number 1 beach in Australia
  • Ceremony options: in the middle of black rock circle or Pandama trees or headland
  • Easy boardwalk for sunset portraits (kid-friendly) 
  • Plenty of parking 
  • Dog friendly 
  • Council permit: $110

 

Cabba, as the locals call it, has recently been voted the number 1 beach in Australia. Cabarita Beach and Headland or more specifically Little Cove is one of our absolute favourite spots for a Tweed Coast elopement. Hold your ceremony with the amazing black rocks or under the Pandanus trees or make the easy trip along the boardwalk to the top of the headland for your sunset portraits.

3. Hastings Point, Tweed Coast
Previous
Next
  • Easy access: great for elderly and prams
  • Ceremony options: headland on the grass with the ocean behind you, rock pools or in the sand
  • Easy walk around the headland for portraits
  • Plenty of parking 
  • Dog friendly 
  • Council permit: $110


This gorgeous spot offers so much variety to couples looking for more than a beach wedding or elopement. Hastings, has three grassed areas that are perfect for your wedding ceremony and are pet and child friendly.  There is plenty of parking and you can drive right up to the ceremony location. Hastings also is the perfect location for a beach ceremony with pretty rockpools for photos and portraits as the sun sets.

4. Lovers Rock, Tweed Coast
The Pink Hotel @ Coolangatta
Previous
Next
  • On the literal border of QLD (Coolangatta) + NSW (Tweed)
  • 2mins from Gold Coast airport
  • Ceremony on the grass, easy access + parking 
  • Our couples love portraits at Lovers Rock followed local spots at The Pink Hotel, Froggys Beach or Fingal Headland 
  • Council permit: $110

Lovers Rock is a hidden gem, located only 2 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport it is truly a beautiful spot with breathtaking ocean views, rugged cliffs and pandanus trees. Following your ceremony take the easy walk down to Froggy’s beach for your newlywed portraits. This location is also conveniently close to local accommodation options like the iconic Pink Hotel and just a stones throw away from the beautiful reception venue Ancora (see our venues and accommodation blogs for more).

5. Fingal Headland and Dreamtime Beach, Tweed Coast
Previous
Next
  • Crown Land – need permission for a ceremony
  • Don’t need permission for portraits
  • Drive to Fingal, 5min walk to headland or beach
  • Headland can get windy but it’s worth it!
  • Not kid friendly at the headland
  • Dreamtime Beach is below + kid and dog friendly
  • Council permit: $110

 

With a name like Dreamtime Beach you know it’s going to be an amazing spot. Known for its natural beauty Fingal Headland and Dreamtime Beach is a stunning location for your beach wedding. This area is rich in Aboriginal history, the headland is an amazing basalt rock formation that contrasts strikingly with the ocean and sand. We’ve had some amazing moments here, even getting to take portraits with a local pod of dolphins as they swam by. Although this location is on Crown Land we can request a permit to hold your ceremony here.

ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT: Killen Falls, Byron Bay

This couples only location will have you feeling like you’ve entered another world. Only a 30 minute drive from Byron Bay Killen Falls is a magical spot, however it is not for the faint hearted. The rocky path down to the falls can be a little treacherous, a handrail has recently been installed which helps to descend the uneven path, which is why we recommend this location for elopement couples only.

Send an enquiry below and receive INSTANT access to our information and booking portal 

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/iframe-resizer/3.5.14/iframeResizer.min.js”></script><iframe src=”https://hello.dubsado.com:443/public/form/view/5d96bcdc58da033ad2e04b5e” frameborder=”0″ style=”width:1px; min-width:100%;”></iframe><script type=”text/javascript”>setTimeout(function(){iFrameResize({checkOrigin: false, heightCalculationMethod: “taggedElement”});}, 30)</script>

 

Elope in Unique Style with These Vendors

Our core Luxe Elopements team is included in your package: Celebrant, Photographer, Florist, Hair and Makeup artist… but eloping should be fun, unique and give you the extra moula to splash out. Here is a guide to our top Luxe Elopement vendors

YELLOWBULL VIDEOGRAPHY

 

Videography is one of those things that get “cut” from big wedding budgets. Every single couple I have ever spoken to who invested in a video has NEVER regretted. A 2min highlights video is something you will watch over and over and over again. If you are eloping a beautiful video or live stream should be a MUST HAVE investment to share with loved ones who weren’t there on the day. There is something magic about movement and music…

We have a range of videographers on our team. @yellowbullweddings are our VIP vendor with a 2min highlight reel + music licensing + drone from $880.

I AM POPPY DESIGNS 

@iampoppydesigns artist Poppy offers a range of wedding stationery and signage options. Our absolute favourite service she offers is LIVE CEREMONY PAINTING! Yes, you read that correctly. Poppy will come to your ceremony and paint live in front of your guests. It’s such a fun way to capture the moment and definitely a conversation starter. 

Elopement pricing from $500

MAY THE EK HOLDEN

@may_the_ek_byron_bay is exclusively available in Byron Bay. May The E.K is a very special 1962 EK Holden Special Sedan, her dusty pink and chrome highlights add glamour and bring a smile to everyone’s face that sees her! She looks epic against our Byron Bay backdrop.

Pricing from $550 for 2 hours. 

LIVE MUSICIAN

“Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t.” – Johnny Depp

A live musician will set the vibe of your ceremony, whether it is just the two of you or a handful of guests at your elopement. There is something special about background music to fill the space, no awkward moments when there is music. 

2 hour Elopement from $880

PICNIC FOR 2

@bluegingerpicnics is an award-winning styling and platter company. Perfect for sunset elopements by the ocean. 

PRIVATE CHEF

Imagine having your ceremony and then heading back to your Airbnb to a private chef team who serves you dinner! @2cooksinakitchen 

BRIDAL ACCESSORIES

We are lucky to be surrounded by many talented creatives in Byron Bay. Pictured are a few of our favourites: 

Bridal Gown @oscarandivybridal
Hat @willandbear
Jewelry @celestetwikler
Anklets @foreversoles 

THE WHOLE BRIDE
 
@thewholebride have all those little accessories that you haven’t thought of yet: Silk ribbon for your bouquet, eco-confetti and velvet ring boxes. 

Elopement Styling Guide

2020 Luxe Elopements Styling Guide 

Luxe Elopements has put together a styling guide from our recent work. Styling trends change year to year. In the last 5 years we have seen the rise of the Boho Bride.

Who is she and what does she look like in 2020? The boho bride started off with a Grace Loves Lace dress, a flower crown and a jeweled barefoot. Now you might see her in a sequined One Day Bridal gown with a blush bouquet filled with orchards and dried flowers.

We saw a rise in bright and vibrant themes inspired by a Mexican Fiesta with bright florals, neon signage, and a bright lip.

In 2020 we seeing a new twist on a classic, baby blue. We find most trends follow the Pantone Colour of the Year. Cinderella wore a baby blue dress and Princess Diana’s Engagement ring consisted of 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-karat white gold.

Where to start? 

Your wedding style is as unique as you are! Our team will guide you through the process of choosing a style. Everyone is at a different stage, you have a favourite colour, a detailed Pinterest board or a general vibe. 

Example 1 

The bride loves a bold lip and her favourite flower is a Coral Peony. They are rare and bloom during Sept and Oct in Australia. We build her elopement mood board around this. 

Example 2 

Same-sex couple. Bride A isn’t fussy but knows she loves Australian natives and lots of greenery in a bouquet. She loves burnt orange (but hates pink and red!). We suggest a bouquet inspired by a Green and White King Protea. Bride B is wearing a pantsuit and chose a matching corsage. 

Example 3 

The Groom wants a classic black and white theme. The venue is all white with moody lighting. He is wearing a Bond-inspired suit. They choose a clean floral design with babies breath and orchids.  

Elope in Style

All images by Luxe Elopements + Lady Bella Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Process

HOW DOES IT WORK? 

Sarah-Jane created the Luxe Elopements process to be effortless and fun. Our team handles ALL the coordination behind the scenes so you aren’t bombarded with a million vendor emails. Your time will be freed up so you can focus on the FUN stuff – like creating a Pinterest board and finding the perfect dress. 

 
PACKAGES 

We have done the hard work for you and negotiated vendor discounted fees with no minimum spend, these are built into our packages! To put it into perspective, our packages on a Friday or Weekend would START at $8000 – crazy hey! You are getting award-winning and high-end vendors for a fraction of the price. But please don’t see us as a “cheap wedding”, we are a Luxury Elopement brand. 

Our packages have strict guest limitations. You can view our packages here

 
WEDDING DATES 

We are strictly only available on Monday – Thursdays. We can offer Fridays in June or July with a 25% surcharge on the final bill. Public holidays and long weekends will incur a 25% surcharge and subject to availability. We book up to 12 months in advance.

 
CEREMONY TIMES 

Our ceremonies are performed 2 hours BEFORE sunset or 30mins before sunrise. This is Golden lighting and the most flattering time of day. It means you and your guests won’t be sweating, squinting or have unflattering shadows across your face. It will lead perfectly into sunset portraits for you as newlyweds. 

Please note we have daylight savings in Summer. The sunsets around 7-8pm NSW time and in Winter around 5-5.30pm. 

 
CEREMONY LOCATIONS 

We service elopements in the Nothern Rivers (Byron region), Tweed Coast, Tweed Hinterlands and South Gold Coast (Coolangatta to Burleigh). You can choose between a council-approved beach, garden or headland or private property. You can choose one of our approved Airbnb or find one yourself. We must have written approval from the Airbnb or private property due to strict council regulations. 

These are our favorite ceremony spots

 
LEGAL DOCUMENTS 

The Australian Government requires an “Intent to Marry” legal documents lodged at least 1 month BEFORE you can legally marry. This is your responsibility as per our contract. Your Celebrant will guide you through the process. 

 
THE PLANNING PROCESS 

Important note: we have an automated email and online wedding planning process. You are not paying a traditional “Wedding Planner”, they start at $1500-$2000 JUST for wedding planning. We keep the cost down by having this unique process. After your booking, there is nothing left to do until we reconnect 6 weeks before your wedding. 

Key wedding planning milestones: 
  • book via our online portal
  • allow 7 x business days for us to process your booking with our entire team 
  • your Celebrant gets in contact to process your legal documents
  • you create a Pinterest board with your styling inspiration 
  • no contact until 6 weeks before your wedding – unless you book a phone consult or reach out
  • we reconnect 6 weeks before your wedding with our final questionnaire 
  • you will receive an email with a final questionnaire to complete 
  • our team will work on your final requests, styling guide and your Wedding Day Timeline
  • the final invoice is due 30 days before your wedding 
  • you will receive your Wedding Day Timeline 2 weeks before your wedding
 
 
PHONE CONSULT

A lot of couples prefer a quick chat. You can book a 30min phone consult with Sarah-Jane on our website contact page.

 
COVID 

You can read our Covid Safety Plan with Terms and Conditions here 

Micro Weddings Locations

Byron Bay or Tweed Coast, beachside or hinterland Micro & Intimate Weddings – Where should we get married?

Take my hand darling, let’s go exploring. When planning your perfect celebration, there is much to consider, with so many incredible locations through Byron Bay, Tweed Coast, the Hinterland and Gold Coast. We want to inspire you with some of our favourite locations and venues to make the process a little easier.

What is a Micro Wedding?

A Micro Wedding is an intimate ceremony with you and up to 40 x guests. At Luxe Elopements we have created an affordable solution without compromising quality. This isn’t a “cheap wedding”, its a Luxury Micro Wedding. There are a few conditions to make this happen: 

  1. Mon – Thursday bookings only 
  2. Luxe Elopements packages are 2hr ceremony with all of your vendors
  3. You simply book your accommodation 
  4. You simply book a local cafe, rest or bar for your “Reception”
  5. You can upgrade any of our vendors for your “Reception” ie: reception styling, floristry or extended photography

Byron Bay

Belongil Beach + The Belongil Café

Let’s start our journey at Belongil Beach – we love this beach for a myriad of reasons. It’s quiet and picturesque, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist hotspot that is Byron Bay Main Beach and wait for it, it’s dog friendly *swoon*. Belongil Beach is perfect if having your fur baby play a part of your nuptials is important to you. Right opposite the beachfront, you’ll find The Belongil Café, a stunning café by day, wedding venue by night. This versatile space works beautifully for a sunrise ceremony with a breakfast reception or a sunset celebration followed by the whole shebang, dinner, drinks and DJ.

Tooraloo Farm.

Welcome to Tooraloo Farm, a charming all-in-one DIY farmstay venue nestled in the hills just minutes from Byron Bay township. Previously a working dairy, now an idyllic accommodation and wedding venue boasting both a country and beach lifestyle. This rustic venue features romantic ceremony spaces and loads of options for your reception as you watch the sunset over the lush, green valley. With all you need for a weekend long celebration, including tastefully restored accommodation for you and your guests, a pool and cabana for soaking up the Byron Bay sunshine, BBQ pavilion and fire pit to gather around and of course, the farm animals!

Tweed Coast

Hastings Point Headland + Babalou

So, we’ve now travelled about half an hour north of Byron Bay to the beautiful Kingscliff area of the Tweed Coast. Our favourite beachside ceremony location is the stunning Hastings Point Headland, where emerald green waves crash onto the dramatic backdrop of volcanic rock and quintessential white sand of Clarkes Beach. We won’t lie, it can get a bit windy up there, so it’s best to consider your ceremony and hair styling options with this mind, but you are guaranteed some of the most spectacular ceremony photos you can imagine. To complement your beachside ceremony, we suggest none other than the contemporary wedding reception venue, Babalou. Situated in prime position on Marine Parade in Kingscliff, Babalou features sweeping panoramic views of the ocean and stylish interior to help you create a magic celebration.

Lovers Rock + The Pink Hotel Rooftop

As we move closer to the Queensland border, you’ll find Lovers Rock Park, as if the name alone isn’t enough to draw you in as the perfect spot to say ‘I Do’! The moniker originated in the 1900’s because lovers found the secluded area of the Tweed Coastline perfect to escape in peace and it has remained so until this day. Lovers Rock Park offers a comfortable grassy ceremony option with spectacular ocean backdrop, while sheltered by the sea breeze thanks to the rock formation the space is named after. With ease of access and plenty of space, it’s one of our favourites. For a boutique party space nearby to continue the celebrations, we suggest the Pink Hotel’s Rooftop Bar, Santeria Rooftop. Modern and artistic furnishings in the accommodation rooms and unparallel views of Coolangatta Beach means your guests will be talking about your wedding for years to come.

Gold Coast

Burleigh Beach + Burleigh Pavilion

A hop, skip and jump over the boarder into Queensland brings us to the new artisan heart of the Gold Coast, Burleigh. Home to trendy cafes, chic restaurants, accommodation options galore and of course, the idyllic beachside lifestyle the Gold Coast is famous for, making Burleigh an excellent choice for a jampacked and energetic wedding holiday. Our pick of the ceremony locations in the area is John Laws Park, offering sweeping views of the bustling Burleigh Heads beachfront and Gold Coast skyline. Located right next door, is Burleigh Pavilions, featuring absolute beachfront luxury dining, and the perfect spot to spoil a small group of loved ones to a fancy feast or book out the whole venue for a night of revelry.

Your Luxe Elopements Wedding Guru – Planner or Coordinator?

Wedding Planner VS Wedding Coordinator

Unless you’ve been living under a rock most of your life, you’ll have likely heard about the stress of planning a wedding, so once you got engaged, you expected some of that stress to creep up. What you probably didn’t expect is the need for a dictionary to navigate through all the wedding terminology and industry specific lingo! One of the most important things to stave off wedding related stress is to know and understand the important roles of your wedding vendors and the crucial responsibility they will have in helping you create the perfect atmosphere. At Luxe Elopements, we want to take the guess work out of your journey, so here’s a little detail on the difference between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Coordinator and how you can expect our team to operate while bringing your dream wedding to life.

The Wedding Planner

The wedding planner is a unique individual who thrives on pressure, creativity and timelines, (think of Jo-Lo with the headset and clipboard) and their role is longer in nature than most of your other vendors, because they are a couple’s main point of contact throughout their wedding journey. A wedding planner is responsible for helping you PLAN and EXECUTE all elements of your wedding day, from offering vendor recommendations, to contract negotiations, determining and maintaining your budget, offering styling and design concepts, coordinating travel and accommodation, to implementing all of the planned elements of your wedding day. According to Brides.com a wedding planner may spend anywhere between 80 – 250 hours organising and implementing your celebration and wedding planners on the Tweed Coast generally charge $5000+ for this service.

The Wedding Coordinator

The wedding coordinator, whilst just as savvy on the organizational and creative front, has a shorter-term, but just as crucial role in your wedding. They allow you the freedom to do the bulk of the planning for your wedding and will generally swoop in around 6 weeks before your big day to take over the reins and help you finalise the finer details of the day. A coordinator will bring all your hard work together, starting off with a run sheet of the day, reconfirming vendors bookings and requirements, become the point of contact for enquiries in the immediate lead up and with their keen eye and professional experience, ensure that there is no hiccups on the horizon for you. They take the pressure off you and your love one, ensuring things happen as they should, so the two of you can relax and make the most of your day. Brides.com estimate a coordinator clocks up around 25 hours per wedding and the standard pricing for a coordinator in the Tweed Region is $1000 – $1500.

Your Luxe Elopements Wedding Guru – Planner or Coordinator?

In true Luxe Elopements style, Sarah-Jane, owner and organizer-extraordinaire, has taken much of the guess work out of planning your wedding celebration. Through fostering relationships with quality vendors, to traversing beaches and parks all across Byron Bay, Tweed Coast and Gold Coast, she has handpicked a team of wedding creatives and crafted a fabulous directory of locations to bring your wedding dreams to life. So, you can say she’s already done lots of planning on your behalf. Knowing our Luxe Couples are searching for a luxury celebration at an affordable price tag, we include a wedding coordinator with all our collections, giving you the opportunity to liaise with our packaged vendors while planning any other elements to the day you wish to incorporate (like the perfect dress, rings and sparkling wine). After locking in your chosen package with us, Sarah-Jane will introduce you to your included vendors, you’ll get to know them as you get creative together and they’ll guide you through the process of their specific component to the day. As the celebration approaches, Sarah-Jane will connect with you and your Luxe Elopement vendors to reconfirm all the details of the day bringing it all together with a run sheet and making sure everything runs smoothly for you on the day.

What does our team do? 

To keep your packages affordable without substituting luxury we have a streamline process to booking, planning and executing your elopement or micro wedding. Our packages include the following: 

Wedding Co-ordination inclusions: 

  • Lead up – 1 hour phone or Face Time consultation 
  • Lead up – Our team will work together behind the scenes and lodge council permits, legal documents, mood boards etc
  • 6-12 weeks out – Final consultation by email + delivery of your wedding day timeline + vendor coordination 
  • 6-12 weeks out – Vendor booking, contracts and payment coordination
  • Wedding day – 3hrs x “On the day” wedding day coordinator 
  • *Times may change during peak and off peak times

INDUSTRY TIPS: RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, BYRON BAY EDITION

It rains a lot in Byron Bay. Yes, I said it. Byron Bay is a cove and there is a unique pressure system from the sea air and hinterland range. The good news is when it does rain it doesn’t last for long! It very rarely “sets in” all day like it does in other parts of Australia. The rain will pass quickly, usually within 15mins. 

They say rain is good luck on your wedding day. I like this sentiment! The most fun we have had capturing weddings has been when a thunderstorm has just passed through. We might wait 10mins for it to pass, no biggie.

We kick off our shoes, grab the clear umbrellas and dance like no one is watching! The sky lights up with the most beautiful hues. The cloud coverage creates a natural “filter”. We might get treated to a rainbow! I would say 70% of my wedding photography portfolio was shot on a day that was forecast to rain. On average it rains 11 days out of the month. The good news – it passes and everything is lush and green.

The best advice I can give you:

  • Remember storms are a part of the East Coast it is what keeps everything so green and lush! The good news is storms often go out to sea or pass within 15mins.
  • Watch the BOM radar 24 hours beforehand, this is the most accurate for the Byron and Tweed Coast region
  • Don’t watch the forecast your smartphone produces, it’s not accurate for our region
  • SMILE. There is nothing you can do! The rain won’t ruin your photography but a bad mood will
  • Be brave – kick off your shoes, grab an umbrella and go dance IN the moment! It will make for epic photos and memories to last a lifetime!
  • If you are having an Elopement you are in luck! Elopements are super easy to move around. We can move your ceremony time 30mins either side to avoid a passing storm by monitoring the BOM radar. 

 

Worse Case Scenario 

Okay, if you are SUPER unlucky and your wedding day is scheduled for a day where we can’t find an opening between storms we can find a new location (Think your Airbnb, your Reception venue or one of our industry partners). Better yet, chance it. You will have epic memories! Then we can reschedule your newly-wed portraits for another day. You will likely be staying in the area on your “honeymoon / holiday” for a few days. Sarah-Jane is a qualified photographer, hair and makeup artist – everything you need for a reshoot. We did this for Hayley + Hayley (yes, they have the same name!). It was SO much fun! They got to glam and wear their outfits for a second day AND got two sets of images. You can find their Elopement highlights on our blog. 

MY FAVOURITE rainy wedding day photos from 2019

Cyclone Oma 

Off the East Coast of Australia Cyclone Oma destroyed the coastline with wild weather for a week.  There was a break in the weather for this epic shot! 

Sunrise Elopement in Byron Bay

The Kombi drive was nerve racking with heavy rain the entire trip. We were watching the BOM radar and knew it was going to pass, waited 5mins. 

Coolangatta: Ceremony delayed 35mins

This was an intimate wedding with 50 guests. They huddled under cover while we wait for the rain to pass. This was extreme case. In 10 years I have never had to wait this long. SMILE, it’s your best accessory!

Thunderstorms at Byron Bay Lighthouse

It was raining heavy all day but it cleared in the afternoon like clockwork. The best part…. not a tourist or local in sight ;P The Lighthouse is usually packed! 

All Photography by Lady Bella Photography

Click on our Pinterest board below for more inspiration

BEST CEREMONY TIME FOR YOUR BEACH WEDDING

THE BEST CEREMONY TIME FOR YOUR BEACH WEDDING

 

If you are planning an outdoor beach, garden or hinterland wedding in Byron Bay you need to consider you ceremony time. This is often an after thought but the decision can make or break your day.

Choosing the best ceremony time for your outdoor wedding or elopement all comes down to beautiful light. Most people have a camera phone now and are a little more savvy about good lighting. Good natural light will create the perfect selfie! Same goes for your wedding day. It’s all about good lighting.

Some wedding venues will offer a midday wedding so they can book 2 x weddings in one day! This is terrible advice. Opt for a mid-week wedding or elopement to avoid this!

ADVICE: ceremony 2 hours before sunset or 30mins before sunrise.

WHY?

  • Softer lighting for photography
  • You and your guests are comfortable – avoid sweat, squinting and fainting!
  • These timings lead nicely into your reception
GOLDEN LIGHT

Golden light is that magic time at sunrise and sunset. This is when your photographer will schedule your portraits. It’s soft and flattering. You can download our Golden Light Guide with visual examples of real couples in SOFT v HARSH lighting!

We avoid midday weddings like the plague. In fact, we refuse to do them. The sun is at its highest point in the sky casting directly down your face. This creates really harsh shadows across your face: hollow eyes, unflattering nose shapes and this light will show every detail in your skin. Skin texture can’t be fixed with makeup. Texture is a nice way of saying: pimples, acne scars, wrinkles and so forth. These will be highlighted in midday sun.


Your photographer can battle this by using a flash to fill in the shadows. Honestly, who wants a flash distracting you throughout your ceremony? Nothing beats soft, flattering light for your wedding photography.

You will find 99% of all wedding photographers portraits were shot at Golden hour. These are the hero images you will share, print and frame.

THINK ABOUT YOUR GUESTS

You will likely have a wide range of guests at your wedding elopement that may include babies through to the elderly. You guests will be outside for over an hour. They are all dressed up. You want their experience to be positive, not counting down the minutes until they can find shade.

I have seen many people nearly faint waiting outside in heat waves!

My pet peeve is sunglasses! As a wedding photographer I think I repeat the words “Please take off your sunglasses” a million times throughout family portraits. Sunglasses might look “cool” but they date VERY quickly. You don’t want to look back at your wedding photos and see sunglasses on faces, heads and pockets. Especially if they are out of date… think about the types of sunglasses that were cool in the 80’s or 90’s? How will you feel looking back at your photos in 5, 10 or 20 years?

Sunglasses cover people’s emotions. We can’t capture people’s authentic emotions when they are hiding behind sunnies!

Tips:

  • Have a table with refreshments and a small grazing platter for guests
  • Ask your Celebrant to make an announcement before you arrive to ask everyone to turn off their mobile phones AND remove their sunglasses
  • For the Bride/Groom – don’t wear sunglasses at all on the wedding day so your eyes adjust and you aren’t squinting
BEAT THE SWEAT

Ugh, sweat. It’s humid, you are nervous and wearing a lot of layers! It really doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter, it is hot and humid all year from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay. You want to feel comfortable during your ceremony not worrying about sweat patches.

If you are prone to sunburn a Golden Hour ceremony will save you from turning red during your vows!

YOUR TIMELINE

Majority of people have an afternoon ceremony followed by sunset portraits as newly-weds and then their reception. This timeline has worked well for many decades!


The only potential issue is Summer when the sunsets around 7-7.30pm.

We recommend a 5pm ceremony time, this works fine for elopements.

If you have a wedding it means dinner will be served a little later than usual. An alternative option is to start your reception around 6pm and then duck out for sunset portraits. A professional photographer should be able to capture you on location within 15mins.

TIPS: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS + YOUR BYRON BAY WEDDING

Daylight savings: Sunday 6th Oct 2019 to Sunday 5th April 2020

TIPS: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS + BYRON BAY WEDDINGS

Byron Bay is set in the Northern Rivers in New South Wales (NSW). It is 40mins south of the Gold Coast, Queensland boarder (see map). To make life extra annoying…

Queensland doesn’t have daylight savings and NSW does!

This means you will fly into Brisbane or Gold Coast airport on ONE TIMEZONE (QLD) and then cross the street heading to Tweed Coast + Byron Bay and be in a SECOND TIMEZONE (NSW). 

If you are travelling from Brisbane / Gold Coast you need to allow an EXTRA HOUR or you will be an hour late. This can be very confusing for non-local vendors and travelling guests. 


EXAMPLE:

If you tell your guests your ceremony is at 3pm QLD time, it means it will be 4pm NSW time:

QLD- 3pm
NSW-4pm

OUR TIPS

 

  1. Write both timezones on your invitations ie: Ceremony Time 3pm QLD / 4pm NSW

  2. Tell guests the ceremony time is 30mins before it actually starts

  3. Have a wedding website and include information for travelling guests

  4. Recommend travelling from Brisbane / Gold Coast the DAY BEFORE. This reduces stress on the wedding day. It reduces an daylight savings mishaps or guests getting stuck in traffic. 

Best time of year to get married in Byron Bay

The best time of year to get married in Byron Bay

Byron Bay is the top destination in Australia for weddings. Couples fly from around the world to have a beach ceremony at the most Easterly Point in Australia. Byron Bay has a range of iconic ceremony locations from The Lighthouse, pristine white sandy beaches and sweeping hinterland views.

Weather

Byron Bay is beautiful all year around with average temp of 20C during the day with 60-70% humidity in the afternoon.

Summer is hot and the town is a buzz with activity! The weather is humid and we get a few thunderstorms. We might have shorter days in Winter but the humidity drops, the nights are crisp and the days can still get up to 20C.

Statistically April is the wettest month and Sept is the driest month (1981 – 2010 via BOM.gov.au).

As locals in the industry our experience is:

  • May + August are the driest months of the year
  • Sept – Jan is peak tourist season
  • Wedding Season 1 = March, April + May
  • Wedding Season 2 = Sept, Oct + Nov
  • Feb is the hottest month of the year

We find Dec + Jan are really popular for elopements in Byron Bay. Teachers are on holidays and we have a lot of Europeans travel for the quintessential “Aussie beach wedding”.

WINTER – May to Aug

Winter is a gorgeous time of year because we don’t experience the humidity and tropical thunderstorms. By the middle of the day the temperature can reach 20C. The sun will set around 5.00 – 5.30pm and get down to 5-10C quickly. It will depend what part of the world you are from, personally I don’t swim in winter but I see plenty of people who do!

We recommend:

  • 3pm ceremony time which leads nicely into sunset photography
 
SPRING – Sept to Nov

Spring is the most popular time of year to get married, anywhere in the world. It warms up, flowers bloom and new life begins. If you are planning a spring wedding or ready to elope to Byron Bay this time of year please be mindful of:

  • Venues and vendors will generally book 12months in advance (Friday + Weekends)
  • It rains a lot. Don’t be scared though because it rarely “sets in”. It will often rain in the morning and clear up in the afternoon. We get a lot of beautiful rainbows and epic sunsets!
  • It is peak tourist season – expect the beaches to be flooded with people (we know a few secret spots!)
  • Daylight savings starts in Oct!

Read our post on: TIPS: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS + BYRON BAY WEDDINGS

 
SUMMER – Dec to Feb

The East Coast of Australia, Queensland to Mid North Coast will experience humidity and rain through summer. I can’t remember a dry Christmas! It is a part of life. The great thing about Byron Bay is it never seems to “set in”. The rain passes quickly. We often watch the BOM radar and wait 10mins for it to pass. It keeps everything green and beautiful.

It won’t be cold so you can kick off your shoes and dance the night away! Perfect for outdoor receptions.

Byron Bay is in NSW and we have daylight savings in Summer. The sun sets around 7-8pm.

Read our post for: THE BEST CEREMONY TIME FOR YOUR BEACH WEDDING

We recommend:

  • Have a wet weather ceremony option (Plan B)
  • Try not stress about the forecast it changes every hour. Check the BOM Radar as it’s accurate. The other forecasts won’t be specific to Byron Bay town
  • Have a 5pm ceremony – reduce sweating and flattering light

Check out our post for inspiration: RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, Byron Bay Edition

 

INDUSTRY TIP:

If you want a private beach ceremony opt for a SUNRISE wedding in summer! Your ceremony time will be around 6am. You will have complete privacy, insane light for photos and the rest of the day to do something epic as newlyweds – whale watching, skydiving – read our blog on SUNRISE ELOPEMENTS for more inspiration.f

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS + FESTIVAL SEASON

School holidays will always be a busy time of year in a tourist destination. We recommend booking everything 12months in advance to avoid disappointment.

Byron Bay hosts many festivals that will make your wedding day logistics challenging if you are in town.

Avoid the following:

  • Splendour in the Grass Festival (July)
  • International Writers Festival (April)
  • Bluesfest (April)