Capitalising on the natural beauty of Sydney’s Blue Mountains, couple Mari & Thomas didn’t need much to stage an unforgettable elopement. The wondrous setting, the bride’s chic Amy Kuschel dress, Floral Park Sydney‘s dried blooms & Nouba fav Damien Milan behind the lens proved an easy recipe for success.

First Look

After a rainy morning, Photographer Damien Milan tells us the sun unexpectedly peaked through upon arrival at Thomas & Mari’s Airbnb in Leura. Home to a beautiful heritage garden, it was here the couple exchanged their first look before driving off to their ceremony – a super relaxed way to start the day.

Ceremony at Lincoln’s Rock

While choosing their vendors came quite easy to Mari & Thomas thanks to referrals, recommendations and a little online research, stabilising a wedding venue wasn’t so straight forward. “Our wedding went from a large wedding including family and friends from overseas, to a small Covid elopement in Byron Bay which didn’t eventuate due to Sydney’s travel restrictions,” explains the couple. Despite the setbacks, as soon as weddings were allowed again, the two began looking within the Greater Sydney area and eventually found Lincoln’s Rock in Wentworth Falls. The resulting elopement involved an intimate and moving ceremony at dusk led by Kathryn Breusch, with Thomas’ parents as sole witnesses and Mari’s relatives attending via live stream from the US. In the end, the couple tells us their day was utterly perfect. “We are really glad we had a small and intimate elopement ceremony,” says Mari & Thomas. “It suited us way more and meant that we could really enjoy our time together on the day without distractions.”

Amy Kuschell Wedding Dress

When it came to finding a wedding dress, Mari tells us she initially tossed up between a few she found online before finding her the perfect gown. “By this point I knew we would be eloping so I didn’t want to go over budget, but I still wanted something special,” shares Mari. “Whilst browsing online during the Black Friday sales, I stumbled upon the Redding Gown by Amy Kuschel on BHLDN. I loved it because it was simple and elegant but the slit and low laced back gave it that extra glam.”

Special Details

“One of my favourite details was the wedding cake topper which incorporated Thomas’ mum’s pearls she wore on her wedding day – it was such a nice idea,” shares Mari. “Also, our close friend Floral Park Sydney made my bouquet and Thomas’ buttonhole which was another personal detail for us both.”