Hope & Lachy

If you're thinking of eloping, then you need to do it like Hope and Lachy. Just because your wedding is small, doesn't mean it can't be perfectly formed and with the help of Best Day Ever, Hope and Lachy's was just that. Following their intimate ocean side ceremony, the duo ate with friends at a wooden table adorned with cacti in sweet terracotta pots, with mini festoon lights adding some sparkle to proceedings. Marcos Sanchez was there to capture all of the love and their special day as it unfolded. I always love Marcos' work and this elopement is no exception, he really knows how to capture raw emotion and light. There's also a dreamy video from Monika Frias to enjoy, so sit back, relax and enjoy this gorgeous Lanzarote elopement...

{Watch The Film}

Eloping

Hope the Bride: Neither Lachy or I could understand the notion of spending a huge amount of money on one day. Nor were we ones for tradition. However we still wanted an experience that was romantic and unique, something we would remember forever. For the two of us eloping made total sense. It meant we were able to celebrate our love and commitment to each other whilst avoiding any stress or drama that comes with planning a wedding. Not to mention on our trip we got to travel to places we had only ever dreamed of going to. We got married on the island of Lanzarote off the coast of Spain with just two of our closest friends, our photographer, stylist and videographer (who also ended up being our wedding guests). Lanzarote's terrain is unlike anything I had ever seen before, it was so incredibly beautiful. A place I will never forget.

The Bride

My dress was by an Australian designer Lisa Brown and I found it in a little clothing boutique close to home. I knew that I wanted something easy to wear and comfortable yet still quite bohemian and romantic. Most of all I had no interest in spending a huge amount of money on something I would only wear once. It was exactly what I was looking for and was the first and only dress I tried on. I love that it isn't a conventional choice and suits my personality perfectly.

The Photography

Because we were eloping I knew our photos had to be something special in order to share with our family and friends back home. My very first decision in regards to our elopement (even before location) was Marcos Sanchez (marcossanchez.net). I spent hours scrawling the internet for a Spanish photographer who appealed to me. Boy am I glad I chose Marcos! I contacted him with absolutely no information in regards to location, or specific dates and yet he was willing to take us on and go above and beyond for our day. It was Marcos's idea to elope in Lanzarote and we left him with all creative direction to do whatever it is he wanted. The photos are so incredible and I feel capture the true intimacy and love of the day - I could not be happier. Not to mention Marcos is possibly one of the coolest guys I have ever met and he was totally happy just letting us be ourselves.

The Styling

Yolanda at Best Day Ever is Marcos's wife and is the creative genius behind my floral arrangement, our reception and table setting and the whole theme in general. Once again we left all creative decisions to Yoli. This meant I had no idea what any of it was going to look like and it was all a surprise on the day. Well did she impress! What she did for us was hands down one of the biggest highlights of my day, especially walking down to discover the most romantic set up for our dinner. This lady has taste and has the incredible talent of being able to pick up on what would suit her client's without them even having to say.

The Videography

Monika Frias was our amazingly talented videographer and I am so grateful she was willing to use her incredible talent to capture our day. She has the ability to turn even an ordinary moment into something spectacular on film. Monica has the ability to make anyone feel at ease and enjoy themselves despite being filmed. She has become a friend for life. Plus one day I will get to show my grandchildren the video on how Lachy and I started our lives together.

The Food

All the credit amazing food we ate on the night goes to my dear friends Rachel and Jose who not only travelled all the way from Mexico to be there to celebrate with us but who also took care of everything we ate and drank. Jose served up some traditional Spanish tapas and we washed it down with some beautiful wine. Everything was bought on the island and served fresh or prepared on a open fire bbq. Simple yet so tasty!

Advice

If you have chosen to elope invest in a few key people to be there to help on the day. Our experience proves that with the right team (even a small one) you can achieve the most perfect day. Not to mention they have become friends that we will keep for life. Leave all the fuss at home and go and start your marriage with and adventure of a lifetime. You won't regret it!