The other day I was letting my mind wander when I started thinking about the things that you guys might not know about me or my life. I don’t mean the things that I keep for myself and family or anything that goes over the line I’ve drawn in the sand, I mean defining things that I shared back when only my family was reading. Like, did you know that James and I eloped?
When James and I said our vows, it was just he and I as we made our promises in front of a Pearl Lugger. Well, technically, it was he and I, our celebrant, our photographer and the two lovely ladies from Broome Weddings who planned our whole wedding. And, while our families and friends knew we were off to get married, I still consider it to be an elopement.
It was the second time I’d ever traveled out of NSW and my third ever plane trip. Sometimes, it seems as if I have forgotten and it comes as a surprise to remember I did something so out of the ordinary for such a big life moment. It was so good and so bad all at once. I was 20 weeks pregnant, melting, worried about a cyclone and missing my family at a time when I wanted them to be there, but it just couldn’t happen. Even though I desperately wanted to include our immediate families in our special day, it just wasn’t feasible for them to go when we needed them to.
Other than the family issue, there isn’t a thing I would change about our choice to elope. Before making that decision, I was stressed to the max. I was never one of those girls who had planned her wedding years before. I didn’t have Cinderella dreams or a scrapbook full of wedding ideas and, honestly, all that really would have helped as I desperately tried to choose a venue and flowers and dress and this, that, the other. I’m having a slight anxiety attack just remembering all that now (possibly because I’ve been planning Ellie’s party and it all feels a little close to home).
I panicked about whether inviting my mum’s long lost cousin meant I had to invite the mailman’s sister’s best friend (okay, maybe not that far removed, but you get the idea) and then I would freak out about having to stand and talk in front of those people. Or any people.
So, we outsourced. James and I had to choose essentials like the date and where we would stay, I had to pick flowers from the specified selections and then we just left Gerri to organise the rest. The relief? Immense. Honestly, I am not convinced I would have gone through with an actual wedding and, knowing what I do now, I am pretty sure James wouldn’t have made it through the ceremony.
I would love to go back now with our kids, parents and siblings for a renewal of our vows, to give them a little something of that special time and to relive our first adventure in a new way.
I think doing it this way meant it was truly something for us. A wedding any other way would have been for others and merely a stress to James and I and it’s nice to have that little moment and experience that’s so unique to our relationship and time together.
Also, it’s pretty cool to say we eloped in Broome.
Would you consider running off to get married?
Linking up with Jess for #ibot
Photo credit: Yane Sotiroski Photography
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