THE MODERN ELOPEMENT: A Study in Intimacy, StYLE, AND Intent.

Elopements have grown..

What was once defined by secrecy is now defined by selection.

Not an escape, but a decision. A choice to celebrate love without dilution, to gather only the essential, to let beauty and meaning exist without explanation.

This is the modern elopement: small in number, expansive in feeling.

Typically up to sixteen guests. Nothing extra. Nothing missing.

An Edited Guest List Is the Beginning of the Story

In high-end elopements, the guest list is not an afterthought, it is the framework.

These are the people who shaped you, who understand your silences, who don’t need context. When the room holds only familiarity, the energy shifts. There is ease, presence, a shared history that no seating chart could manufacture. With fewer guests, connection deepens, conversations stretch, laughter lingers. You look around and recognise every face and feel free enough to be fully yourself. This intimacy is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

Elopements as Editorial Worlds

With scale removed, intention takes over.

The location becomes expressive rather than impressive, a villa, a coastline, a private estate, an architectural space that feels more like a fashion set than a venue. The design doesn’t shout; it whispers.

Styling is pared back and purposeful, fashion leads, texture replaces excess. This is where elopements begin to resemble editorials, not because they’re styled for the camera, but because they are styled with clarity.

The Atmosphere: Quiet, Immersive, Unforgettable

An elopement with guests allows for something rare, total immersion.

The day unfolds slowly. There is time for stillness and for shared meals instead of timelines.

Every element is designed to support how the day feels, not just how it looks.

Guests aren’t observers; they’re participants. They feel considered, connected, and held by the experience. There is no distance between you and them, only closeness. This is how memories are made with depth instead of volume.

My Philosophy: Designing Elopements with Intention

Elopements of this nature require a different approach, one rooted in editing, nuance, and trust.

My work begins by understanding your story, your style, and the atmosphere you want to create. From there, I curate every detail with restraint and purpose. Planning and styling celebrations that feel cohesive, effortless, and deeply personal. In elopements, every choice matters more. The result is not a smaller wedding, but a more intentional one. A celebration that feels timeless, elevated, and entirely your own.

A New Definition of Luxury

Luxury today is not measured by guest count or grandeur.

It is measured by freedom, by presence, by the ability to design a day that feels true.

Elopements up to sixteen guests offer the rare opportunity to experience your wedding fully, without performance, without distraction, without excess. Just beauty, connection and meaning.

A Closing Thought

If you’re drawn to the idea of an elopement that feels fashion-forward, immersive, and intentionally designed, where every detail serves the atmosphere and every guest feels deeply connected. I would love to create it with you. I am a Perth-based wedding planner and stylist specialising in modern editorial elopements and intimate weddings across Western Australia. My approach is rooted in refined planning and editorial styling, designed for couples who value intimacy, artistry, and experience. When you’re ready to explore what your elopement could become, I invite you to reach out here.

Featured photos by Alex Cohen Photography.