ELOPEMENTS AND MICRO WEDDINGS IN SA
More Australians are eloping or holding a micro wedding
Micro wedding and honeymoon accommodation
A new romantic trend for couples thinking of getting married
A new trend is emerging, according to people in the wedding industry: while, historically, eloping was something you did if your union was frowned upon, that's all changed now. Eloping is now seen as something of an exciting adventure for new couples to embark on!
Because of the pandemic, health concerns, restrictions and closed borders, not to mention as a cost-saving measure, wedding planners are seeing more couples swapping large celebrations for elopements and micro weddings. Elopements now usually consist of the couple and only some very close friends or family as their witnesses, whereas a micro wedding is a traditional celebration but on a smaller scale.
Says one wedding planner, "Unlike elopements, which are often just the celebrant with maybe a photographer, a micro wedding will have a full team of suppliers and require coordination and structure — celebrant, photographer, videographer, musicians, catering, venue, hair, makeup, flowers, lights — all the bells and whistles."
"The pandemic's probably given couples permission to imagine their day the way they would like to do it, releasing some of the pressure of the big wedding."
Why do couples elope?
There are many reasons why couples elope. Eloping is an amazing adventure and a fantastic way to start married life together. It is also much more intimate and personal than a big traditional wedding.
- To escape the stress of planning a wedding.
Planning a wedding can be very stressful, and if you have an anxious personality, the whole experience can be very trying. There's way to much pressure these days for the "perfect" big wedding. Why go through all that if you can avoid it? - Because you don't want to wait!
If you want a popular wedding venue, you may have to book 18 months in advance, and organising all the associated service providers can take months of work. By eloping, you can get married in a month! Under Australian law, you just need to lodge a “Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)” with an authorised celebrant at least a month before your intended date of marriage. - You just don't want a traditional wedding
A traditional wedding just doesn't suit some couples; they have no wish to go through the "big day", the ceremony, the traditions and the old-fashioned formality. - It's cheaper!
Weddings are really expensive. Many couples go into significant personal debt so they can have the wedding of their dreams. Weddings can lose their intimacy, uniqueness and meaning if they simple become a means to impress. The average wedding in Australia costs around $36,000, which is beyond the means of many couples. - Avoid complicated family politics.
Family is complicated and not every family is close. By eloping, you can avoid complicated family matters. If you don’t want to hurt your family’s feeling, you can tell people that it’s just the two of you and have a small reception party after that.
Why have a micro wedding?
Micro weddings can be the most magical of experiences. As the name suggests, a micro wedding is all to do with scale. Sometimes defined as small and intimate ceremonies, most aspects of a larger traditional celebration can form part of a micro wedding, but a micro wedding will involve the invitation of far fewer guests to your special day.
A micro wedding involves up to a maximum of about 20 guests, usually including close family members and a select few friends. This is different from an elopement, which involves only the couple and wedding official.
With the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, safety restrictions have significantly reduced wedding numbers and therefore the popularity of micro weddings has increased dramatically. But the pandemic aside, it seems simple to see that instead of providing for hundreds of guests, a micro wedding lets you provide for a limited number, reducing your cost.
Conversely, some couples are deciding to increase their price per head budget hugely for a select few and spoiling their special guests to indulgent wedding celebrations.
Having to plan for less than 20 guests as opposed to 100 can reduce the stress and time planning your wedding day. There’s fewer invitations to post out and fewer problems to deal with, and fewer menu choices to arrange.
A smaller gathering gives you time to really interact with your guests. Instead of your day being a steady stream of welcomes, goodbyes and guilt that you haven’t properly chatted to a hundred people, a micro wedding allows for a more relaxed vibe.
Some couples feel a micro wedding allows them to enjoy the true meaning of the day, marrying the one they love with and beginning their married life together. A micro wedding allows you to be surrounded by the people you love and gives you the space to enjoy each other at this exciting time.
Riverview Rise Retreats is perfect for elopement or micro wedding accommodation
Riverview Rise Retreats was purpose-built as a 5-star luxury couples getaway destination. It's the perfect place to celebrate special occasions such as a honeymoon
If you're having a special day and looking for the best couples accommodation, indulge in this cozy haven of secluded luxury. Enjoy the spectacular Murray River views and the rolling hills overlooking Mannum. The contemporary furnishings and décor of the individual couples retreats are complimented by an indoor/outdoor living area where you can take in the ambiance. Snuggle up inside a cosy cottage with a glass of red wine while nestled in these beautiful, quiet, natural surroundings.
Just a little over an hour from Adelaide by car, lovebirds can find the ultimate South Australian getaway. For couples after a romantic wilderness escape or an Adelaide Hills retreat, there's no better place.
Imagine a luxury accommodation retreat built solely to provide tranquil seclusion for couples. This is exactly what's on offer at Riverview Rise Retreats. Its location – the tiny historic town of Mannum on the banks of the Murray River – means you can reach it from Adelaide in just over an hour.
There are three five-star villas at this ultra-private hideaway, each fitted out with the key ingredients for a weekend of romance. Couples spa / hot tub, dimmer mood lighting and silk dressing gowns; Tailor-made beds and sumptuous furnishings; Lazy mornings in the luxury of your private accommodation and a late 2pm checkout.
And we've just been awarded a Booking.com Traveller Review Award for 2023! Booking.com recognise that we consistently exceed travellers' expectations in our accommodation and service.
We are located opposite Mannum just 80km (about one hour) from Adelaide. Contact us now for the experience of a lifetime!
It’s beyond accommodation, this is a Platinum River Experience.
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