When Megan and Jake first contacted me, they knew they wanted their wedding to feel private, intimate and a little like stepping into a fairytale.

A traditional wedding surrounded by guests never felt quite right for them. Instead, they imagined exchanging vows somewhere in nature, perhaps beneath a willow tree or among the trees of a quiet forest.

They wanted candid and romantic photographs, but more importantly, they wanted the freedom to experience their wedding without feeling as though they were performing for anyone else.

What began as an idea for a short ceremony eventually became a six-hour Margaret River elopement, beginning in the European-inspired gardens of La Forêt, continuing beneath the towering trees of Boranup Forest and finishing along the rugged coast near Prevelly at sunset.

It was relaxed, emotional and completely centred around the two of them.

Finding the Perfect Margaret River Elopement Location

Megan and Jake originally imagined getting married beneath a willow tree. They wanted to be surrounded by nature and to create a wedding that felt whimsical, romantic and removed from everyday life.

Because they were based in Perth, I suggested making a trip down south to explore the possibilities. Margaret River would allow them to turn their ceremony into a complete getaway, with private accommodation, forests and the coast all within reach.

Their options included exchanging vows in Boranup Forest or finding a private property where they could stay, get ready and hold their ceremony in complete privacy.

During their search, they discovered The Lodge at La Forêt. After speaking with the owner and receiving permission to hold their intimate ceremony there, we began building the rest of their Margaret River elopement experience around it.

A Private Elopement at La Forêt

La Forêt means “the forest”, and the property truly feels like a private world of its own.

The nine-acre estate combines native peppermint and marri bushland with beautifully designed European-inspired gardens. Its rose garden, sweeping staircases and carefully landscaped grounds created the magical atmosphere Megan and Jake had envisioned.

Getting Ready Together

I arrived at La Forêt at approximately 11:30 am, giving us plenty of time to settle in before the ceremony.

Rather than getting ready separately, Megan and Jake chose to share the experience. They helped one another with their final preparations, spent time together inside the lodge and enjoyed the anticipation of what was about to happen.

There was no bridal party moving through the room and no tightly packed schedule waiting for them. It was simply the two of them preparing to become husband and wife.

Photographing them getting ready together added an honest beginning to their story. These were not moments created purely for the camera. They were natural interactions between two people who felt completely at ease with one another.

Megan wore a traditional wedding dress, while Jake chose a classic suit. Although they were eloping privately, dressing for the occasion helped make the experience feel every bit as significant as a larger wedding.

An Intimate Garden Ceremony

Their ceremony took place in the gardens of La Forêt, surrounded by greenery and the property’s beautiful European-inspired landscaping.

Their celebrant, Carla from Queen of Hearts, joined us to conduct the legal ceremony. Apart from the celebrant and the two witnesses required for the marriage, Megan and Jake had the property entirely to themselves.

Megan was emotional throughout the ceremony, but she was also visibly happy and excited.

Rain had been forecast for their wedding day, but the weather turned out beautifully. It remained comfortable for their ceremony, while the clouds later added texture and colour to the sunset.

Weather in Margaret River can be unpredictable outside summer, but that does not mean it needs to take anything away from the experience. Some cloud cover can soften the light in the forest and create a much more interesting sky along the coast.

Cutting Their Favourite Chocolate Cake

After the ceremony, Megan and Jake returned to the lodge to collect their wedding cake.

Rather than choosing a cake simply because it was expected at a wedding, they brought a chocolate cake from a place near their home in Perth that they already loved. It was decorated to feel like a wedding cake while still being something familiar and personal to them.

They carried it into the garden, cut it together and enjoyed it without needing to serve an entire reception room.

Like everything else about their elopement, it was simple, relaxed and chosen entirely for themselves.

Private Vows in Boranup Forest

After their legal ceremony and cake cutting, we travelled together to Boranup Forest.

The towering karri trees created a dramatic contrast to the delicate gardens of La Forêt. The forest felt quiet, expansive and almost cinematic, fitting perfectly with the fairytale atmosphere Megan and Jake had pictured.

Although Megan and Jake had completed the legal part of their marriage at La Forêt, they wanted to save their personal vows for somewhere even more private.

We found a quiet place among the trees where they could speak freely to one another. I moved farther away and photographed them from a distance, giving them the space to focus on each other without feeling as though someone was standing beside them listening to every word.

This was one of the most meaningful parts of their day.

Candid photography is not only about avoiding stiff poses. Sometimes it means recognising when a couple needs space and allowing an important moment to belong entirely to them.

If the idea of a wedding focused on privacy and connection appeals to you, my guide explaining what a modern elopement can look like explores how couples can create a meaningful day without following the structure of a traditional wedding.

Chasing the Light Through the Forest

After their vows, we spent time exploring Boranup together.

At one point, I could see the possibility of beautiful light deeper among the trees, although finding the right position required a little searching. I headed through the bush to see where the light was falling before guiding Megan and Jake into the perfect place.

We discovered a pocket of light that framed them beautifully against the forest and created some of my favourite portraits from the day.

This is one of the reasons I prefer leaving breathing room in an elopement timeline. When we are not rushing to reach the next formal event, we can explore, follow the changing light and make the most of what the landscape gives us.

A similar forest-to-coast route features in my South West photography itinerary through Boranup Forest, although every elopement timeline is adjusted around the couple, the season and the locations they choose.

Finishing Their Margaret River Elopement by the Coast

Our final destination was the rugged coastline near Prevelly.

Rather than photographing on an open stretch of sand without much visual structure, I chose an area with rock pools and coastal formations. The rocks gave us layers, texture and a stronger sense of place, while the changing sky provided a dramatic backdrop.

By this stage, Megan and Jake had already experienced an entire journey together. They had prepared for the wedding side by side, married in the gardens, shared their favourite cake, travelled into Boranup Forest and exchanged their personal vows in private.

Finishing beside the ocean as the sun went down gave the story a natural ending.

The clouds that could have caused concern earlier in the day instead helped produce a wonderful sunset. We continued photographing until approximately 5:30 pm, using the final light to bring their six-hour Margaret River elopement to a close.

Highlights From Megan and Jake’s Margaret River Elopement

From their quiet preparations at La Forêt to their private vows beneath the karri trees and the final glow along the coast, these photographs tell the complete story of Megan and Jake’s day.

Turning a Short Elopement Into a Complete Experience

Megan and Jake originally considered booking only a couple of hours of photography. As we explored what was possible, their plans naturally grew into a relaxed six-hour experience.

That additional time did not make their wedding feel busier. It did the opposite.

It gave them time to get ready together and enjoy the lead-up without watching the clock. They could experience their ceremony, return for their cake, travel into the forest, exchange their vows privately and wait for the most beautiful light along the coast.

Megan and Jake’s wedding began with the simple dream of marrying beneath a tree. It became a complete day that felt magical, peaceful and unmistakably theirs.

Planning Your Own Margaret River Elopement?

If you are dreaming of an intimate wedding surrounded by nature, I would love to help you explore what your own Margaret River elopement could look like.

My Margaret River elopement photography packages include location guidance, timeline planning and support finding the right local vendors. The goal is not simply to choose somewhere beautiful. It is to create enough space for you to be present with each other while we document the complete experience.

If this sounds like the kind of wedding you have been imagining, get in touch with Moments by Naz and tell me what you want your day to feel like. You do not need to have the location or timeline figured out before enquiring. We can build those pieces together.

Megan and Jake’s Margaret River Elopement Vendors

Venue and accommodation: The Lodge at La Forêt
Instagram: @la.foret.enchantee

Celebrant: Carla, Queen of Hearts
Instagram: @carla_dunsboroughcelebrant

Makeup artist: Natasha, Celestial Beauty SW
Instagram: @natashataylormua

Hair stylist: Kate, Hair by Kate Louise
Instagram: @hair_by_katelouise

Margaret River elopement photographer: Moments by Naz