Two women embracing on a rocky outcrop during sunset, with one woman wearing a black suit and the other a black dress. They are set against a mountainous backdrop.

An Adventurous Hiking Elopement in the Blue Mountains

Although soccer has been something that’s connected them throughout their relationship, Dana and Kathleen traded in their cleats for shoes more suitable for their adventurous elopement in the Blue Mountains.

Tell us about the coincidences that led to you falling in love. 

After we first got together, we reflected back and realized that there were actually a number of times we crossed paths. One of these times Dana was playing AFL footy (as a soccer player) for a local team and Kathleen was actually the assistant coach & runner that day as a mutual friend was the coach.

 Halfway through the game Dana went down with a knee injury and off to hospital, but the funny thing is that Kathleen was holding an injury from her footy game the day before (broken arm) and also went to hospital that night.

Our first proper interaction was your typical night out on the town with friends. I was designated driver for one of my mates that night and Dana (and her many drinks) were very ‘persistent’ with me on the dance floor.

Dana was working in Sydney one weekend and gained tickets to a Manchester United friendly match in Sydney. She flew me Business class for the weekend (clearly trying to impress me haha) to see the game and the city. It was that weekend that we ‘officially’ got together as a couple.

Funnily enough the reason we are headed to Sydney again is because of yet another Soccer game (the Women’s World Cup) which is occurring exactly 10 years since the Manchester United game. It was not until a few weeks ago that we realized our elopement basically mirrors the weekend we got together as a couple all those years ago.

A person is holding two rings in their hands, depicted in black and white.
A close up image of native yellow flowers in the Blue Mountains National Park
A sign for Blue Mountains National Park, surrounded by greenery, with directional arrows pointing to different trails and picnic areas.
Two women are outdoors, with one wearing a black jacket and light blue jeans, and the other wearing a denim jacket and black pants. The woman in the denim jacket appears to be helping the other woman down from a rocky surface
A close up of a pair of hiking boots.
Two women are outdoors, smiling at each other. One wears a black jacket and light blue jeans, and the other wears a denim jacket and black pants. The scene is set against a mountainous backdrop.
Two women are inside a rustic room with a stone wall and a large window. The woman on the left is standing, holding a jacket, while the woman on the right is sitting in a chair.
A cozy, modern cabin with large windows, surrounded by dense greenery in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, under a bright, partly cloudy sky.
Two matching wedding vow books with the titles "To my wife" and "On our wedding day" on a surface, alongside wedding rings, a watch, a bouquet, and yellow flowers.
A person in a dark outfit standing next to a pair of white Nike sneakers on a wooden floor, captured in black and white.
A person in a black dress walking on a dirt path in the forest, wearing white sneakers, while holding another pair of white sneakers in her hand.
Two women standing on a cliff edge overlooking a scenic valley. One woman in a black suit holds a pair of white sneakers, while the other woman in a black dress is holding a water bottle.
A wedding ceremony on a rocky outcrop, with one woman adjusting the hair of the other woman. Both women are dressed in black, and a person in a gray shirt is in the background holding a tablet.
Two women are outdoors, one wearing a dark jacket and the other a black sleeveless dress. They stand in front of a scenic mountain view.
Two women are outdoors, one wearing a dark jacket and the other a sleeveless black dress. They stand in front of a scenic mountain view, with one woman touching the other's face.
A wedding ceremony on a cliff with two women facing each other. The woman on the left is in a black suit, and the woman on the right is in a black dress, while a person in a gray shirt holds a tablet in the background.
Two women embracing on a rocky outcrop, with one woman wearing a black suit and the other a black dress.
A wedding ceremony on a cliff with two women facing each other. The woman on the left is in a black suit, and the woman on the right is in a black dress, while a person in a gray shirt holds a tablet in the background.
Two women are hugging intimately, overlooking a breathtaking mountain view. The woman on the left is wearing a black suit, while the woman on the right is wearing a black dress.
Two women embracing on a rocky outcrop during sunset, with one woman wearing a black suit and the other a black dress. They are set against a mountainous backdrop.
A close-up shot of a woman's hand holding a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne, wearing a suit, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
Two women walking towards parked cars, with their backs facing the camera. The woman on the left is wearing a black suit and sunglasses, while the woman on the right is in a black dress.
A group of people standing outdoors near parked cars, seen from inside a vehicle. The group includes two women, with one wearing a black suit and the other a black dress.
Two women embracing on a rocky outcrop, with one woman wearing a black suit and the other a black dress. The scene captures an intimate moment in front of a scenic mountainous backdrop.
Two women are outdoors at sunset, holding hands. One woman, in a sleeveless dress, is leading while the other, in a long-sleeved outfit, follows.
Two women embracing each other closely, smiling gently, with one woman in a black suit and the other in a black dress. The setting is a mountainous outdoor area.
A black and white image of the couple embracing with a gentle smile. You can see the sun setting in the background.
Two women standing closely, embracing each other with hands intertwined, against a mountainous backdrop, showing their connection and love.
Two women embracing on a rocky outcrop, with one woman wearing a black suit and the other a black dress. The sun is setting in the background.

What do you love most about one another?

Dana – What I love most about Kathleen is her belief in me. There have been so many occasions through our relationship where she has been telling me I can/I’m able/ I’m more than good enough, and although it takes me weeks, months and sometimes even years to realize it for myself, when I finally get there she gives me these eyes and a look of ‘I told you’. 

One significant milestone for me was wanting to work for myself and have my own gym. She believed in me right from the get go, was my encouragement to leave a commercial gym and open my own space, told me I was good enough to manage and run a high performance team and to work with some high performing athletes. 

I can say that my business wouldn’t be what it is today without her belief and support in me.

Kathleen–  Before I even knew Dana, all our mutual friends would speak so highly of her. They’d always say how fun she is, a bit cheeky, and never takes life too seriously. That remains true today. Her inner child is never far away and it makes life far more exciting and fun. 

The real world can be unrelenting at times but her balance of cheeky and silly but also soft and supportive is one of the things about her that I love and adore.

Photography by James White Photography

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