A Tasmania Elopement with Tree Ferns, Trivia, and Coastal Views
Camilla (she/her) and Madie (she/her) skipped the traditions and planned a day that felt like them: quiet moments in nature, sunset by the coast, and trivia over fish and chips. From tree ferns at St Columba Falls to vows at Sabi Stays and rock-hopping at Binalong Bay, their Tasmania elopement was thoughtful, personal, and full of heart.
Tell us about the proposal! We heard it involved a custom board game?
It was such a fun plan to pull off! Madie had spotted this trivia game, Hexaquest, on TikTok and loved it, but it wasn’t available in Australia. I contacted the creator, Martin, and we worked together to design a custom card with trivia questions I wrote, plus a drawing of us in the game’s style. The final question was “Will you marry me?”
We were on a weekend trip down the coast of Queensland, and I set up a picnic with the table we had actually built together out of pallets, it was a mini DIY project for the proposal! When she finally picked up a question mark tile and landed on the special card, I was so nervous I fumbled it a bit. She noticed I had two cards in hand and reached for the second one. I told her it was a special anniversary question. After the first few questions, I asked if she was ready for the last one, then got on one knee and proposed.
She said yes (after swearing in surprise), and we celebrated with champagne, dancing, and dinner by the beach. Her ring came from Xennox Diamonds, who were amazing throughout the whole process.
Why did you decide to elope rather than have a traditional wedding?
We actually had an engagement party in Brisbane with all our people. It was such a full, happy night that we realized we had already celebrated our love with everyone we cared about. When we started thinking about a wedding, it made sense to keep it focused on just us. We wanted the day to feel like a deep breath. Calm, meaningful, and ours.
How did you choose your elopement location?
Tasmania was an easy choice. I grew up in Hobart, and we both love the natural colors of the Tasmanian landscape. We were living in Brisbane at the time, so planning a destination elopement made it feel even more special. We weren’t exactly sure where we’d land, but after lots of searching, we found Sabi Stays, a Japanese Wabi-Sabi-inspired space near the Bay of Fires.
It felt peaceful and grounded, with a connection to nature that really resonated with us. We also knew we wanted to explore St Columba Falls. Its ancient tree ferns and ever-running waterfall felt like the perfect backdrop for part of our day.
Walk us through the elopement day! What moments stand out?
We kicked off the morning with mimosas made with prosecco from Alpha Box and Dice, a South Australian winery we visited on our first trip together. Our makeup artist Sophie Mcdermott and hair stylist Brooke made the morning so relaxed and fun. They chatted with us while bringing our vision to life.
The ceremony at SABI was everything. We walked in together, side by side, down the garden stairs to a boulder altar. We kept our vows secret from each other until the moment. We laughed, cried, and even promised to always throw the tennis ball for each other.
After that, we ate, explored the falls, snuggled back at SABI, and ended the night drinking mezcalitas, playing the game I proposed with, and sharing fish and chips on the couch.
How did you personalize your ceremony?
We worked with our wonderful celebrant Kathleen The Celebrant, who made the ceremony feel so grounded and personal. She had us fill out a questionnaire and wove our story into the ceremony script perfectly.
We chose to walk in together to calm our nerves and represent our partnership. We also wrote our own vows. I took weeks and Madie wrote hers in one go. They were guided, but still completely our own. One of our vows was to always throw the tennis ball for the other, and yes, we both included it.
What was it like working with your vendors?
Truly, every vendor was incredible. I had been following Jon Gazzignato already and knew he had to be our photographer. His style captures the wildness and softness of Tasmania so well. We found SABI on Airbnb, and it just clicked. Sophie had done my makeup for my sister’s wedding, so I already trusted her, and she introduced us to Brooke for hair.
Finding a florist was probably the hardest part, but we ended up working with Daneeka from Gyp Darling, and she delivered something better than we could’ve imagined. Every arrangement felt perfectly suited to the calm, grounded vibe of the space.
We were intentional about creating a team of people who got our vision and cared about what they do. And they nailed it.
What advice do you have for other couples planning an elopement?
Make decisions based on what feels like you, not what’s expected. You don’t have to include everything, and you don’t have to explain your choices to anyone. If you’re thoughtful and intentional, your day will be beautiful because it’s yours.
Photography by Jon Gazzignato
Celebrant Kathleen The Celebrant
Ceremony Venue Sabi Stays
Florist Gyp Darling
Hair Stylist Brookelle Hair
Make Up Artist Sophie Mcdermott
Rings Xennox Diamonds
