A small wedding gives you the freedom to keep the day close, calm and centred on the people who matter most. Loretta will help you create a ceremony that sounds like the two of you, from a quiet exchange of vows with just your witnesses to a celebration with a small circle of family and friends. She will also guide you through the required marriage paperwork, so you can feel confident that the legal details are properly handled.
Key takeaways
- An elopement or small wedding in Queensland has the same legal standing as any wedding.
- You need an authorised celebrant, two witnesses aged 18 or over, and a Notice of Intended Marriage lodged at least one calendar month ahead.
- Elopements keep the ceremony to just the couple and witnesses; small weddings add a short guest list of family and friends.
- Location choice affects permits, weather planning and travel costs.
- Loretta handles the paperwork and ceremony wording so the day still feels personal.
Keep the guest list small without losing the feeling
An intimate ceremony can still hold your story, your humour and the promises you want to make. You might keep everything quiet and simple, invite someone close to share a reading, or make your own vows the heart of the ceremony. Loretta will help you choose what belongs and leave out anything that does not feel like you.
Elopement or small wedding: which service fits your plans?
If you want a legally binding marriage without a large guest list, an elopement or small wedding gives you that, with the same legal standing as any wedding in Australia. An elopement is a legal marriage held with just the couple and the two witnesses the law requires. A small or intimate wedding is the same legal ceremony with a short guest list, often immediate family and a few close friends. The difference between the two is scale and feeling, not legality.
| Elopement | Small wedding | |
|---|---|---|
| Who attends | The couple and the two required witnesses | The couple, two required witnesses and a small circle of invited guests |
| Best suited to | Maximum privacy and a simple legal ceremony | Couples who want close family or friends present |
| Ceremony style | Concise and private | Intimate, with room for readings, music or family involvement |
| Possible settings | Beach, lookout or private garden, subject to access and permits | Backyard, private venue or restaurant, subject to venue conditions |
Choose an elopement format if you want the legal minimum of two witnesses and no wider guest list. Choose a small-wedding format if a few close people will attend or take part. For broader micro-wedding planning, use the micro-wedding guide.
Choose your level of privacy
Yes, a small ceremony can be as private as you like, but Australian law still requires two witnesses aged 18 or over at every marriage, so a truly solo ceremony with nobody else present is not legally possible. Beyond that minimum, the choice is yours: a private elopement with just the two of you and your witnesses, or a small gathering that includes immediate family and a few close friends. It is worth deciding on your guest-list size early, since it shapes the venue, the timing and the paperwork. If you have not brought anyone who can act as a witness, ask Loretta what options may be available.
What Loretta needs before she can marry you
Marriage in Queensland is governed by the federal Marriage Act 1961. Before the ceremony, Loretta will help you meet the legal requirements, including lodging the Notice of Intended Marriage within the required timeframe and arranging two adult witnesses.
Before Loretta can marry you, five requirements apply:
- An authorised celebrant. Only a registered celebrant (or a minister of religion) can legally marry you, and they must say the words the Marriage Act requires during the ceremony.
- A lodged Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). This form must be given to your celebrant at least one month and no more than 18 months before your wedding day.
- Proof of identity and date of birth. Passports or birth certificates, plus evidence any earlier marriage has ended if that applies to you.
- Two witnesses aged 18 or over. They must be able to understand what is happening and see and hear the ceremony.
- The marriage documents signed on the day, which Loretta then registers with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
If your date is close, run it through the Notice of Intended Marriage deadline checker first, or read the guide on when to lodge your NOIM in Queensland to make sure the one-month minimum lands in your favour.
The three choices that set the tone of a small ceremony
Loretta begins with three decisions: who should be present, how much of your story you want to share, and which moment you want to remember most clearly. You may want ten quiet minutes with only your witnesses, or a little more room for a parent's reading, a favourite song and your own vows. Loretta will listen for what matters to you, then build the legal wording around those moments.
| Your preference | What it changes | What to tell Loretta |
|---|---|---|
| Just the two of you and your witnesses | A concise, private exchange with no guest involvement | Your date, location and witness arrangements |
| A parent or friend reading, a song or a small ritual | A slightly longer ceremony with moments for others to take part | Who you would like involved and what they will do |
| Handwritten vows alongside the legal wording | More personal, story-led wording built around the required words | Anything you want included in your vows or her introduction |
| A quiet, reflective tone or a warmer, celebratory one | How Loretta paces the ceremony and chooses her words | The atmosphere you are picturing for the day |
You might choose the required legal wording followed by handwritten vows on a quiet beach. For a small backyard ceremony, you could also invite a family member to share a reading before exchanging rings. These are illustrative options; Loretta can shape the ceremony around what feels natural to you.
If you want your vows to be the centrepiece, the notes on personalising your ceremony script and what makes ceremony vows truly special are useful before your planning chat.
Who will guide your ceremony and legal paperwork
Loretta Lindsay is an authorised marriage celebrant serving couples across South East Queensland.
Planning the setting across South East Queensland
For a Brisbane park or riverside ceremony, confirm booking conditions with Brisbane City Council or the authority responsible for the exact site. Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches and reserves may have different booking, access and event rules, so check the relevant council page before paying any non-refundable supplier costs. Coastal sites also need a realistic wind, tide and rain alternative, while hinterland locations may require extra travel time and a sheltered backup. Tell Loretta the exact site when enquiring so she can confirm travel arrangements and any location-related cost.
The guide on planning a weather-proof outdoor wedding is just as useful for two people as for two hundred, and the beachfront wedding spot tips help you read a location before you commit.
What can affect your elopement quote
Your quote will depend on the ceremony location, travel, date, format and the level of personalisation you would like. Ask Loretta for the inclusions and total price that apply to your plans; she can also explain which legal and ceremony-planning tasks are covered before you book. To find out what applies to your date, get in touch through the contact page.
What happens once your date is confirmed
Once your date is confirmed, Loretta will arrange the NOIM process, talk through how intimate or detailed you want the ceremony to feel, and confirm what she needs from you before the day. Your final plan will cover the legal wording, vows or readings you choose, witness arrangements and the ceremony location.
Is Loretta available for your date?
Ready to see whether Loretta is available? Send your preferred date, location and approximate guest numbers through the contact page. She'll reply with availability, the next NOIM step and the details needed for an accurate quote.