A romantic elopement in the place where they first met was full-circle perfection for these lovebirds.
When Viktoria and Dougal met in Australia as backpackers five years ago, they couldn’t have guessed their love would lead them back here to marry. But when scouting for locations, the newly engaged couple became smitten by the idea of “going back to a country we love and tying the knot literally just miles from where we first met,” says Viktoria.
With Dougal based in the UK, Viktoria working in Germany, and their wedding planner Shobha based in Australia, virtual communication was crucial. “The biggest challenge was the distance between us all — not only between Shobha and I but also between my husband,” Viktoria explains. “Also, I hadn’t been to that specific location. I had to completely trust my husband (who had visited there once) on how beautiful it was.”
That trust paid off in spades and the couple celebrated a dream day in the Far North Queensland sunshine, with just the ocean tide bearing witness. Revelling in the simple beauty of “we do” kept the experience intimate and romantic, with a few funny moments thanks to local wildlife. “We were paranoid of being attacked by a crocodile,” laughs Viktoria. “Jacky, our photographer, promised to take an amazing picture of it when it happened!”
The gorgeous newlyweds are united in their favourite memory. “Walking barefoot down Four Mile Beach, with the water swimming around our feet, looking at each other knowing that after all those years of dreaming, we had finally done what we wanted,” Viktoria recalls of that magic moment. “And we had done it our way.”
Distance proved to be no barrier at all, with the couple giving a special shout-out to their wedding planners. “They had all the local knowledge, so when it came down to choosing a time of day they could advise on the position of the sun, how it would affect the photographs, and when the tide would be in,” says Viktoria. “Looking back, that advice set us up for a perfect day.”
The bride also shares a tip about choosing a destination wedding. “Definitely do it!” she says. “But don’t just pick an idyllic place you think will look and sound amazing. Choose somewhere that really means something to you both, somewhere that will always be yours.”
The Details:
Wedding date: 05.08.19 // Ceremony: Beachfront near St Mary’s by the Sea chapel // Wedding planner: Shobha Cameron, Port Douglas Weddings // Photography: Jacky Cooke, Port Douglas Wedding Photography // Honeymoon: Port Douglas, Darwin, Kakadu National Park & Bali
