With Love Elopements: Trusted Brisbane and Palm Cove Celebrants Making Eloping Easy and Affordable

on October 2, 2025 · Leave a Comment

Who are With Love Elopements?

Wedding Celebrants Jamie + Cara of Brisbane City Celebrants and With Love Elopements are renowned for delivering seamless, happy, and thoroughly enjoyable wedding ceremonies.

With Love Elopements, builds on Jamie and Cara’s extensive experience and dedication to create happy, stress-free elopement weddings in two very special locations, Beautiful Brisbane and now, also as Palm Cove Celebrants in Tropical North Queensland.

The genuine care Jamie and Cara bring, along with their willingness to go above and beyond to ensures each couple’s special day is everything they’ve dreamed of. This exceptional dedication is clearly reflected in the hundreds of glowing 5-star reviews continually rolling in from their very happy newlyweds.

True experts in everything ‘wedding ceremony’, this passionate duo are also the team behind leading Brisbane ceremony styling service With Love Brisbane Wedding Decorators hence why they’re affectionately known as ‘With Love’ by couples and wedding vendors alike.

Breaking News: With Love’s Signature Elopements are now also taking place in Palm Cove & Cairns Northern Beaches

The exciting expansion of With Love Elopements means that Jamie and Cara are now also helping couples to get legally married in relaxed, heartfelt and super special destination weddings in the breathtaking area of Palm Cove and Cairns Northern Beaches.

This serene tropical coast offers an idyllic, scenic backdrop that perfectly complements their signature style of elopements — simple, stress-free, elegant, and heartfelt. Making destination weddings in this paradise seamless and stunning for couples and their guests is a true privilege.

Trusted & Experienced Experts

Jamie and Cara’s journey to becoming Celebrants began with their own wedding. Driven by a desire to revolutionise the ceremony experience, they reimagined every detail of the ceremony planning process, and delivery of the ceremony on the day, to make it easier, more personal, and enjoyable for couples. They continue to innovate with a couple-first approach, ensuring each ceremony reflects the unique vision of each individual couple.

Their long-standing expertise and warm, engaging style have helped them become highly respected wedding ceremony experts, celebrated for delivering memorable weddings full of happiness and heartfelt moments.

Signature Style: Happy, enjoyable weddings – made easy

Their ceremonies are best described as happy, celebratory, light, and super enjoyable, with Jamie and Cara perfectly tailoring every ceremony to the couple’s personalities and vibe. Their dual roles as Celebrants along with their combined calming presence and passion, ensure every wedding flows smoothly and leaves couples and guests with the best of memories.

A Legacy of 700+ Five-Star Reviews

Across all their “With Love” brands, Jamie and Cara have proudly earned over 700 five-star Google reviews, reflecting how invested they are in creating exceptional wedding experiences. With countless couples knowing they can trust in them for their most important day. These reviews highlight how their approach makes each couple feel valued and heard. Now that’s something to celebrate!

Celebrating Love: Favourite Moments

Jamie and Cara tell us some of their favourite moments of being Celebrants include:

The excitement of that first meeting, connecting with couples and their vision and designing personalised ceremonies just for them.
Immersing in the atmosphere of love and celebration on the wedding day.
Witnessing genuine smiles, laughter, happy tears throughout the ceremony.
Knowing they helped create memories that couples will treasure forever.
The overwhelming reward of receiving heartfelt thanks and 5-star feedback afterward.

They absolutely love being chosen to celebrate love and create ceremonies.

Top Tips for Destination Elopements in Palm Cove

As Celebrants, Jamie and Cara are big believers in celebrating all the happy milestones in life. Expanding With Love Elopements signature elopement service to Cairns Northern Beaches was a great excuse for an incredible celebration on the shores of beautiful Palm Cove Beach. You can hear all about this fabulous celebration here: Tropical Weddings: With Love Elopements expands to Far North Queensland.

Jamie and Cara share their 8 Top Tips for Planning Your Destination Elopement Wedding.

Ready to discover the ‘With Love’ Difference?

Whether planning an intimate elopement in Brisbane’s iconic botanical gardens, or a tropical destination wedding or elopement in Palm Cove, Jamie + Cara offer unmatched expertise and heart-driven service.

Contact With Love Elopements to find out more and to plan your elopement – exactly as you imagine it.

Maori wedding traditions at a heartfelt Brisbane wedding

on May 30, 2020 · 7 Comments

With Marriage Celebrant Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants

Having lived in New Zealand for 5 years and experienced many of the warm and deeply meaningful Maori traditions and customs, I understand and respect the significance for couples and their families choosing to incorporate Maori wedding traditions in to their wedding day.

Traditional Maori weddings derive their culture values from a proud noble race known as Te Maori. The Korowai is a traditional Maori cloak, weaved with feathers.

This wedding took place at Brisbane’s Victoria Park in the Garden Marquee and combined Maori and Western wedding traditions perfectly.

Without gathering a crowd (aside from me letting the Videographer know when this was taking place, to capture the moment at the brides request as she wouldn’t be their to witness it), The Korowai ceremony took place when the grooms Mum arrived.

She approached the groom and lovingly placed and tied the Korowai on him, affirming her support, pride and love for her son and his relationship with his soon to be wife.

The grooms uncle was the wedding singer and guitarist, and sung the bride and her bridesmaids down the aisle. The couples ceremony was heartfelt and meaningful, and happy tears were shed when I shared their story together. They kept their ceremony short and simple opting for the simple required vows. A wise decision given how emotional the ceremony already was.

The couples children joined them as they made their way back down the aisle. After family photos took place, the couple headed off for photos conveniently onsite around the Victoria Park Golf course. They thoughtfully booked the Orchard Room for guests to enjoy refreshing drinks and nibbles while their location photos took place.

Another part of traditional Maori culture is the feast and celebrations, traditionally with a hangi where the food is slowly cooked underground.

The couples reception took place in Victoria Park’s stunning Marquee and involved traditional Maori dancing and of course the Haka.

Congratulations to the happy newlyweds and how beautifully you incorporated Maori wedding traditions in to your wedding.

With Celebrant Cara Hodge of Jamie + Cara – Brisbane City Celebrants

Photography Dreamlife Photography

If you enjoyed this post and are looking for a Celebrant for your special day, contact Cara now to confirm availability and start planning your wedding ceremony.

A simply elegant wedding at Woody Point

on May 13, 2020 · 9 Comments

With Celebrant Cara Hodge – Brisbane City Celebrants

Donna and Anthony’s elegant wedding at Woody Point at Moreton Bay was an absolute dream come true. The bride opted for simplistic elegant wedding ceremony styling by With Love Wedding Decorators, at Jetty Square Park to make the most of the stunning backdrop and views of Moreton Bay and the Woody Point Jetty.

Bride Donna had the honour of having her two beautiful daughters as her bridesmaids and they all got ready together at the nearby Mon Komo Hotel.

The girls arrived together in a classic Jaguar, before making their way to the ceremony where Anthony was eagerly waiting for his stunning bride.

The wedding ceremony décor provided by yours truly via With Love Brisbane Wedding Decorators included a rose petal aisle, white Americana chairs, aisle pillars with fresh floral arrangements in blush tones, a wedding welcome sign and a chilled drinks bar to keep the guests cool and hydrated. Images via With Love Brisbane Wedding Decorators

As Donna walked down the aisle to Anthony, she took his breath away. They held hands and their short but very sweet ceremony commenced.

Their ceremony was a true celebration of Donna and Anthony’s love and of their love for their families, with Donna’s daughters by her side and Anthony choosing his father to be his best man and witness.

The happy couple made their way back down the aisle together to a shower of a rose petals and the cheers and applause of their wedding guests. Once the family and group photos were taken, guests made their way to The Belvedere Hotel, where the wedding welcome sign and flowers from the ceremony were repurposed to decorate the relaxed cocktail style celebrations.

Donna and Anthony were blessed with a beautiful sunset to welcome them in to married life, and the lovely Jess their Photographer was in her element capturing their location photos here.

Congratulations Donna and Anthony on the perfect start to your marriage.

Celebrant Cara Hodge Jamie + Cara – Brisbane City Celebrants

Ceremony Décor With Love – Brisbane Wedding Decorators

Photography Jesstookthis

Flowers Brisbane Market Flowers

Jeweller Phenix Jewellery

Hair and Makeup EK Artistry

If you enjoyed this post and are looking for a Celebrant for your special day, I would love to hear from you. Contact me now for more information and let’s start planning your special day.

A colour filled wedding at Cupo Venue

on May 4, 2020 · 4 Comments

With Celebrant Cara Hodge of Jamie + Cara – Brisbane City Celebrants

What an incredible day it was celebrating Gemma and Chris’s colour filled wedding at Cupo Venue.

5 STARS “Thank you so much for everything leading up to and on the day! Definitely 5 out of 5 from us. We had so much fun, thank you again” Gemma + Chris

When I first met with Gemma and Chris to start planning and designing their wedding ceremony, I remember how excited they were as they shared all the details of their upcoming wedding at Cupo Venue, a funky function space in Fortitude Valley.

At the time Cupo Venue was a new venue to the Brisbane wedding scene and this was my first wedding at this venue which added to my excitement of the day.

Gemma told me how the venue was very much a blank canvas that they could decorate and set up however they wished. In keeping with the ceremony vibe of a happy celebratory day, the flower brief to her Florist was for bright and colourful seasonal arrangements. They also created low chill out seating and picnic areas, for guests to gather and chill in a relaxed way.

The venues pallet backdrop wall was beautifully decorated with flowers by Garden Graffiti and twinkling lights.

While there weren’t too many surprises with this modern wedding, with Chris having seen the dress and pink shoes Gemma had picked to wear, long before the day, the happy couple did decide to share surprise vows with each other which they shared for the first time during the ceremony.

It always amazes me when I see the similarities couples include in their surprise vows to each other. Amongst their beautiful heartfelt words to each other, Chris said:

“I look forward to all the memories we are going to make together, the Sundays spent on the couch and the trips to Kmart for “just one thing”.

And alluding to the same thing, Gemma said to Chris:

“I can’t promise that I won’t buy all the cushions from Kmart, but I can promise to support you in your never-ending quest to own all the sneakers.”

Needless to say their words were a huge hit to each other!

Their wedding was captured by Terry from Soul Bridge Media, a long term friend of Chris which added to the relaxed enjoyable vibe of the day. They laughed and cried happy tears and their ceremony was truly perfect in every way.

After they exchanged rings they were introduced as husband and wife and their guests cheered loudly!

After the ceremony drinks circulated and while the group photo took place, the venue speedily turned the room around converting the ceremony area, to a long wedding reception table, filled with beautiful bright florals.

Congratulations to the happy newlyweds and thank you for choosing me as your Celebrant for your wedding at Cupo Venue.

Cara Hodge – Jamie + Cara – Brisbane City Celebrants

Photography: Soulbridge Media

Venue: Cupo Concept Venue Brisbane

Florist Garden Graffiti

If you enjoyed this post and you are looking for a Celebrant for your wedding at Cupo Venue or elsewhere in Brisbane, Cara would love to hear from you. Contact Cara now for more information and to start planning your special ceremony.

The cycling bride

on September 18, 2019 · 5 Comments

With Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants

What an incredible entrance this was for the wedding of two cycling enthusiasts with bride Emily surprising her groom Christophe by speeding down the aisle on a bike.

In 10+ years of performing wedding ceremonies, this was the first time I’ve ever seen a cycling bride arrival!

The happy couple actually found their wedding venue, Ocean View Estates Winery while exploring the area during bike rides, so Emily thought it was only fitting to make her way down the long aisle on a specially purchased white bicycle, to the complete surprise of her groom.

The arrival was kept top secret, even Emily’s Dad didn’t know what she had planned when she told him she would make her way down the pathway herself, asking him to walk her the remainder of the way to her waiting groom.

When the moment arrived the band played, and the lovely bridesmaids made their way down the long footpath, and took their places. Guests may have wondered for a brief moment why the bride wasn’t following closely behind them. Christophe was attentively watching, waiting for that first glimpse of his beautiful bride, when suddenly at great speed, Emily flew at high speed down and around the footpath, taking his breath away!

Guests wowed and a wave of laughter ensued, followed by cheering as everyone realised what they were witnessing. Then Emily gracefully dismounted with a little help from her bridesmaids, made eye contact with her groom before joining her father to walk her the rest of the way down the aisle.

It was the perfect way for Emily and Christophe to commence their happy and upbeat, love filled ceremony plus the bikes made for some great photos after the ceremony.

Special mention to Barry from Eyes Wide Open Images for capturing these fun moments.

If you enjoyed hearing about this unique wedding and are looking for a Celebrant for your special day. Marriage Celebrant Cara Hodge would love to hear from you.

How weddings have changed over the past 10 years

on February 5, 2019 · 3 Comments

How weddings have changed over the past 10 years

By Jamie and Cara of Brisbane City Celebrants

As we celebrate 10 years as Celebrants, this is an opportune time for us to reflect on how the wedding industry has changed over the past decade, how many marriages are taking place, and what weddings look like now compared to 10 years ago.Image by Dreamlife Photography

INCREASE IN CIVIL WEDDINGS BY 15%

In 2007 63% of weddings that took place were civil weddings (as opposed to church/ religious weddings)

This percentage has increased slightly every year over the past decade reaching 78% in 2017.

While there are likely a number of reasons for this increase, perhaps couples like the increased flexibility of location and ceremony customisation that come with civil weddings.

We have personally had the pleasure of marrying couples that are of different religions and have opted for a civil wedding as a neutral comprise to a religious ceremony.

LESS MARRIAGES ARE TAKING PLACE

In 2017 116,322 marriages took place in Australia, this figure increased fractionally every year until 2013 with a decrease of approximately 5,000 marriages compared to the previous year.

Could this be somewhat related to suspicions around the number 13?

By 2015 the total number of marriages that took place in Australia was just 113,595, and while this jumped up to 118,401 in 2016, 112,954 marriages took place in 2017, which is approximately 5,000 less than the previous year.

In summary, 3,368 less marriages took place in Australia in 2017 than 2007, when you factor in population growth, this suggest a higher percentage of people are choosing not to marry.

UQ Rugby field wedding ceremonyUQ Rugby field wedding ceremony

Image by Raconteur Photography

AVERAGE AGE OF MARRIAGE CELEBRANTS REDUCED

When we attended our first OPD training back in 2009, we were told the average age of Marriage Celebrants was 67 years old. While this stat is no longer reported, it’s safe to say becoming a Marriage Celebrant is no longer for those looking for a retirement job, with Celebrants of all age groups now available.

OTHER INTERESTING FIGURES

There were 6000 Celebrants in Australia in 2007. 10 years later, in 2017 there are now around 9,000 an increase of 50%

The average Australian Marriage Celebrant officiates 10 marriages every year.

The median age at marriage for males in 2017 was 32.years, and the median age at marriage for females in 2017 was 30 years, in 2017, the majority of brides (80.9%) and grooms (79.3%) had not been married before.

Looking at QLD specifically

In QLD 2007 there were 26,000 weddings in QLD in 2017 there were 22,500 a reduction of 3,500 annual weddings.

81% of weddings in QLD are civil weddings performed by Celebrants

If you found this article interesting and you are looking for a Celebrant for your special day, Jamie and Cara of Brisbane City Celebrants would love to hear from you.

View more of their blog posts on the Brisbane Celebrants Directory & Blog, and contact them to confirm availability for your special day.

Eat Street Markets Wedding

on July 3, 2018 · 8 Comments

Eat Street Markets Wedding

With Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants

Lauren and Andy’s wedding which began at Brisbane’s Newstead Rotunda and finished with a vibrant and fun filled Eat Street Markets wedding reception is EVERYTHING!

This easy going couple opted for a simple modern ceremony that not only celebrated their relationship, but was also a celebration of them as a family, so their gorgeous little daughter Bella was as much a part of their day as they were.

The ceremony began with some pre-wedding announcements which provides the guests all the info they need and answers all the common questions, and also sets the tone for the ceremony. This was also a great opportunity to remind guests that they can use the couples wedding hash tag #laurenandandy2018 which is always a great way for your Instagram fam to enjoy all the guests photos.

Their Newstead Rotunda wedding ceremony was timed perfectly, with the rotunda having just been freshly painted and with a brand new roof, in 10 years of weddings in Brisbane I have never seen the rotunda looking this fresh! They were also blessed with a beautiful day!

The couple planned a non-traditional wedding where they put tradition aside and simply did everything their own way, to ensure their guests and them enjoyed every moment of their Newstead rotunda and Eat Street Markets wedding. On arrival, the couples daughter Bella was walking down the long curving aisle, when just past the half way point she spotted Andrew, broke free and excitedly sprinted to the rotunda to wrap her little arms around his legs, much to the amusement of the guests. Meanwhile Lauren followed her bridesmaids down the aisle arriving with her ‘glowing with pride’ Mum.

I love seeing Photographers capture the ceremony from this angle with all the guests looking on in the background which is why I try to deliver much of the ceremony from the side.

I couldn’t have been happier to receive the following feedback from the happy couple:

“Cara was amazing!

She made the process so easy for the day.

Answered any questions, big or small for us, had advice for the little things and even gave us Honeymoon travel tips.

We couldn’t have chosen a better celebrant for our day! Thank you so much Cara!”

Lauren & Andy – Newstead Rotunda & Eat Street Markets Wedding

FOMO alert! If you’ve enjoyed seeing these gorgeous fun filled images, wait till you see the vibrant reception photos at their alternative wedding venue, Eat Street Markets!

What an incredible day! Special mention to Lauren and Andys dream team of wedding suppliers:

Full wedding featured on Polka Dot Bride Photographer: Cookoo Photography / Bride’s Dress: Angelic Bridal / Alterations: Kaylique Designs / Flowergirl’s Attire: Princessly / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: / Makeup Artist: Her Pearls – Makeup by Kimaea / Hairstylist: A Cut Above Salon Chermside / Flowers: A Rustic Affair / Ceremony Venue: Newstead Park / Reception Venue: Eat Street Markets Northshore / Ceremony Officiant: Cara Hodge Brisbane City Celebrants / Wedding Website: Wix / Wedding Cake: Poppy Pie / Cake Topper: BMCrafts

If you enjoyed hearing about this non-traditional, relaxed and fun filled Newstead Rotunda and Eat Street Markets wedding and are looking for a Celebrant for your special day, Cara Hodge would love to hear from you.

Contact Celebrant Cara today for more information and to check availability.

Pacific Golf Club Wedding

on June 1, 2018 · 4 Comments

With Marriage Celebrant Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants

Pacific Golf Club Wedding

This heartfelt and love filled Pacific Golf Club wedding was everything dreams are made of.

The bridal party were led down the aisle by a group of revving Harley Davidson. Groom Ashley was visibly bursting with love as he teared up the moment his sweet daughters and beautiful bride Alysha began walking down the aisle towards him.

These beautifully images capture every special moment of their ceremony and the love shared between the bride and groom and their 2 daughters is simply undeniable.

As they took each other’s hands, and the ceremony commenced the happy couple locked eyes and glowed with love as they enjoyed a meaningful, happy and upbeat ceremony.

It was so important for Alysha and Ashley to involve their 2 sweet daughters as much as possible throughout the day, so their daughters gave their support of their marriage by kissing the wedding bands before they exchanged rings.

When they were pronounced as husband and wife, Ashley fist pumped the air in celebration and they both couldn’t have looked happier!

Such a love filled wedding for a couple that are so clearly meant to be together.

Marriage Celebrant Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants

Photography Little Love Bug Photography

Dress When Freddie Met Lilly

Hair Gloss and Shine Hair Design

Make Up Makeup by Hayley (Hayley Sullivan)

Suits Tony Barlow

Ceremony Pacific Golf Course

Reception Easts Leagues

Cakes Cakes by Simone

Stationary The Sundae Creative

If you are planning a Pacific Golf Club Wedding and are looking for a modern and passionate female Celebrant for your special day, Marriage Celebrant Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants would love to hear from you!


	The happy couple rated Cara 5 stars and had this to say: “5 STARS – Cara, Thank you isn’t enough you were beyond helpful for our big day and the lead up to! you made everything feel so easy and done well we had nothing to worry about and everything went according to plan without a hitch, all your extra assistance and communication in the lead up was so great and thank you again for everything“ Alysha & Ashley – Pacific Golf Club Wedding with Brisbane City Celebrants Cara Hodge

Customs House Wedding with Celebrant Cara

on April 7, 2018 · 2 Comments

Customs House Wedding with Celebrant Cara

Cara tells us what a special day it was for Sara and Anthony Customs House wedding, as they became husband and wife surrounded by loved ones and their gorgeous children. Cara was thrilled to see groom Anthony’s kind feedback pop up on their Brisbane City Celebrants Facebook page after the wedding, thank you so much for your kind feedback and congratulations to the happy newly-weds.

Customs House Wedding with Brisbane Celebrant Cara Hodge. Image by Blank Canvas Photography

“Cara was absolutely wonderful to deal with from the beginning. She was very helpful and guided us through the entire process. I highly recommend her for your special day!!!” Anthony & Sara

On a side note how cute are Brisbane City Celebrants bespoke vow cards with the oh so apt ‘LOVE YOU’ message on the reverse, so beautifully captured here by Jon at Blank Canvas Photography.

If you are looking for a Celebrant for your Customs House Wedding, Cara Hodge of Brisbane City Celebrants would love to hear from you.

View more weddings with Celebrant Cara Hodge on the blog here, and contact Cara over at Brisbane City Celebrants for more information and to confirm availability for your Customs House wedding.

Brisbane same-sex wedding with Celebrant Cara Hodge

on April 4, 2018 · 5 Comments

Congratulations to the new Mr & Mr!

The warm and fuzzies of this Brisbane same-sex wedding ceremony with these two happy grooms were off the charts! The happy couple wed in a short and simple, small and intimate ceremony surrounded by close friends on a gorgeous autumn afternoon at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

Brisbane Celebrant Cara Hodge with the two grooms.

It’s a very exciting time to be in the wedding industry, particularly as Celebrants we now get to say the words “marriage according to the law in Australia is between TWO PEOPLE’… “

These two words that so many people have longed to hear for so long, now result in cheers, applause and even goose bumps from those present (myself included!).

With just a slight change of wording, the Celebrants mandatory wording has suddenly become celebratory!

Being a Celebrant I feel incredibly grateful that I get to spend my weekends (and often week days) amongst so much happiness with the loveliest of people.

If you are looking for a Celebrant for your wedding, same-sex or otherwise Cara from Brisbane City Celebrants would love to hear from you.

View more Brisbane City Celebrants same-sex wedding weddings here and contact Cara to confirm availability for your special day.