East Coast Tasmania, Australia

Eloping at Thalia Haven - Jemmah and Jack

An elopement at Thalia Haven gives you space to slow down. Stone buildings sit above Great Oyster Bay, the meadow runs towards the water, and kilometres of secluded East Coast Tasmania shoreline make the rest of the world feel far away. For Jemmah and Jack, it became a place to be themselves, say their vows and spend real time with their favourite people.

The Melbourne couple had first imagined their wedding in Tuscany. When the pandemic changed those plans, Britt Withers helped bring their vision to Tasmania. On a summer day in January, the setting was different from the one they had first pictured, but the things that mattered were all there: an intimate ceremony, a beautiful private stay and a day with very little to worry about.

Everything in one beautiful place

Getting ready, the ceremony and the celebration afterwards all happened at Thalia Haven. There was no rush between locations, and no large crowd to entertain. Their loved ones could settle in with them, the food was being prepared in the kitchen, and the bay was just outside the windows.

“Having our accommodation, ceremony and ‘after party’ all in one beautiful location was not only convenient, but it also gave us so much time.”

That time was the point. Jemmah and Jack wanted to savour the small moments and enjoy each other’s company. Britt planned and coordinated the day around that feeling, with The Romantics creating the white bouquet, buttonhole, ceremony flowers and table greenery.

It is one of the reasons Thalia Haven is such a favourite of ours. The private coastline and beach, stone courtyards and open grassland offer a wonderful sense of escape, with a comfortable home base close by. You can feel wonderfully removed from everyday life and still have everyone you want right there with you.

Personal vows above Great Oyster Bay

Josh Withers led their ceremony on the lawn overlooking the water, between white flowers and greenery. Jemmah and Jack had felt a little nervous about writing their own vows. With Josh’s warmth and humour helping them settle into the moment, those words became the highlight of the ceremony.

There was laughter, there were heartfelt promises, and there was room for both. A small ceremony let them be open with each other without feeling like they were performing for a room full of people.

Afterwards came champagne, hugs and time to wander. Joey Willis photographed the day and contributed to their film alongside Dylan Dirks. The photographs move from the rooms and courtyard to the meadow and the water’s edge, then into a sky that turned pink above the bay.

Dinner, dancing and time together

The outdoor table was set with candles and greenery. Dinner under the stars led to dancing to their favourite songs, with their celebration still unfolding in the same beautiful place where it had begun.

Looking back, Jemmah described what keeping the day simple gave them:

“We were able to focus on what was most important: celebrating us and our love for each other.”

That is the heart of a Thalia Haven elopement with The Elopement Collective: a considered plan, a thoughtful team and the freedom to enjoy the people and promises that matter. If you are imagining your own small celebration on Tasmania’s wild east coast, tell Britt what you have in mind.

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