Boranup Forest elopements have a moment that happens about ten minutes into a ceremony, when both people forget I’m there. The light is filtering through 60-metre karri trunks. The understory is impossibly quiet. The couple in front of me are just… completely present with each other. I’ve photographed and planned more than 300 elopements across Margaret River and South West Western Australia, and I can tell you with certainty: this forest does something to people. It slows them down. It makes everything feel exactly as important as it actually is.
This guide covers everything. The permits, the locations, the seasonal timing, the beach combinations that make a full day extraordinary, and the practical logistics that no other page on the internet explains in this level of detail. If you’ve been searching for a truly complete resource (not a photo gallery dressed up as a guide), you’ve found it.
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Jump to a section:
- Why Boranup Forest Is Unlike Any Other Location
- Is It Good in All Weather?
- Combining Forest with a Beach Location
- Permits: Everything You Need to Know
- Legal Requirements for Getting Married in WA
- Best Time of Year
- Golden Hour in the Forest
- Your Dream Team: Local Vendors
- What to Wear
- How Long Does It Take?
- Can We Elope Just the Two of Us?
- Accommodation Near Boranup Forest
- Planning Timeline
- About John Rice
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Boranup Forest Is Unlike Any Other Elopement Location in Australia
Boranup Karri Forest sits within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), about 30 kilometres south of Margaret River in South West Western Australia. It is the westernmost stand of karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor) on the continent. That geographic distinction matters, because it means these trees grow in a microclimate unlike anything found further inland or north. The result is a forest that feels more cathedral than wilderness: tall, spacious, filtered with light, and almost entirely sheltered from wind.
The trees themselves reach 60 metres in height. Walking among them, particularly in a clearing, produces a sense of scale that is genuinely difficult to describe in a photograph, though I’ve spent years trying. The canopy closes overhead like a vaulted ceiling. The trunks are smooth and pale, streaked with amber and grey. In morning light they glow warm gold; in overcast conditions they take on a soft silver quality that is extraordinary for portraiture.
The Wardandi Noongar people are the traditional custodians of this country. The name Boranup is derived from the Noongar language, most commonly translated as “place of the male dingo” or, in some interpretations, relating to the native bush chilli (boorn). The Wardandi Noongar people have maintained a deep, continuous relationship with this land for tens of thousands of years, and acknowledging that connection is not a formality. It’s part of understanding what makes this place what it is.
The December 2021 bushfire changed the forest, and changed it beautifully. The Calgardup fire burnt through sections of Boranup, and the regrowth over the past four years has created a new layer of visual texture in the understory: vivid green bracken, young karri saplings pushing up through charred ground, and a startling contrast between the blackened lower trunks and the healthy silver-green canopy above. I’ve photographed in Boranup through every season since the fire. I believe the forest is currently at one of its most interesting and atmospheric periods in a decade.
The Punchbowl is a natural topographical feature within the forest that few visitors (and almost no wedding guides) mention by name. It is a cupped, sheltered clearing that functions as a natural amphitheatre: surrounding trees create a circular frame, the ground dips gently in the centre, and sound behaves differently inside it than in the open forest. For small ceremonies of two to twenty guests, it produces a sense of enclosure and ceremony that I haven’t found replicated anywhere else in the region.
My preferred ceremony location in Boranup is a natural clearing close to the main forest tracks, making access simple for guests including those with mobility considerations, but feeling genuinely removed from the car park and the public path. It’s framed by karri trunks on three sides and open to the sky above. That opening means light reaches the floor in a way that simply doesn’t happen in the dense sections of the forest.
If you’d like to read more about the broader region, my guide to eloping in Margaret River covers locations across the South West in detail.
Is Boranup Forest Good in All Weather? A Photographer’s Honest Answer
This is the question I get asked more than almost any other. Short answer: yes. The longer answer follows.
I have photographed in Boranup in every weather condition imaginable: winter rain, summer heat, autumn mist, spring wildflower season, and several days that started in one season and ended in another. My position is not a marketing line. It is the conclusion of 300+ sessions in this environment.
Light rain in Boranup Forest is beautiful. The karri bark takes on a luminous quality when wet, the understory deepens in colour, and the air carries a distinctive cool clarity. Couples who arrive slightly nervous about a grey sky almost always send me a message afterwards saying it was their favourite thing about the day. The canopy provides meaningful shelter during light rain. The mood it creates in photographs is unlike anything achievable in fine weather.
Medium to strong winds are not a problem in the forest. This is a critical distinction between Boranup and open coastal locations. The karri canopy and the surrounding dense bush act as a natural windbreak. Even on days when Margaret River town is genuinely blustery, the interior of the forest is typically calm. I’ve completed ceremony shoots in Boranup on days when the surrounding paddocks and clifftops were completely unsuitable for portraits, and the forest was perfect.
Overcast days create superior portrait light. This is something professional photographers understand but couples often don’t expect to hear. When the sky is fully overcast, it acts as an enormous natural softbox, diffusing light evenly, eliminating harsh shadows, and producing a flattering, consistent luminosity that is genuinely better for portraits than direct sunlight. The forest’s existing filtered light combined with a cloud diffuser above is one of the most technically favourable conditions I work in.
Winter ceremonies are entirely viable. The forest is colder than the coast in winter (Margaret River is typically 3-5°C cooler than Perth, and Boranup sits in a valley that holds cool air), but a crisp, clear winter day in this forest, with frosted understory, crystalline light, and no crowds, is genuinely extraordinary. I recommend bringing a wrap or light jacket for golden hour, and planning the beach component for sheltered locations rather than exposed clifftops.
The one element that requires planning is the beach component. Wind on the coast is a different matter. This is where my knowledge of specific sheltered locations becomes genuinely useful. More on that in the next section.
Combining Boranup Forest with a Beach Location: The Two-Location Elopement Day
The structure I recommend for most Boranup Forest elopements is a two-location day: ceremony and forest portraits in the afternoon, followed by a short drive to the coast for champagne and sunset portraits. The transition between the two environments, from cathedral forest to open ocean, is one of the most satisfying narrative arcs in any elopement I’ve planned. The contrast is extraordinary. Couples end their day watching the sun go down over the Indian Ocean with a glass of something cold in hand.
Here’s how the typical flow looks:
- 3:00–3:30 pm: Arrival at ceremony location in Boranup Forest
- 3:30–3:50 pm: Ceremony (approximately 20 minutes)
- 3:50–4:10 pm: Congratulations, group photos, champagne
- 4:10–4:55 pm: Forest portrait stroll with me (relaxed, fun, entirely unpressured)
- 4:55–5:10 pm: Short drive to the coast
- 5:10–6:00 pm: Beach or clifftop sunset portraits
This is the core structure. Timing adjusts seasonally (summer has later golden hour, winter earlier), and I create a detailed written timeline for every couple that I share with all vendors on the day.
Hamelin Bay
For more on coastal ceremony options, see my Beach Elopement Margaret River guide. Hamelin Bay is 10-12 minutes south of the main Boranup Forest car park.. It is a protected bay: turquoise water, white sand, and the kind of calm that makes it look like a tropical postcard on a good day. The bay faces north-west, which means it catches the late afternoon light beautifully.
What makes Hamelin Bay genuinely extraordinary (and entirely unique to this location in Western Australia) are the stingrays. Wild southern stingrays congregate at the boat ramp and along the shoreline in the late afternoon, particularly in summer and autumn. Watching a couple knee-deep in turquoise water, surrounded by docile rays gliding around their feet, is one of the most remarkable things I’ve witnessed in 300+ elopements. It is not a guaranteed encounter, but it is common enough to be worth planning around.
Hamelin Bay falls under Shire of Augusta Margaret River jurisdiction, a completely separate permit process from the DBCA permit required for the forest. Both permits are something I manage as part of my all-inclusive planning service.
Redgate Beach: The Protected Secret Spot
Redgate Beach is my most-used beach location. The reason is practical: it has a sheltered section that works beautifully on days when the afternoon sea breeze is up. When you have a bride or groom with long hair, or when the wind index on the exposed clifftops is making photography genuinely difficult, this spot solves the problem without compromise.
The sheltered section of Redgate is accessed by walking south from the main car park, around a natural rock headland. The wind drops noticeably once you round the corner. There’s a short stretch of beach backed by low dunes and ti-tree that creates a natural windbreak, and the light at golden hour pools into this section in a way that I find consistently extraordinary. It’s not a secret in the geographic sense. It’s a public beach. But almost nobody uses this specific stretch in the late afternoon, which means couples typically have it entirely to themselves.
Redgate Beach is also Shire of Augusta Margaret River land, and I obtain all necessary permits as part of the planning process.
Clifftop Locations: March and April at Their Finest
The clifftop locations between Redgate and Gracetown are, in the right conditions, the most dramatically beautiful portrait settings I use in the entire region. The Indian Ocean stretches to the horizon, the cliffs drop away beneath your feet, and the light in March and April is simply extraordinary.
I say March and April specifically because that window, late summer into early autumn, is when the afternoon sea breeze is at its most predictable in terms of being light or non-existent. By April, the coastal wind patterns have typically settled. The golden hour light at this latitude hits the cliffs at an angle that creates a warmth I haven’t seen replicated anywhere else in Western Australia.
In other seasons and on windy days, clifftop locations are not my recommendation. My job is to read conditions on the day and adapt. Every couple I work with has a Plan B built into their timeline, always.
4WD Beach Locations: For the Adventure Couple
Between Contos Beach campground and Redgate, and again north of Boranup Beach on the forest tracks, there are remote beach access points that require a 4WD vehicle and a genuine willingness to bump along unsealed tracks. The payoff is complete solitude: beaches with no names on tourist maps, where the only footprints are occasionally those of kangaroos or shorebirds.
I manage all logistics for 4WD beach days: vehicle suitability assessment, track conditions, timing, and safety. If you’re the couple who wants something that nobody else has done, something truly off the beaten path, and you’re comfortable with the word “adventure” being literal rather than aesthetic, build in an extra 60-90 minutes to the day’s timeline.
This is not for everyone, and I’ll be honest about that in our planning conversation. For a delicate silk gown and heels, I’d find you a better match. Boots and a couple who’ve been told this day should feel like their day rather than someone else’s idea of a wedding? Let’s talk.
Boranup Beach Itself
Almost nobody writes about Boranup Beach. It sits at the base of the forest, accessed via a track off Boranup Drive that most people drive past without noticing. Remote, wild, and consistently among the most privately beautiful coastal locations I’ve used in South West WA. Pale sand, low scrub, the forest rising behind it, and typically zero other visitors in the late afternoon.
For couples who want the forest and the coast without the drive, and who value genuine seclusion over access and amenity, Boranup Beach is worth planning around. The track requires a vehicle with good clearance, and I’ll advise on logistics during the planning process.
Boranup Forest Elopement Permits: Everything You Need to Know
Permits. Not the most romantic word in a wedding guide, I know. But they are also the thing that means your clearing is yours, your date is locked, and no other couple turns up at the same spot. Here is how it all works. If you book me, the answer to every question in this section is simply: I handle it. Feel free to skip straight to the good stuff.
Here is the one thing that catches most couples off guard. Boranup Forest is not Shire land. It sits inside the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, which means the people you need to talk to are the DBCA, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Different body, different permit, different process entirely. None of which matters if you book me, because I have been navigating this particular piece of paperwork for over a decade.
See my full Margaret River permit and legal requirements guide for the complete DBCA application process.
The contact point for all Boranup Forest ceremony permits is:
Parks and Wildlife Service, Blackwood District Office
14 Queen Street, Busselton WA 6280
Phone: (08) 9752 5555
Email: blackwood@dbca.wa.gov.au
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
The permit itself is called a Special Activity Permit. Which sounds very official and is actually just the paperwork that says yes, you can get married here, we know about it, your date is confirmed. That is genuinely all it is.
Apply at least 60 days before your ceremony. That is the DBCA’s minimum. My honest recommendation is six months, not because the paperwork takes that long, but because of the rule that makes Boranup Forest genuinely special.
One wedding per day per location. That is it. One ceremony, one couple, one clearing. The DBCA registers a single event per day at each specific forest destination. Your date is yours. No other couple is allocated the same spot. This is not a marketing line. It is how the permit system actually works, and it means the privacy you get in Boranup Forest is something no venue can replicate regardless of what they charge.
Worth noting: the permit does not make the forest exclusively yours. Boranup remains open to the public at all times. But here is the practical reality. At the locations I use, in the late afternoon, you will almost certainly have the clearing entirely to yourselves. The forest is vast. A ceremony in the right clearing simply does not cross paths with casual walkers. In 300+ elopements in this forest, it has never been a problem.
Fees (2024–2026):
- Commercial operator application fee: $117.00 (applicable from July 2024). This is the fee applicable when a professional photographer or planner is the primary applicant under a Commercial Operator (T-Class) licence.
- If extensive park staff review or site inspection is required, additional hourly charges of approximately $30-$50 may apply.
- Park entry to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: free (unlike many other WA national parks, there is no vehicle entry fee).
Here is what you can bring into the forest:
Your arch (freestanding and weighted, not pegged in). Up to 10 chairs. A rug to mark out your ceremony space. A shade structure if you need one. A battery speaker for music and a small table for your celebrant.
Oh, and cake is absolutely fine. Bubbles too. A full picnic spread on the forest floor after your vows is genuinely one of the better ways to spend an afternoon, and I will stand by that forever.
The only things the forest asks you to leave at home:
No confetti. Not even the organic kind, not even fresh flower petals. The forest soil is home to a delicate ecosystem that foreign organic matter can disrupt, and the rule exists to protect it. Honestly though, when the light is coming through those karri trees the way it does, you will not be thinking about confetti for a single second.
Nothing pegged into the ground. The karri trees have shallow root systems and ground piercing damages them. Your arch sits weighted, not staked, and it looks just as beautiful.
No generators. Battery speaker only, which is all you need.
The permit covers your ceremony. Save the champagne reception for somewhere spectacular afterwards, and I will help you find it.
And please, leave the forest exactly as you found it. Take nothing but photographs. The next couple deserves the same magic you got.
The ceremony window: All permitted ceremonies are limited to a maximum duration of three hours, which includes setup and complete pack-down.
A quick note for 2025 and 2026: Parts of Boranup are still regenerating beautifully after a bushfire in December 2021. The regrowth is actually extraordinary to photograph. The DBCA monitors conditions carefully and occasionally closes specific sections after severe weather as a precaution. It has never affected an elopement I have planned, because every couple I work with has a documented Plan B location built into their day from the start. If anything changes in the lead-up to your date, I know about it before you do and I have it handled.
Biosecurity: All attendees are legally required to stay on designated tracks and avoid trampling emerging undergrowth, which is critical to the forest’s post-fire recovery.
Beach and coastal permits: a completely separate process
Good news first. Hamelin Bay at sunset after a forest ceremony is one of the great elopement combinations on the planet. Here is the one practical thing to know: coastal locations like Hamelin Bay, Redgate Beach, and Gracetown fall under the Shire of Augusta Margaret River rather than the DBCA. Different body, different application, different fee.
- Application fee: $156.00 (effective June 2025, non-refundable)
- Contact: Shire of Augusta Margaret River, 41 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River WA 6285
- Phone: (08) 9780 5255
- Email: permits@amrshire.wa.gov.au
- Website: amrshire.wa.gov.au
- The same 3-hour limit, no-confetti rule, and no ground-pegging rules apply at Shire-managed locations
If you book me, none of the above is your problem. I apply for and pay both permits, the DBCA one for the forest and the Shire one for the coast, as part of my all-inclusive service. You get written confirmation that every location is legally secured before you book a single flight.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Western Australia
Getting married in Australia is wonderfully straightforward. There are a few legal boxes to tick and your celebrant handles most of them. Here is what you need to know.
Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM): Your marriage celebrant must receive your completed NOIM at least one calendar month before the ceremony date. It sounds formal, and it is, but your celebrant makes it completely painless. If you are planning from interstate or overseas, the whole thing can be done digitally. I guide every couple through this process from the moment they book, and my recommended celebrant can receive your NOIM digitally if you’re planning from interstate or overseas.
Two witnesses: You need two witnesses aged 18 or over present at the ceremony. If you are eloping just the two of you with no guests, your celebrant can arrange witnesses. This is something I coordinate as part of the planning service.
Documents required: Each person marrying must provide their birth certificate or passport for identity verification. Your celebrant will advise on the specific requirements for your circumstances.
Post-ceremony: Within 14 days of the ceremony, your celebrant must submit the marriage registration paperwork to the WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This is handled by your celebrant, not by you.
My all-inclusive planning service includes complete guidance on every legal requirement. If you’re planning from interstate or from overseas, I make this process as straightforward as it is for someone living locally.
The Best Time of Year for a Boranup Forest Elopement
I’ve shot in Boranup in every month of the year. Here is my honest, location-specific seasonal assessment, not a generic Western Australia overview.
Autumn: March to May (Premium Season)
March and April are my most recommended months for a combined forest and beach elopement. The afternoon winds on the coast are at their lightest, which means clifftop locations are fully accessible. The forest temperatures are mild, typically 18-23°C, and the light has the warm, golden quality that autumn produces everywhere in the South West. The vineyards of the Margaret River wine region turn gold during this period, and the broader landscape takes on a richness that summer can’t match. If you are flexible with your date, book March or April without hesitation.
Spring: September to November
Spring is wildflower season in South West WA. The Boranup understory comes alive during this period with native blooms. Temperatures are comfortable (17-22°C) and the forest floor is at its most visually rich. The trade-off is that spring weather can be unpredictable. Warm sunny mornings can give way to afternoon showers. For the beach component, I recommend sheltered locations like Redgate’s protected spot rather than exposed clifftops. On a clear spring day in Boranup, the light through the karri canopy is exceptional.
Summer: December to February
The forest handles summer heat better than any open location. The canopy provides genuine shade and the air temperature inside Boranup is measurably cooler than the surrounding paddocks. I recommend timing the ceremony for late afternoon (from 4:30 pm) to avoid the midday heat and to position the beach golden hour correctly. Afternoon sea breezes are strong in summer, so beach locations should be chosen for shelter rather than drama. Hamelin Bay’s protected bay is ideal in summer. Carry water, and plan for a later start time.
Winter: June to August
Winter in Boranup is genuinely extraordinary. I would recommend it to any couple who is comfortable with the possibility of a crisp, cool, dramatic day. The forest holds moisture after rain, and the karri bark glows in winter light in a way that is genuinely different from any other season. Crisp, clear winter days are common in Margaret River, which has a Mediterranean climate rather than a harsh winter. They produce some of the most atmospheric images I’ve captured in this location. The coast in winter requires careful location selection: sheltered spots at Hamelin Bay or Redgate’s protected section work well, while exposed clifftops are not suitable.
A note on temperature: Margaret River is typically 3-5°C cooler than Perth across all seasons. Boranup, sitting in a valley, is cooler again. Always bring a wrap or light jacket for golden hour, regardless of what the Perth forecast says.
Golden Hour: The Magic Light Window in Boranup Forest
Golden hour in a karri forest is different from golden hour on a beach or in an open field. Very different. Understanding that difference is part of what I bring to every session.
In open locations, golden hour is characterised by warm, directional light from a low sun. In a forest, that direct sun never reaches the ground. It’s filtered, angled, and broken by trunks and canopy before it touches a subject. What happens in Boranup at golden hour is more complex: shafts of warm light penetrate the forest in very specific corridors, creating pools of warmth against a shadowed background. The effect is more theatrical than natural golden hour, and more technically demanding to use well. I know exactly where those light corridors appear at different times of year and different times of afternoon, and I position portraits accordingly.
Overcast days, as I mentioned in the weather section, are genuinely my preference for Boranup Forest portraits. The diffused light is kind to every face, eliminates the contrast problems of direct sun in a forest environment, and creates a luminous evenness that I find technically superior for portraiture. I know that’s counterintuitive. I’ve shown enough couples their rainy-day photos to have stopped apologising for grey skies.
If you want the most technical detail: I plan arrival at the ceremony location based on the seasonal light position, and I plan the forest portrait stroll to end at the specific clearing that receives the final corridor of warm light for that time of year. This is a planning consideration, not something that can be improvised on the day.
Your Boranup Forest Dream Team: Local Vendors Who Know This Location
Every couple who books me receives a complete, coordinated team. I book, brief, coordinate, and pay every vendor. You have one conversation, one payment, and a team of people who know each other, know the location, and know how the day runs. Here are the people I bring in for Boranup Forest elopements.
For full pricing across all vendors, read the Margaret River elopement cost guide.
Celebrant: Kate Smith, Carla Patterson, or Donna McLelland
All three are celebrants I work with regularly in Boranup Forest and across the South West. Each brings something slightly different, but what they share is the thing that matters most in a forest setting: the ability to write a ceremony that sounds nothing like a template.
Kate (Weddings by Kate) has a warm, unhurried style that suits couples who want the ceremony to feel personal without being overly formal. Carla Patterson is calm and quietly funny, which I find works beautifully when couples are nervous. Donna McLelland writes vows with a directness and sincerity that consistently produces the kind of moment couples remember most clearly from the day.
All three know Boranup well. All three can arrange witnesses if you’re eloping just the two of you. Which celebrant I book for your day depends on availability and which style feels most like you. That conversation happens early in the planning process.
Florist: Raw Habitat, Karridale
Raw Habitat is an organic micro flower farm located in Karridale, less than 20 minutes from Boranup. They grow native and seasonal flowers on-farm and create arrangements that work with the forest environment rather than against it: no tropical foliage or artificially coloured blooms. Their farm-fresh approach means your flowers are typically harvested within 48 hours of your ceremony day. For a forest elopement, there is no better floral match in the region.
Florist: Wild Art Floral
Wild Art Floral creates arrangements using seasonal blooms and native foliage that sit naturally within a woodland environment. For something with a wilder, more organic aesthetic (loose, textural, foraged in feeling), Wild Art Floral is my recommendation.
Florist: Honeybloom Florals
Honeybloom brings three generations of floristry experience to bespoke elopement designs. For something more refined and structured, a classical approach with native and seasonal elements, Honeybloom produces beautiful work for forest and beach elopements.
Hair and Makeup Artist: I work with a trusted hair and makeup artist who understands elopement timing: arriving at your accommodation, working efficiently, and sending you out the door ready for the forest. For Boranup, I particularly recommend styles that account for the coastal wind during the beach component. Updos or secured styles that will still look beautiful at Hamelin Bay or Redgate an hour after the ceremony.
One payment to me covers your photographer, celebrant, florist, hair and makeup artist, all styling elements, all location permits, your complete day timeline, and my coordination of everything from the first planning conversation to packing down after the beach portraits. You just show up and get married.
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What to Wear for a Boranup Forest Elopement: Practical Style Advice
Wear whatever makes you feel like yourself. That said, here is what I have learned from 300+ couples walking through this particular forest, in case it helps.
Fabric: Flowing silk, chiffon, and soft satin move beautifully in the forest and photograph extraordinarily well in filtered light. They also won’t snag on bark or undergrowth. I’d steer away from stiff fabrics. Ball gown silhouettes and boned bodices feel incongruous in a Boranup setting and restrict movement during the portrait stroll.
Footwear: RM Williams boots, good leather sneakers, Doc Martens. All of these work beautifully, are genuinely photogenic, and will keep you stable on forest floor terrain. I actively encourage couples to reconsider stilettos for Boranup. The ground is uneven, there are roots, and the walk between the ceremony clearing and the portrait locations covers real terrain. I’ve seen heels get completely stuck, I’ve seen ankles twisted, and I’ve seen couples spend the portrait session focused on staying upright rather than looking at each other. Practical footwear is an aesthetic choice in a forest.
For the beach component: If you’re heading to a sandy beach for the sunset portraits, the transition from forest floor to soft sand is another reason to think carefully about footwear early. Many couples plan to go barefoot for the beach section. It’s entirely beautiful.
Light jacket or wrap: Year-round, for golden hour in the forest and certainly for the beach in any season except high summer. The Margaret River coast is always cooler than the town, and the light drops fast.
The most beautiful moments in my archives from Boranup Forest involve couples who made peace with getting nature on their dress. Moss on silk. Sand on the hem. That’s not damage. That’s the day actually happening.
How Long Does a Boranup Forest Elopement Take?
Every couple asks this, so here is the honest breakdown of how time actually works on a typical Boranup Forest elopement day.
- Ceremony: approximately 20 minutes for a standard elopement ceremony
- Congratulations, group photos, and champagne: 15-20 minutes, depending on guest numbers
- Forest portrait stroll: No posing, no instructions, no awkward standing-in-front-of-a-tree moments. We just walk through one of the most beautiful forests on earth, we talk, I take photographs. Somewhere in the first ten minutes most couples completely forget I am holding a camera. That is exactly when the good stuff happens.
It goes faster than anyone expects. And if I had a dollar for every couple who told me afterwards it was their favourite part of the day, I would have a lot of dollars.
- Drive to beach location: 10-35 minutes depending on whether we’re going to Hamelin Bay, Redgate, or a clifftop location
- Beach and sunset portraits: 30-45 minutes
- Total coverage: 2.5-3.5 hours for a standard two-location day
- 4WD beach addition: allow an extra 60-90 minutes including travel
If you have children with you, build in additional buffer time and expect the timeline to breathe a little. Kids in Boranup Forest are extraordinary. They find sticks, look up at the trees, run between trunks. Some of my favourite images from this location include moments with small children captured without any direction. My preferred ceremony clearing in Boranup is safely away from roads, which matters to parents.
Can I Elope in Boranup Forest with Just Two People?
Yes. Absolutely. And it is spectacular.
Two people in Boranup Forest, just the two of you with a celebrant and a photographer, is one of my favourite configurations to work with. Full stop. No performance. Nobody watching. The intimacy it creates is genuinely different from even a small group of guests, and I’ve photographed couples who were openly, completely themselves in a way that simply doesn’t happen when other people are in the clearing.
The DBCA permit process is the same regardless of how many guests attend. The “one wedding per day per location” rule still applies and still protects your date. The forest is vast enough that, at my preferred ceremony locations during late afternoon, you would typically have the area entirely to yourselves regardless of the permit. But the permit ensures no other organised ceremony is competing for the same space.
For couples eloping just the two of you, your celebrant can arrange witnesses. The two-witness legal requirement is not an obstacle.
I also work beautifully with larger intimate groups: ten, fifteen, or up to twenty guests. The permit allows for small groups, and the clearing I use accommodates up to twenty people comfortably. If you’re bringing grandparents or guests with mobility considerations, let me know during the planning process. I’ll choose the specific ceremony location and access route accordingly.
Accommodation Near Boranup Forest: Before and After Your Day
For those planning a Boranup Forest elopement as a multi-day experience in the South West, these are the accommodation options I recommend to couples near the forest itself.
Boranup Campground sits within the national park, managed by the DBCA. It offers seven small, intimate sites with basic facilities and complete immersion in the forest. The experience of waking up among the karri on your wedding morning is something very few venues can offer. If camping on the night of your elopement appeals to you, this is one of the most genuinely beautiful campgrounds in Western Australia.
La Forêt Enchantée is a luxury accommodation property in the Boranup area with beautifully landscaped grounds. For couples who want proximity to the forest without foregoing comfort, this is a strong option.
Wildwood Eco Retreat offers adults-only luxury glamping: safari tents with private outdoor baths, in bushland. The privacy and setting make it particularly popular with elopement couples looking for a post-ceremony retreat.
Kookaburra Retreat is a mud brick and jarrah property set on seven acres of native bushland. It has a distinctive character that suits couples drawn to sustainable, natural environments.
After the ceremony and before the beach, couples often stop at Boranup Lookout, a viewpoint that, on a clear day, offers a simultaneous view across the canopy of the Boranup Forest and down to the turquoise curve of Hamelin Bay. Genuinely one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region. It takes approximately 10 minutes to reach from the ceremony location, and I build this stop into the timeline when conditions allow.
Planning Timeline: When to Book and Apply
Here is the practical sequence for planning a Boranup Forest elopement with me.
6+ months out: Book John Rice. In a single booking step, I initiate the Dream Team coordination. I contact and secure your celebrant, florist, hair and makeup artist, and begin the permit planning for your specific date and location preferences. You don’t make a single additional booking call.
6+ months out: Consider mid-week. Mid-week elopements (Tuesday through Thursday) consistently offer better vendor availability, quieter forest conditions, and a more private experience overall. The permit process is the same; the atmosphere on the ground is noticeably calmer. If flexibility with your date is possible, I’ll always suggest considering mid-week.
60+ days out: Permit application submitted. I prepare and submit the DBCA Special Activity Permit application for Boranup Forest, and any Shire of Augusta Margaret River application required for your beach location. You receive confirmation once permits are secured.
1+ month out: NOIM filed. Your celebrant files the Notice of Intended Marriage. I coordinate this step and ensure it happens on time regardless of where you’re based.
2 weeks out: Final timeline distributed. I prepare your complete day-of timeline and share it with every vendor. Weather monitoring begins, and I brief you on conditions and the plan for any adjustments needed.
Day of: Just show up. I’ve been doing this for over a decade. I have photographed more sessions in Boranup than I can count in one sitting. I have a plan for anything and everything the forest or the coast can produce. Your job on the day is to be present with each other. Mine is everything else. That is genuinely the whole arrangement. You show up. I have everything else.
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John Rice: 300+ Elopements in Margaret River and South West WA
I want to use this section not to list credentials but to tell you what those 300+ elopements have actually taught me about this specific forest. The difference matters.
I know where the light falls in Boranup at 4:15 pm on a winter afternoon. I know which track to take when the main path is occupied. I know that emus walk through the clearing on the south side of the forest more often than people might expect. I’ve had one stop mid-ceremony and regard a bridal party with what I can only describe as studied indifference, before ambling off into the karri. I know that the forest after a morning of rain has a quality to the air that I cannot adequately describe in writing but that I can photograph.
I am a camera-shy specialist. My working style is reportage. I photograph what is actually happening rather than constructing what I want to happen. I use minimal direction. Couples who have never been comfortable being photographed, who have said for their entire adult lives “I hate photos of myself”, almost always change their position after seeing the images from their elopement. Not because I’ve done anything clever, but because I’ve caught them in real moments rather than performed ones.
What my clients say:
Emily Wilson: “Just wanted to say a massive thank you for organising our elopement. We had the most amazing time down south, the reason we eloped was to have a stress free day and we couldn’t have asked for better. Your organisation was what made our day. From the hair and makeup, flowers, right through to meeting you and the celebrant, you were both so organised and it was beautifully done.”
Shannyn Freeman: “John did such an amazing job. He managed to get the most awkward couple when it comes to photos to smile, laugh, relax and have fun in the moment.”
Aaron and Amalia drove up to Boranup from a roadtrip with no particular plan and, after an elopement that included a ceremony in the forest and champagne on the beach at sunset, sent me a message that said: “OMG John, the photos are absolutely AMAZING. Amalia’s sitting in the passenger seat smiling from ear to ear and crying at how beautiful the photos are.”
Claudia, who planned her elopement from Ireland: “We planned everything from Ireland and John made us feel so at ease with everything in the lead up and of course on the big day. He was extremely helpful, kind, fun and responsive to any queries we had from afar. It was such a pleasure to work with him.”
You can read more on my client reviews page. The pattern you’ll notice is consistent: stress-free, thoughtfully organised, and photographs that feel like the actual day rather than a version of it.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Boranup Forest Elopements
Q: Do I need a permit to elope in Boranup Forest?
A: Yes. Boranup Forest is part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, managed by the DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions). Any organised ceremony, including an elopement with just two people, requires a Special Activity Permit obtained through the Parks and Wildlife Service, Blackwood District Office. There is also a separate permit required for any beach locations, which fall under Shire of Augusta Margaret River jurisdiction. When you book me, I apply for and pay all permits as part of my all-inclusive planning service.
Q: How much does a Boranup Forest elopement with John Rice cost?
A: My all-inclusive Boranup Forest elopement packages are priced to cover photography, full planning coordination, all permits, your celebrant, florist, and hair and makeup artist. A two-location forest and beach elopement day typically starts from around $4,500–$6,000 depending on guest numbers, floristry choice, and day length. For a complete, no-surprises quote based on your specific date and vision, visit my all-inclusive elopement packages page or send me a message with your preferred date.
Q: How much does a Boranup Forest elopement permit cost?
A: The DBCA Special Activity Permit carries a commercial operator application fee of $117.00 (applicable from July 2024). If your day includes a beach or coastal location such as Hamelin Bay or Redgate Beach, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River charges a separate application fee of $156.00 (effective June 2025). Both fees are included in my all-inclusive planning service.
Q: How far in advance do I need to apply for a Boranup Forest permit?
A: The DBCA recommends a minimum of 60 days before the ceremony date. However, because Boranup operates under a “one wedding per day per location” rule and popular dates fill up, I recommend booking at least 6 months in advance. I submit permit applications as soon as booking is confirmed.
Q: Is Boranup Forest accessible without a 4WD?
A: Yes. The main Boranup Forest locations, including my preferred ceremony clearing, are accessible via sealed and well-graded gravel roads suitable for all vehicles, including sedans. The forest’s main car park and primary tracks are family-friendly and accessible for guests with moderate mobility considerations. 4WD is only required for the remote beach locations north of Boranup Beach and between Contos and Redgate. These are optional adventure additions, not standard.
Q: What is the best time of year for a Boranup Forest elopement?
A: March and April are my strongest recommendation for couples who want the optimal combination of forest and coastal conditions: mild temperatures, stable weather, low coastal winds, and exceptional golden hour light. Spring (September to November) is second preference for the wildflower understory. Winter produces extraordinary moody, dramatic images. Summer is beautiful with the right timing (late afternoon ceremony) and sheltered beach locations.
Q: Can I have confetti at my Boranup Forest ceremony?
A: No. The DBCA strictly prohibits all scattering materials at National Park ceremonies, including confetti, flower petals (even organic or “biodegradable”), rice, birdseed, and bubbles. This prohibition exists to protect the forest from the introduction of fungal pathogens such as Phytophthora cinnamomi (dieback) and to prevent environmental litter. The same rule applies at Shire-managed beach locations. This rule is non-negotiable, and violations can result in fines and vendor banning from future National Park work.
Q: What beaches are close to Boranup Forest for elopements?
A: The four main beach options within 10-35 minutes of Boranup Forest are: Hamelin Bay (10-12 minutes, famous for wild stingrays, protected bay, SAMR permit required); Redgate Beach (a sheltered section that works beautifully when afternoon winds are up, SAMR permit required); clifftop locations between Redgate and Gracetown (best in March-April, not suitable on windy days); and Boranup Beach itself (accessed via forest track, extremely remote and private). 4WD beach locations between Contos and Redgate are also available for adventure-minded couples.
Q: Can I elope in Boranup Forest just the two of us?
A: Yes, and it’s one of my favourite ways to work. An elopement with just the two of you, plus your celebrant and me, produces a level of genuine intimacy that I rarely see in larger ceremonies. Your celebrant can arrange witnesses, so the two-witness legal requirement is not an obstacle for couples who don’t want any guests present.
Q: What happens if it rains on my Boranup Forest elopement day?
A: In most cases, you proceed exactly as planned. Light to moderate rain in Boranup Forest produces genuinely beautiful conditions: the bark becomes luminous, the air takes on a clarity, and the photographs are extraordinary. The forest canopy provides meaningful shelter. If conditions become severe, I have documented Plan B protocols for every couple and I monitor conditions from the previous day. If the forest is closed by DBCA for a safety reason (such as falling limb risk during storm conditions), I activate the contingency plan and we pivot. In over 300 elopements, I have never had a day that produced zero workable images.
Q: Does John Rice handle all the permits and planning?
A: Yes. My all-inclusive service covers: DBCA Special Activity Permit application and fee, Shire of Augusta Margaret River permit application and fee (if applicable), full Dream Team booking and coordination (celebrant, florist, hair and makeup artist, styling), complete day timeline, weather monitoring and contingency planning, and all day-of logistics coordination. Couples pay once, and I pay everyone. You just show up and get married.
Q: Can I bring dogs to my Boranup Forest elopement?
A: Dogs are not permitted in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, which includes Boranup Forest. This is a DBCA conservation rule applicable to all visitors, not specific to elopements. Some Shire-managed beach locations permit dogs on leads during certain hours. I can advise on suitable beach alternatives if including your dog is important to you.
Q: How many guests can attend a Boranup Forest elopement?
A: The DBCA permit process is negotiable on guest numbers, with an emphasis on small groups consistent with the “micro-ceremony” intent of the Special Activity Permit system. A maximum of 10 chairs is permitted under the 2024-2026 guidelines. In practice, I’ve successfully planned ceremonies with up to 20 guests in Boranup. Larger groups would require specific discussion with the DBCA and may require additional planning. For more than 20 guests, I’d recommend considering an alternative location or a venue ceremony followed by a forest portrait session.
Start Planning Your Boranup Forest Elopement
If you’ve read this far, you have more information about a Boranup Forest elopement than any other resource on the internet can give you. That’s intentional. This guide exists because couples deserve complete answers, not marketing copy.
The next step is simple. Send me a message with your preferred date (or a date range), a rough idea of what you’re envisioning, and where you’re planning from. I’ll check availability, answer your specific questions, and give you a clear picture of what a day in Boranup Forest with me looks like.
I’ve been planning and photographing elopements in this forest for over a decade. Emus have walked through ceremonies. Rain has made days that looked uncertain into days that couples cite as the best decision they’ve ever made. Couples from Ireland, from Sydney, from Melbourne, from Perth. They all send me the same kind of message afterwards. It’s the same one Emily sent me: “the reason we eloped was to have a stress free day, and your organisation was what made our day.”
That is what I have been doing for over a decade. And it never gets old.
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John Rice is Margaret River’s most experienced elopement photographer and complete elopement planner, with 300+ elopements photographed and planned across South West Western Australia. Based in the Margaret River region, he serves couples eloping locally, from interstate, and internationally. All-inclusive packages cover photography, planning, permits, celebrant, florist, hair and makeup. Everything. Couples just show up and get married.
johnricephotographer.com.au