Courtney and Nick had always dreamed of eloping, and Mexico held a special place in their hearts. It was where their journey together began, back when they were navigating a long-distance relationship. A work trip brought Courtney to Mexico City, which sparked their spontaneous decision to elope there secretly. They wanted their Mexico City elopement day to be uniquely theirs, blending their personal story with the city’s rich traditions and culture. It was not just a celebration of their love, but also a tribute to the place that had shaped the early chapters of their story. 

Their rooftop ceremony was deeply personal, blending Mexican and Western wedding traditions that resonated most with them. They sipped cacao, kindled a new flame, and performed a handfasting ceremony, all while exchanging heartfelt vows and sharing a poignant poem. Their altar was adorned with meaningful items, including a carved dog figurine representing their cherished pet in Australia. After capturing portraits amid the city’s bustling streets, they concluded their perfect day by indulging in tacos at their favorite taqueria.

Junebug member Gaby Bolivar beautifully captured the unforgettable moments of Courtney and Nick’s special day. Each photo captures not just the excitement but also the intimate, personal details that made their wedding day truly unique. You can’t help but feel the joy and sense the love radiating from every frame, showcasing the essence of their one-of-a-kind celebration.

The Couple:

Courtney and Nick

The Wedding:

Mexico

A Spontaneous Decision that Led to Their Mexico City Elopement

Nick and I always wanted to elope and loved the idea of Mexico. It was the first place we ever traveled together when we were doing long distance early in our relationship. We didn’t plan on getting married last year, but a work trip of mine that put me in Mexico City for 3.5 weeks kicked off our spontaneous and secret Mexico elopement. I’m a Film Director, so I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted—color, architecture, and nothing too serious. I enlisted the help of my crew and friends on the ground in Mexico City to pull everything together, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

From Mezcal to Tacos: Celebrating Their Special Day with Favorite Traditions

Each stage of the ceremony was incredibly personal and customized to us, thanks to the help of our celebrant, Fernanda. It was a hybrid Mexican / Western wedding, so we started with the rituals of the four elements, which had lots of options. We chose ones that reflected us best, like drinking traditional cacao, lighting a new fire, and our favorite part, which was the handfasting, where we chose colored ribbons to reflect values for our relationship, which we tied around a rope together before being joined to each other. Then, we each chose a poem to read and wrote our own personal vows. We collected items during our time in Mexico City to be placed on the altar during the ceremony. We bought a special bottle of Mezcal, handmade cups, and a small carved dog figurine called an alebrijes that symbolizes our dog back home in Australia. It was all very special to say the least. Going to get tacos afterward is also the best post-wedding activity and probably our favorite part of the day.

A Thoughtfully Budgeted Mexico City Elopement

No matter your budget if you plan something that best reflects your relationship, it will be super special. We didn’t have a budget per se but we knew we wanted to keep it as cheap as possible whilst also making sure it looked chic. We made a list at the start for the must-haves: location, celebrant, photographer, outfits, rings, a bouquet, 35mm, and super8 film, and then a nice dinner reservation for afterward. As we didn’t have a top budget to stay under we were just incredibly mindful of what we did spend our money on. Comparatively, an elopement is always going to be cheaper than a full-blown wedding and so no element felt totally wild.

How They Discovered Their Dream Wedding Venue

Wedding venue costs in Mexico City surprised me the most so we had to get creative to find our perfect backdrop. I texted a friend asking if she knew anyone with a beautiful rooftop or courtyard in Mexico City, preferably with some color. She texted a friend, who texted a friend and then I got sent someone’s number who could help me. Rodrigo owned a building in Roma Norte that had lived many lives: a nightclub, restaurant, art gallery, and filming location. It had a beautiful enclosed rooftop with lovely natural light and was also within walking distance of one of our favorite taquerias.

Epic Wedding Reveal in Sydney

Our Mexico wedding was so special, but one of the best parts was getting my friend and insanely talented Cinematographer Dan Bolt to film it all on my Super8 camera. When we got back to Sydney, we rented a small cinema and surprised our friends and family with the film. Somehow, we kept our marriage a secret for almost six months, and that made the reveal so big and so crazy—one of the best nights ever, finally celebrating with everyone we love.

Congratulations to Courtney and Nick on their unique Mexico City elopement, which was the perfect blend of Mayan and Western cultures. Junebug vendor Gaby Bolivar did an outstanding job capturing their special day. To view more intimate celebrations like theirs, explore Gaby’s profile in our directory of top-notch wedding photographers from around the world.

By prioritizing what truly mattered to them instead of conforming to traditional norms, Courtney and Nick crafted a heartfelt and distinctive wedding day. If you’re inspired to plan your own intimate celebration for just the two of you, explore our elopement planning checklist and budget guide.