Picture this, you’re invited to the beach, with your beloved, to act as models for a beachside elopement editorial. (oh and it just happens to be the fifth anniversary of when you had the first hints of a romantic blossoming). As the sun sets, and you wade with your feet in the sea before the photographer shows up, your beloved drops to one knee and pops the question. So very romantic no?

This is exactly the story of how this beautifully romantic beach elopement editorial turned out, Ruby and Billy, our “newlyweds” taking a turn into newly engaged when Billy took hold of the moment and asked Ruby to marry him. After knowing each other for eleven years, five years ago, Ruby messaged Billy with the intention of a casual catch up, the rest, as they say, is history.

The entire concept, dreamt up by photographer Grace Hilzinger who, currently road topping around Australia with her partner, wanted to make the most of their current post in Western Australia “With our trip delayed due to a global pandemic, border closures and restrictions, it took us a little longer to travel from the south coast of NSW where we both live, to the west coast as planned.” explains Grace, “It gave me plenty of time to organise and create a mood which I had been wanting to capture for so long now! A dreamy afternoon by the ocean, to show how simple, beautiful and romantic it can be to just run away with your lover and elope!”

As the sunset over the beach, Ruby, in a cream lacy midi frock from Fortunate One, carried a bouquet of dried flowers, designed by Sonny + Willow. Her casual look was complete with naturally styled makeup by Brooke Carter Makeup, coordinating with loose beachy waves by Oscar & Ivy Hair Co. Billy wore simple taupe pants and a white button-down shirt, while the couple’s four-legged favourite- Annie, donned a simply lower collar.

Grace sharing “I wanted the session to showcase the natural beauty of what is the South West of Australia! And I couldn’t have done that without the talent from the South West of Australia! We had a natural glow for makeup, a simple but stunning wave for hair, a dreamy everlasting bouquet, the gorgeous lace details in the gown and to tie it altogether ~ a custom made, red diamond Alexis Russell stack! Designed by Ruby and Billy themselves and shipped from New York! Uhhhhh!We had the sun come to play, a fairy floss sunset, even an adult southern right whale teaching its calf how to roll and play just 20 metres from the shore. Oh, and we can’t forget about their fur baby ~ Annie! Who started the session with us in the cutest flower crown ever.”