Emma & Tom – Kyoto Japan Garden Elopement

After what seemed to be Endless Rain over March and April, we’ve finally been blessed with sunshine come May.
Perhaps, too much sunshine – it’s really starting to get warm now!

Emma & Tom came from the UK for their Adventure Elopement in Kyoto Japan.
We booked a private Japanese garden in the outskirts of Kyoto city, for their Wedding Ceremony intimate and serene without all the noise from endless overtourism in the city.

This venue in particular is very precious about its beautiful moss – once it grows over certain areas, people are no longer allowed access. No high heels allowed, but most eloping brides choose not to wear heels.

They were staying at the Ace Hotel in Kyoto, which by the way is very nice.
The rooms are spacious for Japanese standards, and there’s plenty of natural light.

Hotels in Japan often have their own wedding packages, and for any couples choosing to even get ready for their wedding at their hotel room, permission is required.
Sometimes the hotels will require couples to book the minimum “Hotel Wedding Package” just to be allowed to get ready at the hotel.
Our Kyoto Japan Planner Chebi helped to sweet talk all the locals to let us through – arranging all the necessary permits, keeping the locals happy and to keep us out of any trouble on the wedding day.

After the Ceremony, we relocated to a historic village area in Kyoto which we shall not name – once the Instagrammers and TikTokers find out, it will be game over for us with overtourism flooding in.
Over in our New Zealand Heli-Weddings business, we’re an open book – it’s not like as if tourists will flock to remote destinations on helicopters just for the scenic shots, but over on the ground in Kyoto it could spell trouble if we don’t gatekeep the locations.

Emma and Tom were such a wonderful couple to work with.
Congratulations once again!