When John and Amanda stepped into Unexpected Guest distillery on a Sunday morning, bedecked in their wedding finery and ready to take celebratory shots at the bar, they weren’t starting an epic bender – they were getting married at one of Sydney’s trendy new pop-up weddings. Welcome to the world of ShotGin Weddings, where couples tie the knot in intimate, personal ceremonies that won’t break the bank.
The Rise of Pop-Up Weddings
With the average Australian wedding now costing over $35,000, many couples are seeking alternatives to expensive, traditional nuptials. Pop-up weddings, which offer a stylish venue, celebrant, photographer and other key elements for a fraction of the typical price tag, are an increasingly popular solution.
Wedding industry veterans Adam Seeney and Dane Tucker launched ShotGin Weddings to give couples a meaningful, joyful way to celebrate their love without the “overwhelming logistics or expense” of a conventional wedding. Their concept is brilliantly simple: one day, one venue, six weddings. Couples get a personalized ceremony, an hour in the chic gin distillery venue, professional photos, and cocktails for around the cost of eloping to Vegas.
Intimate Ceremonies with Style and Heart
John and Amanda, who met on Tinder in Myanmar and endured a two-year pandemic separation, originally dreamed of a destination wedding in Tuscany. But with a new baby and mounting expenses, they struggled to make it work – until they discovered ShotGin. Amanda was immediately on board, while John worried it would shortchange their vision. But their experience proved the opposite.
“I’m just so thrilled with how everything feels very us,” Amanda gushes. “I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
From the laughter-filled ceremony featuring an original proposal sonnet, to dancing with their infant daughter as confetti fell, to taking shots with their 10 closest loved ones, Amanda and John’s pop-up wedding captured the essence of their love story – intimate, unconventional, full of joy.
Saying “I Do” Their Way
For Alice and Jordan, high school sweethearts who reunited after seven years, a pop-up wedding was “the perfect combination” of a fuss-free elopement and a heartfelt celebration. With the major planning handled, they were free to focus on personalizing the details, like a bow tie for their schnauzer Rudi.
“It was exactly as we had both imagined our big day,” Alice reflects, “none of the pretense but all of the positivity.” Their parents agree it was “very them” – they likely wouldn’t have gotten married otherwise.
A More Conscious Way to Wed
Beyond being an economic necessity for some, the popularity of pop-up weddings reflects changing values around marriage celebrations. Couples increasingly prioritize an authentic experience over “must-have” traditions and opt for environmentally and socially conscious choices.
By paring down the guest list and fanfare, pop-ups allow couples to invest in what matters most to them, whether incredible food and drinks, unique attire, or memorable experiences with their inner circle. The condensed timeline also reduces waste, transportation emissions, and decision fatigue – important factors for eco- and ethics-minded millennials and Gen Z.
The Future of “I Do”
While pop-up weddings may not be for everyone, their rapid growth points to a cultural shift in how we celebrate love and commitment. For many modern couples, an extravagant spectacle pales next to the chance for an intimate, personal experience that authentically represents their relationship. As one guest put it: “I suppose you don’t have to get married in a church to get married.”
With their chic venues, bespoke touches, and emphasis on the couple’s nearest and dearest, pop-up weddings like ShotGun prove you can have your wedding cake and eat it too – quickly, affordably, and oh-so-memorably.
