It’s the ultimate sign of commitment between two people who want to spend their lives together.
Which is exactly why Kate Heussler, née Johnson, wanted to keep it just that – intimate.
The former beauty queen – who first won Australia’s hearts when she became Mrs Australia in Florida in 2014 – recently tied the knot for the second time in a stunning and low-key elopement ceremony in the Blue Mountains.
‘Having had the big dress and 100 guests and all of the stress that comes with that, I wanted something different and so did my partner, Lachlan,’ Kate told Daily Mail Australia.
Kate Heussler, née Johnson, recently tied the knot in a stunning Blue Mountains elopement (pictured)
![The 32-year-old, who had been married previously when she won Mrs Australia in 2014, told FEMAIL she and her partner, Lachlan, wanted to do things differently second-time around](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C65700000578-5142667-image-m-71_1512370531485.jpg)
![The 32-year-old, who had been married previously when she won Mrs Australia in 2014, told FEMAIL she and her partner, Lachlan, wanted to do things differently second-time around](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C63F00000578-5142667-image-a-72_1512370543484.jpg)
The 32-year-old, who had been married previously when she won Mrs Australia in 2014, told FEMAIL she and her partner, Lachlan, wanted to do things differently second-time around
![Kate and Lachlan Heussler, an Internet entrepreneur, met when Kate was working at Lachlan's company, and they mutually decided to elope (pictured together)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C47F00000578-5142667-image-a-58_1512370308284.jpg)
Kate and Lachlan Heussler, an Internet entrepreneur, met when Kate was working at Lachlan’s company, and they mutually decided to elope (pictured together)
![They pulled off the entire thing - including dress, make up and hair and photographer, inside four weeks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C45B00000578-5142667-image-a-59_1512370312874.jpg)
They pulled off the entire thing – including dress, make up and hair and photographer, inside four weeks
![Kate was crowned Mrs Australia in 2014, but sparked controversy when she became a Miss soon afterwards](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/07/46F6DEC100000578-5142667-image-m-83_1512371532481.jpg)
Kate was crowned Mrs Australia in 2014, but sparked controversy when she became a Miss soon afterwards
Kate and Lachlan Heussler, an Internet entrepreneur, met when Kate was working at Lachlan’s company, and they mutually decided to elope, after Lachlan proposed following discussions that the pair wanted to start a family.
Kate had previously been married when she was crowned Mrs Australia, but courted controversy when soon after the pageant, she split up with her then-partner.
‘I’m very traditional like that and think marriage is the first thing in the order before children and a property,’ Kate told FEMAIL.
‘And so, when he proposed, we got the whole thing together inside four weeks – which was crazy, but just about came off.’
![The stunning ceremony and photo shoot by Willow and Co was witnessed by Kate's twin brother, Adam and Lachlan's best friend](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C4B500000578-5142667-image-a-61_1512370331646.jpg)
The stunning ceremony and photo shoot by Willow and Co was witnessed by Kate’s twin brother, Adam and Lachlan’s best friend
![For the occasion, Kate had a custom-made dress designed by Pallas Couture bridal boutique (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C3FC00000578-5142667-image-a-60_1512370320745.jpg)
For the occasion, Kate had a custom-made dress designed by Pallas Couture bridal boutique (pictured)
![The dress was elegantly titled 'lost in love', and was created via three fittings and inside four weeks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C4DF00000578-5142667-image-a-62_1512370342751.jpg)
The dress was elegantly titled ‘lost in love’, and was created via three fittings and inside four weeks
For the stunning ceremony and photo shoot by Willow and Co – witnessed by Kate’s twin brother, Adam and Lachlan’s best friend – the 32-year-old told FEMAIL that she had a custom-made dress designed by renowned bridal boutique, Pallas Couture.
The dress was elegantly titled ‘lost in love’.
‘I remember going to them and saying “I really want you to make my dress”,’ Kate explained to FEMAIL.
‘And then telling them the time frame upon which point they said these things usually take them 6-12 months!’.
However, the boutique said they would love to help – and so they custom-made it to fit her figure inside three weeks, and included three dress fittings in that time:
‘It was such an incredible dress to wear – specially designed for me,’ Kate said, adding that she has since given it back to the boutique – for other brides to use, price on request.
![Speaking about the day itself in the Blue Mountains, Kate told FEMAIL that it was magical and 'more perfect' than she could have imagined](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C3D300000578-5142667-image-a-64_1512370359133.jpg)
Speaking about the day itself in the Blue Mountains, Kate told FEMAIL that it was magical and ‘more perfect’ than she could have imagined
![She said the couple managed to get the perfect light and shade for taking photos (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C3D700000578-5142667-image-a-63_1512370353218.jpg)
She said the couple managed to get the perfect light and shade for taking photos (pictured)
![Kate has since given back her luscious Pallas Couture gown (pictured), so that other brides can use it](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C40400000578-5142667-image-m-73_1512370563916.jpg)
Kate has since given back her luscious Pallas Couture gown (pictured), so that other brides can use it
Speaking about the day itself in the Blue Mountains, Kate told FEMAIL that it was magical and ‘more perfect’ than she could have imagined:
‘We managed to get perfect weather for the photos – just the right light and no shadows,’ she explained.
‘The photos took place deep up in the Blue Mountains, north of Blackheath,’ Kate added.
![Kate explained that she's super happy to have done things slightly more low-key than when she tied the knot first-time round](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C4C300000578-5142667-image-a-67_1512370399818.jpg)
Kate explained that she’s super happy to have done things slightly more low-key than when she tied the knot first-time round
Kate explained that she’s super happy to have done things slightly more low-key than when she tied the knot first-time round:
‘He proposed, and we both immediately wanted to elope,’ she said.
‘A marriage is between two people, and as it’s the second time around, that’s the intimate affair we had. I feel so blessed; Lachlan is the perfect gentleman.’
Kate was in the news when she separated and divorced her previous partner just a few months after she was crowned Mrs Australia.
The Mrs International contest is the only competition worldwide that is based purely on charity work and is for married women only.
!['A marriage is between two people, and as it's the second time around, that¿s the intimate affair we had. I feel so blessed; Lachlan is the perfect gentleman,' she told FEMAIL](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C42700000578-5142667-image-a-68_1512370411490.jpg)
‘A marriage is between two people, and as it’s the second time around, that’s the intimate affair we had. I feel so blessed; Lachlan is the perfect gentleman,’ she told FEMAIL
![Kate created controversy when she separated and divorced her previous partner just a few months after she was crowned Mrs Australia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C3EF00000578-5142667-image-a-69_1512370455350.jpg)
Kate created controversy when she separated and divorced her previous partner just a few months after she was crowned Mrs Australia
![She explained to FEMAIL that she and Lachlan can't wait to start a family](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/06/46F6C43700000578-5142667-image-a-70_1512370470713.jpg)
She explained to FEMAIL that she and Lachlan can’t wait to start a family
![The happy bride told FEMAIL why she thinks elopements can be a good idea](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/07/46F6C3F400000578-5142667-image-m-88_1512371900266.jpg)
The happy bride told FEMAIL why she thinks elopements can be a good idea
Finally, Kate also revealed why she believes elopements are a good idea for some couples:
‘People should do what they want to do,’ Kate said. ‘I would definitely recommend an elopement as it really worked for us.
‘It was intimate, private and ticked every practicality box – we could prioritise what we wanted to prioritise, without having all the stress.
‘Plus, it might allow couples to use the money they might have spent on a wedding on a house or family.’
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