Words that come to mind when I think of elopements:
peace, emotion, mindfulness, depth, & heartfelt.
For many years, the norm has been hosting a huge wedding that sometimes entertains hundreds of guests. Oftentimes tens of thousands of dollars are spent to throw the biggest bash possible. However, this sort of wedding is beginning to lose its charm; many people are leaning toward a slower, more intimate type of wedding: elopements. While elopements in the past have had the connotation of being secretive, hasty, and even shameful, today they are a conscious choice to intentionally celebrate the joining of two humans in a deeply personal and intimate way.
An elopement, in its modern incarnation, is a small, intimate wedding that typically involves just the couple, and perhaps a few cherished loved ones. An elopement is not about the grandeur of a large wedding, the meticulous planning, or the entertaining of guests. Instead, it's about focusing on what truly matters: the love between two people and the rituals and activities that feel most authentic to them. It's about creating a day that reflects the couple's unique bond and shared dreams, rather than adhering to societal expectations or traditions that may not resonate with them.
The beauty of an elopement lies in its simplicity and authenticity. It's about creating space throughout the day for presence, for genuine moments that will be remembered and cherished. There's no tight timeline to follow, no pressure to perform or to meet anyone's expectations but your own. It's a day to do whatever you both want, to express your commitment to each other in a way that honors and represents the uniqueness of you both as individuals and as a couple. This could mean exchanging vows under the glow of a sunset on a mountaintop, sharing a picnic in a forest, or simply spending the day in the comfort of their own home. You can truly do whatever you want. This is about understanding that there are no rules for how your wedding day should look or feel.
So, why are more and more couples choosing to elope? The reasons are as varied as the couples themselves. For some, it's a desire to avoid the stress and expense of a large wedding. For others, it's about prioritizing their love and relationship over societal expectations. And for many, it's simply about wanting to create a day that feels more true to them. Elopements are one of the most effortless ways to create a wedding day that is a genuine reflection of the couple. If you're planning your wedding and feeling overwhelmed by the expectations and pressures of a traditional wedding, consider an elopement. It's a beautiful, intimate, and deeply personal way to celebrate your love. And remember, your wedding day is about you and your partner. So, do whatever the heck you both want, and create a day that feels most magical to you.
I repeat: do whatever the heck you both want, and create a day that feels most magical to you.
Of all of my friends, I think Kristin is the only one that enjoys traveling as much as I do. We’ve spent time in a camper van together in Iceland. We’ve tucked ourselves away in a cabin in North Carolina. The inspiring part is the traveling she’s done alone. She’s not hesitant to sleep in her van or pitch a tent. She has renovated campers and bravely taken solo trips for months at a time. I adore these things about her.
I also adore her creativity and motivation. She’s an amazing photographer and one hell of a vintage dealer. Every outfit you’re about to see was carefully picked by her and sold (or is being sold) through her online vintage store, Iron Pony. Go on, click that link and treat yourself!
Here are some photos from a trip we took to the mountains last year. If you haven’t visited Weaverville, you should. I honestly get easily attached to all of the small cute towns outside of Asheville that I visit. As I always say, North Carolina has my heart.
There’s no place I love meeting my clients at more than the North Carolina Mountains. That area truly has my heart.
I met up with Tesi + Josh in Asheville before we rode together to Max Patch Mountain. I was extra excited for this session because I met Tesi years ago in art school, but I had yet to meet her other half. Even with knowing absolutely nothing about Josh beforehand, I knew he had to be amazing in order to make such an impression on Tesi. Both of them are so easy to be around. I think we were together for about 6-7 hours total and we never ran out of things to talk or joke about.
We all had our hearts set on Max Patch Mountain, but almost went with another plan because Max Patch was supposed to be covered in snow. It sounds beautiful and all, but apparently it was so much that we probably wouldn’t be able to make it up there. We all agreed that something was telling us all to just go anyway and risk it. We were so weirded out and surprised to see that most of the snow had melted just overnight. There was one little snow covered area left for us….just enough to add a little variety to the scene. They stomped through some snow, tip toed through water, and even got their nice shoes covered in mud — and did it all with joy.
These two babes are getting married this weekend at Summerour Studio and I’m so dang excited to hang out with them again! I’m already eager to share their wedding photos that I’ve yet to take, but for now, enjoy the outtakes of their dreamy engagement session <3
I feel so silly even admitting this, but this blog post has been a draft since last July. ONE YEAR Y’ALL. How have I not shared these goodies already? Kristin + Russell invited me up to Pennsylvania for their engagement session. Kristin & I drove around for hours exploring until we landed on the perfect spot, Ott’s Exotic Plants in Schwenksville PA. The old family greenhouse was otherworldly and I literally almost cried when I had to leave without any plants.
To keep the plant theme going, they’re getting hitched at Terrain in Glen Mills PA — which is a garden center, plant supply store, greenhouse cafe, and event space all in one. It’s a photographer and plant mom’s heaven.
Kristin, Russell, and their family treated me like their own family, and we left close friends. One year down and one year to go until we see each other again and create some more magic!
Daniela + Trent had original plans to elope in Alaska sometime this or next year. Back in February, they received the news that Daniela's mother was diagnosed with advanced ALS, so they decided to get married that weekend in Tennessee so that her mother could witness them saying their vows. With only two days notice, I cleared my schedule and traveled up to meet them. I had never met them or their family, but I knew how important this day was to them all. Their families helped throw everything together last minute (and did an amazing job). Someone put together a bouquet while someone else made a cake. After Daniela + Trent helped each other get ready, her mom arrived. She could barely move or talk, but you could see her feelings through her eyes. Like everyone else, she seemed to have mixed feelings -- full of happiness for the couple, yet a little but fearful about it possibly being the last time she had with them. While it rained, everyone gathered in a 500sqft tiny cabin to see Daniela + Trent say their vows. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. I could tell that their Alaskan elopement plans were not a concern; they were right where they wanted to be. Daniela's mom passed away about 4 weeks later and I am so thankful to have been able to document some of their last moments with her.
It's crazy how the internet + photography has the capability of showing us so many new faces and places. These two beautiful souls are incredible photographers themselves. We originally met them in a photography Facebook group and later they oh so kindly hosted us while we were in their hometown of Wellington, New Zealand. I sure hope that wasn't the last time we get to see them. Nadine + Tim, if you ever find yourselves in America, know that you have a place to crash with us here in Georgia.
Calm. That is how I would describe this day in one word.
Sadly lots of times the day feels rushed and stressful for everyone involved. This day was different.
Although Paige + Jake got ready in two separate houses, the relaxed mood in each was identical. They both got ready with only one person, Paige with her sister and Jake with his brother. When they came together with only a few of their favorite people, that mood remained the same. The ceremony was quiet and sentimental. They said their vows in front of Jake's grandparent's house and his grandfather married them. Every moment seemed intentional. Even the occasional soft breeze seemed queued to add to the moment. The weather matched the tone of the day; the clouds created a soft, even light over every surface. It looked like the calm after the storm. The rain held off until we all gathered under the tent for dinner, talks, and dancing -- but even then it was light enough to only add soft background noise. It was seriously one of the dreamiest weddings we've ever been to. Patiently waiting for our paths to cross theirs again and for another trip to Cape Cod; both at the same time sound quite nice. ♥
Reminiscing on these QT's engagement photos while we put the final touches on their wedding gallery. Bout time I blogged something.
Someday soon I'll just live over yonder, bring you
Coffee to taste, crossword puzzles to ponder and I
Hope you're well, and you know that I love you, though I
Write so seldom, and call every blue moon, there's some
There's some tall Georgia boy
Searchin' out a freckled girl with style
Wait 'til tomorrow
Someday soon when we hail from Atlanta, we won't
Need some Christmas to spend time together, and I
And I hope you're well and you sleep every evenin', never
Lyin' awake, for you're dreamin' of children
There's some tall Georgia boy
Searchin' out a freckled girl with style
Wait 'til tomorrow
Amber + Tyler are one of those couples that you feel like you know because their love shines so bright from afar. When we met them for their engagement session, we felt like we already knew them. I guess some would say that is just the internet playing its part, but I think it's just that their personalities are so care free and easy to be around. I have been a fan of Amber and her amazing work since I was about 18, so the day they asked us to document their elopement was a bit surreal to say the least. For years I kept up with Amber's photography and even personal life through social media. Sometimes I would come across her posts online expressing how much she loved her job photographing weddings, but how she wondered when it would be her turn to get married. She publicly prayed for her then future husband. I always hoped it would be someone like Tyler, just as radiant and sweet as herself. It was such an honor to roam around the woods and mountains of Washington with these two and finally, actually, get to know them a bit better as they said I do. Cheers to Amber + Tyler, and to them going on plenty more adventures such as this one throughout their lives together.
+ Makeup by the talented Intensify by Patience (who just so happens to be Amber's sister)
+ Dried florals by Westerwisp
+ Bridal gown from Fabulous Frocks in Atl
We got to explore the mountains with Hillary + Jeremiah and celebrate their one year wedding anniversary. We were all worried about the rain, constantly checking the weather the days leading up to the shoot. I remember texting Hillary and saying "hopefully it'll be cloudy, maybe rain a tiny bit, and then the clouds part and the sun will shine through" and that is exactly what happened! We had sunshine, rain, stormy clouds, sun rays beaming through the sky, fog, and even a rainbow all within two hours. When it started raining, hiding and stopping the shoot didn't even cross their minds. They just began dancing around in it. Hillary + Jeremiah, we hope your first year of marriage has reflected the fun and spontaneity that you two showed us that day.
You guys may remember Jaquie + Andy (blog post here) because their story basically blew up the internet. The morning we woke up to emails from hundreds of news companies and blogs, we almost cried with joy because Jaquie's story was being told to the world. I have chills as I begin to describe my admiration of these two. Jaquie is by far the strongest and most determined woman I have yet to meet. She went from being paralyzed from the neck down and told that she would never walk again -- to standing, walking, dancing, and is now a month or so shy of giving birth!! One day she will run and we will be there to document that as well. Andy is one of the kindest souls and his selflessness shines through to Jaquie daily. Watching the two of them together is so incredibly refreshing and inspiring.
We know that baby Olive will be a perfect mixture of their two souls and personalities. I'm so honored to be able to be in the room when Jaquie gives birth soon and witness the joy that Olive will bring to their entire family.
Sara and Danny are one of our most unique love stories to date, as they have now finally celebrated the love they have shared for years with their dream wedding. All of their children were present for this day and had a very large part in making it feel so special (wait until you see Sara’s first look with her daughter). The tenderness of Sara compliments the toughness of Danny in such a way that you can see truly how they make each other whole, forming one unbreakable and whole union. Sara is quite the talented creative herself, something that shows greatly through all of the amazing details of their wedding. The celebration that took place on this evening was a night we will always remember; one filled with a tearjerking father-daughter dance (Danny and their daughter Sophie) and ending with Danny trying his first ever alcoholic beverage while Sara smoked a hand-rolled cigar with her gals by the evening fire. We couldn’t be happier with how deeply their love shows through the photos we were so graciously able to capture throughout their day.
Sara + Danny, we hope to always be the “scene kids taking your photographs".
When Izzy told me that they decided to not know the sex of the baby until he or she is here, I knew that she would be the perfect subject for this vision I have had stuck in my head for quite a while now. Since I assumed she wouldn't be able to "nest" in the same way some other mothers typically do (fill up a room with pink and dolls, or blue and toy trucks), I decided to collaborate with Chris Taylor of 34 Degrees North and get him to custom build a human sized nest right in her backyard. If I have read Izzy properly, she is somewhat like me in the sense that we like to spend time alone to recharge and reflect on things. I hope that until baby comes, she can sit by the creek in this nest and mentally prepare for life with a new little one around. And when he or she is finally here, they can sit together and bond while I re-create these images.
-- H
Alec normally does the talking but I'm gonna take over for this one because it's special. I met Paige on my first day at the University of Georgia. It was an 8am 3D Design class. My first art class. My first opportunity to prove myself and get into the art program. That morning, I was so bummed. I had recently gotten a retainer that I had to wear at all times and it made me talk with a lisp. I had recently ran from a "ghost" while sneaking into an abandoned meat factory with my friends and injured my foot, so I was wearing a dorky boot. I had recently gotten a horrible haircut. And on top of that, I am not a morning person. I knew for sure I wouldn't make any friends. Luckily, I chose to sit beside Paige that morning. I've never told her this, but she made my first semester so much better than I expected. We talked daily (in basically our pjs because duh we had to be there at 8am) about how tired we were, how stupid some of the projects were, and how much we liked dogs since we found the right ones. Years later, we get an inquiry from her to shoot her engagement photos and Cape Cod wedding. We traveled to Asheville to see her for the first time in forever and to photograph them. We literally can't wait to visit Cape Cod and be a part of their intimate wedding ceremony. I haven't found many things, but this is one of the good things the came from me going to college. Cheers to Paige + Jake. Y'all sure are cute.
Morgan, Cody, Halie and myself come from the tiny small town of Perry, GA, which is where their story begins. Dating since high-school, this wedding was something that everyone in the small town knew would come eventually. When we got the inquiry to shoot Morgan’s wedding, we instantly knew that we would share the same aesthetic taste and that she would look simply ravishing on her wedding day, so it was a thrill to work with her and Cody. We would love to do more weddings like this -- small and intimate. They slimmed down the guest list so that they could have what was important to them; their family, good food, and some killer photographs. It left so much room for them to simply and fully take in their wedding day with no distractions.
Bryan and Chris are one of the most impressive couples we've come across to date. Their relationship, spanning eight years and several states, is a true testament to their unending love for one another.
Their story starts years before our paths crossed, way back to the days spent dreaming of such a day as this. A day where they are surrounded by over 150 of the people they care about most. A day where all of the years of planning, daydreaming, and hard work cumulate into a ceremony of promises. Vows to each other to continue to be a support system, continually working to achieve the other's goals. Promises made to constantly push each other to be the best versions of themselves.
If you've seen their engagement photos then you will know that Bryan and Chris are anything but conventional. They both love to grab life by the horns and find enjoyment in every detail of their lives and relationship with one another. The attention to detail and creating and reliving their countless memories with each other were very evident throughout their entire wedding day. From artistic recreations of some of the most important events of their relationship up until the wedding, to getting ready in Bryan's INSANELY impressive childhood historic Boulevard home, to the best exchange of vows I've ever heard, we truly felt as if we had known them for much longer than we actually had.
I hope that you all find as much joy in these photographs as Halie and I did in being a part of this day. They truly are going to make huge changes in the world, and I would be on the lookout for these two if I were you.
Here's to forever being silly while simultaneously being two of the most convicted and determined humans I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Also, as you view these photos, make sure you're listening to the song that Chris wrote when he proposed to her.
Special thanks to Kristin Karch for second shooting while Alec shot video!
Bryan chose one of my favorite songs from middle school for her bouquet toss. PLAY IT!
Jaquie and Andy... I do not even know where to begin.
Halie and I have been looking forward to this wedding since the moment Jaquie inquired.
Well, let's tell a little bit of a back story first.
Halie found Jaquie under the "people you may know" section on Facebook and sent her a friend request because she thought she was, and I quote, "drop dead gorgeous." She then proceeded to message her to ask her if she and her, then boyfriend, Andy, would model for us because she was in love with the way they looked, dressed and presented themselves.
Unfortunately, we underestimated how busy we were at that point and the shoot never came to be, but it wasn't long before Andy popped the question and Jaquie sent us her inquiry.
Jaquie has some unique physical conditions that make certain activities more difficult and frustrating, which makes the fact that she was able to walk down the aisle and dance with Andy, her mother and grandfather, and stand for most of her wedding all that more special to her and to us. She worked so very hard in the gym and with physical therapy to be able to do these things at her wedding and we are so very proud of her for the accomplishments and progress she made with her mobility.
Jaquie and Andy are literally a dream couple. Both extremely intelligent, talented, creative and loving people that make our job worth while, not to mention the fact that they have a very deep bond and loving relationship that makes it easy to capture the emotions that they have for one another. The way that they selflessly serve and love one another challenges me to this day, and I'm such a fortunate human to be able to call them friends.
I'm sure that Jaquie thinks that we are just saying some of the things that we say to her about how happy we are that she chose us just to be nice, but we are extremely grateful that her and Andy chose us and have been challenged in our own relationship to better serve one another because of the example they have set.
We hope you enjoy the photos below; we surely do.
-- A
When the time came to find a location for Kelly and Nathaniel, Cloudland Canyon was our obvious choice.
We originally wanted to have our wedding ceremony here, but when logistics came into play we had to slide this ace of a location into our back pocket and save it for something special.
We held on to it for a while, not wanting to waste the opportunity to shoot at this amazing location. We pitched the idea to them with crossed fingers because
we knew it would be a NINE HOUR drive for them if they wanted to shoot there. To our surprise, they were totally up for it!
We hiked for about 30 minutes straight into the belly of the beast and the photos below are what happened when we reached the bottom.
We are so very grateful that they wanted to make the drive all the way there; hopefully we've shown them it was worth it.
