From the Decision to Making it Happen

You have to understand, I put a lot of time and energy into ensuring my couples have the best experience possible on their wedding day. S., A., and I had discussed a lot of potential solutions for their venue issue, but ultimately, it was up to them to decide how they wanted to move forward. So, when they asked for a video consultation to talk about it, I was really hoping for some good news.

S&A: “So… we’ve made up our minds. We’re going to do it. We’re going to elope. We’ll keep the French city hall wedding, but the celebrations will be simpler and shorter—just city hall and a reception at a venue, but no big party.”

Me: “First—oh my god, guys, I’m so excited for you! As for the French wedding, that’s fine. You booked me for a full day, and this doesn’t sound like a full day, but we’ll figure it out. We can find alternatives so you still get what you’ve paid for. Don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”

S&A: “Well… would you consider coming with us to Lapland to photograph the elopement too?”

Me—trying to contain my overflowing joy and excitement: “Are you kidding me? Of course I would love to!!!”

And that’s how the adventure began!

Stepping into a Winter Wonderland for a few days

A few months later, there we were, meeting at Rovaniemi’s small airport, ready to celebrate S&A’s love in a breathtaking snowy landscape. Since it was my first trip to Lapland, I took the opportunity to visit a reindeer farm and an amethyst mine, capturing the Arctic Circle’s stunning scenery to provide some context for this beautiful celebration. Then, on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, it was time to head to their ceremony location for them to symbolically tie the knot.

Being the sole witness of their vows

I can hardly begin to express how special their elopement ceremony was. The wedding planner and officiant only spoke English, and I was the only one there who could understand the vows they exchanged in French. S&A had been together since they were 13 years old and were approaching 20 years together. They wrote their vows on the same type of paper they used to pass notes on during class. I definitely teared up behind my camera, hoping my photos would do justice to the beauty of the moment.

As I headed back, I was absolutely elated. I feel so lucky to experience such incredible moments and to make a living from capturing them. Their happiness and love were so profound that it still feels a bit surreal to this day!

Eloping focuses on your love and connection

In the end, eloping isn’t for everyone—but then again, neither is having a massive wedding in a fancy château. Ultimately, your wedding day should be about you as a couple and what getting married truly means to you.

In my six years as a wedding photographer, I’ve met couples who got married for spiritual reasons, others for administrative purposes, and many for the commitment and promise of love it represents. Whatever your motivation for getting married, there’s a perfect way to celebrate it—and I’m here for all of it!