Shawnee Forest Elopement

When Tyler & Brittony first messaged me, they were in the early stages of planning an intimate wedding day with their close family & friends.  Three days after their initial inquiry, I heard from them again.  They told me that having a wedding just wasn’t for them.  They had always wanted to elope but were worried about upsetting their family and friends, but finally decided that they were going to do what they wanted, and thankfully, their families were supportive!

Plan A for their elopement was Olympic National Park in Washington on May 2, 2020.  To say I was excited to photograph a NP elopement would be an understatement!  We were planning to have their little elopement ceremony in the Hoh Rainforest - the perfect place considering their love for botany!

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and the original plans got cancelled.  However, Tyler & Brittony’s love, commitment, and desire to get married was not cancelled!  Plans kept getting moved around, but the couple was adaptive.  Although I know they were likely very stressed and unsure, Tyler & Brittony remained positive and focused on what truly mattered.  Finally, we had plans set.  June 5, 2020 Tyler & Brittony eloped at Shawnee State Forest, minutes down the road from where they first met.  We found a pretty spot by the water, their best friend officiated the ceremony, we skipped rocks, listened to music, got Buckeye Dairy Bar milkshakes and ran around until sunset.  It was absolutely perfect.

As a photographer, I could go on about how bummed I was that we didn’t get to have the NP elopement that was originally planned.  However, as a photographer, this elopement reminded me once again why I love and value this job so much.  When it came down to it, all that mattered was Tyler & Brittony’s commitment to one another.  You can strip a wedding day of its fancy decor, music, cake & food. You can strip adventurous elopements of their mountains, deserts, beaches and rainforests. But you can’t strip away the real and genuine love from a couple committing their lives to one another.  Getting to capture the laughs, the “I love you”s, the kisses and the excitement was all we needed.  There was a time years ago that I never imagined I would be a “wedding & elopement” photographer.  Now, I can’t imagine photographing anything else for a living.  These special moments are what fuel me.

A million congrats to Tyler & Brittony.  I’m so beyond grateful that you trusted me to capture such a beautiful and special day.