I had the pleasure of photographing a private elopement in the middle of California’s Sequoia Forrest at the beginning of May for a couple I was lucky enough to meet last year as clients for a maternity session. Little did I know that this couple, who I’d met for a maternity mini session a year ago, would impact my life in such a positive way! (More on that in a follow up post).
Here’s your only warning: you may leave this blog feeling somewhat jealous and very inspired!
Sometimes life throws you serendipitous moments, and it’s easy to write them off as luck, but sometimes in my profession, you lay eyes on something more beautiful than you could have ever imagined! Emily & Justin’s wedding was just that: a tear-jerking, beautiful and awe inspiring moment that I will never be able to wrap my mind around for the rest of my time. Their love is truly the stuff fairy tales are made of and I feel like I won the lottery because I was able to be part of it.
E & J are a young couple who met by chance in Denver and fell in love; two mid-western kids with big dreams and even bigger hearts. They’ve already accomplished more in their time together than most people would think is possible and they’re still enthusiastic enough to reach for the stars! As you’re reading this, they’re probably unpacking their new life in Los Angeles where Justin will be pursuing his dreams of stardom. Back to the story of their wedding…..
Justin planned so many careful details in this elopement, it still blows my mind. (He must be the embodiment of Prince Charming….. Emily is one lucky girl!) Anyways, he rented a custom built house in Three Rivers, California, just a few minutes down the road from their chosen spot. The house was AMAZING! The owner built it herself and spared no detail too small; even the fan pulls were hand carved and detailed to match the decor! I could go on and on about this house, but you’ll just have to wait for either another post or ask the bride & groom personally for details 🙂
Emily’s dress was simple, understated, yet elegant and just PERFECT. She looked amazing in it and it traveled well to the ceremony spot that had to be hiked to reach. It was a full-length gown made from a linen type material. Simply amazing… just like Emily. If you think I’m gushing too much, clearly you haven’t met this couple <3
The “getting ready” portion was very low-key and relaxed. I brought my husband along to help out with her hair (he’s a professional hair stylist) and to run video for me (he’s multi-talented). We talked outside for a few minutes and took a little tour of the property before heading inside for the shortest “getting ready” portion I’ve ever been part of. We relaxed, chit-chatted and just enjoyed each others company before heading out to the ceremony site.
If anyone reading this has photographed weddings before or been involved in a few, you know this is typically the longest portion other than the reception; this is also where people tend to run late. So not the case with this! The only people in attendance were the bride, groom, their best friend/officiant, my husband and myself. Typically I would have been super stressed over the fact that never before has my work been so important since we were the only witnesses; family and friends would be relying on me to tell the story! Strangely enough, no pressure was felt, just excitement!
What she was getting her hair done, Emily was telling me about the special items for their day. A family member specially embroidered this handkerchief for them! How super special and gorgeous is that? This is one of the items she will cherish forever and be able to hand down to her children one day as an heirloom. I’m such a sucker for meaningful items like that.
For months before the wedding, Emily and I had spoken about the details she was planning out, including sharing a Pinterest board with hair styles on it. How many ladies would be brave enough and have confidence enough in their photographer to not only recommend but bring along a stylist they’ve never met nor used before?! She is fearless and I love that quality about her! (Not that I have any misgivings about my husband; I’m pretty sure he is THE BEST hairstylist in THE WORLD!). In all honesty, her style was pretty easy; just a few pins and curls and voila!
(I couldn’t help but to snap a few sneak peek shots of her getting ready).
Most couples, myself included, are nervous and abuzz on their wedding day with various things weighing on their mind – not Emily & Justin! Emily’s dress had a cardboard form in the bust to help hold it’s shape when on the hanger. Justin grabbed it, tucked it under his shirt and BAM, the comedy was born!!! Emily was right there to play along 🙂
I think we spent more time driving to the ceremony site through the back end of town and down a loooooooong windy dirt road leading to a trail head in the Sequoia Forrest. I found it irresistible to snap a shot of them driving around the bend. I kept snapping Instagram shots along the way, so if you’re active in social media, you’ll have to track down my shots from May 3rd for more back story.
After a 30 minute drive, or so, we parked and hiked another 15 minutes to their special spot. We started by crossing a gorgeous bridge that opened up to the valley we’d be hiking up. I was honestly thinking “it doesn’t get any better than this” at this point…. little did I know, it did!
Justin & Emily wanted to stop for a sweet little snapshot of them along the way <3
When we finally arrived at the spot (I’m not much of a hiker so a 15 minute uphill hike was a bit of challenge….go ahead, laugh if you must!) I was breathless…. literally and figuratively. You can see the bride and groom approaching two giant boulders in the background; we actually climbed up between the big rocks and held the ceremony right there overlooking the valley! We probably couldn’t have fit anyone else up there if we tried, so at this point I totally understood the WHY in their location choice.
Being slightly afraid of heights, this perch was a little scary for me. Luckily, I don’t think about such things when I am working with a camera in my hands! Emily and I scaled the rocks first and she changed right there while the boys stayed below and changed on the ground. The view was amazing, but it didn’t take away at all from the way Emily looked in her dress, in fact I think it was all so complimentary!
Shortly after she was dressed, I snapped off a few bridal shots and the boys climbed up to join us. The ceremony was short but meaningful. Josh is their best friend and chose to get his officiant certificate just for their wedding. Emily spoke her vows from the heart in a freestyled fashion. Justin had planned out two pages of beautiful vows to read to her but after her amazing words, Justin was inspired to freestyle his own. Even I was a little teary-eyed at the end and couldn’t help but stumble over and give them a hug!
This is one of my favorite images from the whole ceremony because it shows the love and closeness between this trio. To have a love like theirs is amazing, to have a friend who understands it and cherishes it as much as Josh just makes it that much more special.
The Kiss. Need I say more? Nah….
They dared to climb down from the rock in their formal clothing and did so quite gracefully! I couldn’t help but to snap this one because it’s not every day you see a bride scale a rock in her dress!
We stopped for a few formals near the ceremony site and then headed back to their gorgeous rental house for a few more…..
I think this couple missed their calling as models out of some vogue bridal magazine! Shh! Don’t tell them, but I’m totally going to try and get this published!
(They already know! LOL!)
After we finished the formal shots, we headed down by the river that lines the edge of the property. Justin decided to splash Emily and a chase ensued!
It doesn’t get any better than this!
Simply gorgeous.