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A White Point Gardens Elopement | Charleston, SC

Emily + Chance

Emily and Chance eloped at White Point Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina with their families in attendance. I won’t reiterate the fact that I love elopements, because y’all already know that! I loved meeting Emily as she sat on a bench with her mom and her sisters, taking deep breaths while her dad stood by ready to walk her down the aisle. I met Chance up at the gazebo where he had a huge smile on his face waiting for Emily to walk around the corner. They had been together for 8 years, being high school sweethearts who met volunteering at a local hospital. Emily told me that Chance proposed to her by putting a rose outside her apartment door. Confused, she picked up the rose and opened the door, and there he was, inside her apartment on his knee. I giggled to myself as I thought about the nervous anticipation of waiting for someone to get home from work, trying to be in the right spot exactly when the door opened!

There were so many things I loved about their day, including the sweetest smiles on both of their faces all afternoon. I know I say that a lot, but I know every couple isn’t always like that on their wedding day, and I have been SO blessed by couples who are just SO JOYFUL. I absolutely loved when during the ceremony, each of their families came up, laid hands on them, and spoke words of encouragement and prayer over the two of them. How incredibly special to have the most important people in your life speak over you on your wedding day.

Emily and Chance, thank you for letting me see a little glimpse of your beautiful families and the joyous love the two of you share!

A Redwood Forest wedding in Felton, California

Amy + Nate

Oh how I loved everything about this wedding. It didn’t hurt that Nate is my brother-in-law and Amy is my new sister-in-law! One of the first times I met Nate was before Drew and I even started dating. It was my freshman year of college and a bunch of friends drove a minivan from Chicago to Miami and Nate was nice enough to let us all crash in his condo. Pretty sure Nate loved me after that trip and hoped with all his heart that I would one day marry his brother :) I met Amy for the first time when Drew and I went to San Francisco to visit Nate again, and I remember thinking even that very first time that they were perfect for each other. They both loved music, love being hospitable, and can talk to anyone and laugh about everything. I really can’t think of anyone more suited to be together than these two.

One thing I loved about their wedding day was that it was such a labor of love. They have some incredibly talented friends, and everyone pitched in to make this day happen. One of Amy’s friends is a seamstress and made her dress (which by the way is freaking incredible!! Just wait til you see the piece of fabric with the embroidered flowers on the back! How perfect for a Redwoods wedding!), and the day before the wedding, we had an assembly line going to create bouquets, table decor, and boutonnieres. Their rehearsal dinner included a highly anticipated open mic which did not disappoint. The whole weekend was spent at cabins nestled in the redwoods with music, bonfires, and good company.

On their wedding day, Nate cried when he saw Amy for the first time (and during the ceremony…and at the reception…classic Nate :) ) and Amy had the biggest smile on her face all day. We took photographs in a clearing in the redwood forest, surrounded by the beauty of these massive trees. We boarded a train to take us to the ceremony site, and had champagne toasts on the way back down. Amy and Nate, what a joy to be part of your day!