This one is a special one. Hannah is one of my longest-known friends - we literally grew up houses apart from each other before her family’s move later in elementary school. Hannah + Nick have been together since high school and Nick popped the question in Paris during their European vacation in 2016. The scene was perfectly romantic; just ask Hannah how magical it was, and it’ll take little convincing for you you to feel the same. When Hannah and Nick initially booked me as their wedding photographer, we were planning on a small, intimate ceremony in either Kentucky or Ohio, surrounded by many of their family + friends. But soon, the two fell out of love with a traditional ceremony and decided to elope in Olympic National Park, Washington instead. I remember the text messages when Hannah gave me the news about their new plan - I was STOKED for my first destination elopement.

The entire weekend was a dream. We traveled around Seattle, explored Olympic National Park, and even got to check out Rialto Beach near Forks, Washington. I had never been to this part of the Pacific Northwest, so I was beyond belief at the scenery - the mountains, the water, the air, the rocks, the fallen trees, the forest… I truly could go on and on!

Are you, or have you, considered a destination elopement or ceremony? What holds you back? I tell my clients how important it is to ensure your wedding day is truly about the two of you. You’ll look back on this day for literally the rest of your lives, and you’ll want it to reflect who you are in this season of your lives. Now whether that means you want an immaculate, traditional ceremony with 1,000 guests, or you want a backyard feast with your closest family and friends, or you want to run away to the Bahamas and make it official - that is in your control. I think so many times, people get caught up in someone else’s vision of their day that they forget what it all is about - you two. So what is holding you back?

Xo,
Sarah

P.S. I might also be partial to the whole destination thing because we did it ourselves. Max and I got married on Tybee Island in 2014, and when we look back on it, we wouldn’t change a thing. ;)