Marianne and Kristen, who met on Bumble just before the pandemic, moved in together when the world went into lockdown. In order to be able to leave the house, they had many of their early dates just walking on the beach. They even got engaged there! So, when they decided to get married, the knew this same beach had to be their location where they’d say their vows.

“It was really important for us to get married there and honour the place that had been a hugely significant place during our relationship”, Marianne told us. “The whole ceremony revolved around the beach. Since we didn’t have any flowers or decorations, we just rocked up to a spot at the end of the beach with some driftwood against the water that served as the backdrop.”

The morning ceremony was led by the bride’s brother. They walked to the spot together, as the bride’s niece accompanied them carrying a portable speaker playing Your Hand in Mine by Explosions in the Sky. “Our vows were full of inside jokes including Schitt’s Creek references, which was another saving grace during lockdown”, the bride said. “The most memorable moment was that sand tractors—the equipment used to smooth down the beach sand first thing in the morning—roared by while my brother was reading the opening poem at least twice! It was so loud and jarring that he had to stop reading and wait until it had passed and, in the spirit of the day (which we wanted to feel really natural, not forced, but fun and no pressure), I was weeping with laughter because it felt like a reflection of our relationship so far: full of a lot of, unpredictable, unexpected (and sometimes difficult) things, but still holding hands and giggling.”

After the ceremony, the five-person party—including Marianne’s brother, sister-in-law, and niece—spent time taking photos, before heading to brunch at a local restaurant for a celebratory meal. “We saved so much by eloping,” Marianne noted. “Our only costs were things that really mattered to us—my custom gown from a small designer in Seattle and the brunch. We didn’t need flowers or decorations, and having a small group meant we could splurge on an amazing meal.”

“There is no one right way to have a wedding”, she concluded. “It’s 100% okay to focus on what you like and not worry about if everyone is going to love it. You can invite people into your happiness and let them decide to enjoy it. It’s not your responsibility to make sure every element is everyone’s jam.”