An $800 Fiesta Elopement: Carla & Nicholas

Kat

White Rabbit Studios

February 8, 2013

Yep, you read that right - Carla & Nicholas spent just $800 on their intimate fiesta elopement. In fact I had to double check they didn't mean $8000 when I received their submission and that it wasn't just a typo! The elopement took place on 28th December at Madison County Courthouse. After they got engaged, the couple immediately started planning a big wedding, but after some time decided to instead elope the weekend after Christmas. All their family was in town for the holidays so it meant they could all be there to celebrate with a big family meal afterwards. The bride's sister-in-law, Melanie, secretly hired wedding photographer Ashley Vaughn of White Rabbit Studios as a gift to capture their day. Everything else came in under the $800 budget.

Iconic London Landmarks & a Truly Epic Wedding Dress: Jolyon & Kate

Kat

Maria De Faci

January 7, 2013

It's a pretty good indication that a wedding is 100% awesome when I sneak peek a shot of it on my facebook page and it gets nearly 400 likes! That's exactly what happened with Jolyon & Kate's wedding and I'm pretty sure it was down to one thing... Kate's epic wedding dress! In fact the wedding itself was quite low key. The couple were married in London with just immediate family around them but that didn't stop this bride going all out with her bridal style! She actually designed the dress herself with the help of a dress maker friend who helped bring her ideas to life.

Icelandic Elopement: Dean & Lindsay

Kat

December 17, 2012

With all the detail and theme obsessions that come with the wedding blogging territory, sometimes it's just really awesome to get a super simple and fuss-free wedding in my inbox. So when Dean & Lindsay's Icelandic elopement was sent my way, I couldn't wait to feature it. I've said it before and undoubtedly I'll say it again, but honestly, this is what it's all about people - two people in love saying "I will love you forever". Spending just $1200, Dean & Lindsay flew to Iceland from the US and were married at Solfar (Sun Voyager) a sculpture located by Sæbraut, by the sea in the centre of Reykjavík

A Private Hiking Wedding: Jordan & Michael

Kat

September 8, 2012

Jordan & Michael wanted a wedding that truely reflected them and the things they love, so they grabbed their children and were married in private on top of a mountain in Canada. "Our inspiration was definitely nature and our love of hiking", explained the bride. "We chose Gros Morne National Park in the beautiful province of Newfoundland and Labrador known for its mountainous terrain and unbelievable views. This in our minds made the perfect backdrop for our quiet intimate ceremony. We knew that hiking boots were a must so why not include them on our special day? We kept our attire simple and clean and focused on more important details like the photography and the food!"

An Elopement-Style Ceremony with Friends & Family: Teresa & Russell

Kat

August 20, 2012

"Teresa & Russell’s wedding was like an elopement which included family and close friends", wrote wedding photographer Melina of Lucinda Photography. "They left their East Vancouver home with suitcases packed for their Montreal honeymoon for which they were leaving only a couple of hours after the ceremony! We did some whirlwind portraits in their neighbourhood before heading to Vanier Park to help friends set up some chairs and refreshments. Guests arrived, they were married, the mingled and they left. It was great."

A Simple & Retro Las Vegas Wedding: Nicole & Jamie

Kat

July 17, 2012

Downtown Las Vegas provided the perfect backdrop to Nicole & Jamie's retro themed wedding portraits. After a ceremony at Valley of Falls chapel in the Mandalay Bay resort, the couple and their guests had a photo session in and around the iconic Fremont Street area.

Button Moon, Moomins, Rainbow Petticoats and a Wedding in a Cave: Caroline & Johnny

Kat

June 12, 2012

When wedding photographer Sassy of Assassynation told me she'd booked a wedding through a feature on my site last year I was super thrilled. However my excitement was pretty much quadrupled when she them told me the bride was wearing a short dress... with a rainbow petticoat... with glittery turquoise leopard print wedges and ankle socks... oh yes and that they were getting married in a cave. I think died and went to wedding heaven right about then. Caroline & Johnny were married on a Monday, on the 14th May this year. The ceremony was small - just the two of them, the celebrant and Sassy and her husband Ian, who not only photographed the event but acted as witnesses. The ceremony was at Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall. "One fabulously weather proof venue!" the bride laughed. "Subterranean lake, 500 candles and really dangerous steps for the clumsiest bride. What could possibly go wrong?"

A Vegas Wedding in the Cosmopolitan Hotel Pop Up Chapel: Ashley & Jeremy

Kat

March 19, 2012

Ashley & Jeremy are wedding photographers so were in Las Vegas at the same time as I was for WPPI. After the Airplanes & Blazers party (which I was also at...!) Jeremy was sitting at a table with Patrick from StillMotion (while Ashley was off in the bathroom) and Jeremy was telling Patrick he would love to propose. Patrick encouraged him, telling him if he proposed and they got married while they were all still in Vegas, Patrick would shoot it! When Ashley returned, Patrick proposed, right there and then by saying "Will you marry me...on Wednesday?!" So just 36 hours later, they were married in the Pop Up Wedding Chapel at the Cosmopolitan Hotel with all of their best wedding photographer friends from WPPI watching.

An Orchard Elopement: Dustin & Rebecca

Kat

March 15, 2012

Dustin & Rebecca had a tiny wedding on 11.11.11 - four years to the day that they met. Incredibly they also planned their wedding in just two weeks. "Our inspiration came from so many places!" the bride told me. "I think the fact that we had only 2 weeks to plan and a very small budget sort of worked to our favor. We were blessed with so much generosity from our friends, family, and strangers (who are now friends). I knew that I wanted to hand make as much as I could for the big day, make all the details count, and I knew I wanted to marry Dustin in a beautiful outdoor setting."

A Gothic Inspired Beach Wedding in Sweden: Alan & Chrissie

Kat

October 27, 2011

Alan & Chrissie were married in September on the Swedish island of Gotland. The couple were the first from Hong Kong to be married there and their nuptials even made the from page of a Swedish newspaper! They flew British photographer Ian Johnson to shoot it for them.

Joli & Gary’s Amazing Backyard Wedding

Kat

June 28, 2011

Joli & Gary eloped in San Francisco. They had planned to have a big wedding party afterwards with their friends and family at a biker bar in Palm Springs, but then Joli got pregnant and everything changed. So 7 months pregant, the couple had a kick ass celebration in the backyard of their Los Angeles home. They described their party as a celebration of "Love, Freedom, Wild, Raw, Family, FUN, Village, Community!" and that's exactly what it was.

Bex & Jinx’s Retro Style Las Vegas Elopement

Kat

May 25, 2011

Bex & Jinx were married in The Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas. They didn't have a reception in Vegas though as only themselves and Bex's bridesmaid's were in attendance. However they had a big party with all their friends and family when they got back home to Australia. Bex wore a reproduction 1950's style dress made by Joy Taylor and leopard print shoes to match the belt and bolero by Diana Ferrari. Her bridesmaid's also rocked the leopard print in custom made 'wiggle dresses' also by Joy Taylor and red glitter wedges from Steve Madden.

Nicole & Aaron’s ‘Just Married’ Session

Kat

February 23, 2011

Nicole & Aaron eloped at the Santa Ana Courthouse and straight after had photographer Kristin Rogers on standby to shoot a 'Just Married' session with them and their adorable dog! I am seriously smitten with the cuteness of this whole session. The guitar shots just slay me!

Nessa & Josh’s Geek Chic Rooftop Elopement

Kat

January 13, 2011

Nessa & Josh eloped on a rooftop in Austin, Texas. The bride explained, "We really wanted to strip down a ceremony to what it's really about - two people, in love. I wanted something personal and close; stress free and beautiful. We didn't have rings yet, so we brought some vintage fox playing cards instead. The card decision was one part Josh: "I want something something non-floral as a boutonniere", one part me: "These are so cute, we have to use these" and one part our combined love for Fantastic Mr. Fox."

Kevin & Shawna’s Budget Balimore Elopement

Kat

November 26, 2010

“We had two requirements for our wedding day: that it be in our favourite season of autumn and that it be just the two of us,” explained newlyweds Kevin & Shawna. “We’re both a little uncomfortable with a ton of people showering us with attention, and we knew we would not be happy with a traditional wedding. It was important that we be able to focus on us and only us...to have that intimacy. Our families were not initially thrilled, and we considered many possibilities of changing our plans because honestly, we were feeling guilty of depriving them of witnessing our wedding day. Yet every time we thought about planning a traditional ceremony and a reception, we quickly lost sight of what we were doing and why. It became more about making everyone else happy, and we were becoming more and more miserable and stressed out, and that’s NOT how we wanted to start our lives as husband and wife. So, we stuck to our guns and did what we wanted! We’re also so freakin’ Rock n Roll that we shot down an after-honeymoon reception idea. We admit we’re being selfish, but we have a lot of stuff going on in our lives, and we want to focus on us and building a solid foundation to our marriage. In lieu of a reception, we’re thinking of throwing a one year anniversary party because what better way to celebrate a marriage than by actually getting through that first year together!?”

Kelly & Nicholas’ Romantic Parisian Elopement

Kat

November 23, 2010

"Knowing that Kelly had never been out of the country (USA), I bought us 2 tickets to London for the end of September 2010 as a Christmas present," groom Nicholas explained. "Within a month we knew we were meant to be, so my plan became to propose to her in London or Paris. However, that soon changed when we decide that we should just elope to Europe and get married there by ourselves. So, I proposed a month later, we booked a photographer and a church in Paris and threw caution to the wind and made our Little European vacation a wedding and a honeymoon. And everything was perfect. And our minister's name was Charlie Brown, which is pretty Rock n Roll."

Michelle & Chris’ October Elopement

Kat

November 16, 2010

10.10.10 was the date for Michelle & Chris' perfect elopement. The pair, who didn't want a big wedding, headed out to Immaculata University, Malvern, PA with their photographer Simmone Von Sydney and her boyfriend Micheal. The four of them set up the beautiful ceremony and post-wedding photo shoot.

A Las Vegas Alice in Wonderland

Kat

September 28, 2010

Amber & Mike pride themselves on their unconventionality and so wanted to make sure their wedding was just that too. "It made perfect sense to go to Vegas," Amber told me. "However, we even bucked Vegas tradition by not getting married in a small chapel by Elvis. We found an amazing garden complete with ducks, just right off the strip. I'd like to consider our wedding half elopement, half planned (we planned in 4 weeks). My muse for the entire wedding was a single lipstick that I'm obsessed with called Melrose Mood. Imagine the most obnoxiously, opaque, electric baby baby pink and you're sort of close to what it looks like." The bride is a make up artist so did all her hair and make up herself. In fact she seemed to almost enjoyed the getting ready part of the day as much as the actual wedding bit! "I spent the morning with my bridesmaids doing make up, eating gummy dice and card cookies (amongst other treats). We had an amazing bridal photo shoot in the atrium at Bellagio where we captured some sweet Alice inspired photos. Which is totally fitting since my husband is related to the real Alice in Wonderland, Alice Liddell (can you say "keeper"?). I wore were 6 inch heels entirely covered in Swarovski crystals. Needless to say the bridal shoot stopped traffic."

Take me to City Hall

Kat

August 11, 2010

I have a lot of love for cute, intimate and quirky wedding stories right now and Kristen & Alex's super stylish affair is no different. The pair had ceremony, just the two of them, at San Francisco City Hall followed by a small reception at Orson Restaurant, where they decided to have another small dedication ceremony in front of their gathered friends and family. "My favorite moments were the separation of the ceremonies" Kristen told me. "We had stressed for months on how to please both ourselves and our families (we wanted to elope, they didn't want us to) The idea of 2 ceremonies was the perfect solution. My favorite tradition was the fact that we were so non-traditional. It took me a while while planning to realize that we had the freedom to do things the way we wanted, there was no rule that we had to do things in a certain way."

THIS is What it’s All About – Forget the Details & the ‘Blog-Worthy Wedding’ Obsession

Kat

July 30, 2010

There is always a lot of chatter around blog land about details details details. Photographers are obsessed with getting couples with detail-heavy weddings so that the blogs and magazine will want to feature them. While this is true (after all wedding blogs and mags are primarily read by brides-to-be who want to see weddings with ideas they can steal for their own big day) do you ever think that this obsession to have a 'blog-worthy' detail heavy wedding might be a little excessive? I'm not one to slag aaaanybody's wedding off but I do see some weddings circulating around blog land that just seem so...well...contrived. Like a circus almost. Like a made-for-blogs-wedding-circus. The results are pretty much always gorgeous and inspiring but do you ever look at weddings like that and feel depressed or inadequate about your own wedding?