A New York Times Elopement

Elopements

October 21, 2023

When Michael and Vanessa’s elopement contact form email came through, I was instantly connected to their detail-oriented personalities and vision for their dockside elopement. The communicative photographer I am, immediately emailed back to book a phone call to chat in-depth about their Virginia elopement. They shared with me that they wanted their closest family and friends present on a small dock decorated with candles at sunset. Literal perfection. The months passed by as we planned every single detail from the fall wedding color palettes to the elopement ceremony to the wine tasting over charcuterie and chocolate cake from their favorite bakery.

At last, Michael and Vanessa’s fall elopement day was here. I traveled from the mountains to the coast and arrived at their host’s stunning, ocean-side home. As I made my way down the pebbled driveway, I couldn’t help but take in the small fields filled with adorable white sheep, massive rose bushes adorned with fragrant buds, and a circle driveway complete with a stunning water fountain surrounded by mature shrubbery. Michael greeted me with a warm hug as we went on a tour of the elegant home filled with a baby grand piano, intricate artwork, and detailed, vintage decor. As we rounded the corner of the home to head towards to dock where the elopement ceremony, I could hear the small waves crashing against the shoreline rocks. I could barely contain my excitement for the evening’s festivities.

Michael and I walked through the backyard toward the dock to check out the space and lighting for their ceremony because I wanted to make sure that their elopement day was beyond perfect. We arrived at the end of the dock and my heart skipped a beat at the beautiful sight of the intimate setting before me. Ten white chairs in two tiny rows giving just enough space for them to walk down the aisle to a dainty table with a unity setting and candles. The perfect example of a famous saying- “less is more.”

As we made our way back to the house, I set off to find Vanessa upstairs in the getting-ready suite to begin taking bridal and pre-ceremony photos. It didn’t take much to find her as all I had to do was listen for the energetic music she and her gals were belting to. With a quick knock and a respectful announcement that the party had arrived, Vanessa came out of the massive bathroom to hug me and express her excitement that I was there. I gathered all of her bridal details: “Juliette has a gun” perfume, Lulu’s heels, dainty jewelry, and of course, a thrifted, tea-length wedding gown.

Once everyone was ready, the family and friends descended out to the backyard to take part in viewing Michael and Vanessa’s first look that was shared on the top-floor balcony. The tears flowed as Michael saw his soon-to-be bride and took her into his arms for an emotional embrace. He donned a light pink suit and brown leather dress shoes. As they shared a private moment to their favorite song, their guests made their way to the dock to begin the sunset elopement ceremony.

Hand in hand, my bride and groom walked down the dock as they made emotional eye contact with their family and friends watching them take strides towards the end of the dock. The warm breeze danced in Vanessa’s fingertip veil as she and Michael exchanged the deepest, most heartfelt vows guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes.

The backstory on these sweet souls is enough to make you weep, so adding in those meaningful vows put the icing on the cake for me. You see, Vanessa underwent a life-saving, emergency brain operation on April 25, 2014, to remove a rare brain tumor that caused debilitating pain that carried the risk of killing her during the operation. Michael stayed by her side and helped her recover from the surgery, in which, the surgeon was only able to remove half of the tumor located on her trigeminal nerve that left her with facial pain and light sensitivity.

Michael split his time between the love of his life and his career in music as a conductor in the orchestra which eventually led him to win a Grammy for in 2023. Throughout the years, they worked through Vanessa’s health and Michael’s growing career leading them both to the decision to elope in Virginia at their friend’s home overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

Fast forward to their first kiss, shared at sunset surrounded by their family, friends, and happy seagulls that seemed to know they were eloping on the dock flew around us as Michael and Vanessa’s loved ones cheered on the newlyweds. They all shared a toast to a decade-long love, finally sealed to eternity in matrimony. We ended the perfect evening with a private first dance on the dock by candlelight, champagne popping, and moody, intimate photos in the headlights of a vintage truck. At the end of the evening, we shared hugs and many thanks for each other. They both said that eloping in Virginia with family was the best decision they could have made.

A couple of weeks later, I received a phone call from Michael and Vanessa. I wasn’t prepared for the news that they shared with me: the New York Times wanted to feature their elopement in their next publication! I was completely shocked and couldn’t gather the words for how excited I was as it was almost unreal. Real it was. Two weeks later, we had physical copies of The New York Times newspaper in our hands viewing our featured article in the “Vows” section. Proud is an understatement.