This is where we share more than photographs — we share what they meant.
In The Journal, you'll find love stories told in full, elopements beneath open skies, planning insight, and location guides — all rooted in honesty, artistry, and emotion.
Curious where to begin? Step into Ellen and Quentin’s late summer wedding at Oak Grove, where golden light, impeccable style, and a ceremony beneath the oak tree gave way to courtyard champagne and celebration. Or explore Zibba and Ben’s celebration at Rendezvous Lodge, a wedding weekend in Jackson Hole with high-altitude views and deeply felt vows.
Wherever love takes you — we hope these stories help you imagine what your own might feel like.
Kim requested the best of both worlds—a small ceremony in the valley with her and Brandon’s closest family and fiends, and an epic adventure to commemorate their personal vows. To make this happen, we decided to split their wedding experience into two days.
So, Kim and Brandon held their intimate wedding at Schwabacher Landing on a Monday; and on Tuesday morning, we met at the trailhead at Lupine Meadows to start our ascend on the mountain.
Read MoreWhen Ashley initially reached out about eloping, she was open to location suggestions. Her only request was “A national park that’s not too cold in April.” Since we already had a trip to Northern California planned for the beginning of April, we suggested Point Reyes National Seashore. We love Point Reyes for its remoteness, its “off the beaten path” essence gives it stillness, which also means it’s less touristy than other locations closer to San Francisco, so it’s the perfect setting for private and personal vows. And in the springtime, wild flowers, like yellow lupines, freckle its grassy dunes and cliff sides.
Read MoreKim & Brandon knew they wanted a small intimate wedding since neither of them like to be the center of attention. And it just so happened that they had already booked a vacation to the Tetons prior to their engagement; it just made sense to use that trip for their nuptials! So they planned a destination, elopement-style wedding, inviting only a few of their closest people. Kim told us that "the epic views of the jagged mountains reminisce of Patagonia now seem like the perfect spot to start our forever adventure."
Read MoreBri & Matt planned a destination elopement to Jackson Hole because of how special of a place it is to them. They visit several times a year, both for winter skiing and for summer hiking, so it just made sense to them to say their vows in this breathtaking place. They picked an early summer date so that the meadows would still be filled with wildflowers and their favorite range would still be outlined in snow.
Read MoreIn the midday sun, with only their immediately family present, they exchanged vows and rings atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. This Mt. Desert Island backdrop was an expansive view of the sea, other nearby islands and sailboats.
Afterward, for portraits we spent some time exploring the different overlooks and view points; and then made our way down to the coast to explore the otter cliffs. Lauren & Michael wore their hiking boots, and we scrambled across the rocks as the waves thundered loudly with each crash against the cliffside.
Read MoreWith so much remaining uncertainty, couples are not even given hope that their wedding can still happen next year. Like everything else pertaining to this virus, the surge of 2020 couples needing to re-book could not have been foreseen, and therefore, many venues and vendors are already completely booked with 2021 couples.
It’s a devastating mess.
Some couples will still want their dream, big weddings and are willing to wait to have them—that’s completely okay and we applaud your patience.
However, we also know there are many of you that may not want to wait another year or even longer to start your lives together. That’s okay too. We’re here to help. So, in this post, we’re giving you 10 reasons why we believe planning an elopement or intimate ceremony may be a beautiful option for you.
Read MoreEvery love story is unique—and Nate and Ashley are no exception to the realness of this sweet cliché. Their affection for the outdoors inspired them to commit themselves to each other in a place, although hundreds of miles from their home, that was meaningful to their story and passion for nature. They welcomed the mud and dirt and chilly morning air, all as part of their wedding party, and the waterfall filled the outcropping with celebrant applause.
Read MoreOn our way to Étretat through the countryside, we followed Marcus and Beth and watched as Beth hung her head out the window, allowing the wind to whip it as it willed. She closed her eyes and smiled, feeling the moment deeply as she painted the air with her hand. She is a true free spirit, and both she and Marcus are compassionate toward all life, loving and dreamy.
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