Posts tagged elopement wedding
Chico Hot Springs Elopement in Pray, Montana
 

It poured rain all day, soaking everything and making you wonder if the sky would ever clear. But just as MacKenzie and Nate were about to get married, the clouds parted and two rainbows 🌈🌈 stretched across the sky.

Both of them have lost their mothers, and in that moment, it felt so clear. The rainbows were their moms, celebrating right alongside them. I had full body chills. I still have chills. I screamed. I was so touched. It was one of those moments that does not feel accidental.

And then, just like that, as soon as the ceremony ended, the sky closed back up and the heavy rain returned. The whole thing lasted only minutes. Fleeting. Extraordinary. Unforgettable. Like a whispered miracle meant only for them. Their day was magic in the purest form.

Their Chico Hot Springs elopement in Pray, Montana was so true to who they are. A quiet hike in the mountains. Vows spoken in their own words. Real moments that did not need staging to be beautiful. This is what made Montana mountain elopement so powerful. Nature leads, and love follows.

This is also the heart of documentary wedding photography. Telling the story exactly as it happened. Capturing what it felt like, not just what it looked like. So couples and their families can hold onto these moments forever.

📸 Photos by me and Brett

 
Elopement Wedding at a Riverside Courthouse - Sarah and Bobby
 

Here is a little glimpse (behind the scenes) of how I'd photograph an elopement of a couple at a courthouse. We spent 1 hour together. And my partner Brett filmed and edited this video.

Sarah started talking about how her mom Monica had to endure the toughest time of her life - when her mother died and then, Sarah "died 4 times" and didn't know she would be able to walk again.

Sarah and Bobby eloped with Sarah’s mom, aunt and granpa, and got married at a Riverside Courthouse, vowing to be with each other forever and ever. I was so fortunate to witness their love.

Some love stories are straight out of a fairytale - others are written with grit, strength, and a radiant smile that defies all odds. Sarah has been battling a rare disease which doctors are still trying to understand, and yet, she radiates more joy than most will in a lifetime.

With the biggest smile and the purest heart, Sarah and Bobby reminded me that love isn't just about finding the right person - it's also about embracing every single moment, no matter how unpredictable the journey.

 


DYI Backyard Intimate Wedding, Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles - Sehwa and Spencer

Sehwa and I have known each other… probably… almost 12 years now. It was almost right after she came here from Korea to start her life and pursue her career, and I was just one of her clients, but we had so many similar things in common that our friendship kept growing. We shared our deepest secrets and beyond, and she has become one of my closest friends in LA. Sehwa and I basically enjoyed each other’s personal and business growth and have been the biggest cheerleaders. When she told me about her groom Spencer, first of all, there was nothing wrong with this guy! You know how it is - as a girlfriend, you sometimes want to look out for your friend, so you try to read any red flags, but there was none! He was just so perfect. Little did I know, after such a smooth relationship ride with Spencer, they’re getting married and I couldn’t be more thrilled to photograph their intimate, backyard wedding in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, California.

Sehwa’s immediate family flew from Korea for the wedding, and Spencer’s mom - who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease - almost couldn’t make it to her only son’s wedding; there were so much of happy tears.

Sehwa was also 9-week pregnant, and I cried out of joy when she told me privately on her wedding day. Then, they surprised everyone with a little Thank-You cards of the baby’s ultrasound picture.

It was just about 30 people including me and Brett at the wedding, and it was everything Sehwa and Spencer wanted.