Oh man, how do I even begin this post? First: Hannah is one of my most dearly loved, longtime friends. We have seen each other through some crazy stuff in our ten+ year friendship – which is why I was crying (really profuse) happy tears all day as she married the perfect man for her, Freddie. Ever since I met him a year and a half ago, I see how happy he makes my friend and how well they sync up – how genuine, stable, and loving their connection is (and you will to in these photos!). This all overwhelmed me with joy to be there with them on their special day!

When Hannah and Freddie contacted me and told me they were planning to elope overseas, I was 100% ready for wherever they chose and so excited. The area of Wicklow, Ireland is where they selected and man, it did not disappoint. The day was PERFECT, fun, spontaneous, sleep-deprived (we all got two hours of sleep the night before, oops), emotional, unforgettable. One of my favorite things about eloping is how personal the touches are and how non-fussy you can be – how honoring the love shared and experiencing the moment are at center stage. Hannah’s bouquet was foraged from the roadside by me, their cakes were bought at a little gas station, their beer was brought overseas from a brewery in the city where they shared their first trip together. Freddie’s Ireland-inspired pocketsquare was handmade by him and his mom – he wore a pin from Westworld (one of the couples favorite shows), and fun accessories. They both wrote their vows by hand. Hannah did her own makeup, and I did her hair! (Jack of all trades here.) There was no schedule to keep to, no plan to worry about.

Are you thinking of eloping? I asked Hannah to do a little blurb to explain why she and Freddie chose elopement, and how it ended up being as an experience. Cheers! And then onto the photos!!!

Freddie and I decided to elope for many reasons, but the main reason was love. We wanted to share our deepest emotions with each other, alone, with no one to distract us. No one to pressure us into doing what they wanted, no one complaining about anything, no one to please but ourselves. Let me tell you now, it. was. magical. It surpassed all expectations! Our ceremony was so intimate and emotional that I still get chills thinking about it. We got to be completely vulnerable with each other because there was no one there making us feel uncomfortable in doing so. And our venue? Well, let the pictures explain the benefits of that one! I’ve had the big wedding once. It was stressful, busy, and not as intimate as I wanted it. I’ve also photographed weddings. In my opinion, big weddings tend to become a sort of distraction for the couple. I didn’t want that. That’s why we eloped. Many would argue “well what about sharing with family and friends?” Easy. Have a reception when you get home. So if you’re on the fence, as Shia Labeouf would say, JUST DO IT!

– Hannah W.