Is COVID 19 forcing you to elope?? This is for you!

What a WILD time to be alive. Our world if facing some pretty unexpected twists and turns, which are affecting the lives of SO many individuals, including bride & grooms everywhere. So many couples have been dreaming, planning, and working on their weddings for months and months, and are now having to drastically shrift their plans.

Most couples are choosing to elope, since venues have closed and everything is so uncertain. Yet, if you’ve been planning & dreaming of a large, wedding celebration, eloping might seem like a let down. Might seem second best. Might seem like a disappointment.

So I wanted to encourage any couples who are possibly choosing or considering to elope. These words are from brides who have eloped over the past year, hoping to offer some hope & encouragement for all those uncertain couples who are considering eloping!

Kendall Andrews:

Having an intimate ceremony in a beautiful and quiet place was easily the best decision ever (other than marrying my best friend)! Wesley and a I got married on Max Patch Mountain last summer at sunrise and it was marked with intimacy and holiness. I wasn’t focused on anything except for my groom and I was surrounded by my absolute closest family and friends. I really felt like the people there were going to champion our marriage not just on that day, but for the rest of our lives. I always dreamed of the big wedding and walking down the long aisle with hundreds of sets of eyes looking at me in white, but when the day came, I only cared about one. I couldn’t stop staring at Wesley as we got closer and closer. It may seem like not having a crowd is less special than eloping, but having an intimate ceremony is something Wesley and I will never forget or regret BECAUSE it was so special. We served communion to those who were there and got to personally serve each person since the crowd was so small. We felt like our people were part of our ceremony and it made it even better than I got to see the smiles and tears on people’s faces (and hug lots of people) in the middle of our wedding. Our elopement felt unrushed and exactly the way we want to remember it in all the most beautiful ways. Be encouraged future bride or groom that your marriage is worth celebrating forever, not the wedding itself. Whether there are people in the crowd or not, you’re stepping into a holy covenant and the love of your people will be with you no matter what! 

Kelly Parker:

My husband and I decided to elope after months of planning a huge wedding & suddenly calling it off. We have no regrets at all & actually talk all the time of how we wouldn’t change a single thing. Don’t get me wrong, it took a lot of time to come to this decision as it wasn’t our first choice but the more stress, debt, & worry we acquired the more we realized just how right eloping was for us. The wedding we were planning became more of a showy event for hundreds of people & less of a lifelong commitment to each other. The best part of eloping was the complete absence of stress, saving so much money for other things we felt were so much more important, & getting to really make our day uniquely ours & so intimate in every way. I can say with confidence that there was no '“worst part “ of eloping because it made that much sense to us. My one & only tip for any couples considering eloping is that there are no rules to it, as long as you & the love of your life are happy together at the end of the day that’s truly all that matters.

Delaney Payne:

Here are some reasons why we are glad we eloped: 

- we got to go on a trip of a life time to Switzerland , that we otherwise probably never would have. 

- we were able to focus solely on each other and made the day entirely about what we wanted to do instead of trying to please other people 

- the scenery was so gorgeous, and it being just the two of us in nature was romantic and intimate 

- we got to be 100% ourselves. There was no pressure to look  perfect or act a certain way. We were able to be goofy and silly but also passionate and loving. 

Tips:

-If going to another country, I would make sure you have a solid plan in place for travel, etc. Having a travel guide would be optimal.

- I didn’t get hair and makeup done and wish that I had. Even though it’s a more carefree way to do things, make sure you allot time for pampering so you can look and feel your best

We loved our day and having so many pictures was a nice way of sharing the experience with family when we got back. We also had a tiny service with immediate family and a party when we got back with close friends, so we were able to celebrate in that way!

Kayla Ward:

The best part of eloping…goodness there are so many things! number one, its so intimate! we chose to have a very small number of family members with us and it made it so special! another thing is you can choose to have it anywhere you want without the worry of guests traveling! we'd do it all over again if we could and I would encourage anyone whose considering to elope that they WONT regret their decision!

I know this may be a disappointing or stressful time of your life, but be encouraged!! You’re still getting to marry your best friend, it might just look a little different than expected. So have small backyard wedding with family only or elope just the two of you to a beautiful place and then have a fun, celebratory reception once all the craziness has calmed down! Your day will still be special, no matter what. I love what Kendall said above, “your marriage is worth celebrating forever, not the wedding itself. Whether there are people in the crowd or not, you’re stepping into a holy covenant and the love of your people will be with you no matter what! “

Since this is such a difficult time for so many couples, I’m offering a $400 off discount on my elopement package for couples who getting married during April-July. Email me at kathleen@kathleendew.com for more about the discount & any questions you have regarding eloping!

Why Elope? // How to know if it's best for YOU

Elopements are becoming a sweet, intimate alternative to the standard, traditional wedding. Yet, I think a lot of people have fears, misconceptions, or worries about eloping. Probably because the word elope technically means to run away and secretly get married, especially without parental consent. However, I think that eloping is taking a different direction in todays culture. Eloping today is simply viewed as a small, intimate wedding, with only a handful of family member or close friends, most times taking place at an adventurous destination.

When Kayla & Dustin reached out to me about photographing their wedding, they mentioned that they wanted to elope somewhere in the mountains, with only a few family members. They were very flexible with the location, so I mentioned that I’d be in Colorado in June, if they wanted to fly out and do it there. Luckily, they were already planning on honeymooning in Colorado, so it worked out perfectly!

They got married one June afternoon in Chautauqua Park in Boulder, and everything about this experience couldn’t have been more perfect. So I wanted to ask Kayla & Dustin a few questions regarding their elopement, in case any future couples are interested, curious, or possibly looking into eloping themselves.

What made you guys decide to elope?

Money was honestly a big factor. We didn't think it was logical at all to put anyone into any sort of debt over a one day wedding. We asked ourselves, “At the end of the day, what are the most important things? That we love each other and that we are married!”

Obviously, eloping isn’t for everyone, so how did you know this was the best decision for you and your fiancé?

Neither of us like to be the center of attention at all, so we knew this would be a perfect option for us. We also knew it would be a lot easier to plan, which it most definitely was!

What were the best and worst parts about eloping?

The best part…goodness there are so many things! Number one, it’s so intimate! We chose to have a very small number of family members with us and it made it so special! Another thing is you can choose to have
it anywhere you want without the worry of guests traveling. And honestly, we couldn't think of a negative thing about it! Maybe just the fact that some people were disappointed they couldn't be there too.

Any tips for future couples who are considering eloping?

Don’t procrastinate your planning. I know it seems like there’s nothing to plan, however, those small details can be big problems if you don't take care of them with enough time. And don't let anyone guilt trip you out of doing it! It’s YOUR day!

If you could go back and change anything, what would it be?

This probably sounds cheesy, but we wouldn't change a thing!! Everything turned out so perfect!!!

Are you glad you chose to elope?
Absolutely! We'd do it all over again if we could and I would encourage anyone who is considering to elope, to just do it!! They won't regret it!!

I think elopements are so special in so many ways, and since I’ve photographed a mix of huge, traditional weddings to small mountainside elopements, I figured I’d share a few of my own personal opinions. I think eloping is a great alternative because it:

• allows you to focus more on what truly matters, which is getting married, not planning a wedding.

• can combine your wedding and honeymoon into one.

• takes away so much stress that comes with planning a large wedding

• allows you to have a more carefree day, with no rushed timeline or agenda.

• gives you an opportunity to get a lot of photos of you and your spouse in a beautiful location

• helps save a lot of money

• allows you to be fully present in the moment and not distracted by stress, a tight schedule, and hundreds of guests
  

Like I said, eloping isn’t for everyone. I had a huge, 300 guest wedding and loved it. Yet, looking back, I don’t remember that much of it, because it was so rushed, there were so many people to talk to and thank for coming, and we were on a tight schedule. I couldn’t be fully present in the moment because I was being pulled in every direction possible. However, the bottom line is, you have to decide what is best for you and your spouse. That might look like having a large wedding, but then doing a session the day after with your photographer, to eliminate a lot of the time it would take to do photos on your wedding day, so you have MORE time to enjoy the day and be present in the moment. Or maybe it looks like having a small backyard wedding and serving pizza and coke for dinner. Or maybe you want to be adventurous and elope in a place you’ve always dreamed of going. Every couple is different, therefore every wedding is different. There is so much freedom in deciding whats best for you and your spouse and what best fits your personalities, even if its different from what everyone else has done or is doing. If you have any questions about eloping or want to discuss personal ideas or dreams for your own wedding, reach out over on my contact page and I’d love to talk!

The Best of 2018

I got in my car after my last wedding of 2018. I couldn’t have imagined a better end to the year. I pulled out of the parking lot, but the road was blurred in front of me. Tears filled my eyes. Grateful. So very grateful for this year. 

2018 was my second year of full time business. My first year, I got married, moved to a totally new place, and basically started my business all over again. It wasn’t easy. But I worked as hard as I could to make new friends, build a new clientele, and get my work out there. So, heading into 2018, I prayed and asked the Lord to give me at least 10 weddings. I felt like that was a big number. I had no clue if Id reach that goal, but I set it and asked the Lord anyway. 

Little did I know He would blow that number out of the water, giving me more than double what I asked for. Not only did He bless me with more than I asked for, but He also gave me THE best couples to work with. To meet. To get to know. To hang out with. I’ve met some phenomenal people this year. Been a part of some extremely special moments. Got to witness the start of many lives together. And for that, I’m beyond grateful. Totally undeserving. But grateful. 

I got to photograph a couple all the way from North Dakota who got married at Chimney Rock, travel to Montana for an engagement session, shoot some of our best friend’s proposal, got a styled shoot featured, was able to shoot in a few of my dream locations like Craggy Gardens and Lady Luck Flower Farm, and partnered with some wonderfully talented creatives. Never thought all of this would happen this year. But God is way bigger than my little plans. 

To all my 2018 brides and grooms, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, for trusting me with such a significant part of your lives. These images mean the world to me, because they remind me of how greatly you’ve blessed my life this year. God used YOU to show me His faithfulness, His love for me, and His blessing on my business. The highlight of my year was being a part of these moments with you. So much love for you all. 

Here are some of my favorite memories of 2018. It will be hard for 2019 to beat this.

Miranda+Braedon // Asheville Elopement

When Miranda & Braedon first contacted me about shooting their elopement, I knew that this would be a DREAM couple & wedding to photograph. And I was 10000% right about that. Its not every day you get a couple that will climb to the top of a mountain in their wedding dress & tux, not stress about the rain, and who will dance in front of hundreds of strangers in the middle of a drum circle.

These two, along with some family members, flew all the way from North Dakota to North Carolina to elope at Chimney Rock State Park. Their entire family was so sweet & welcomed me in as part of the family right away. Miranda & Braedon were SO laid back & didn’t stress about anything, even when it decided to POUR rain right before their couple photos. They were willing to go the extra mile (up a mountain at that) to make sure they got the best photos. Im always grateful to couples who are willing to walk through the grass or don’t care if their dress gets a little dirty or climb a mountain or sneak away from the reception to get photos in front of the sunset. These moments are some of the BEST & no couple will ever regret being adventurous in order to get the best view, lighting, or scenery in their photos.

At the end of the night, Miranda & Braedon decided to do their first dance in the middle of the drum circle in downtown Asheville. Chris and I stumbled upon the drum circle last summer and I was absolutely mesmerized by it. Its just a huge group of drummers that all come together & just make music together for hours. Anyway, these two were WAY more brave than I’ll ever be, and forced their way to the middle of the circle and danced their hearts out. Everyone cheered for them & they immediately won the crowd over. It was hands down THE most epic first dance ever. Their entire day was full of fun, beauty, and adventure. So thankful for the Internet and how it allows me to meet new people, even all the way in North Dakota. Braedon & Miranda, I’m extremely thankful you guys chose me to be a part of your special day! You two were such a blessing & Im excited for more adventures next year during your anniversary photos ;)