Who doesn’t love a cute wedding romper and bolo tie matchup?! Believe it or not, when Gabe + Terry donned their adorable attire, they didn’t know where the location of their elopement would be, or even what vows they would say! All they knew was that they were in love, and that’s all that matters. With their sweet Pomeranian Siggi in tow, they hiked up to Superstition Mountain in Arizona. G’s best friend and the couple’s photographer had planned the whole thing- a gorgeous desert backdrop and a short and sweet ceremony. They knew they wanted to elope, and Covid-19 made that a reality! G tells us more how their day came to be:
Terry, my partner of five years and I always wanted to elope so 2020 was the perfect excuse. Most courthouses were closed to in-person ceremonies and a Zoom wedding wasn’t necessarily something I wanted to do. So, we grabbed our photographer, the dreamiest florals, our fluffy Pomeranian and my best friend to officiate, and headed out to the Superstition Mountains to elope the weekend before Thanksgiving. Terry and I were long distance for the entire first year of our relationship – I lived in Phoenix and he lived in LA. Returning to the desert to elope felt really special.
Ashtyn Nicole Photo captured everything in beautiful, golden detail! Let’s take a look!
A Wedding Full of Surprises
Siggi looks so happy for mom and dad in that adorable floral collar by Form Floral.
G’s best friend, Chels Knorr, officiated the ceremony. She’s known G since they were kids!! Talk about special.
A lot of elements about the day were actually a surprise. Ashtyn, our photographer, picked out the most perfect spot for Terry and me to say “I do.” Neither of us had been there in person until the day of our elopement when we hiked to its peak. Our vows were also a surprise. My sweet best friend and I have known each other since freshman year of high school. She said I couldn’t get married without her so I figured what better person than her to officiate. I asked her to write our vows (a lot of pressure, I know), which we didn’t hear until we said them to each other at the top of the mountain. But the most memorable part of the day (because everything sort of happened in a blur) was going home, throwing on sweatpants, and ordering Pizzeria Bianco takeout as newlyweds.
Bolo Tie Meets Wedding Romper
These two have some STYLE! T looked like the perfect desert groom in a classic H&M suit and MINIMA-MAXIMA bolo tie.
It’s not an elopement without champagne!
If you’re inspired to follow G + T’s lead and elope, make sure to check out this list of 10 Things You Need for an Unforgettable Elopement!
Family Photos in the Desert
The Perfect Wedding Romper
We are IN LOVE with G’s elopement attire! She got her wedding romper from French Connection at Bloomingdale’s, her sparkling cape from BHLDN, her heels from Ann Taylor, and Sarah Stidham Beauty gave her that golden makeup glow.
I tried on so many jumpsuits and rompers but nothing quite felt like “me” until I put on the cape. Truth be told, the cape + romper was actually my contingency outfit but I ended up loving it more than what I’d originally planned to wear. I’m all about comfort and the cape + romper was just that. It was easy, effortless and just the right amount of glamour for our casual elopement.
An elopement doesn’t have to feel like a backup plan. I know that right now, it is a backup plan for a lot of brides but enjoy the day for what it is, and know that no matter what, it will be a day to remember. A lot of vendors are offering special elopement packages, which makes the planning process so easy. Also, make sure you apply for your marriage license at least 4-6 weeks in advance. We got lucky and ours arrived right away based on where we live but don’t wait until the last minute.
The Flower Crown
We had to know more about this fabulous pampas grass crown, so we asked G:
I was growing out a buzz cut so I wanted something to cover my head rather than accentuate the fact that Terry had been my barber through most of the year. I sent a handful of inspiration photos to the florist and et voila! She created THE MOST GORGEOUS crown I’ve ever seen. I mean, WOW. The orchids in the crown were actually a last-minute request. Throughout my childhood, my grandparents grew orchids so having a few orchids in my crown made it feel like they were with me in spirit as I said “I do” to my life partner.
We love unique and colorful wedding rings, and this one from Concierge Diamonds is stunning!
Pure bliss! From Gabe’s adorable wedding romper and cape, to Siggi’s flower collar, to Terry’s desert-approved bolo-tie, this elopement has serious style! Congratulations you guys! We’ll sign off with your final piece of advice to other couples:
Whether or not an elopement was your original plan or backup plan, just remember that at the end of the day you’ll walk away being married to your person. Elopements or intimate gatherings also take a lot of pressure off your guests who may or may not be comfortable traveling right now. Those who are not comfortable traveling will appreciate you a lot more in the long run 😉
photography: Ashtyn Nicole // venue name: Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction, Arizona, USA // florals: Form Floral // wedding dress: French Connection at Bloomingdale’s // bride’s shoes: Ann Taylor // bride’s ring: Concierge Diamonds // makeup artist: Sarah Stidham // groom attire: H&M and MINIMA-MAXIMA (bolo tie) // groom’s ring: Concierge Diamonds // officiant: Chels Knorr // bride’s cape: BHLDN