When Sam called me a few months before her traditional wedding in New Smyrna Beach, Florida to let me know she’d changed her mind, I panicked for a split second. Until her next sentence, “So.. are you interested in pivoting to an elopement in Las Vegas?”. My answer was quite simple, “HELL YES”.
Sam was one of my older sister’s high school friends that I always thought was so cool. Her free spirit, open mind and fun personality are just a few of my favorite qualities. When she found Tony, with his sweet and loving nature, my heart nearly burst. Then to get to be the photographer to capture their love story? Un-freaking-real.
The couple enjoyed a week in Vegas with a few of their closest friends and family members to celebrate their marriage. The evening I arrived, they had their bachelorette/bachelor parties on the Las Vegas Strip and the girls closed the night with a bridesmaids sleepover in their suite. Of course I had to go capture them in their matching PJ’s on polaroid and film.
On the morning of their elopement I met both parties in their respective rooms for the getting ready process before boarding a party bus out to the venue. I captured some fun images on the girls’ bus while my assistant rode with the boys. We arrived at the intimate ceremony space in Valley of Fire State Park for a short and emotional union of marriage. The sky blessed us with a beautiful sunset over the red rocks where we took their portraits before heading back for dinner at a Mexican joint on the Strip. The couple and their guests enjoyed a beautiful vintage cake, queso, tequila and champagne - all the ingredients for my favorite party.
