Are you ready for a wintertime beach elopement, complete with a whole pack of dogs? A & T were engaged for quite awhile, and decided to elope fairly last minute. They had less than a month to plan their elopement, and we loved helping!
The Choice of Folly Beach
Folly Beach, known for its wide and lengthy sand and captivating sunsets, became the canvas for A & T’s love story. They loved the end near Morris Island Lighthouse because of the unique driftwood, but also because it’s generally fairly quiet in the winter.
Alternative Wedding Attire
A wanted to wear a dress, but wasn’t really into something super traditional. She chose a beautiful burgundy dress, which complemented T’s choice of all black perfectly. Their choices stood out nicely against the winter beach, and fit their personality as a couple SO much better than “traditional” attire would have.
Canine Companions
The quick elopement timeline was actually spurred on by T’s best friend, her dog Boris. He’d stood beside her for many years, and she wanted to make sure he stood beside her at their wedding ceremony. They designed the whole ceremony around his favorite place (the beach) and made sure to accommodate his handicaps through a wagon and a doggy-wheelchair.
Boris was an amazing and hilarious best man. He was obsessed with the beach so he took off across the sand several times (and at his age he didn’t really care about listening anymore, so it made for some really funny photos).
Custom Flowers
One of my favorite local florists worked with A and I to design the custom florals A carried and T and the dogs wore. They wanted a color scheme to coordinate with their alternative wardrobe, and they loved lots of dried pieces without a bunch of greenery. Creech’s Florist did an amazing job creating pieces that fit their vision and style perfectly!
An Intimate Affair: Sharing Vows
A’s best friend officiated their intimate ceremony, and the gentle crash of waves served as their soundtrack. A & T shared the vows they’d written for each other. It was a mix of sweet, sarcastic, and heartfelt, just like their relationship.
The Setting: Beach Sunset
As the sun began its descent, the sky transformed into a masterpiece of colors. A & T exchanged vows before sunset, and then took advantage of the beautiful pink sky for beautiful portraits. They cut their cake and shared their favorite beers as the sun sunk below the horizon.
A Day to Remember: Elopement Highlights
Some of my favorite moments from their day are below:
- Boris stealing the rings and racing down to the water as soon as he got his wheelies on. A & T both chased him laughing, thankfully they caught him before he took a dip!
- Wrangling all of the dogs for their family portraits was probably the second funniest moment of the day. Nobody (none of the dogs at least) really felt like behaving, they all wanted to play! They were all VERY good compared to most dogs, but since T is a dog trainer she holds a higher standard. We did finally get everyone set up and looking their best, and managed to capture some great memories (especially some of T’s frustration faces).
- A & T cutting their cake and sharing a toast as the sun went down was the perfect way to close out their elopement. It was peaceful, beautiful, and their cake was delicious! (Thanks, Tenacious Tart!)
FAQs
1. Did A & T plan their elopement with their dogs from the beginning? Yes, A & T’s furry companions were an integral part of their elopement plans from the very beginning. They wanted their dogs to share in their special day.
2. How did the choice of winter enhance the elopement? Winter’s stark beauty added a layer of purity and symbolism to A & T’s elopement. The quietude of the season complemented the intimacy of their ceremony.
you said: