A Rockabilly Tennessee Mountain Elopement

I find elopements to be incredibly romantic. In my mind, I always imagine them as hasty escapes into the night, cloaked in secrecy and passion. In reality, though, they're not always spur of the moment agreements to run away and get married. Sometimes, they're planned with as much care and consideration as traditional weddings, and it's a really wonderful and special thing when this happens. Elopements are so private and intimate, and while it's always an incredible honor to share your wedding day with loved ones, elopements really emphasize the importance of the union between two people.

I remember when Matt and I were planning our wedding, and the overwhelming stress was starting to get to me. My mom stopped tying ribbons to the wedding programs and looked at me. She said, it's not too late to elope, you know. To go off to somewhere pretty and distant, like Scotland or Italy, and just elope. It's up to you guys.

I'll never forget that she allowed us a choice, which at times, can be so rare for brides and grooms. We would have taken her up on the offer if invitations hadn't already gone out. In the end, we were glad friends and family could be at our wedding, but every now and then, the allure of eloping has me wondering "what if."

Although Matt and I never actually eloped, I love getting to share in the moment with other couples, to be apart of their romantic escape, to be the witness that signs their marriage certificate, to be the one that captures the intimacy so it's more than a fleeting moment of romance. It's an amazing feeling.

Huge, Amazing THANK YOU to Raven for letting me second shoot with her!