Shelby & Joey’s whimsical Central Park elopement in the woods is still living rent free in my mind. I remember feeling so lucky to be a part of such a sweet, intentional celebration that evoked so much love and warmth. And such a joy to capture it on digital and 35mm film!
Shelby and Joey’s Love Story
What can I say about these two?! Shelby and Joey are an absolute blast to hang out with. I’m so inspired by their creativity, humor, whimsical style, and they way they share their love so freely.
Shelby and Joey are both from Colorado, where they met 6 years ago. They moved to NYC a little over a year ago where they live now with their cat, Abraham. Shelby and Joey are super laid back so the fact they wanted to tie the knot by way of a whimsical Central Park elopement felt pretty spot on. I love the way their celebration perfectly reflected their relaxed, no-frills style, yet took advantage of the stunning neighborhoods in their new city (ahem, portraits in the Upper West Side!).
Planning their Whimsical Central Park Elopement
Leading up to the elopement, I had a wonderful time helping them plan! We exchanged emails about timing, locations, vendors, etc! So on the big day, we met up on 96th street and the rest of the morning was just divine. It was so beautiful to see everything come together exactly the way they envisioned.
One thing I love so much about elopements is the planning process. It’s especially fun when my couples are open to ideas because that way we get to brainstorm together and create a day that feels true to them!
Central Park Ceremony and Reception Picnic
Everything about Shelby and Joey’s whimsical Central Park elopement was planned with intentionality. Meaning that very detail was there for a reason and added significance in some way. Whether it was about their love, family or friendship — every detail told a story about Shelby and Joey.
Seeing Shelby and Joey’s whimsical Central Park elopement in the woods unfold exactly how they wanted was a dream come true. The day started out with a perfectly relaxed, stress-free morning and was followed by an intimate ceremony in a secluded lookout area at the Pool in Central Park, surrounded by the love of family and friends. The day concluded with a sweet picnic reception nestled in a serene woodsy area on Great Hill. It’s always extra special when I have the chance to foster relationships with my couples through every step of the planning process. It just makes the big day that much more special.
To sum it up, Shelby and Joey weren’t afraid to be unabashedly themselves, often breaking into fits of goofy laughter and forgetting I was even there. They were just genuinely having the best time ever getting married to each other — caught up in the joy of it all.
It’s never lost on me how lucky I feel to be a part of such meaningful, intimate celebrations of love. Witnessing this kind of overwhelming emotion and spirit makes me grateful for this career every single day.
Planning an Intimate Elopement?
If you’re looking for a documentary-style photographer for your intimate elopement, you can reach out to me, here! For more elopement inspiration, check out some of my recent elopement blogs, here.
Venue/Location: @centralparknyc
Wedding Coordinator: @_elisewyatt_, @good2gather
Florist: @eastolivia
Bridal Dress: @beashastudios
