This was a pure delight. This entire experience from beginning to end.

She called me Sunday afternoon. In fact I was just packing up from a winter engagement session. She asked about wedding photography. I asked about the date. She said “Thursday, this Thursday. In the forest, it’s a bit of hike. We’re eloping.” YES! YES! YES! Pick me! Pick me! And it started, the brainstorming, the calls, the witness, the officiant. Everyone had to be ready in just days and it was long weekend. This bride had 3 days to plan her wedding. Most brides I know have at least 365 to gear up! After countless messages, texts, and people finding I met with them early Thursday morning at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. We drank coffee and talked about why eloping was important to them (since they’d already been engaged for a year). We talked about how they felt about each other, their families, and their future. Then we talked about photography and art. He is an incredibly talented artist – his medium is glass.

And finally it was time to get married.

We met at the entrance to Hardy Lake Provincial Park in Gravenhurst. A few layers later, some sweet hellos – an “are you ready?”, and snowshoes for the newly weds, it was time. The five of us, the newlyweds, the officiant, the photographer, and the witness (also a photographer), hiked through the woods and across the lake to the most beautiful wind-blown pine  I’ve ever seen. This was the ceremony site, it was where they kissed for the first time as a married couple, where they exchanged their vows, their written promises to each other, and where they enjoyed their first dance (he sang to her). Every second of this chilly adventure was sweet, meaningful, silly, romantic and at times quite hilarious.

Here are a few of the sneakiest frames. These two are back at home and sharing their news slowly.