When this bride initially reached out, she was hoping to have her and her fiance’s SF City Hall wedding documented. They wanted something elegant and simple, as they were going to have a larger celebration in Spain with their family (many of whom live abroad). However, when City Hall was no longer an option due to the times, they changed plans and decided to return to the spot where they had their first date and had a Lafayette Park elopement.

I love how their few guests all helped set up the space for the event together – laying out blankets and grabbing their picnic basket that had been put together by the bride with personalized sandwiches, champagne and a bundle of flowers.

The bride had a few proteas added to her bouquet as a nod to her roots from South Africa. She also had a tiny locket wrapped around the flowers with her parent’s photo, as they couldn’t be there to celebrate in person.

The couple exchanged personal vows while family on FaceTime watched from across the globe. It was a really beautiful moment to watch these two become husband and wife despite all of the hurdles they had to pass to get to this point.

After the ceremony, we walked through the park to the bench where they first met. They sat together quietly and reflected on this time. When they returned to their reception, their friends were ready with champagne for a toast. “Thank you’s” were exchanged and “congratulations” were exclaimed. To conclude their Lafayette Park elopement, they shared a first dance on the lawn as the sun began to dip down in the later afternoon.

M&J, your wedding might look different from what you initially planned, but it was still incredibly special and I feel grateful to be a part of it. I wish you the best with your upcoming move. Cheers to many years of happiness for you both!

Are you looking to have your SF elopement captured? We would love to hear from you!