How one Ohio couple planned a gorgeous winter wedding ceremony practically in their own backyard…

Elopements, rather than full weddings, seem to be gaining popularity in recent years. There are many great reasons to elope. One of the biggest factors for couples is the fact that elopements are way less stressful than planning an entire wedding and the couple is able to spend time focusing on each other rather than thinking about all of the things that go into planning a large wedding.

This was the reason Erzsi and Cody decided to tie the knot via an elopement. With the goal of keeping things simple, they planned a beautiful winter ceremony right in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio. The couple found a gorgeous, privately owned pine forest where they would say their vows. After obtaining permission to have the ceremony photographed on the premises, they reached out to me with their plans. I was so excited to learn about their vision and knew that it would be a beautiful event to be a part of.

The Big Day

Their elopement fell on a frosty day in mid December. When I pulled into the small parking lot of the park, I was immediately drawn to the beauty of the location. The lines of pine trees towered above us and the peaceful quietness of the place felt nothing short of magical. It was like being in some kind of enchanted forest. A slight breeze was floating in the air, and in the quietness, all you could hear was the tinkling of wind chimes and the creak of the trees as they swayed in the wind.

Joined only by their parents, Erzsi and Cody exchanged vows beneath the towering pines as snow flakes flurried around us. After the ceremony was complete, we snapped a few short photos with family members and then meandered around the park and captured more images to commemorate this special day.

After photographing this beautiful day, I was completely inspired to do more shoots like this. So, if you are considering eloping, just know that you don’t have to go far from your hometown to have a magical day. It just takes a little planning, location scouting and finding the hidden treasures in your own backyard.

And hey, if you’re looking for a photographer to capture your own magical day, I’ve got you covered! See more of my work via one of the links below.

https://www.sweetpeaimagesphotography.com

https://www.facebook.com/sweetpeaimagesbykelliecraport

https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeaimageskcraport

Want to hear about another epic adventure? Click the link below to see how I photographed an engagement session in a hurricane!

https://sweetpeaimagesphotography.com/2023/02/02/an-engagement-shoot-in-a-hurricane/