Back in 2014, I found myself ready to marry my fiancé - but nothing in me wanted a big wedding. I didn’t want the stress of planning a wedding let alone planning the wedding to accommodate everyone. I’m the type of person who doesn’t want anyone to feel left out and I knew I would be inviting and accommodating based on obligation. I also imagined I would find myself spending the day hosting and making sure everyone felt welcome and seen. But this was OUR wedding day! I wanted it to be about US! So in one week time we made the decision to elope and did just that.

A month prior I had won a trip to Vegas from a radio contest to stay at the Cosmopolitan, meet Brad Paisley and attend the small pool party concert. We applied for our marriage license and packed our bags. Hired an officiant + photographer on the fly without much thought just knowing we wanted to get married! The morning of, we spent time getting ready together. We got little trinkets and coozies to remember the day. He helped me with my dress, I helped him with his tie. The officiant and photographer arrived and we said our vows on the balcony of the hotel. Afterwards we went around and got a few more photos then parted ways.

We changed and headed to a pool party concert with Brad Paisley. Got to meet him and have a great time at his concert. After the concert we hit the strip. I still to this day feel like I bonded more with my husband on those two days than I ever have. They were core memories I will never, ever forget.

A month later we received our photos, we got about 20 images with our package. I knew what we signed up for but I was definitely sad we didn’t have more. Those in between moments that I cherish so much never got documented. As the years went on I wished more and more that we had gotten more photos and I wish the small beautiful moments full of love and emotion were forever frozen. I’ll have to rely on my memory and hope they never fade.

If I got a chance to redo that day, I would have hired a photographer that would be a fly on the wall when we got ready, get those sweet moments, follow us to the concert, get photos on the strip all the belly laughs and little kisses. Document our love for each other.

This is what I want for you. This is a time of deep connection that may never be replicated. Traditional weddings are for the guests. Elopements are for the couple.