When Laura first reached out to me, she said something along the lines of, “We want to get married just the two of us, and we want to do it out in nature, and I know you’re the perfect person for it.”
Honestly, this made my heart swell! Whenever people associate me with nature and elopements, you know I am alllll in.
These two got hitched at an Airbnb just outside of Richmond called Stay Namu, and they were so kind and accommodating! The property is lined with trees, and the house is perfectly cozy for a laid-back elopement. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, and because everything you need is right on property.
Getting Ready Together: A Little Elopement Pro Tip
They got ready together in the master bedroom, and it was so calm. Seriously. Zero stress, no activated nervous systems. Just complete presence.
It is so sweet and tender to watch couples get ready together. While I totally understand the desire to be apart to have the big reveal moment of the dress and tux (that's what I opted for!), I really do think it's underrated.
It is so grounding to have your partner there with you. After all, that's who you get ready with every day anyways! You are just in each other's energy field, and that can be calming.
So, pro tip: if you're stressed about getting ready for your elopement or your wedding, consider just getting ready with your partner! It can make the lead up that much more calming.
A Woodland Ceremony Under the Crepe Myrtle
They got married on a Sunday afternoon, under a blooming crepe myrtle tree, while a thunderstorm was on the way. Honestly, this screams Virginia!
We spent some time soaking up the post-ceremony giggles. Laura's one request was to twirl around in her dress, and we put on "A Thousand Years" for a sweet little first dance moment under the woodland environment.
Very whimsical. Very Twilight. I am very into it as a Twi-hard myself! It was giving hoa hoa hoa season.
And honestly, what better setting for a little woodland wedding moment?
Moody Photos, Rainy Afternoon & All the Little Moments
When the rain finally started showing up, we headed inside to just hang out while I got some candids of them, details, and I also became very inspired by the hallway light and shot some very moody photos on film, which are still my favorite to this day!
I love that their day wasn't about rushing from one thing to the next. They got to be together, enjoy their space, have their little ceremony, dance under the trees, and then settle inside when the rain rolled in.
This is one of my favorite things about elopements. You have so much room to let the day unfold naturally. You don't have to follow a traditional wedding timeline or worry about entertaining a room full of guests. You can just get married and enjoy being married.
Planning Your Own Virginia Woodland Elopement?
If you are considering a Virginia woodland elopement, I highly recommend checking out this Airbnb, Stay Namu, picking an afternoon that works for you two, and spending the day getting ready and just being in each other's company.
You can find Stay Namu here.
And if you're looking for an elopement photographer, I would love to connect with you here!
I'm a Richmond, Virginia elopement and lifestyle photographer who loves documenting the wild, real, and wonderfully imperfect parts of your story. I photograph with both digital & film photography. Whether you're planning an intimate woodland ceremony, traveling across the coast or something completely unique, I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.
