The days leading up to the wedding are often a blur: last minute details, family + friends coming to town, parties, errands, packing, etc. And in the midst of it all, how do you find time to spend with the one you’re about to make a life-long commitment to? Sure, some couples absolutely thrive off this energy, but Lauren + Brandon sought out just the opposite. The week prior to their elopement in Zion National Park was a quiet and meaningful time, leading up to a singular moment that meant everything. Lauren tells us:
We knew from the start that we wanted to make our elopement, first and foremost, about the two of us. The best way we accomplished this was by spending the week before our wedding alone together in the wilds of Utah. That week of hiking, camping, and driving through the state really centered us and brought to the forefront of our minds how special our bond is and why we wanted to marry. A week in the wilderness right before our elopement also meant we couldn’t fuss over any last minute details. Everything unfolded exactly as it should have, whether we planned it or not. And that in itself was a perfect reflection of who we are.
Katch Silva captured the heartfelt adventure and we’ve got her stunning photos below!
Memories + words…so sweet!
The Vows: Zion National Park
Saying our vows to one another. We both wrote vows in the months leading up to our elopement, and we kept polishing them throughout our Utah road trip, which culminated in our elopement in Zion. Brandon would stay up late writing, and I'd get up early to do the same. When it came time to say our vows, we were both so ready to say to each other exactly how we felt. We still remark on how, although written very differently, we made many of the same promises to each other.
Katch adds: Every single person present (all 10 of them including me), was in tears throughout their vows. I hear a lot of vows, being a wedding photographer, and I’m not the crying type. But for these vows, I was wiping away tears, trying to keep shooting. They’re both beautiful writers, and their words moved everyone.
Lauren said that the only music was the sound of the Virgin River in Zion…and a little boy was playing in the river nearby blowing a little whistle! So charmingly perfect.
Lauren twirled in a gorgeous gown by Truvelle which she found at The Sentimentalist Atlanta!
Don’t you just love these two?!
That darling headpiece is from one of our favorites, Twigs & Honey.
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So, so perfect.
After the Vows: The Grand Canyon
L + B hit up two national parks over the weekend! And a new location calls for a new dress — this lace-y wonder is by Leanne Marshall!
STUNNING shot by Katch!
Think critically about what is important to you. Prioritize those things, and leave the rest. If we had to pick the most important things to us (other than each other), it was a location we felt deeply connected to and a photographer (Katch Silva) whose work we greatly admired. Most of the choices you make with respect to details will fade over time, but the pictures won't.
What a beautiful weekend celebrating the love between these two! Sending all our congratulations to Lauren + Brandon!
photography: Katch Silva // venue name: Zion National Park + Grand Canyon National Park, Utah + Arizona, USA // planning: The Couple // wedding dress: Truvelle // wedding dress boutique: The Sentimentalist Atlanta // hairpiece: Twigs & Honey // bride's ring: Worthmore Jewelers // hair stylist: Bride's Sister // groom attire: Sid Mashburn Atlanta // groom's ring: Worthmore Jewelers // furniture rentals: rug at Zion from Shage Co // bride's shawl at zion: custom design from J.Noelle Design // bride's second dress: Leanne Marshall
Yes! Love them! Thanks for sharing! :)
Gorgeous couple, gorgeous location & gorgeous images ♥♥
Nice pics ! Good job Katch Silva :)