Skya and Brenton eloped at the Hamilton County Courthouse with just the two of them and myself, a Cincinnati elopement photographer. It was a short and sweet ceremony with the judge and then we adventured around the beautiful courthouse for more photos. The fun did not stop there as we headed to Findlay Market and Rhinegeist for more elopement activities.
What was the vision for your elopement?
Toying with the idea of a destination elopement, nothing seemed quite right until we mentioned Cincinnati; the stunning city we have both fallen in love with. We knew it was the perfect balance of getting away while still being wrapped in its cherished familiarity. The vibes of the city would fit with exactly what we were looking for.
Our vision was to have a cozy and intimate afternoon encapsulated in this big city. We wanted an authentic candid feel, truly going with the flow of the day. And because of the time of day, it felt like we had the city all to ourselves.
We had our ceremony appointment at the courthouse and after roamed the halls of the old building, exploring the eclectic nooks around each corner. We soon found our way toward Findlay Market in Over the Rhine in search of a sweet treat. Then we were off to a local brewery for a proper toast.
After our photo session we wandered around the city stumbling on art and pad Thai and gazebos. We followed where the city lead us and it was the most magical day we could have asked for.”
What did you choose as your elopement attire?
“I wanted to feel pretty with a dash of vintage intrigue, I love adding small unique elements that make you want to look again. And being comfortable was very important as well.
I scoured the internet for alternative and affordable wedding dresses. I found many, I returned a lot. In the end I fell in love with two, so that’s what I decided on.
My ceremony dress was the gorgeous Whimsical dress in white from Ivy City Co, a women owned, size inclusive dress brand I found on instagram. The layered tulle skirt is such a dream and the flutter sleeves fulfilled all my vintage pixie fantasies. The style did come fully lined but I admit I took scissors to the chest lining to add some spice. I regret nothing! My heels were from Asos, they carry so many wide fit styles that never fail me. Classy with a funky twist to give the look character.
And my second look, a stain sweater dress combo was from Anthropologie. White boots were an Amazon find.
Who says you can’t have a dress change for an elopement? Seriously, if you can’t decided, do both!
Brenton sported a pair of plaid dress pants from Men’s Warehouse and a cream turtleneck from ASOS. The rest of the pieces were recycled from his wardrobe.”
What were some of your favorite moments from the elopement?
“There were so many sweet little moments throughout our day. Here are a few.
-All the congratulatory honks and waves from passerby’s as we made our way up to the courthouse.
-Brenton tearing up during our vows
-Feeding each other cheesecake in the middle of the market -Rhinegeist pints in full wedding attire on a Tuesday afternoon
But my favorite funny moment of the day looked like this-
After we said “I do” we started running around the courthouse, goofing off, exploring and looking for good photo lighting. One of my favorites was getting our elevator pictures. We snapped a few, when our photographer suggested for us to go down a floor and come back up, striking a pose as the elevator doors reopened. Any pose we wanted. Brenton and I took this seriously, preparing our Charlie’s Angels finger guns when all of a sudden the elevator malfunctioned- lights flickering, carriage shaking, loud jack hammering all around us-
We were petrified! Clinging to each other thinking this was the end, when the doors slide back open
*Click*
Our photographer, Savannah Linn Photography, snapped the pic. We ran out, dying in laughter, relieved this wasn’t your first and last day of marriage. Excited to see the photos and the looks on our faces was an understatement. We did not disappoint haha!”
What was the most important to the two of you while planning your elopement?
“One of the most important things for us, other than creating this intimate time to enjoy each other and our love, was to make sure we documented it. We knew we would be the most comfortable doing our own thing without the pressures of big wedding expectations and formalities. But with that we wanted to make sure we could come back together with friends and family and be able to share our day with them through the storytelling of photos.
Investing in the right photographer who’s work mirrored our personalities and vibe was priority. And since it would be just Brenton, me, and our photographer running around the city, finding the right person to match our energy meant everything. We found that and so much more with Savannah! She felt like a friend the entire day and made us so relaxed in front of the camera. And you can see the breathtaking results!
Having these photo treasures to look back on means the world. We are so pleased with how it all turned out.”
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