a vegas elopement in polaroids

I dig all the photos from Stephanie & Micah's lovely little Vegas wedding (see more over on their travel blog), but the polaroids? OH MAN THE POLAROIDS. 

Expired polaroids slay me every time.

A few words from Stephanie:

So our little story goes like this...

We're both from Australia, have been together for 8 years and just recently returned to Melbourne after 15 months of overseas travel. We were never really interested in getting married, but now that I think about it, it was just that we never wanted a wedding. When we began planning our way back home to Melbourne, it felt very right to get married as a beautiful way to end the year long travel adventure we shared.

The idea to wed in Vegas honestly started out as something we'd kind of joke about. However after we discovered Gaby Jeter (our wonderful photographer) and realised that Vegas has some pretty charming aspects to it, we couldn't imagine being married anywhere else.

Organising a wedding/ elopement/ private ceremony, whatever you want to call it, in Vegas wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, and actually a bit of a nightmare at times. After reading countless online reviews about the infamous Vegas chapels, that we only imagined would be really cute and kitsch (so wrong), we saw a recurring theme of people being scammed, and we kinda didn't want to be scammed on our wedding day, you know?

Being able to choose our own celebrant and ceremony location helped to keep the level of Vegas tacky-ness pretty low. Because neither of us had ever been to Vegas before, we relied on Google maps to help us find photo locations (like the gorgeous Tod Motor Hotel featured in our pictures) and then Gaby would confirm if the colourful mid-century buildings we liked were still standing.

All in all, I can't recommend eloping enough (Vegas or not). It's incredibly romantic, it's fun, and you get to spend the whole day with your beloved prancing around in beautiful clothes with (maybe) the biggest secret you've ever kept. Then you get to call your family and friends back home and share the beautiful, happy news. Our parents and a couple of others did already know - couldn't quite do that to them!

Now that we're back home, we're having a little party to celebrate our marriage - minus any wedding stress. Just an opportunity to wear my dress again(!) and celebrate with our nearest and dearest.

- Stephanie & Micah


Dets on Stephanie's attire + her unanswered Dear ESB are over here if you missed em.

(POLAROIDDDDDDDDDS by Gaby Jeter)

look who didn't need any help

July 8, 2013

Dear ESB,

My boyfriend and I are eloping to Vegas in two months time and we're very excited! Before everyone shudders at the thought, we are getting married by an officiant in the desert under an old tree. We originally loved the idea of an old Vegas chapel, until we read all the terrifying reviews.

We have found a great photographer that takes photos only on film and are going to be taking some shots around various mid-century style locations in Vegas and also in the Nevada desert.

Because we are eloping nobody knows and therefore my sisters and girlfriends can't help me in terms of my outfit, makeup and hair. So I'm counting on the sisterhood of ESB - please help me!

This is my dress [pictured above] (except I will be wearing a white slip underneath). I know it's going to be boiling hot, but it's going to be hot regardless of what I wear.

My flowers are going to be a bunch of white daisies. These have been ordered already.

Now for the things I have no idea what to do:

I was thinking for shoes white, pointed heels, like this but where do I find something like this that doesn't cost the earth? Also open to other suggestions for shoes that don't look like this... (I don't like my toes however, so maybe no open-toe suggestions)

I have straight, medium length brown hair...any suggestions for a hair style? 

I've absolutely no idea.

And for make-up, I want to keep it all quite romantic and natural, no red lips.

Thank you in advance!!

- Secret bride

*****

Nov 11, 2013

How did you accessorize???

*****

Nov 11, 2013

hello :)

I wore white patent leather pumps by Marc Jacobs, Satomi Kawakita tiny pearl studs (from Catbird) and that was it!

I mean. THIS IS PERFECT, AMIRITE?

Photo by Gaby Jeter (with more to follow!)

Six Dresses to Run Away In

When I posted this lil Zara dress the other day, Jamie immediately emailed me to ask: want to post a whole round up of dresses for the runaway brides??

I said hell yeah!

(And then Amber, of Pitbulls and Posies, did this paste-up to complement the runaway inspiration board, which makes me feel very fancy.)

If you *kind of* want to elope, but you also *kind of* want rad wedding photos and live music and craft cocktails and a stylish little venue (and the thought of Vegas makes you gag) .... Why not head down to San Diego on May 26 and just get er done?

Wearing one of these dresses, obvs: 1 Zara (again) ($90), 2 Girl by Band of Outsiders ($370), 3 Reality Studio ($335), 4 Acne ($480), 5 Lindsey Thornburg ($2080), 6 Iris & Ink ($175)

Q: What is one kajillion x better than engagement photos?

A: Elopement photos!

When Meaghan wrote in with this wee update.....

Hey ESB,

I just wanted to give a big thank you to you and your readers for all the suggestions on my question about how to tell people once we'd eloped (especially whoever thought I was serious about the "news item" thing... amazing!).

We went the postcard route, and had a blast picking out cards, especially some of the weird ones we found in vintage stores (although we went with more traditional "I heart NY"-type ones for the famjam).

As for coworkers and local friends, we just told when it came up in conversation. A lot of people thought we were joking (which, let's be honest, that wouldn't be a particularly funny joke) but the rings convinced them. 

Overall, it was a great day. We wandered around with a photographer (whose services we had won a while back), drank coffee, and tried not to squint too much in the pictures.

I knew we had to see em.

Obvs.

Photos by Kateryn Silva (See tons more over here. NYC, I do miss you so.)

HERE'S A FUCKING ELOPEMENT FOR YOU

Since y'all gave Abby so much shit for calling her adorbs little wedding an elopement, Jamie thought you might like to see these pics.

These two eloped for real. No joke.

Here's what Kelly had to say to say about her sweet, quiet, lovely San Diego City Hall ceremony:

Tony and I had been talking about eloping since the day we met. Which was just 6 months ago. We kept talking about it, and finally, Tony decided to propose, twelve days before our ceremony. We found matching Frank Gehry bands, waited the nine days to pick them up in our sizes, and then scheduled an appointment at City Hall. This was on a Tuesday, our appointment was set for Thursday.

First! Before anything, all we really cared about having was a photographer there to document this special day for us. Our families live on opposite coasts, so we decided to just double our photographer as our witness to make it fair. And Jamie, from Rad + In Love, saved the day.

The day before our elopement, we found his outfit at H&M and my dress from Anthropologie.  Our Big Day was very normal, and no one knew we were getting married! We woke up, made breakfast with our two sons, dropped them off with Grandma, and met Jamie at The Pearl Hotel in San Diego to get ready.

Standing with just my Husband, a Judge, and Jamie was awesome. The quietness of us vowing our love to each other was unreal, I was so at peace!

Being married is SO fun. We are soo incredibly lucky to have had Jamie backing us up that day and document it for us. Our elopement was really for solidifying our love and commitment to each other, and I think the day portrayed that perfectly.

Photos by Jamie of Rad + In Love. (There are so many more beautiful photos over on their blog. Go check em out.)

Mountain wedding? Or Elopement? UPDATE (Plus a few tips on getting married in Vegas)

I feel like a creep just assuming you'd want an update, but I wanted to thank everyone for the advice and say that we're now married! 

The comments definitely made me realize that our ranch option was just as much work as a traditional wedding so we discussed a bit further and decided to get hitched in Vegas after our work conference.  We found a pretty little old ring for me on eBay. I found a dress online that I liked well enough, was in my size, and could be quickly delivered. My guy treated himself to an old-school barber shave at the hotel spa. It was all very simple, cost-effective, and private.

To anyone considering the same, I'll say that getting married in Vegas still isn't the easiest thing in the world. Some short lessons learned: 

Vegas chapels, especially the well known ones, seem to share the common elements of theme weddings, maroon carpet, faux columns, and plastic flowers. We wanted this to be quick and private, we did not want it to feel like The Hangover. 

Yelp reviews were massively helpful. We found a great looking chapel, but the comments repeatedly described it as a "casting call" where you waited outside in the heat for the bell to ring for your turn.

A Vegas courthouse wedding requires an appointment and that you bring your own witness. Since we were traveling alone and didn't want to grab someone off the street, we sadly ruled this option out. 

We ended up going for a bare-bones "Just Us" ceremony at our hotel. The hotel was helpful enough, we were able to write a custom ceremony for the officiant to perform, and we ended up laughing like our normal happy selves through the ceremony. All around, it was a perfect choice for us.

If you have other readers considering the Vegas option, I'd be happy to share more concrete information. It took hours of online research for us to make sense of the countless options available in Vegas.

Happily married without all the stress,

-Mr. & Mrs.

*****

We always want an update. Trust.

♥ ♥ ♥

Photo by Boo George

What do I get for my dad who just eloped?

Hi,

I wrote you a few months ago about a friend's wedding dress, and the suggestions were very useful (several readers called it when they said she'd wind up with a Jenny Packham). 

I've got another, unrelated question for you/your readers:

My dad eloped with his long-time partner (woman, for some reason I feel I should specify that.) He had indicated they would be getting married and that they would be having a ceremony with just the two of them. I assumed I would get a phone call beforehand telling me when it would be happening, but instead I got an email saying, "We're married!" 

We're having a party for his birthday in a few weeks that will be doubling as their "reception" and I'm wondering if I should be getting some sort of a gift for them both? What on earth does one get for one's father after he has eloped? Surely a KitchenAid Mixer or salad tongs aren't exactly appropriate (especially since he got those the first time around...) and please don't suggest nice sheets (shudder.)

Help?

Best,

Attempting to be adult about a very juvenile situation

*****

I need a little info about your dad:

1) City or Country?

2) Sweet or Savory?

2) Mac or PC?

4) Beethoven or Neil Young?

*****

Hm,

Country, savory, Mac, Neil Young (though Pink Floyd would be perhaps more accurate.)

*****

OMG I LOVE THIS GAME.

Obvs you should get them.....

The Wild Unknown Mirrored Prism from Catbird ($65)


Or.....

Sign up for shop updates from Herriott Grace and buy them a little salt bowl ($45 CDN) for good luck.

Mountain wedding? Or Elopement? Or?

Dear ESB,

My boyfriend and I recently moved from Detroit to very rural (like, very very rural) Wyoming to own and operate a small business. We uprooted our lives, moved crossed country, left our families, and own a business together so, yes, marriage is part of our plan.

Our issue - and the reason I come to you - neither of us care about the ring, the engagement period, the planning, the wedding. We just want to and plan to be married. I feel like we could navigate things were we interested in the traditional steps. Instead, we're in this limbo where marriage is the goal, but we can't figure out the right timing to jump into things.

Here are the scenarios we've discussed:

We're going to Vegas in a few weeks for a work trip. Let's do it there by ourselves. Very simple. Done.

Both sets of parents are coming to visit us later in the summer. Let's plan a small ceremony with them. This leaves out our grandmothers and siblings though. I can rationalize eloping, I don't feel great about inviting some family but not others.

We can rent a local ranch and invite our parents, siblings and their partners, grandmothers, and a few very close friends. The total number would be under 30 and we would pay for a long weekend of activities and lodging for everyone.

I previously come from a marketing/events background so we're capable of planning a big event, but its just so... ugh. Our family is largely drama free but I know the girls will do the "but you really need to (insert item here)!" bit when they find out that I don't have a diamond and don't want traditional dress and there's no bridal party. 

My mind honestly isn't made up yet. Tell me that we'll regret not having photos and that we'll regret rushing things. Tell me that small family drama turns into huge family drama and we should just elope in Vegas in three weeks. A part of me says this wedding isn't just about us, it's about our families and they deserve to participate so we owe them at least a ceremony.

-help

*****

If you don't want a wedding, DON'T HAVE A WEDDING.

Photo by Boo George via Celisse Müller

eloping this summer?

you should probs wear this with these.

I don't want to be selfish but....

Dear ESB,

I want to "elope" (everyone will know, they just aren't invited) to NYC and get married this September. We are about to move, the fiance is getting a new job, and while our parents have offered to pay for everything, we fear their inevitable psychosis once we actually get down to planning... For example, my mother was a little upset I didn't include my gynecologist on the preliminary guest list. 

More Hitches:

1) My fiance's parents might be (will be) a little perturbed should we elope, and while I don't particularly care, I feel like he will? I know he will do it for me but I feel bad asking. I honestly don't get people's hangups about actually seeing couples get married. Watching people BE married is so much more fun and dramatic. 

2) Will I regret it? There is a 50% chance this will be the only time I get married/have a wedding and I would just hate to have any regrets. Then again, if I had lots of cash I would just let someone else plan it, show up, and probably have the time of my life. So maybe I'm just being lazy. 

Basically, I'm not super excited about planning my wedding. I thought I might be, but I'm not. I think I was more excited about BEING married and got a little confused. I don't want to be selfish but I also don't want to compromise my needs. 

I hope you tell me that the day is all about me and to do what I want. 

P.S. I am meeting with my dressmaker soon for something simple, short, and on the inexpensive side. So at least I'll be stylish while I piss everyone off. 

- (Cant)elope

*****

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.

What about your fiance?

Does he want a wedding?

Being too lazy to plan the damn thing is not a compelling reason to elope.

Suzie Bird by Armin Morbach for Tush #27 via Fashion Copius

City Hall, NYC, Gay

(picture this outfit with sneakers)

(lose the t-shirt, add a pair of smokin heels)

Dear ESB,

Please help... my girlfriend and I are pseudo-eloping in about 6 weeks at NYC city hall after we decided to ditch 150+ guests wedding we thought we wanted. We are inviting our parents, siblings and our closest friend. I thought our wedding planning was over. 

Not so much -- Now we need to find a restaurant in lower Manhattan or Brooklyn to host 18 people for a late lunch with a party that includes a 2 yr old with food allergies, plus 2 school age kids, brother-in-laws that won't eat any "vegetable" beside corn, and a bride that hates stuffy/fancy/can't wear sneakers establishments.  

I have spent countless hours yelp-ing and surveying blogs but have come up with little. I am ashamed that after living in NYC for over 10 years I can't figure out where to take my family.

And we have not figured out exactly what to wear. My fiance's style is very androgynous while I am femme but hardly ever wear a dress. We are very anti-gender roles so any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!!

-Need to stop over thinking city hall

*****

1. Choose a restaurant that you both love. Put some cheerios in a tupperware container for the 2-year-old. Let everyone else suffer. SERIOUSLY. (ESPECIALLY YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW.)

2. OMIGOD LESBIANS. You know you're just gonna wear what you always wear anyway, so why do you put me through the misery??

Zara Buttoned Blazer + Asymmetrical Studio Blazer cribbed from the comments over here.

Emma + Tim run away to city hall

You guys, it's a write-up from THE GROOM:

Emma and I met each other in our mid-20s. We didn't grow up together, but we grew into adults together. Being an adult can be serious business, and we've come to recognise that part of what makes a relationship successful is to know when to be focused on the mundanity of life and when to embrace your whimsy let yourself be spontaneous.

That moment presented itself to us about nine months before our wedding day. We had been planning a straightforward wedding up to that point and had begun to feel that we weren't doing justice to the love we share. During a long discussion as we drove through the countryside near where we live, Emma remarked, "We should just run away and get married at City Hall in New York." We initially laughed and shrugged off the idea. Twenty four hours later, we were breaking the news to our family that we were eloping.

In retrospect, going halfway around the world to be married is an apt analogy for our relationship. It was an unforgettable adventure, punctuating the unforgettable adventure Emma and I had been on in the preceding six and a half years as we carved our our lives together. Much as we wanted to celebrate our nuptials with friends and family, there would be time for that we we returned; on our wedding day, there was only one person I wanted to be with and see happy.

We met with our photographer, Monica, on the morning of the wedding at City Hall. Thanks to East Side Bride, Emma had discovered Hart + Sol photography, who are based out of Brooklyn. We were secretly a little nervous about the idea of having a photographer there with us on the day, but we needn't have been. Monica took amazing photos, but more than that, her kind words and encouragement helped make a morning that might have otherwise been overrun by the stiff bureaucracy of City Hill a warm and gentle experience. Monica's photos captured the sincere and unfettered happiness in the expressions on our faces, in a way that I've never seen in Emma and I before. It's impossible to imagine the day without Monica there to help us focus and reflect on on the importance of that moment.

After the ceremony, Emma and I walked the High Line together as a gentle rain fell, had a wonderful candle-lit dinner on the Lower East Side, and then watched The Rosebuds play an intimate set at the Bowery Ballroom. A few days later we shipped out to London to visit friends, then continued our adventures in Paris and Berlin.

Emma and I were always going to fall in love with New York City -- it was wonderful to fall further in love with each other because of New York City.

So what if they didn't take Matt up on any of his restaurant recommends?

♥