Warning: lots of photos ahead. Sorry not sorry.
I’ve known Elliot since high school, but we didn’t become close friends until our first year of college. We ended up bonding in our art classes, learning how to draw in charcoals and inks, and as he was rapidly growing as an (amazing) artist, I was still that weirdo carrying the camera around 24/7 (the one thing I can say didn’t change after high school ended). And lord, did I take a lot of pictures of Elliot. It was so easy to do – along with our dear friend Trista, we were going on all kinds of adventures and growing together, celebrating in that narrow valley between no-longer-a-high-school-kid and not-quite-a-real-adult. A year in, Elliot went off to Grand Rapids, and I headed hundreds of miles away in the opposite direction to Chicago.
Flash forward to 2018. Elliot and his amazing fiancé Zac are getting married in Sherwood Forest, where Electric Forest Festival is held every year. The two of them have so many special memories at this festival, on these grounds, in these very cabins – it would have been foolish to get married anywhere else; they were even attending the festival the morning of June 25th 2015, when they woke up and read the news that they could legally get married. They brought their adorable pups along and made sure they had the appropriate bowtie attire for the occasion. Friends brewed beer and brought their dogs, too (keep an eye out for the cutest white pup with one eyebrow and a pink heart nose – you’re welcome). They opted out of all traditional first looks and instead got ready together, which I absolutely adore – this is the future, people – with their whole die hard squad in tow. Their ceremony was surrounded by incredibly supportive, validating love from every angle. Even though it was late April and there was still snow on the ground, with a bit of chill in the air and a little bit of mud, the party was not to be stopped – they showed no signs of slowing down come 1:00 a.m. And there was champagne. A lot of champagne.
Tomorrow, they’re heading out for their honeymoon across Europe. Be safe, lads; I’ll need lots of pictures! I loved making these photos for them and I hope I’ve done their amazing day justice. These two are super super special to me. I’m crossing my fingers for more weddings like this in the future. Truly a perfect day.
