Golden Gardens Elopement | Toni & Anneke

Like many couples who are currently engaged, getting married in the time of Covid leaves you with a few options: 1) cancel and plan for next year or 2) elope and have a few friends witness your day, from afar and via zoom. I’m sure there are other alternatives but these seem to be the two most common solutions. All that to say, it’s a big decision and one that comes with many painful concessions regardless.

When Toni contacted me earlier this spring to say that they wanted to change plans and elope in Ballard, with only a handful of friends and her parents who would drive up from their quarantined bubble, I was elated. I knew the choice was a difficult one to make, with so many friends and family members being out-of-state, and to ask me to remain apart of the day was an absolute honor.

The ceremony and reception took place on a Wednesday afternoon in Golden Gardens, Seattle - where part of our engagement shoot had been conducted. The weather was warm and there was a lightness in the air. When I got there, Toni and Anneke were setting blankets up for each couple to rest in a socially distant manner. They left a bottle of champagne and two flutes, and ran off to change into their wedding dresses. Toni’s parents set up the rest and there was a beautiful cake waiting to be shared as well. Once the ladies were ready, we took a walk around the park for some photos of them and Toni’s parents - until finally, the ceremony started.

Toni’s dad officiated and started the speech off with a moment of silence to observe the lives that had been lost and the pain of our Black American community. He then read outloud speeches from both Toni and Anneke’s brothers, who were not in attendance, and the ladies said their vows. 15 minutes later, these two were officially married! Champagne was popped, cake was cut and guests took turn giving speeches and honoring the love that had brought us all together.

I took each couple off to have a quick socially distant portrait session with the brides and before I knew it, the day had ended.

It was a beautiful and meaningful elopement, especially at a time when all of our hearts are breaking and history is being written everyday. To give us a reason to feel joy and hope is a gift that all of us needed more than we realized.

Happy wedding, Toni and Anneke. <3