A Kauai, Hawai’i elopement
Unique. Intimate. Stunning.
The morning began as all tropical mornings should: slowly and with mimosas. I had approached my dear friends, Morgan and Dawson, about modeling an elopement when we booked our trip to Hawai’i together. I had a vision for a vast coastal landscape highlighting a one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony and stayed scouting during the first few days of our trip. A couple of days before the actual elopement, when driving the perimeter of the island, we had come across a dramatic view of dark rocks and waves crashing against them, a jungle-filled walk down to a private and secluded beach, seemingly undisturbed by crowds. I instantly knew I wanted to capture this special moment there. We dropped a pin anxious to return for the elopement.
Knowing we would be shooting as the sunset and entering into blue hour, we spent the day relaxing, buying bouquets of native Hawaiian flowers at a local farmers market and cracking jokes about how Morgan was once again a bride. There was no hurry to the day, no anxiety that often accompanies weddings, and the generalized joy of a new experience. We returned to the Air B&B to get ready for the “ceremony” while drinking a glass of wine and watching Lilo and Stitch. I was humming with excitement simply for the joy of shooting and the anticipation of making a vision I had held for a long time come to life.
We piled in the car, grabbed our swimsuits and extra towels, and headed for the beach. The lighting had chosen the perfect moment to make its golden debut as Morgan, Dawson, and Cooper (my boyfriend, turned model officiant) scrambled down towards the coastline. Yelling over the soothing yet deafening sound of the crashing waves, I directed them to face each other and “get married”. Although they were already married and this elopement was simply for my benefit, Dawson and Morgan’s love for one another made the moment surprisingly intimate, calm, quiet, and full of unwavering love. Although staged it was real and not at all forced, their feelings for each other triumphing over all “fakeness”. From the coastal rocks, we walked through a heavily wooded path down to the beach, feeling as though we were in another world. On the beach we posed for some intimate couple portraits, highlighting gentle touch, the waves, and the emotions of an elopement. In this world, it was just them, and me, clicking away. As the sunset, we traded our “wedding attire” for swimsuits and spend the night swimming, singing, and drinking wine on the beach, the perfect end to the perfect day.
