When Anna & Axel approached me to capture their intimate elopement in Durham I was ecstatic.

These two met in a lunch line, during grad school orientation. A chance encounter.
Axel asked is she was hungry, and it was love at first apple.
The’ve been together for five years and have a love for the outdoors, their dog Ceiba, their cat Misty, food, baking, movies, and snuggling on the couch.

They knew they wanted a forest fantasy wedding, with the river in the background. Unfortunately the day of their wedding it was calling for heavy rains, but this didn’t deter Anna and Axel. They embraced the rain, sharing a first look underneath warm coats and umbrellas. Since they couldn’t have their ceremony by the river, they had a lovely ceremony with a San San Kudo, a Japanese wedding ceremony tradition.

Afterwards they celebrated their reception at Vin Rouge, one of my favorite reception spaces in Durham, welcoming friends and family. My favorite part of their wedding was the incorporation of games that allowed for all guests to come together and get to know one another. Family also shared intimate speeches about the couple and one honored guest even traveled from Turkey to be there.

It was such a pleasure getting to photograph this wedding.