These two lovely ladies eloped recently and although they didn’t call me to cover the actual ceremony (which I absolutely could do!) I was thrilled that they wanted me to commemorate their wedding with a short photo shoot to celebrate their love! Planning an LGBTQ+ wedding adds an extra layer of complexity, making sure your vendors are people who are supportive and kind, and I know that it was a relief to them to find a photographer who wasn’t just able to photograph them but was excited about it!
Planning your elopement
When you begin planning your ceremony and how you want to celebrate the union with your partner, there are some beginning questions that you can ask:
- Who do you want to witness your marriage ceremony? there are no wrong answers here, you can choose a small, tight knit circle of supportive family members and friends, or you can choose to keep it very intimate with only the two of you there
- Do you want to be indoors? There are a number of indoor small space options available for elopements and small scale ceremonies! Some of my favorites include the Mercantile Library, The Church AirBNB (which is also a LGBTQ+ owned company) or a private room at any of a number of beautiful photo studios in the area. If you are close to Dayton, Gem City Kitchy is a great Vegas inspired event space that caters to small scale weddings. Of course, there’s also the ever popular option of the courthouse or town hall!
- Do you prefer to be outside? Outdoor ceremonies are probably my favorite for a number of reasons. Cincinnati parks like Ault Park pictured in this post are popular. I’ve photographed elopements along the banks of the Little Miami and inside the treehouse at Mt Airy forest as well. And if you are up for some travel, I’m absolutely game! I’ve photographed elopements in Hocking Hills and Red River Gorge and I’m happy to travel with you to a special location of your dreams anywhere!
- Who do you want to officiate? My FAVORITE officiant for small weddings (and queer weddings in general) is Dudeist Ministers – Jon is amazing! Of course with an elopement, you are free to select anyone who is licensed in Ohio.
If you are considering eloping or having a small micro wedding, please give me a call and we can discuss how I can capture those special memories for you! Mischief and Laughs Photography is proud to support and celebrate weddings of all types, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
