Some clients just stick with you — and Sabrina is one of them.
I first worked with Sabrina last year during one of my vintage-inspired mini session days. I had created this sweet little setup with a table and chairs that were actually passed down to me after my great-grandparents passed away. I styled the scene with delicate décor, soft tones, and even baked a cake topped with figs to match the aesthetic. It was romantic, nostalgic, and full of character.
Sabrina had booked that session as a birthday gift to herself — something she told me she does every year. She brought her sweet little girl puppy along, and it ended up being one of my favorite sessions from the entire day. There was something so effortless and confident about the way she showed up for herself.
So when she messaged me at the beginning of 2026 asking if I was available to photograph her elopement on February 21st, I was honestly so honored. I’ll be transparent — I hesitated for a moment. The elopement was scheduled for 2 p.m., and my stepfather’s surprise birthday celebration was that same day at 5 p.m. I went back and forth in my mind trying to weigh everything. But in my heart, I knew I wanted to say yes. Alice Park was only about 10 minutes away, and I knew I could make it work. So I did.
The morning of the elopement, I woke up to a full-blown thunderstorm. And not the cute, misty kind — the loud, dramatic kind. I kept refreshing the weather app and every time it said it would stop… and it didn’t. I finally messaged Sabrina and asked if they had a contingency plan or if we were just rolling with it.
Personally, I’ve always believed that rain on a wedding day can be incredibly romantic. There’s something powerful about saying “forever” no matter the weather — rain, shine, thunderstorm, whatever comes your way. Maybe that’s just the hopeless romantic in me. Sabrina simply said they were going to run with it.
Thankfully, around late morning, the storm finally passed and the sun came out. The ground at Alice Park was still very wet (that park gets especially squishy after rain), but it didn’t stop a thing.
I arrived around 2 p.m. and met Sabrina’s family first — her mom was incredibly kind. Shortly after, Justin arrived with his parents, and we immediately began portraits before the ceremony. The elopement itself was short, intimate, and incredibly sweet.
This is one of the reasons I truly love elopements. With smaller gatherings, it’s easier to capture genuine reactions. I’m not navigating around 100+ guests trying to find angles or avoid heads in the background. Instead, I get to focus on emotion — the subtle smiles, the quiet tears, the hand squeezes. It allows for a deeper storytelling experience.
Sabrina and Justin’s bride and groom portraits were absolutely stunning. I always tell my couples that I love natural light, greenery, and outdoor settings — and Alice Park delivers on that. The park has so much character, from its lush greenery to the antique-style galvanized benches tucked into bush-lined areas. We captured some incredible images there. There’s even a fountain that would have been breathtaking if it had been turned on — but honestly, the soft post-rain glow and fresh greenery more than made up for it.
Overall, it was such a joy to work with them. Sabrina has now allowed me to document multiple chapters of her life, and being trusted in that way never gets old.
And just like that, Sabrina and Justin’s elopement became my first official wedding of 2026 — and what a beautiful way to start the year.
