L & G's Elopement turned Micro-Wedding at Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard, Charlottesville VA

What happens when word gets out about your elopement? Sometimes it turns into a wedding at Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard — and somehow, it ends up feeling even more intimate than the original plan.

When L and G first reached out, the vision was simple: the two of them, their immediate families, and a city park. But as the weeks went on and the news traveled, the celebration grew naturally. A venue replaced the park. A guest list formed. Food was ordered. What could have felt overwhelming instead felt organic — like everyone was just leaning in to support them. Elopements are beautiful in their intimacy, but there’s something equally special about a microwedding that comes together because your people care that much.

L kept me in the loop through every update, and we talked through each shift as it happened. No matter how much the logistics evolved, they protected the heart of the day. Before guests arrived, L and G stood together in front of Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard and shared private vows.

It was beautiful to watch the community of love around these two.

Wedding photography is gorgeous and chaotic and high-stress and constantly shifting. But it’s days like this (sun shining, moms crying, friends rushing to finish an arch and scatter petals) that remind me why I love this job. I'm preserving the invisible connection between people, and that's what matters.

Looking for a wedding photographer? You might have just found one. ;) Inquire now.