DIY Elopement St. Louis | Destination Wedding Photographer
Jasmine and James Wedding day was the epitome of a DIY Elopement. Last minute, Jasmine and James were forced to make the tough decision between keeping their original wedding date or postponing to 2021, a struggle many other couples have faced over the last few months. The decision came easy to the couple though, they could postpone their party another year but their love? No that could not wait!
Planning a DIY Elopement sounds simple right? Yes and No. In the state of a majority of the United States right now a chunk of businesses are shut down and the uncertainty of places like tailor shops, hair and makeup artists, vendors to cater the event, etc are up in the air. They could be available one moment for couples and then be ordered to shut down the next day. While normally planning a DIY Elopement can be a cinch, these days it takes a bit of prep to make your day stress free!
James and Jasmine made planning their DIY Elopement less of a stress to them by having family and friends assist in the Wedding day duties. Jasmine’s mother spent weeks altering her dress by hand as tailor shops in the area had been closed with no sign of opening anytime soon. James and Jasmine’s mothers spent the days leading up to the wedding arranging florals by hand, setting up the family home for the Elopement and preparing care bags for guests. The care bags included a handmade mask with a sewn heart from Jasmine’s dress material that was left over, some water and utensils for dinner so that any germs would be kept to a minimum. The care bags were such a sweet and thoughtful touch, we could hear guests raving about them all afternoon!
Originally, the pair had planned an incredible wedding at a local art venue in Downtown St. Louis. This was the perfect choice for them as Jasmine is a violin artist and James is a videographer, art plays a huge part in their lives together and they wanted something that represented that in their Wedding day. While Covid-19 may have closed their venue down, the couple was able to snag some gorgeous photos from The Last Hotel that were able to bring the modern artsy feel they wanted. The Last Hotel was filled with elegant modern fixtures and paintings that would make any DIY Elopement a dream.
From The Last Hotel, we ran through the streets of Downtown St. Louis. Jasmine and James actually took their Engagement Photos in downtown as well, the wedding photos here were only fitting! The couple expressed their love for the city and mentioned how important a few shots of the current state of St. Louis would be in their gallery. Masks on, boarded buildings and a Global Pandemic, their love trumps it all. Being a Destination Wedding Photographer, we see a lot of different wedding events but this one takes the cake for how they truly embraced the chaos. Jasmine and James shared handwritten vows privately in a lush green park downtown before heading to Jasmine’s parents home for an intimate ceremony.
James and Jasmine kept their DIY Elopement sentimental by having their church pastor officiate their ceremony, hiring a fellow violin artist to play as she walked down the aisle and inviting only their closest family and friends. A Facebook live was set to record and play live for guests who wanted to tune in and could not make the day because of the virus. The couple even included time for a short drive by reception where guests could come by and send love or deliver a small gift to the couple. Jasmine and James Elopement shows that you can do it yourself and still have a wonderful wedding.
Planning an Elopement? Read a few tips here!
