i’ve always joked, “The wedding industry traumatized me from ever wanting a big wedding.” While that statement is partially true, what I really meant by it was how disheartening it is to see so many brides planning their wedding days solely for the photos they want to get back. So many times, I’ve heard brides say, "I loved my day, but it wasn’t what social media portrays.” And to be brutally honest? I agree. There’s this pressure to create a picture-perfect day for the ‘Gram, a day that looks perfect but sometimes feels more about the performance than the moment.
I wanted none of that. If I was going to do this once, I wanted it to be our day, not one dictated by everyone else's expectations or what wedding trends said we should do. Ever since I was a little girl, I never dreamed about a wedding. Truthfully, I never could envision myself getting married—not because I didn’t feel worthy, but because I never obsessed over the idea. I didn’t imagine a big celebration or dream of walking down the aisle. I promise, it’s not as sad as it sounds! Lol. But when Shane and I got engaged, I sat with myself and realized that a big wedding wasn’t what my heart desired. What I wanted was a day that didn’t look like the ones I saw on social media.
I wanted a day that felt real, raw, and deeply personal. A day where Shane and I could get ready together, just like we do every other day, without the stress of separate rooms or a team of people rushing us. A day where we could cook breakfast together (his favorite thing) and start our morning the way we always do—quiet, connected, and centered around our faith.
So when we decided to elope, we knew we wanted it to be exactly how we envisioned. Not based on what’s “supposed” to happen, but based on what felt true to us.
For our wedding day, Shane and I decided to get ready together—it just felt like the most natural choice. I’ve been doing my own hair and makeup for as long as I can remember (huge shoutout to my mom for teaching me the ropes), so I knew I wanted to handle that myself. Also, a huge thank you to Estee Lauder—brides, if you’re doing your own makeup, their foundation is a game-changer! I can’t recommend it enough.
Yes, Shane and I both wore silk pajamas. I chose a silk dress with delicate lace details, while Shane kept it simple with a plain silk set. I absolutely loved this shared, intimate moment before everything started.
Once we were ready, we had our Bible time together. For months leading up to our wedding, we’d been reading through "The Good and Beautiful Bible Study" each morning, so continuing that tradition on our wedding day felt incredibly meaningful. We prayed, read, and reflected on what we’d learned. It set such a peaceful tone for the day.
Afterward, Shane made us one of our favorite breakfasts—gluten-free pancakes and bacon. We made enough so our vendor team, who had been with us all day, could join us at the table. Including them in this small but special moment was important to us, and honestly, it was one of the highlights of the day. It felt so right to share such a beautiful, intimate start to our wedding day with the people who were helping us capture it.
