Sometimes the most perfect weddings are the ones you never originally planned.
When the world turned upside down in 2020, couples everywhere faced impossible choices about their wedding plans. Amanda and Alex had been quietly planning their big celebration when COVID-19 hit, but instead of letting uncertainty steal their joy, they made a decision that changed everything.
They chose to elope – and it became the most perfectly “them” day I’ve ever had the honor to film.
When Plans Change, Love Adapts
Amanda and Alex were sitting on a big secret. They were engaged and planning a wedding, but then the pandemic hit and they silently started working on another plan. While the world felt chaotic and uncertain, these two beautiful women found clarity in simplicity.
Their pivot wasn’t born from disappointment – it was born from heart. They realized that what they truly wanted wasn’t a big party, but a day that genuinely reflected their story and the life they’d built together.
Creating an Elopement That Tells Your Real Story
Instead of trying to recreate their original wedding plans on a smaller scale, Amanda and Alex designed something entirely different. They wanted their day filled with their favorite things – the places and moments that actually made up their relationship.
Their elopement included:
The beautiful home they built together – Starting the day where their everyday love lives, getting ready in the space they created as a couple
Their sweet pup – Because family is family, and he’s been part of their story from the beginning
Their favorite park for the ceremony – A place that held meaning for them, not just a pretty backdrop
Downtown Hollywood haunts – The spots where their relationship began and deepened over time
This approach created something so much more meaningful than any venue could offer: a day that was genuinely, authentically them.
The Beauty of an Unscripted Day
One of my favorite things about Amanda and Alex’s elopement was how organic it felt. We didn’t have a rigid timeline or formal photo list. Instead, we let the day unfold naturally.
While they had their makeup and hair done, I wandered between rooms, collecting the scenes that make up their everyday life. I watched their pup curiously follow them around, wondering what the heck his moms were up to. I heard the stories they told about each other – their eyes saying more than any words could express.
This unscripted approach created space for real moments to happen. No one was performing or posing. They were just being themselves, celebrating their love in the most authentic way possible.
Why Location Hopping Works for Florida Elopements
Unlike traditional weddings that happen in one or two locations, Amanda and Alex’s day took us to multiple meaningful spots throughout their city. This “location hopping” approach offers unique advantages:
Each place tells part of their story – From their home to the park to their favorite neighborhood spots
It feels like a real day together – More like an amazing date than a formal event
Natural transitions create authentic moments – The in-between times often produce the most genuine interactions
It honors your actual relationship – You’re celebrating in the places where your love actually lives
The Sacred in the Everyday
What struck me most about filming Amanda and Alex was how they found the sacred in completely ordinary moments. Getting ready at home, walking their dog, visiting their favorite spots – these weren’t just locations for photos. They were the building blocks of their shared life.
As their filmmaker, my role was to witness and honor these everyday sacred moments. Not to create drama or manufacture emotion, but to see the beauty in what already existed between them.
The result was a film that feels less like a wedding video and more like a love letter to their real life together.
Practical Tips for Planning Your Own Last-Minute Elopement
If you’re inspired by Amanda and Alex’s approach, here are some things that made their day so special:
Start with what matters most to you as a couple – Not what you think an elopement “should” look like
Include your pets or family members who are truly important – Don’t leave out the beings who are part of your story
Choose locations that have actual meaning – Your favorite coffee shop beats a random park every time
Keep the timeline flexible – Allow space for spontaneous moments and natural flow
Focus on each other, not the cameras – The best footage comes from couples who are genuinely present with each other
Tell your vendors what you’re really hoping to capture – Help them understand your vision so they can support it
Working with the Right Team
Amanda and Alex’s day succeeded because they chose vendors who understood their vision. Their team included:
- Chelsea Erwin Photography – A photographer who captures authentic moments beautifully
- Oli Flor – Florals that enhanced rather than overshadowed their natural style
- Ceremonies by Kat – An officiant who honored their love story personally
- Myself as their filmmaker – Someone who sees elopements as sacred ceremonies, not just smaller weddings
When you’re planning an intimate celebration, your vendor team becomes even more important. You need people who understand that you’re creating something meaningful, not just throwing a smaller party.
The Power of Pivoting with Purpose
What I loved most about Amanda and Alex’s story was that their elopement wasn’t Plan B – it became Plan Perfect. By pivoting with intention rather than just reacting to circumstances, they created something that served their love better than their original plans ever could have.
Their day reminds me why I’m passionate about elopement filmmaking. When couples choose authenticity over expectation and meaning over spectacle, magic happens. The resulting films don’t just document an event – they capture the essence of a love story.
For Couples Considering Their Own Pivot
Whether you’re dealing with unexpected circumstances or just realizing that a big wedding doesn’t feel right for you, Amanda and Alex’s story offers beautiful proof that changing your plans doesn’t mean compromising your dreams.
Sometimes the most perfect celebrations are the ones you never originally planned. Sometimes pivoting leads you exactly where you were meant to be.
If you’re considering your own intimate celebration – whether it’s a response to circumstances or simply what feels right for your love – trust that instinct. Your love story deserves to be celebrated in whatever way honors it best.
The Film That Resulted
I’ll let Amanda and Alex’s film speak for itself, because nothing I could write would do it justice really. What I can say is that their elopement created a visual love letter that perfectly captures who they are together – not who they thought they should be for a wedding, but who they actually are in their real, beautiful, everyday life.
The footage shows their genuine laughter, their comfortable intimacy, their sweet pup being adorably confused by all the activity, and the easy joy of two people celebrating exactly as themselves.
That’s what happens when you design a day that truly serves your love story.
Thinking about planning your own authentic elopement or intimate celebration? I’d love to talk about how we might capture your real love story, whatever that looks like.
Planning your own meaningful elopement? Whether you’re pivoting from bigger plans or choosing intimacy from the start, let’s talk about creating a day that genuinely honors your unique love story.
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