As a fine art photographer who specializes in weddings, this would typically be my longest “Best of” post from an entire year of nuptials. But, we all know how 2020 was for the wedding industry with the presence of COVID! I only had the honor of documenting two of my originally scheduled “big” weddings for the season; the rest were ultimately postponed or cancelled due to the virus. The upside was, this allowed for an open schedule to capture more elopements!

Throughout 2020, I photographed more elopements than I had in my entire career! In the Washington, DC wedding industry, these just weren’t a super popular choice among most couples. Luckily, the district has never been short of gorgeous architecture, which provided a stunning backdrop for clients looking to elope. By far, the most popular location choice has been the DC War Memorial — it’s like a mini Jefferson Monument that allows small ceremonies on National Parks Service property. It’s only a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, so the idea that you can combine all these iconic locations in on small area is appealing to those from the area.

Of course, it’s not the only area in the city to elope! Many cathedrals and churches were still open to those looking to wed, as well as some of the small parks throughout the city. It kept the year fresh and interesting as well all adapted to a new way of living! I, for one, certainly hope that outdoor weddings and these smaller affairs are here to stay… I’ll always enjoy the grand celebrations, but the intimate ones are a wonderful complement!

Thank you to all the sweet couples who allowed me to document this time in your lives! Hopefully the next time we all get together, we can skip the masks and indulge in extra hugs to make up for the ones we missed on your big day!