Elyssa explains

Engagements

The Kivii Life

Weddings

Blog Party

welcome to the

Weddings

June 27, 2020

Nerdy Raleigh Same-Sex Elopement

Two brides strike a fun pose at their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC

Liz & Rikki’s nerdy Raleigh same-sex elopement

Y’all. The bar has officially been set as high as I’ve ever seen it for custom nerdy wedding ceremonies. At this awesome, colorful, nerdy same-sex elopement, Liz & Rikki vowed to protect one another from orcs and weeping angels. And to be one another’s Companion through space and time. It took literally all of my power to not say “best ceremony ever” every five seconds. Liz & Rikki’s love for Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings (and other fandoms), combined with the spectacular officiating skills of Magical Weddings by Carly made for the perfect (albeit masked) elopement ceremony.

These two ladies were supposed to get married in May during a big summer camp themed affair at cabins in the mountains. But as we all know, things went a little off track this spring and that big wedding got postponed. But they wanted to go ahead and elope to tie the knot anyway. So they enlisted me and Carly to document and make it official, respectively. 

We all met at Lake Crabtree Park on a gorgeous Friday afternoon, and I was thrilled to see their pup Luna in tow. Rikki’s parents acted as dog-wrangler, lighting assistants, and ceremony witnesses, with Liz’s parents facetiming in from out of state. Thank goodness for technology right?

We started with portraits in and around a garden near the front of the park:

two brides walking with their dog and colorful wedding bouquets two brides smile on the day of their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC. One bride wears a long white dress, the other wears white pants, and a pink blazer.

They did those bouquets themselves!!! Harris Teeter flowers and DIY skills FTW. 

Portrait of a relaxed bride on her wedding day. She wears a long sleeve, white lace dress and carries a colorful bouquet. Portrait of the bride on her wedding day. She wears white pants and a pink blazer. two brides smile on the day of their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC. One bride wears a long white dress, the other wears white pants, and a pink blazer. two brides smile on the day of their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC. One bride wears a long white dress, the other wears white pants, and a pink blazer.

I absolutely adored how smiley both of them were all day!! It is such a privilege and an honor to be around so much joy for MY JOB. <<cries tears of happiness>>

A same-sex couple laugh and hold hands as they run through a garden A same-sex couple laugh and hold hands as they run through a garden At a same-sex elopement, two brides hug one another Two women walk hand in hand through the woods with their dog. It's their wedding day.

After a brief foray into a trail (sorry about the mosquitos!!!) we headed over to the ceremony spot Liz had scoped out earlier in the week and met up with Carly. 

Portrait of two brides at their wedding ceremony location

Liz, Rikki, Carly, and I all wore our masks while we were closer together during the ceremony. I’ve invested in quite a few at this point. 

Two brides stand in front of a wedding officiant. All three wear masks to help prevent the spread of covid19. Magical Weddings by Carly performs a hand-fasting ceremony for two brides during their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC

Carly led the couple through a handfasting ceremony…

Magical Weddings by Carly performs a hand-fasting ceremony for two brides during their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC Magical Weddings by Carly performs a hand-fasting ceremony for two brides during their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC

… and the above-referenced nerdy vows.

Same-sex elopement wedding ceremony in Raleigh, NC

Luna chilled while her moms got married. And meanwhile, one cellphone was working to record the ceremony, while the another was occupied with facetiming Liz’s parents. 

The brides' dog rests next to the small, intimate wedding ceremony

Even with their mouths covered, you could see the emotion clearly in Liz & Rikki’s eyes. So. Much. Love.

A bride in a mask tears up as she looks at her partner during their same-sex elopement Bride wears a mask during an intimate elopement wedding after their big wedding was postponed due to Covid19 Same-sex elopement wedding ceremony by Raleigh wedding photographers Kivus & Camera. The officiant is Magical Weddings by Carly

After an exchange of rings, Carly said “you may remove your masks and kiss!” Huzzah!!!

two brides remove their masks and kiss to finalize their same-sex elopement during Covid19 Two brides embrace immediately after their intimate wedding ceremony in Raleigh, NC

Some family portraits 🙂

Two brides pose with one bride's parents who have facetimed in to the wedding ceremony two brides pose with one of the bride's parents

And then a few more of the stars of the day. “I’m the bride!” “I’m the bride!”

Two brides smile and kiss in the sun right after their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC Two brides smile and kiss in the sun right after their same-sex elopement in Raleigh, NC

Know what goes great with cool sunglasses? 

Two brides pose in fashionable outfits and sunglasses on their wedding day.

Pink champagne!!!

A woman pops champagne right after an intimate Raleigh elopement. Her new wife jumps to get out of the spray.

Two brides share champagne after their intimate same-sex elopement Two brides share champagne after their intimate same-sex elopement Two women look out at the water right after they have been married in an intimate wedding ceremony

A close up on their awesome rings, found on Etsy.

Detail photograph of two wedding rings in a wooden box that says "How about forever?"

And let’s end with some portraits of the oh so cute Luna. 

Portrait of Luna, a small husky Portrait of Luna, a small husky

 


We believe that love is bright and colorful, and your wedding photographs should be bright and colorful too.

Kivus & Camera are Raleigh Wedding photographers who create bold, colorful, magical memories of your wedding day with beautiful, artistic portraits AND enthusiastic, genuine moments. Your unique love story deserves to be told through unforgettable, breath-taking photographs that stand out from the crowd. Kivus & Camera love creating that magic. After all, as past bride Courtney says, we’re photography sorcerers.

And though we call ourselves Raleigh wedding photographers, we definitely photograph Durham weddings, Chapel Hill weddings, Cary weddings, etc. We’re all over the Triangle area, and we’re happy to head to the beach or mountains and even to places outside of North Carolina! Just let us know where your love story is headed. 

Want to know more? Check out more of our images or learn more about our nerdy selves or just send us a note! Can’t wait to hear from you.

If you want more same-sex elopement inspiration, check out Laura & Rita’s Tennessee getaway wedding