Back in April 2012, I hosted an indie wedding show down in Baltimore. My dear friends, Jill & Ryan (With Love & Embers), & I decided to throw a contest with the chance to win a free wedding photo package by them and a cinema package by us. The contest entry guidelines were no simple feat, the involvements of which included things like making an art piece depicting 2 birds, 10-20 Q+A and an essay… or two. Hey, we wanted people to work for it! and more so, to get creative. Needless to say, we received dozens of awesome entries. The three of us wittled down the list to our top 3, which conveniently were all the same. We had our winner chosen, but when the day came and I had the chance to meet all of our couples, I instantly fell in love with our runners up, Melanie + Justin. (I fall in love with people a lot. Not in a romantic way, just in a, “I think you’re really special and great,” kind of way.) Melanie and Justin are the type of people I love being around. Humble, creative, down to Earth and straight up adorable. (That last one just adds bonus points.) I felt connected to them instantly, which is why, just moments after we gave away our grand prize to our first place couple, I found myself walking over to Melanie and Justin and offering them an elopement film for free. Before I could even think, it had happened. And Jill & Ryan were on the same page with me. It was all magnetic. And like that, elopements became my favorite kind of wedding to shoot. Period.

In December 2012, Melanie + Justin eloped near their home town in Lemoyne. This was a special day on so many levels. I’ll never forget how warm it was – at least 60 degrees – which, for December in Pennsylvania, is unheard of. I actually filmed this one alone, which I rarely do, and their day had something like EIGHT locations! Which is way more than any wedding I’ve ever been to. Eight locations all in different towns, mind you. But it worked because of Jill + Ryan’s amazing collaboration and Melanie + Justin’s patience. Seriously grateful for that. The day began with Justin at Wolfe’s Diner. If you’ve ever driven south from Central PA to Maryland, you’ve most likely driven past Wolfe’s Diner on 15. It’s that silver, time-warped little restaurant next to a dingy, rundown motel on the right – The Nesbit. (Which is where Justin got ready. Which was awesome.) Wolfe’s is entirely orange inside, and the light was hitting through the blinds at a particularly harsh angle. It was the stuff dreams are made of. Next, I joined Melanie for finishing hair touches at Mirage and getting ready at her sweet little apartment in Lemoyne. Once Justin was done getting ready at the Nesbit, we all trekked to a little park in Camp Hill with a labyrinth for their first look. It was precious. The couple shared vows at a most intimate, private ceremony in a small brick church in Dillsburg and rounded out their day with cake from The Pennsylvania Bakery and a milkshake at Wolfe’s Diner. I’m such a fan of how this one turned out and am so grateful to have witnessed and experienced this day behind my lens. Thank you, Melanie + Justin for bringing elopements into my life and for gracing me with your magical, adorable relationship! Please check out Melanie’s precious creations over on Etsy. At the end of their elopement day, Melanie gifted me with one of her bears, which I have been majorly in love with since I first saw them a few months prior. It was the most special thank you gift I have ever received and he’ll forever have a special spot on my desk.

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I’ve learned from experience that when it comes to work — especially creative work — that it’s good and important to do things to fulfill your own spirit from time to time. Usually, this comes in the form of a personal side project, but sometimes, this can also come in giving things away to people or projects you feel undeniably connected to. I’ve gotten so much gratification and have grown so much from giving things away. (Speaking of, I’m about to do just that very soon…) In creative work, not everything is going to be for profit. That word profit is also a very loose word for most artists. If I lived solely to make a profit, I’d be doing the most boring, traditional, horrendous work and I’d hate my life. Before I get off my soap box, I just want to reiterate once more that if ever you feel drawn to something or someone — as an artist, a doctor, a plumber or a straight up human being — take time to really think about why you feel that way. If you feel that way because that person or thing makes you feel alive or happy or hopeful, do something for that person or that thing. You will be amazed how much it will change you for the better and just like that, people and things that give you those tingly, good vibes will keep finding their way into your life.

Photos by With Love & Embers
Click here for more of Melanie + Justin’s Elopement photos from With Love & Embers 

Photographer: With Love & Embers
Videographer: Birdhouse Productions
Church Decorations: Happy As A Robot
Locations: Wolfe’s Diner (Dillsburg, PA) // The Nesbit Motel (Dillsburg, PA) // The Labyrinth at Mount Calvary Episcopal Church (Camp Hill, PA)
Hair: Mirage (Camp Hill, PA)
Cake: The Pennsylvania Bakery (Camp Hill, PA)