Like many couples in 2020, Alyssa and Jacobs's original wedding plans were uprooted (and then uprooted again, and again) during the pandemic. While I can't even express the stress and frustration that we were all feeling over the course of the ever-changing circumstances during the past year, what I can say is that I'm in awe of how resilient and creative my couples have been through the process. It's been such an honor and a privilege to work with such incredible couples who've managed to keep their spirits up and celebrate their love despite the rolling tides of COVID.

When I first spoke to Alyssa, she told me that she and Jacob were planning to get married in 100 days, no matter what. Even though the plan changed along the way, they did indeed get married on that day and it was so incredible to document the story of their Newport Beach elopement...

When the big day finally arrived, Alyssa looked absolutely stunning in her Kenneth Winston bridal gown! Her vibrant bridal bouquet created a beautiful splash of color against the white gown!

Alyssa and Jacob were able to get access to a private patch of beach in Newport Bay through a friend. It was the perfect spot to host their closest family members as they said their wedding vows.

Now THAT is the face of a happy bride if I've ever seen one! The couple was thrilled to finally make it official!

After the ceremony ended we walked to a nearby park to take some portraits and the couple shared their first dance - but with a twist! Since they had still planned to host a larger wedding celebration later on, Alyssa and Jacob decided that they would dance to their first dance using a shared set of air-pods, so that only they could hear the music. Then, when they could host their larger celebration, they planned to reveal the song with everyone in attendance as they relived their first dance for their anniversary. It was such a fun and creative spin on a beloved wedding tradition!

After the first dance I took a few portraits with the newlyweds to help them remember their first afternoon as husband and wife. You can feel the love and excitement just by looking at their pictures!

Loving this Newport Beach elopement story? You may have noticed that the headline of this post said "part one." That's right! There's another chapter to this story on it's way soon, and I can hardly wait to share! Stay tuned for more! 😉

Vendors for this event:

Photography: Belinda Philleo
Location: Private Beach in Newport Beach
Gown: Kenneth Winston
Gown Boutique: Deborah's Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Foxy Faces by Jen
Flowers: Costco