Chesapeake Bay Elopement - Laura & GM

We met Laura and GM when Laura attended our EVOLVE workshop for wedding photographers in Portland. Laura is a wedding photographer in Maryland and we adore everything about her. Over the course of many conversations, stories, and jokes we developed a bond that grew into having us photograph their Chesapeake Bay Elopement. Understanding photography, Laura wanted to build a strong relationship with her photographers and have a documentary approach with creative lighting.

Laura and GM originally had planned to have a large Chesapeake Bay wedding but when COVID-19 hit they restructured their wedding into 2 parts. Part 1 (2020) = small family-only wedding celebration. Part 2 (2021) = larger reception next year. They love the idea of spreading out the celebrations over time, that way they would still experience their wedding this year while also anticipating a reception next year. They think this is making for an even better experience overall than originally planned. They plan on sharing their wedding premiere slideshow as an opening to their reception next year as a way for everyone to visually experience their adventure elopement and get into the mindset for a great reception party!

Since many of their family members have been in quarantine together or in smaller groups (Maryland is in part 2 of phase 2 heading into part 3 of the pandemic), they decided a family-only celebration would work. Activities were held outside with safe social distancing throughout the days (windy boat rides, backyard, etc…) while closer interactions occurred with those who were quarantined together. We captured everything from a safe distance using our long lenses.

Laura and GM are highly skilled (and understated) sailboat captains. They love their catamaran “Epiphany” so much that they live on it more than their house. They sail it to the Bahamas in the winter months and enjoy the Chesapeake Bay spring through fall. They go far and wide and even chartered a sailboat in Croatia. GM has taught Laura many of his hobbies including kiteboarding, wakeboarding, wake surfing, flying a plane (GM is a pilot), and scuba diving.

As a unique way to have their family witness their ceremony they decided to hold it on Laura’s father’s historic “workboat.” Laura’s Dad Jerry passed away 3 years ago and Laura’s mom then donated their workboat “Dorothy Lee” (built in the 30’s) to the museum. This is also the boat GM proposed on, so this was the perfect spot to have Jerry’s presence with them. They tied-up Dorothy Lee and their catamaran Epiphany right next to each other near the Tred Avon Yacht Club. This way their family would be seated outside on the catamaran with the perfect view of the ceremony on Dorothy Lee. Their Chesapeake Bay elopement stretched across 3 days offering stress-free opportunities for their family to share quality time together. From a full day boating experience on Dorthy Lee on Day 1, their dual boat ceremony and reception at Laura’s mom’s house on Day 2 (checkout their large square reception table) to a sunset sail on Day 3 with a spectacular sunset. We can’t wait to go back and photograph their reception party next June, 2021.