Emmy & Andre // Laguna Hills Civic Center Elopement

On a random Monday in January, I got a message from this beautiful gal asking if I was available to photograph her elopement. The only catch: she was getting married in 72 hours!!!!! After hearing more about her plans to marry her sweetheart at the Laguna Hills courthouse that very same week, I said HELL YES.*
*I aćtüallÿ said "I mean yes. I can make it work! Let me move some things around!"
Em + Andre were married in a short & sweet ceremony with just family present, and after, they gave me free rein to choose a spot to take some portraits. I'd been eyeing this unique garden in Orange County—located unassumingly in the middle of a business park and invisible from the main street—and was so stoked when they also loved the look of it and were on board.
Once we finished taking a few photos around the courthouse, we hopped in my Kia & had a great chat during the ride over. When we finally found this hidden gem of a location (which wasn't the easiest.. as aforementioned.. it's in the weirdest spot), we frolicked around & explored alllllll the cool corners of the space!
E & A were SO natural together in front of the camera that this half-felt like a styled shoot, and knowing they trusted me fully made it such an exciting creative adventure. Their gallery came out looking edgier than my typical golden hour gigglefests, but venturing outside of that box was so freakin' FUN! These two belong in a magazine, so we had to give their photos some elevated spice.
I'll always cherish this afternoon—a perfect celebration I had no idea about until 72 hours before.
PS!!! Shout-out to Flowerful Laguna— the floral shop I sprinted full speed to across the street when Emily forgot her bouquet (& was supposed to get married in 5 min). The salespeople kindly and swiftly helped me get her the perfect bridal bouq & I was in & out of the door in 3 min flat.

I love u, Emmy & Andre!!!