A Fun and Personal Boston City Hall Elopement
Boston City Hall Elopement Photography
There are plenty of reasons why couples choose to elope. If you are considering an elopement because you want to keep things super-small, personal, and totally focused on you and your love, this post is for you! I have photographed many elopement sessions, but this was my first Boston City Hall elopement with no guests other than the couple and I absolutely LOVED it.
J and J found me via a Google search about a month and a half in advance. Thankfully, I happened to be free on the Friday in March when they planned to tie the knot. Depending on the season, that isn’t always the case, so the sooner you can reach out, the better!
On their elopement day, I arrived in Boston an hour early and met them in front of Boston City Hall for a first look. After the official business was settled, we walked nearly four miles all over Boston taking the most fun, personal, and spontaneous-feeling photographs along the way.
Here’s what I learned from this amazing couple about how to make sure your elopement photographs are a true reflection of YOU.
Keep the guest list small—or non-existent! Intimate weddings with just you and your partner have a special feeling like no other.
When you think of Boston City Hall, “adventure” isn’t the word that immediately comes to mind. But let me tell you, this photo session felt like a two-hour adventure hike—even though we were smack dab in the middle of an urban setting. We fit in so many special moments because, with no guests present, every shot could be about the happy couple, their love for one another, and the city they plan to call home.
Another benefit of keeping things intimate with only you and your partner present is that the first look shots are extra magical. I loved the joy we captured outside Boston City Hall on that sunny spring Friday.
Pick a meaningful location for your Boston elopement.
Though J and J had spent time long-distance between here and New York and living together in New York during the pandemic, Boston is where they bought their first home together and plan to settle into married life. They wanted to celebrate the city where this chapter of their story begins.
Here are some of the ways we incorporated quintessential Boston landmarks into their shoot:
We captured the city streets and the unique architecture of Government Center.
They strolled down the iconic bridge in the Boston Public Garden.
We shook up some celebratory champagne in the Boston Public Garden.
They shared some sweet snuggles and smooches on a cobblestone street in Beacon Hill.
The session was so relaxed and refreshing. And the resulting images are stunners and say so much about the couple.
Grab a snack.
We also stopped by the McDonald’s next to Boston Common so they could grab some fries and a burger for an impromptu picnic. These shots capture so much about the couple’s chill, fun personalities. And clearly, they were the best-dressed duo at Mickey D’s by far.
Choose the right elopement photographer.
Okay, so this one is important. There are hundreds of wedding photographers in the Boston area. Choose a photographer who specializes in elopements, knows your location, and is enthusiastic about following your vision.
I often say that in another life (one where I wasn’t a mom to three young kids), I’d love to be an adventure elopement photographer—waking up at the crack of dawn and hiking up a mountain with a couple. This willingness to go with the flow and trek all over the city definitely helped J and J get the images they were after. My familiarity with the city and the various spots we used as our backdrops also made a difference.
All this to say, choose a photographer you enjoy spending time with who also has experience with these nontraditional wedding shoots and the location of your choice.
Are you as in love with these images as I am? Check out more Boston micro weddings and elopements in this gallery:
