Surprise Winter Courthouse Wedding
January 21, 2024
~A whimsical surprise elopement in Downtown Durham, NC~
I can confidently say it is not often that I am approached about a surprise elopement, but when Kara reached out to me with this idea I was on board 100%. Kara and Ben had planned on visiting Durham for the Holidays in the Park event at the nearby Museum of Life and Science. Kara approached me with the idea of turning their day trip into a spontaneous elopement and asked if I would be available to capture the day. With surprises it can sometimes be difficult to account for all the details, and things don’t always go to plan, but it ended up a beautiful, albeit cold, day.
A Surprise Elopement
When Kara reached out to me, she gave me a brief background on her and Ben’s relationship. The wedding wasn’t actually a complete and total surprise, since they were engaged and planning to go to the courthouse as they already had their marriage license. Kara’s plan was to stop by the courthouse in Durham on a day they were already planning an overnight trip for a fun event in the city. We had initially discussed taking photos at the event that was bringing them to Durham, the holiday lights at the Museum of Life and Science. Unfortunately, the event did not allow professional photographers, so we decided instead to grab some photos in Downtown Durham.
Durham Courthouse
I do wonder if Kara eventually told Ben before they left, since they got ready separately that morning, each driving to Durham with friends, so they could have a first look together at the courthouse before their ceremony. I am a big fan of first looks; I like that it allows the couple a few moments together before their ceremony on what can otherwise be a busy and hectic day. They decided to keep the ceremony small only inviting the two witnesses to join them at the courthouse. After exchanging vows, signing the papers, and sharing their first kiss, we headed outside to grab some photos outside the courthouse to commemorate this special day.
Downtown Durham
Since it was December, Downtown Durham was adorned in whimsical holiday lights and had the set up the huge Christmas tree in the main square gave us lots of options for backdrops. Kara’s choice of red velvet dress combined with the holiday lights made these photos appear quite festive. During this part of the session, Kara and Ben were joined by their two witnesses so we made sure to take some photos with all four of them and a few duo shots as well. As we casually strolled towards the main town square, we took more pictures with the historic Downtown in the background. At this point, the chilly December wind was starting to get to us, and we decided to venture inside the Durham Main Library for the next portion of this session.
Durham Main Library
Kara and Ben loved the idea of heading to the Durham Main Library to get some more photos due to their love for reading. The new Durham library is such a nice addition to the city, and made for a great backdrop; I always recommend couples choose a location for their photos that fits with their interests that way it will add even more meaning. Libraries are often filled with unique backdrops and make a session that much more unique. I will say, taking photos in a library does have its own challenges, you have to remain pretty quiet to respect those around you and may have to wait for areas to clear before being able to start taking photos. However, it is definitely worth it for the endless possibilities that an extraordinary space such as this one has. If you intend to take photos at the library, make sure you coordinate ahead of time! The librarians and staff will help you pick the best time and make sure you won’t be disrupting other library patrons.
Capturing this elopement was such a joy. I had an amazing time wandering around Downtown Durham with this lovely couple and was honored to be a part of such a special surprise.
Vendors:
Photography: Vidr Photography
Venues: Durham County Courthouse & Durham Main Library
View the full blog post here: https://vidrphotography.com/post/740186264737857536/surprise-winter-courthouse-wedding-in-durham-nc
