So, our family recently moved from NYC to the PA 5 years ago, I am so excited to share all the reasons I love it here.
We landed in East Stroudsburg in the Poconos and fell in love with this concept of raising our kids in nature and living a completely different life than the one we were used to. As NYC city kids, you can imagine this was a huge leap. But at the time, it was the right one, and it has proven to be completely worth it.
The elopement above is from Marshall Creek Waterfalls. Our first few years here, we’ve really just been settling in, but we’ve had chickens and have slowly been venturing into the idea of homesteading, which is very popular out here.
Philly
Flea Markets and Farmers Markets
For those who love a good bargain or simply enjoy exploring local treasures, the Poconos boast charming flea markets filled with unique finds. Here are some must-visit markets:
In PA, couples can marry themselves in a self-uniting marriage ceremony (also known as a “Quaker marriage”). Super interesting as not many states in the USA have this. And I personally think its amazing !
You can also do something more traditional and get officiated as well, in a church of your choosing, or hire a private officiant and do it pretty much any where..
I think the benefits of doing it alone is the true intimacy of the experience, honoring each other in this deep way with no distractions.
However with that being said, it’s also amazing to have close friends and family, or children present, as its often equally as meaningful for them.
Elopements are better For the environment and your mental health.
What does eloping in PA cost? Most elopements with good quality photography will run you around $1,500-$2,500 thats with officiation and an out door free venue, maybe 10 guests, a bottle or 2 of champaign and some cupcakes. Some folks splurge a little more, and will rent a small venue or an Airbnb, and then you can get up to 5-10K. Elopements in general are more affordable than traditional weddings, which often at bare minimum are around $31,000 in Pennsylvania based on The Knot’s Real Wedding Study. I’d say its a no brainer, but everyone is different and folks really need to decide whats right for them and going to mean the most.
In Pennsylvania, it’s often easiest to get a marriage license from your local courthouse (you’ll want to search “[Your City] Court of Orphans” to get started).
Typically, there will be a small fee (usually around $80 dollars or so) to file the paperwork, and you and your fiancé will need to be there to file and sign paperwork together. They will typically make you wait a few days until you can pick up your license, but once you have it in hand you can get married anywhere in PA within 60 days. It’s super simple!
Elopements range from just the couple to upwards of 25 people. The number of guests usually depends on the location I usually say a true elopement is between 10-25 guests.
Some places to Elope that are well known in The Poconos are:
Adventurous locations can be found in county, state, and federal parks. From easy and popular hiking trails like the Hawk Falls trail in Hickory Run State Park, to more scenic opportunities like the Ricketts Glen State Park waterfall trail.
A few more
And then of course you can always just elope in your backyard, a scenic spot that means something to you, the facade of an old factor building, a rail road track that looks off into infinity, a mountain top, go for a hike and find something together. The mountains are vast and have so much room to play and be creative.
These two from our elopement session last week in Central Park ! I love so many things about this shoot every time I show up I seriously try to empty my mind and let the light and the energy of the couple guide me no session should ever feel the same because no human being is the same .. I hope this resonates with people because it’s become so clear for me recently that this is what sets me a part from so many other photographers .. let’s move away from the routine and into the magic of what this all really is .. photography was always about something deeper and its why I fell in love 20 year ago and never looked back ..
Photos: @giannaleofalcon
Flowers: @gardenofcyn.florist
Dress: @wanderatelier / @nadiamanjarrezbridal
Suit: @husbandsparis
From the bride : ps I love you ! Laura and Gabe met as kids and their romance and friendship started then with a small diary note attached here . But mainly friends many years later there true love was able to blossom and here they are what an honor to get to capture there day .. and it went something like this .. @laurabethhart_
Gabe and I had planned to have our ceremony beside a creek we both love, but when a nor’easter rolled in that weekend, we had to change plans at the very last minute.
The morning of our wedding, I had to make a quick change of plans. I decided I was going to stop take out $500 from the ATM, pick up my sister, and drive to three places to see if anyone might be willing to let us get married there that afternoon.
Our first stop was Chadds Ford Greenhouses, a historic, family-owned greenhouse where I’d bought plants there many times over the years.
My sister and I showed up with hope and a prayer and humbly asked if they might be open to letting us and our family hold our ceremony there. They generously said yes.
We ended up getting married in a space that couldn’t have felt more like us. Beautifully imperfect, a little overgrown, filled with plants and the everyday remnants of the gardeners who worked there. Nothing had been staged or rearranged for a wedding, and that was exactly what made it so special.
Somehow, the day turned out even more beautifully than we’d imagined.
Coming up on 10 years with this beautiful guy right here! I still remember the night we met like it was yesterday a memory that I hope will never fade.. we met at a nyc spot called the tender trap. Who remembers the tender trap ? I was absolutely not looking for love that night but once we connected we couldn’t stop talking and I felt a feeling of home with him .. I remember those first few weeks so vividly, it was like highschool all over again and I couldn’t get enough of him, we were inseparable .. in a wild witchy twist of fate the apt building he had been living in burned down and we made some really big decisions only weeks into our romance to move in together .. the truth is I couldn’t have imagined not being around him or with him so it was such a blessing.. in those early months our love felt so effortless and both of our lives got better with eachother. He started working more full time in the carpenters union and my wedding work really became my full time job alongside graduate school for counseling .. it didn’t take long for us to both realize that kids and this energy around making babies together was a real thing, the truth is I spent most of my adult life after abdominal surgery thinking I couldn’t have them, but after some fertility testing found out I could and 3 months later we found out we were pregnant with our first child Luchiana ! That was the happiest day of my life .. then the pandemic happened and tested and rocked our world and we make this huge decision to move to PA this could have been a breaking point for us, he didn’t want to leave NYC and I couldn’t stay, but it wasn’t and our love grew and we ended up with our son Odin:) he was definitely a mistake but I had been thinking of him as many mothers do for months prior.. our life over the last 10 years has been filled with so many trials and has acted as huge testaments for why I love this man so much ! He’s my best friend and late night we still stay up talking way too late about everything and nothing .. I love you Ralph ! And as I just kissed you good bye I felt it again I’m still so in love with you .. you and our kids mean the world to me .. and I love your hands so much .. ❤️
Some of my favorite images live in this gallery Eva and Justin your a dream ! My recent city hall elopement with these two total sweeties .. I always have a level of nervousness and even anxiety every single time I shoot, I think it’s this very feeling that keeps my vigilant and on my toes … always feeling a deep sense of purpose for the couples I work with .. I don’t take this lightly portraiture is a honor and a gift I work so hard for all of you ..
Nyc elopement on 35mm film
Soho 35mm elopement
New York City elopement photography
Oldie but oh so good ! Take me back to this place IG ❤️
