Sara and Olivia’s love story began with a Hinge message and a first date at Sant Ambroeus in New York, blossoming into a romance that spanned NYC and Melbourne. After exchanging heartfelt proposals, Olivia on New Year’s Eve in New York and Sara months later in Melbourne, they chose an intimate civil ceremony while beginning the Green Card process, planning a chic celebration in just 90 days.
Location: New York City, US
Style: Chic, Outdoor, Cityscape
Time of planning: 90 days
Setting: New York City Courthouse
Surrounded by talented friends and captured beautifully by Meredith Morris, their elopement was everything they hoped for: personal, joyful, and unforgettable. They plan to celebrate with loved ones on their first anniversary, but describe their wedding day as the perfect start to married life.
“We weren’t sure if our photographer friend would be able to make it, but he ended up capturing some behind-the-scenes moments alongside Meredith. Having so many creative people come together to make our day so special felt like such a gift. A client referred me to Meredith, and luckily she had availability and specialized in elopements, so we knew she would create the magic our photos became,” shared the couple.
Fashion
For their wedding day, Olivia chose an all-Anthropologie Bridal look, wearing a chic short dress finished with an oversized bow at the back, paired with a pearl-studded purse, Badgley Mischka shoes, Cartier sunglasses, and her grandmother’s vintage pink jade-and-gold ring. The couple created their own bouquet using white calla lilies from Trader Joe’s, tied together with a deconstructed hair ribbon. Olivia styled her hair half-up, half-down with soft curls.
Sara wore a modern ivory Mango suit with a plunging blazer, complemented by Badgley Mischka shoes. She embraced a playful beauty look with a sleek, gelled hairstyle inspired by finger waves, perfectly suited to her short hair.
The Elopement
One of the most special aspects of the day was keeping it entirely private and choosing to elope with just the two of them. Their courthouse ceremony was every bit as intimate and meaningful as they had imagined, a quiet celebration focused solely on their love.
“The photos we took afterward on the streets were some of the most memorable moments of the day. We had never done a couples shoot together before, and getting to do it when we both looked and felt our best made it all the more special,” share the couple.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds continued the celebrations with pizza at Ceres before enjoying Aperol spritz in Little Italy, where they cut the cake they had made themselves. They ended the evening with a celebratory dinner at Cipriani in SoHo.
Advice from the couple:
• If you’re feeling like a small Civil Ceremony is the right decision for you, DO IT! It is so much nicer and more fun than you can imagine. Plan for simple, but go all out for the things that matter to you!
