Simple Stress Free Elopement – Sharon and Gary

02.15.24

Simple Stress Free Elopement

Sharon and Gary – February 11, 2024

In the spirit of love, Sharon and Gary exchanged vows in a simple, stress free elopement ceremony at Chapel in the Hollow. They brought warmth and color to the chapel, adorning it with purple and pink fabric, beautifully complemented by our vibrant pink and orange florals.

Sharon radiated elegance in her dress, featuring a tastefully ruched top that fit snugly down to her knees before flaring out into a subtle train, embodying grace and sophistication. Gary kept it casually stylish in jeans and a grey dress shirt, perfectly blending comfort with the occasion’s significance.

Adding a personal touch, Sharon chose a bouquet and boutonniere from Etsy, which harmonized wonderfully with the chapel’s floral arrangements, showcasing their attention to detail and unity in theme. Their son, Chase, joined in the celebration, adding to the joy and intimacy of the day.

Together, they embraced the beauty of the moment, amidst nature’s own celebration of their union.

The rain from the night before left the wooded area surrounding the chapel adorned with rivulets of water, creating a magical atmosphere for their photographs. The high creek provided a stunning backdrop, capturing the essence of their special day.

Sharon and Gary’s elopement was a beautiful testament to their love, proving that simplicity can indeed be breathtaking. We were honored to share in their day and wish them a lifetime of happiness and love as they journey forward together.

From the Bride:

After the drama of online dating, we had both decided this would be the last time we’d try meeting someone online….God must have known. He sent us both someone special. I had limited myself to a “40-mile radius” because I didn’t want to meet anyone that would pull me too far from my sons and grandbaby. I was scared to fall in love, and anyone that knows me, knows I’m incredibly brave and scared to my senses about everything. Gary swore he would never get married again. So here we were, giving up on love, yet wanting to find our forever love. So we often joke about my 40-mile circle, and me being scared to open that up. Gary must have snuck in under the radar. His house was exactly 40 miles from mine, and after a few weeks of talking, I knew he was worth the trip…like 40 miles is really so far, right?

So we decided to meet at a restaurant in the middle in Hammond, Louisiana. We met at a little place called Tacos & Beer (two of my favorites!) We talk about me being scared…well Gary sat in the car and waited for me to walk in so he could see if he really wanted to meet ME! Gary had a “Big Ass Burrito” and I had shrimp tacos and we sat and talked for 4+ hours, just hanging out and getting to know each other. When we left, I gave him a little kiss on the cheek and went our separate ways. After weeks of burning up the highway back and forth between Denham Springs and Hammond, and many many hours on the phone, he convinced me that he was worth venturing out of my circle. Our kids, and family and friends probably saw it before we did, but we had each found our person. My mom of course knew he was the one before I did.

Gary moves as slow as molasses when it comes to big decisions, and you definitely don’t put any pressure on him, or he’ll bolt. And we always say Sharon is the scaredy cat! But when he finally decided to make me his wife….he took a day off of work, stopped at Zales and picked out a ring, came to my work and picked me up for lunch. Spontaneous, much? We drove straight to Tacos & Beer. We switched booths three times, just so he could end up in the same boot. I was clueless…we ate the same meals, and we made jokes about everything being just like our first date, but Gary is definitely the type that you don’t push or assume anything with, so I laughed it off. When he stepped out to go to the bathroom, I didn’t notice, but he had the ring on his pinky finger and brought it to the waitress. When she brought the check, it was on the clipboard with the ticket, and she gave it to ME to pay…I laughed and then noticed the ring. And I said what’s that?? He said well…will you? I smiled and started to cry. and told him you are forgetting something. He said you really gonna make me kneel down on that nasty floor? I said, well, yes. So, he got down on his knee, and asked me to marry him. And here we are!

Every time we go out of town, it’s usually a trip to the race track, so we decided it was time we went on a real vacation together. We went to Gatlinburg last February. I honestly thought that while we were there, we’d get married spontaneously, and he was just not quite ready (even though we had been engaged for almost a year!). After we got home, I told him I had really wanted to pull the trigger while we were there, and so he promised me we would go back this year and so we scheduled our trip. Neither of us wanted the hype or expense of a full-on traditional wedding. We both had been married a long time before, had raised our kids, and didn’t feel like a big wedding was what we wanted. But at the same time, wanted a special celebration of our day, so a quaint chapel in the woods was perfect.

Gary says he’s ready for the ‘wedding hype’ to be over…can I roll my eyes here? That man…HAHHAHA! Making forever the real deal is what we are both looking forward to.

Though no one back home would ever have dreamed me and racing would be in the same sentence, Gary is a drag racer, and so we go to the track to race his car. We deer hunt together….and though I’m terrible at it, we love to fish together. More than anything, we love spending time with our grandbabies and children, and going to eat with friends and family.