John & Laneil’s Redwood National Forest Adventure Elopement

Laneil found me online and inquired about an elopement. She opted for an adventure elopement and I am so glad she did! We met in Trinidad for her first look and her ceremony, and then explored the Redwood National Forest in her wedding gown and John in his tux and got some epic pictures. But first, let me tell you where this adventure began.

Laneil was widowed in October 2013 and looking for a contractor for her lake house. She was referred to a Texas cowboy who had divorced one month later in November 2013. He lived near her town of Fort Worth Texas, but traveled south to work, so they talked on the phone and agreed to meet each other at Georges Bar in Waco Texas.

John saw Laneil get out of her smart car and stopped traffic for her to cross the street. They shared their life stories, and talked and laughed for hours. When time ran out on their meeting, Laneil still had a smile on her face while she was waiting at a red light not far from George’s Bar. She looked in her rear view mirror and saw John walking toward her window. He had stopped behind her and was walking toward her car. She rolled her window down, and he bent down and kissed her right then and there. The rest is history.

This was the sweet beginning to their love story. I was so blessed that I got to be a part of one of their biggest chapters. We ended their adventure elopement on Trinidad State Beach, with the wind blowing in full force. It allowed us to be perfectly in the moment. There was no fixing the veil, or arranging the dress, as the wind would gust again and send them flying. Just like life, we can try to control things, but God has other plans.