With a week full of rain, the weather was touch and go for Angela & Geoff’s Desert Botanical Garden elopement. It turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon with sunshine and a light breeze… simply perfect!

Elopements are always extra special to me, as I usually end up having the honor of signing the marriage license as a witness. Geoff’s mom was visiting as well, and she was in for a surprise when they told her they were eloping the next day! She signed as the other witness and then we all explored the gorgeous Desert Botanical Garden grounds for some portraits.

I asked them to tell me about how they met, some of their favorite moments together, and how Geoff proposed:

Angela: “We met through mutual friends at the first Brewers playoff game last October. We bonded over our love of the Brewers and pumpkin beer. The first weekend we spent together, I had 11 miles to run on my training calendar. Even though Geoff hadn’t run more than 6 miles in the last 3 years, he ran all 11 by my side. And then we ate a doughnut and a pound of bacon.”

Geoff: “I knew Angela was the one when I realized I couldn’t figure out the words to describe how she made feel and how I felt about her. Her smile and beautiful blue eyes are so gorgeous, and she makes me so happy.”

Angela: “We got engaged on March 22nd. We had spent the day lounging by the pool and drinking grapefruit juice from the tree in Geoff’s backyard. At night, we were drinking wine and watching either 20/20 or Dateline. Geoff walked away for a few minutes and I didn’t think anything of it. He came back and was acting a little strange. I thought it was weird that he was kneeling on the floor instead of sitting back down next to me. And then he said some sweet stuff I can’t even remember now because I was totally in shock.”

Congrats to you both and thank you for trusting me to be an important part of your wedding day!

Venue Desert Botanical Garden | Floral Butterfly Petals | Officiant Mark Culbertson, Your Dream Ceremony | Dress Watters via Bella Bridesmaids Milwaukee | Hair & Makeup Glow Blow Bar | Groom Men’s Wearhouse | Film Lab The FIND Lab