do you know what the common denominator was when they decided they wanted to elope?

They all simply wanted… intimacy (I know what you’re thinking— how do you elope in New York City and have intimacy when there’s a million strangers walking by? Y’all, this is one of the most romantic cities in the world, it’s easy to tune out the rest of the world where your beloved is standing in front of you declaring their love for you).

Their engagement story began with a surprise proposal on The Today Show earlier in February 2023. After their proposal the producers loved them SO much, they invited them BACK to The Today Show for a LIVE ceremony officiated by Hoda, with Al Roker walking Mindy down the aisle. Let me tell you, their love really captured the hearts of America— they are just so genuinely in love with one another.

One of the biggest wedding trends we saw in 2023 that I think will be a super big wedding trend moving into 2024 is the “Get married now, party later” concept. SO MANY of my couples were eloping in New York City for the city vibes and iconic backdrop, but most of them were planning on having a big wedding party to celebrate their union later in the year. Couples are really breaking tradition. They want there to be a sacredness to their wedding ceremony and they want their ceremonies to really scream “intimate”. And I don’t blame them. Sometimes it's really nice to just enjoy celebrating with others at a more casual party later instead of putting on a huge production of a wedding day.

When you fly to New York City so you can finally just be blissfully married.

I had the pleasure of meeting these love birds at dawn in Washington Square Park for a quick and fun elopement.. Join me in reliving the sweet and romantic moments as Aileen and Rory brought their love all the way from Ireland to the sleepy streets of NYC.

The night lamps were still on when we met up under Washing Square arch. But slowly, the early morning sun cast a golden glow over the autumn leaves in Washington Square Park as Aileen and Rory walked around the square… kissing, hugging, canoodling. It was the perfect morning. Perfect light. Perfect and rare quiet.

They wiped one another’s tears as they shared their gratitude for one another and praised each other’s presence in their relationship.

What made this exchange even more special was Tori's choice to conclude her vows with a Taylor Swift lyric (I won’t say which one because I think it’s special for her to keep those words for herself) – a touch that brought tears to both her eyes and mine.

Stacie Stine is a Manhattan based photographer who specializes in micro-weddings and elopements. Her style is modern meets Old Hollywood with a warmer edit. Her husband, Brett, is an officiant and together they can help couples coordinate their weddings seamlessly.

As we look forward to 2024, Luis and Angela's elopement beautifully exemplifies the magic that can happen in the most unexpected places. It's a reminder that love, in all its forms, should be celebrated and cherished. Love can bloom across borders, through screens, and in the crowded streets of New York City.

We took both posed and candid shots, and some of my favorite shots are of Wawo continually kissing Gisela’s shoulder. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was really special to observe and photograph.