April and Brandy married twice, both in ways that made sense for them. In July, under a willow tree in the garden of their friend and photographer Courtney of Stag and Bird, the couple made it official. By autumn, they decided they wanted a second day that marked the marriage in a different way. So, in October they drove four hours south from where they live in Kansas City to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Waiting for them were Courtney and her assistant Kendal, along with a loose plan to say some vows at sunrise at Lover’s Leap, a scenic overlook just outside the town.

The morning started slowly at their Airbnb where they got ready together. Then, the couple walked to the overlook and took their time as Courtney snapped photos from a distance. As they had already signed the paperwork months earlier, there was nothing they ‘had’ to do. Instead of exchanging traditional wedding bands, they swapped bracelets.

“Walking up to Lover’s Leap and seeing the sun just rising with the mist hanging in the air was breathtaking,” Brandy said. “Courtney timed it so perfectly with the sunrise, but that mist was a magical surprise for all of us.”

This was also a second marriage for both of them, which made the decision to elope much easier. “We wanted our day to feel very personal and just about us in a queer-friendly space,” Brandy explained. “Our style came from what made us feel most authentic.”

Once the vows were done they wandered around the overlook, smoked, and watched the sun come up. They then headed into Eureka Springs for breakfast and more photos.

Planning the day had been extremely simple. Courtney handled all the logistics. “It was so easy using the elopement package provided by Courtney” Brandy continued. “We had an idea of what we wanted but she brought our vision to life. She brought the energy, the timing. She did our marriage certificate. She made everything easy.”

By evening they were back in their cabin in the woods. “It was a fun but exhausting day,” Brandy concluded. “So the best part was at the end when we were able to just relax in our cabin. Had it been a traditional wedding there would have been additional requirements on our time after the ceremony. The elopement allowed us to keep that time for ourselves.”