Liz was working as a wedding photographer and renting an office space in a tattoo studio in Philadelphia when she met Sheep, an English tour manager passing through town. She wasn’t even supposed to be in the shop that day, but the studio owner whistled her over to introduce her to his friend. Ten minutes of small talk, Sheep walked out and asked for her Instagram. Liz remembers prancing around the studio after he messaged, while the owner called it: “Y’all are either going to have one date and never see each other again or you’re gonna get married, I’m calling it.” I guess they were right!

They started a long-distance relationship across the Atlantic. Sheep was based in London, Liz in Pennsylvania. Eight months of travel and time zone juggling later, Sheep began spending his off-tour weeks in the States. Two and a half years after their first meeting, they eloped.

Valley Forge National Park became their backdrop. Liz’s best friend officiated, their puppy served as the flower girl, and a close friend documented it all. Sheep’s family couldn’t travel from England, so they kept the rule strict: just the two of them, the officiant, the photographer, and the dog who tried to eat Liz’s bouquet mid-vows. “She loves celery and must have seen some sort of similarity,” Liz laughed,

Liz wanted her bouquet to be the focal point, something colourful and unconventional. The florist delivered beyond expectation. Everything else fell into place naturally. Sheep wore pieces he already owned, which ended up working together better than anything new. Liz had bought her dress when they first started dating.

There was no reception, no extended guest list, no pressure. After the park ceremony, they went to the vegan restaurant where they had their first date. The staff surprised them with mocktails and dessert. Later at home, Liz’s best friend’s vegan funfetti cake was sliced up in their pyjamas.

Looking back, Liz wishes they’d streamed the ceremony for family or had a first dance under the trees. But she also knows that imperfection is part of it. “Everything doesn’t have to be perfect,” she said. “I think its easier to let things slide if you’re having a non-traditional wedding. Mistakes are inevitable, and being able to let go of that worry and just let yourself be on the day is going to be so much more worth it.”

As a photographer who’s shot over 200 weddings, Liz had the advantage of perspective. Planning in six weeks didn’t faze her. She already knew the vendors she wanted, trusted her florist to run wild, and preserved her bouquet afterwards by teaching herself resin crafts on YouTube.

Her advice to other couples? Take your time. Don’t rush the wedding because you feel like you have to. Choose vendors you connect with, not just whose work you admire. And most of all, don’t let other people’s opinions make your decisions for you. “In my opinion, your wedding should be the way you and your partner want it to be”, she concluded, “Having to change things around just because someone tells you you should, shouldn’t be an option!”