A Winter Elopement at the Blind Tiger, Burlington, Vermont

 

ELISE + KEVIN:

A Winter Burlington Elopement at the Blind Tiger

 

Congratulations to Elise and Kevin, who signed their marriage license in their home city of Boston and drove straight to the Blind Tiger Burlington in Vermont for some newlywed elopement portraits.

Vermont is a special place to Kevin, and Elise quickly fell in love with it after he took her here last year. Elise is a transplant from the Southern US, and said she has grown to love the climate here. “It was the cultural element– and Kevin, of course, that drew me here,” she said. Escaping to Vermont for newlywed elopement photos and a quiet stay was perfect for their wedding plan.

They met on Reddit (cue “We Found Love in a Hopeless Place”) and met in person after talking for about 6 months. It was an instant connection, and when I asked Elise what her first impression of Kevin was, she cheekily said, “Oh, I thought ‘this man is much cuter than anyone I’ve dated before.'” A devastating burn to her exes/a lovely compliment to her now-husband.

Elise packed up and moved, and less than a year later they were planning their wedding. Elise is pursuing her PhD in art history with an emphasis on fashion, and I came to learn this after complimenting her outfit. She had planned every inch exquisitely, with a nod to early 20th century fashion. Her bespoke mother-of-pearl purse that was adorned with vintage pins and hair pieces was also personally hand-made. Her chic, bright-red fascinator that she made matched her red heels– hand-dyed, of course– which also matched her nails, gloves, cape, and her corsage. The small red bows on her gloves, her pearl bracelet that peeked through, the subtle yet captivating red feather adorning her fascinator. It was all obvious work of someone who had studied fashion and had a deep love for it.

I have a personal aesthetic love for all things red. It is unexpected, and then so pleasant. This arc of a reaction to a color makes it my favorite, and it is especially startling to see it in the winter. Elise knew that her crimson cape against the pure white snow, with its blue undertones that complimented the sunset, would pull her bridal look together beautifully. She looked Old Hollywood. She looked plucked out of a different time, and with the Blind Tiger’s enchanting beauty behind us, some of the photos feel like they could have been taken a century earlier.

Throughout our time together, I saw how Kevin doted over her. He had a classic gentlemanly vibe– even asking me if he could help carry my gear– and was quick to laugh. When he laughs at Elise in particular, he closes his eyes. Capturing these moments brought me immense joy.

Congratulations, you two. Your love is timeless.