The Most Perfectly Planned Social Distance Elopement / Micro Wedding in Queens, New York City

The Most Perfectly Planned Social Distance Elopement / Micro Wedding in Queens, New York City.

In NYC, the pandemic has radically changed the way we celebrate weddings and couples. For the last few months, most of us had quarantined at home, stayed indoors and tried to minimize as much interaction with others as so to also minimize the spread of the Coronavirus.

Kate and Jonathan still wanted to get married but in the safest and most thoughtful way! They had been together since college and thought that it was time- and a pandemic would not hold them back any longer!! So they planned a thoughtful and sweet socially distanced elopement at a special Queens, NYC park (Flushing Meadows Park) with close friends and family.

We met up before the ceremony at Flushing Meadow Park and we got some fun and beautiful portraits together!! (We were socially distanced and I was masked up at all times!! Safety is always key!) New York City parks are always full of happenings and beautiful views- both urban and also organic and full of gorgeous trees and foliage. Afterward, we met up with the rest of the group, saw the parents setting up the chuppah for the ceremony. (Apparently, they bought all the pieces of Etsy and simply assembled everything themselves!

They also hired someone off Task-Rabbit to drive and set up a booth full of assorted and beautifully designed masks (made by the bride!) to give to all the guests. The guest book was postcards of all different landmarks in New York City. They had their guests sign and hang the postcard up. They also prepared a tote bag with snacks, drinks, and a picnic blanket for every guest! It was the perfect set up for a Pandemic Socially Distanced wedding! After the ceremony, everyone set up their picnic blankets in small groups and enjoyed their packed lunch! They also had individually packed dessert (PIES!!!) and they went to each group greeting and enjoying their time together!

It was honestly such a well planned and executed micro wedding/ elopement for these kinds of times!!!

A Sweet Elopement at Fort Tryon Park Amidst the Corona Virus Pandemic

The corona virus pandemic took NYC by storm. By mid march, everything was shut down- restaurants, bars, companies were all working remote and all services were all on halt- including all nyc wedding photographers and the New York City Hall Wedding Bureau!! Everything just froze in time… and it seemed that no one would be getting married in nyc anytime soon. It was a time of so much uncertainty. But we overcame!!! NYC took precautions, played it safe and we started to flatten the curve! By late June, we were already in Phase 2 of re-opening- which meant: NYC weddings + photography were allowed to happen!!! (IN SMALL GROUPS while practicing social distancing and mask-wearing! :D) …. And I got SO lucky to meet Minji & Don! They wanted to have their intimate ceremony at Fort Tryon Park on the Upper West Side of New York City. It was going to be a small little group and they would have a camera set up to broadcast to more friends & family via zoom. It was a SUPER sweet ceremony. Beautiful music (played off a speaker by a close friend) and some heart warming speeches to their parents. I loved the way Don looked so lovingly at Minji at all moments of the ceremony and I loved that I was able to capture this sweet, sweet moment in time!! I am so thankful to have been part of this celebration- it was more of a blessing to myself more than I think even Minji & Don realized! I was separated from my craft— my passion—my joy and source of creativity for months without any real hope or idea of what would happen next— so be able to photograph this wedding brought me BACK TO LIFE!!! I am so thankful for the opportunity to continue to do what I love in this great city. I know we’re not through this pandemic yet— but I am thankful that with proper care and guidelines we can have these moments again.

And with that… I will share with you guys some of my favorite shots from their session!