intentional celebration

Creating a truly authentic Celebration of your love

A conversation with Myrtle Creative Co. about intentional celebrations

For photographer Ann Marie, owner of Myrtle Creative, all roads lead back to this question. Adventure elopement, traditional wedding, intimate wedding, or some other variation…There are so many different terms and concepts to categorize a celebration of love into one particular thing or another. It can be overwhelming. Ann Marie has built her business around helping clients set aside all of that pressure and expectation. With Myrtle Creative, she helps them create the intentional  celebration of their dreams.

Photography is at the core of her business, but that’s just the beginning. She believes couples should feel like they have permission to do whatever they want for their big day. “No two wedding days should be the same because no two couples have the same unique love story.” She’s dedicated to helping couples bring their dream day vision to life – full of all the experiences and fun they envisioned for their intentional celebration.

When meeting with prospective clients, Ann Marie takes time to get to know the couple. She asks them about their engagement story, unique hobbies or interests they share together, and what they envision for their day. Once Ann Marie gets a feel for the couple, her creative wheels start turning. She brings over 5 years of experience and boundless enthusiasm to her work, going above and beyond to draft itineraries, brainstorm creative activities that can be incorporated into the wedding, and more.

We’ve asked Ann Marie to talk us through a few examples of how she’s helped couples add special touches to their day to create truly intentional celebrations of love, a few of her expert tips, and of course, the beautiful photographs that come with them.

“My wish for any couple is that you can have a truly authentic wedding that is an intentionally planned experience celebrating the love you share together.”

When meeting with prospective clients, Ann Marie takes time to get to know the couple so she can help them create their own intentional celebration. She asks them about their engagement story, unique hobbies or interests they share together, and what they envision for their day. Once Ann Marie gets a feel for the couple, her creative wheels start turning. She brings over 5 years of experience and boundless enthusiasm to her work, going above and beyond to draft itineraries, brainstorm creative activities that can be incorporated into the wedding, and more.

We’ve asked Ann Marie to talk us through a few examples of how she’s helped couples add special touches to their day, a few of her expert tips, and of course, the beautiful photographs that come with them.

Location, location, location

I often help with location recommendations for full weddings, elopements, and any variation in between. This can be for a portion of your day or the entire day, depending on what you’re looking for. Most of my couples love getting outside, so incorporating nature in some way is really important to them.

  • Find a nearby location that fits your needs. If your ceremony is taking place somewhere without access to elements of nature that you love, don’t rule out nearby locations! A second location can sometimes be easily added to your day to help you get the experience you want.
  • If that is not an option, opt for a Day After Session add-on.
  • Or plan an Engagement or Anniversary Session at that iconic dream location to really spread out the fun.

Expert Advice

I always have a backup plan for the backup plan, and we chat about all things PNW weather to prepare you for the best possible experience!

Helping you go with the flow

During the planning process, I might help with the logistics of how different portions of your day can flow so you can enjoy your time without interruption, and I can make sure I have time to capture all of the beautiful moments. This level of logistical support can really vary depending on your unique vision. Regardless of how involved I am in this process, I generally recommend asking for suggestions from your hired wedding and elopement professionals around timing and practical considerations in advance. In addition to being a resource, we also have connections and love helping you have your best day!

Different ways that wedding professionals can help your day run smoothly:

  • Professional day-of coordinators are irreplaceable when having an event with a lot of moving parts or you want that trusted professional to take care of all the things, regardless of size or scope of your event.
  • For adventure elopements, many professionals are used to wearing multiple ‘hats’ throughout the process or day and are there to help you have your best experience!
  • Prep as much as possible so you have a game plan for your day and the people in place to make it happen. I help all of my couples with an itinerary where I include notes on directions to locations, sunset/sunrise times, etc.

Activities to set your day apart

 No matter what kind of day you plan, you can be very creative about what wedding or elopement day activities or events you include. From cultural dances to quiet moments together, there are so many options and ways to have a very intentional wedding experience. This is an opportunity to stay true to yourselves and create a memorable day.

Here are just a few wedding or elopement activity ideas I’ve helped couples incorporate into their day:

  • Love camping? Turn your one-day event into a camping wedding weekend!
  • Love kayaking? Make time to kayak an alpine lake or nearby area.
  • Enjoy puzzles and a cozy time by the fire? This would be a great warm-up opportunity during a winter wedding or elopement day.
  • Want to spread out your elopement day with more quiet moments together? You could get ready together, write your vows in your vow books while enjoying a cozy brunch together, etc.
  • Love fishing? Make some time to get out on the water and drop a line during your day.
  • Do you and your friends love board games? Include a board game room/area during your reception.
  • Interested in a private meal together on your day? Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at a scenic location of your choice.

OVERWHELMED? START HERE.

Ann Marie recommends starting the planning process by first reflecting on what would really make your day special to you. Intentional celebrations are the name of the game after all. Think about things you want to incorporate and also what you do not want to incorporate into your wedding experience. The last thing you want is to be partway through the process of booking wedding vendors and realize you are no longer excited for your day. Instead, plan a day that you are excited about from the start.

“When you get engaged and are talking about your wedding experience, really take some time to envision, daydream together and chat about what your dream day looks like, what it feels like, and what it can be. What activities do you want to incorporate? How do you want your day to unfold? And who do you want to share this experience with?”

We suggest making a date of it! Grab a glass of wine or a nice cup of tea, put on some music, sit down with your partner and get into it. Even if you’ve already started looking into vendors, it’s never too late to add some small personal touches to make sure your day really feels like yours. And then relax and enjoy your intentional celebration, just for the two of you!