The concept of eloping in a forest came after listening to Ben Rector’s song “Forever Like That”. The song begins with a simple promise of loving the other on a rainy day and an assurance of having each other until the end. It progresses alluding to the different seasons of life – the wind and storms coming and challenging and sometimes even breaking them, but always going back to the promise a couple makes on their wedding day: to love each other simply and wholly no matter what life may bring…to love each other through the aches and sorrows and joy because love is the song two people will sing. 

“I wanna love you, forever I do.

I wanna spend all of my days with you.

I’ll carry your burdens and be the wind at your back.

I wanna spend my forever – forever like that.

When the rain comes, I’ll be your shelter.

When the wind blow, we’ll be together.

When the storms they rise, I’ll be right here by your side.”

I wanted this shoot to reflect that timeless, simple love – a focus on the act of surrendering self to another person and the promise to love that person until the end, rather than the details of a wedding day…something that a husband and wife could look back on and remember why they promised what they did when in a season where love seems dry or on a day when the valley seems deep. So often, people want flashy and there’s not a focus on the act of marriage itself – cake only lasts a few minutes, flowers wilt, and the gown goes back into the closet, but love lasts forever.

Photography & Planning: Hannah Forsberg | Venue: Private Residence | Calligraphy & Paper Goods: Anna Sanders | Hair + Makeup: Margaret Snider | Gown: Amor Bridal Boutique