Tamara Merri

4 days ago

Boston Public Library Elopement | Gabriella & Will

Gabriella and Will’s elopement at the Boston Public Library was very laid back and stress-free, but also intentional and emotional! I love it when couples choose to make their wedding day 100% about them and their marriage!

Will and Gabriella originally met on Hinge in 2021, because well ~covid~! Gabriella shared with me that there is nothing she loves more than a dive-y Irish bar, so when he suggested meeting at Tavern at the End of the World in Charlestown for their first date she immediately knew he was the one. She texted her best girlfriends before we met and said I can tell he’s going to be a keeper. Here we were three years later celebrating their marriage!

Boston Public Library Elopement Photographer

Elopement at the Boston Public Library

I initially met Gabriella and Will for engagement photos back in April. They shared with me that they wanted to elope at Boston Public Library, but weren't able to make their appointment just yet. To elope at the Boston Public Library you can apply within a 90-day window so they didn’t have their exact date selected.

For a one-hour elopement ceremony, guests can invite up to 12 guests to witness their marriage in the Guastavino Room on certain Mondays. It is nice that your photographer and officiant do not count toward the 12-person guest limit so you can include your immediate family members. We are permitted to take photos in the Guastavino Room, the exterior of the McKim Building, and Copley Square. This unfortunately does not include the rest of the building or the courtyard, but it gives us plenty of time for portraits in permitted areas. Learn more about elopement at BPL here.

Bride and groom portraits outside of the Fairmont Copley

Boston Elopement Photographer

Gabriella and Will got ready with their families at the gorgeous Fairmont Copley. It rained on their day so we did their first look under one of the covered entrances to the hotel before walking to BPL with umbrellas. We all headed to the Guastavino Room where Gabriella's uncle officiated their ceremony. They shared heartfelt vows and exchanged custom-made rings from their family jeweler. After taking some family portraits we used the rest of our allotted time in the room for newlywed photos before venturing back to the Copley in the rain.

During their engagement session, Gabriella and Will expressed how they were concerned about looking ‘natural’ in photos. I encouraged them to just be themselves and let their personalities shine. After all, these photos are for THEM and no one else. I soon learned that Will has a very silly personality and I loved to capture his and Gab's dynamic so we made sure to carry that through to their elopement photos.

Since Gab + Will are celebrating with a larger reception later on, Gabriella did a quick outfit change for a few more photos in order to share their elopement photos without blowing the surprise of her gown. Afterwards, they went out to celebrate their marriage with family. While I didn’t join then, I’m excited to see them again in November to photograph their larger reception with all their friends!