Nearly ten years ago, Gianna and Joe met at a job they shared working together at a golf course. On Gianna’s first day, Joe was the first face that greeted her at the door, and they hit it off right from the start. She said he was easy to talk to and super down-to-Earth. He said she was more beautiful than anyone he’d ever met in his life.

On a Friday night almost three years ago, they drove to Cape May to visit the Christmas Village at Congress Hall and Joe proposed to Gianna right outside in front of the Christmas Tree. I had the pleasure of being invited into Joe and Gianna’s home to create their engagement photographs just a few months later. They wanted their session to be beautiful, laid back, and relaxed, and they said choosing to do it in their first home together made it that much more special. (Check out their engagement photos here.)

Gianna said that it was more in line with their personalities to elope. They wanted to be able to focus on each other and enjoy every moment together on such a monumental day, rather than be faced with the additional stress of planning a large event and everything that comes with it. I’d say they did their vision justice, and much like with their engagement session, their day was laid back, relaxed, and oh-so beautiful.

They got ready separately at their stunning Roost Midtown suite where they read heartfelt vows in the form of letters written for each other. Joe left moments before Gianna to wait for his bride under the tree that they had chosen together for their ceremony in Fairmount Park. The two then shared a breathtaking and emotional ceremony, after which we spent some time wandering about the city, celebrating and documenting their love and life-long commitment to one another. It was such an honor and a privilege to bear witness to their wedding day. Being a part of moments like this will never get old.