The Story of Our Day
One of the most special moments of our elopement was during the ceremony when Olivia asked us to share the story of our day. As we recounted it together, she reminded us that this was just the beginning—the first time we’d tell this story, but certainly not the last. It’s a story we’ll carry with us, retelling it through the years as a testament to this beautiful chapter in our lives. We wanted to create a space here to share that story with all of you—our family, friends, and loved ones.
Morgan:
The day we got married was perfect. It wasn’t meticulously planned like I’d once imagined my wedding day would be, but it turned out to be exactly what we needed.
Liz and I slept in a little, made some coffee, and gave our dogs, Allie and Queen, baths so they’d be clean and ready to stay with my cousin’s family for the night. It was just such a lovely domestic start to the day! While I was getting ready, Liz went out to grab a delicious tiramisu cake for that night and also grabbed us some Chick-fil-A for lunch since we hadn’t eaten yet. Once we packed up our bags, the dogs, and the cake, we took a quick selfie and started our drive.
We dropped the dogs off in Provo and picked up our flowers (shoutout to my wonderful cousins Nicole and Glen for watching our girls, and to my amazingly talented florist cousin Andrea for rushing to make our beautiful flowers last minute!) before heading down the canyon to Helper. As we drove through the winding fall foliage, Liz and I talked the whole way—reminiscing about how we met, our first date, and how comfortable we felt with each other right away. Our first kiss, how crazy it was that we moved in together so quicky, all the puppies we’ve raised together, just everything! It was then we realized that everyone in our small elopement party had either played a direct role in our relationship or had supported us on the day of our first date.
Olivia drove Liz to the date because her car was in the shop.
Alia and I had brunch and hung out beforehand so she could hype me up.
And Morgan (the friend!) was one of two friends who convinced Liz to finally message me back in the first place!
Once we got to Helper, Morgan and Alia met us, and we took some beautiful photos before joining Olivia and Aurelio. Together, we made our way up a hillside for the ceremony. There was a funny moment when we thought we were in the wrong spot, so we drove around and climbed up another hill, only to realize we had been in the right place all along! Olivia shouted, “This is a metaphor for marriage!” as we scrambled up the gravelly hillside, and we couldn’t stop laughing.
Our ceremony was intimate, personal, and so meaningful. As the sun set, Liz and I stayed at the top of the hill to exchange private notes we had written for each other. Just as we finished, wiping away happy tears, the church bells rang out across the hills—it was magical.
Afterward, we regrouped and went to Helper Beer for some of the best pizza and beer we’ve ever had. We shared memories, cried some more, and celebrated with so much love. Later, Morgan, Olivia, and Aurelio joined us back at our Airbnb for cake, and Olivia read our palms, which felt like the perfect way to end the day.
It was such a beautiful day, full of laughter, love, and magic. I’m so grateful to be Liz’s wife and to have shared this moment with her and the people who mean the most to us.
Liz:
The week leading up to our wedding was a whirlwind. We had decided, almost on a whim, that we wanted to get married on the 14th. At one point, we weren’t even sure if we’d end up in a courtroom signing papers or if we’d pull together something more. But somehow, everything fell into place. Looking back, it’s incredible how perfect and magical the day turned out with so little preparation. And honestly, that’s because the most important thing was never in question—we love each other, and we knew without a doubt that we wanted to spend forever together.
The day itself was beyond anything I could’ve imagined. We woke up without alarms and shared a simple, cozy morning that felt so true to us. As I ran errands to get ready for the day ahead, I couldn’t help but think how our life together feels like home.
We dropped the dogs off with Morgan's cousin Nicole, then set off through the canyon toward Helper, Utah. There’s something about driving with Morgan in the passenger seat that I love—just the two of us, the beautiful scenery, and endless conversation. As we wound through the mountains, we talked about everything—how I knew I wanted her to be my girlfriend and how nervous I was to ask, and then, somehow, moving in together so soon, before we had even found the courage to say "I love you." But even then, I knew—my life wasn’t complete without Morgan in it.
From the moment we met, being around Morgan felt like something I had already known, like I had been waiting for her without realizing it. Even on our first date, I just wanted to be around her in any capacity—I didn’t care if we ended up as friends or something more, I just knew I needed her in my life. And somehow, through all the twists and turns, I get to call her my wife. It’s crazy how lucky I am. We’ve been through two moves and seven puppy litters together, celebrating every new litter like a little milestone in our lives. I’ve switched to a new job with her full support every step of the way, and I’ve been there for her as she earns her degree, so proud of everything she’s accomplished. We’ve always worked together for each other’s happiness, lifting each other up in ways that make even the most uncertain moments feel solid. And now, driving through the canyon, heading toward the day we would finally get married, it all felt like it had been leading here—like this was exactly where we were meant to be.
When we arrived in Helper, we met up with our friends, Morgan and Alia, and snapped a few photos on Main St before joining Olivia and Aurelio. Morgan, not only one of our witnesses but also a talented photographer, had scouted out the perfect spot for the ceremony. It’s amazing that after she found it, Olivia—who knows the town so well—led us to the exact same place. It felt like fate, that they both chose the perfect spot without even realizing it.
Our ceremony was small and intimate, just as I’d hoped. As the sun set, we stayed at the top of the hill to share private notes with each other, and as we finished, the church bells started ringing. It was like the universe was celebrating with us.
That night, a supermoon hung over Helper, bathing everything in a bright silver light. It made the whole town glow, like something out of a dream. We ended the night at Helper Beer with incredible pizza and beer, surrounded by love and laughter. Signing the papers over pizza might have been my favorite moment of the day. Everything felt so right—just this perfect, magical ending to a day that was entirely ours.
I’m so grateful to call Morgan my wife and to have shared this day with the people who’ve been there for us every step of the way.