Courthouse Wedding & Balboa Park Portraits: Mark & Brittany’s San Diego Elopement
Filed under: windy veil moments + full circle stories
Mark and Brittany’s courthouse wedding at the waterfront courthouse in San Diego was one of those full-circle, emotional, “holy crap we’re adults now” kind of days. Mark and I go way back—circa 2013, when he moved from Texas to Boulder, Colorado and into an apartment with a total stranger. Spoiler: that stranger was me. A couple kids just trying to figure life out and have fun doing it.
Flash forward a decade, and we somehow turned the late-night dreams and early-morning hustle into real careers. Mark carved out his space in the world of media production, and I built my photography business from the ground up—one shoot, one client, one perfectly timed golden hour at a time. We kept in touch through all the life pivots, cheering each other on from different cities. Then he met Brittany and oh my goodness is she the perfect match for him. She’s warm, thoughtful, and together they have this grounded, joyful energy that just works. It was such an honor to capture their day. Like, one of those “wow, this is why I do this” moments.
San Diego Courthouse Elopement: The Vibe
Mark and Brittany lived in Los Angeles, but chose to elope in San Diego at the downtown courthouse by the water. The weather that day was somethin’ else—a chaotic mix of overcast skies, bursts of strong California sun, and just enough wind to keep us on our toes (and veils in motion). Their ceremony was intimate and sweet, with family and a few close friends—including Mark’s best friend, who came fully prepared with jokes and good vibes. Two peas in a pod.
Portraits at Balboa Park: Just the Three of Us
After the ceremony, the three of us made our way to Balboa Park for portraits and this is where everything really settled in. The pace slowed, the nerves faded, and it just felt like we got to hang out and soak in what the day was about.
We wandered through a few of my favorite corners of the park:
– The Lily Pond (timeless and never trying too hard)
– The exterior of the Timken Museum (clean lines, perfect contrast)
– And the newly renovated Botanical Building (a very photogenic upgrade, if you ask me)
These portraits weren’t about posing or perfection (even though they are pretty close to perfect). They were about documenting them—how they look at each other, how they laugh, how they move through the world as partners. Capturing the in-between stuff. The tiny glances. The wind in her hair. The way Mark couldn’t stop smiling.
How Far We’ve Come
It’s surreal, honestly. Watching someone you’ve known for so long marry the love of their life. We’ve both come a looooong way—from Mark’s early-morning shifts at Starbucks and my clinging to this barely-formed idea that maybe, maybe, I could make it as a photographer. It all felt kind of impossible back then. Life’s pretty cool like that.
Mark and Brittany have since moved back to Colorado, starting a new chapter. It’s not lost on me how rare it is to witness this part of someone’s story—especially when you knew them at the beginning. I am so incredibly lucky to have been part of this moment and be trusted to capture it. It is an honor I will cherish for a lifetime.
If you're planning a courthouse wedding, elopement, or just want portraits that feel like you—wind, laughter, imperfect-perfect moments and all—I’m here to capture the real stuff.
Let’s plan a session that tells your story. Reach out here and let’s make it happen!
