Chris & Jana shared an intimate ceremony at Constitution Gardens with Rev. Roxie before a quick walk to the monuments to take photos. We caught up with them to ask about their elopement, and this is what they said!
Tell us a little about yourselves!
We are both from Orlando, Florida and were introduced through a mutual friend and we immediately hit it off. We have been together for 8 years and we got married in DC on our 6th anniversary, which was truly magical!
Why did you decide to elope, rather than do a “big wedding” or get married at the courthouse?
Marriage represented a very important commitment to us, and one that we take very seriously. We decided to elope because we wanted to focus on each other and enjoy the moment quietly and privately, and it turned out to be a great decision.
What drew you to get married in Washington, DC?
When we decided to get married, gay marriage was not legal yet in Florida. Our lawyer suggested a few states with longstanding success defending same-sex marriage and strong support of gay marriage rights, and DC was at the top of that list. We chose Washington, DC because it is a grand and historic city that is very accepting of the LGBT community.
What did you like about working with DC Elopements?
The lines of communication were amazing and the staff at DC Elopements were great with referrals. We had a wonderful photographer that made us feel comfortable on our special day, and Roxie was a wonderful officiant. We were provided a nice list of venues with descriptions so we could pick the perfect place to recite our vows. Everyone at DC Elopements made us feel confident that all the legal paperwork would be handled properly and in a timely manner, and it was.
What are your favorite memories from your wedding day?
We didn’t know exactly where Constitution Gardens was located and our cab driver dropped us off at the wrong place. We walked around and got lost for a while until a kind stranger told us how to get there. We were late arriving, but the photographer was so patient, and waited until we had time to relax before getting started. He took time to get to know us and even walked us around DC after the ceremony. He took additional pictures and gave us ideas of things to do. We had a wonderful dinner that night, and everyone was congratulating us – it wrapped up a perfect day!
