Terry & Gary shared an intimate ceremony in their backyard in Chevy Chase, followed by refreshments and cake with their friends. Here’s what they had to say about their experience!
Tell us a little about yourselves!
Terry is originally from Texas and relocated to the DC area in 1998 from San Diego after living in both Alaska and Hawaii, while Gary moved to DC from Ohio in 1987. Our paths crossed, quite literally, in a local running club while training for a marathon. A few marathons later, we moved into our home in Chevy Chase where we have lived together since 2006.
Why did you decide to elope, rather than do a “big wedding” or get married at the courthouse
Getting married was never seriously considered until Maryland recognized same-sex marriage in 2013. The ability to legally marry represented a very special moment in our lives together and we decided that an intimate ceremony at our home, accompanied by our two closest friends, would be the ideal setting to exchange our vows. We’ve enjoyed many hours together over the years landscaping our yard and with the help of Gary’s father, built the patio in the backyard and knew that this would be the perfect spot for the ceremony.
What did you like about working with DC Elopements?
The photographer provided through DC Elopements, Denis, beautifully captured the emotion of the day. Both Laura and Denis made us feel very at ease, as if we were old friends, which made our wedding day such a memorable moment – better than we could have ever imagined!
What are your favorite memories from your wedding day?
For us, exchanging vows was a very personal and private moment but we were unsure how to make this happen or what options were available. DC Elopements was the perfect solution. Their services provided a perfect match for our vision and they were able to guide us in customizing our ceremony. Our ceremony officiant, Rev. Laura, took the time to get to know us and performed a personal and touching impromptu ring ceremony that we will always remember!