A Water-Themed Polyamorous Elopement At A Lakeside Bungalow
The picturesque backdrop for this unconventional love story was a private mountain lakeside bungalow in Front Royal, Virginia, on the idyllic day of May 19, 2015. The couple’s unique chemistry was palpable, as they were joined by Holly, an offbeat partner with a passion for homeschooling, and Tom, a hardware store customer service representative who added his own brand of quirky charm to the celebration.
Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
As I embarked on marrying Tom, I had already spent nine years with my husband Dan. This was Tom’s first wedding, so I didn’t feel the need to go all out and plan a grand ceremony. Tom was understanding, and we decided to keep things low-key. I wasn’t interested in donning a traditional white wedding dress, as I’d done that before, and I wanted to focus on celebrating our love rather than putting on a show. The color scheme for the day was largely inspired by Tom’s favorite tie from Cyberoptix.
As someone who worked at the National Aquarium and a fish store, water played a significant role in our ceremony. We incorporated purple, his favorite color, and teal blue, my own favorite hue, to create a unique blend. However, on the day of the wedding, I realized I had left Tom’s tie back home, which led to a frantic dash back and forth to ensure its timely arrival. Thankfully, Dan was able to meet Tom halfway with the tie, given our distant location from the ceremony site.
Both Tom and I opted for Converse sneakers, as we already owned pairs and saw no need for anything more formal. For an outdoor wedding, high heels seemed impractical. My galaxy-print shoes, in particular, held sentimental value, as I had recently concluded teaching an Astronomy class to high school students. As a homeschooling parent, this small nod to my passion made the experience even more special.
Tell us about the ceremony:
We kept our elopement intimate by limiting the guest list to just the photographer and officiant. To make the ceremony even more personal, I crafted a handfasting ritual using chords I designed myself after growing frustrated with the overpriced options online. It took some time, but the end result was well worth the effort. In addition to the handfasting, we exchanged rings to symbolize our commitment to each other.
To avoid overwhelming my finger with too much jewelry, Tom and I chose simple yet meaningful bands. His ring featured a stunning tungsten carbide band with an abalone shell inlay, which complemented the water-inspired theme beautifully. Mine was a plain white gold band that matched my existing wedding set from Dan. Before putting them on our fingers, we displayed the rings on a special stand Tom had crafted at a local glassblowing studio.
The ceremony took place in a secluded bungalow nestled in the hills near the Shenandoah River. Our private retreat boasted its own waterfall, hot tub, and pond, which was teeming with life – tadpoles, frogs, turtles, and dragonflies galore! While the spring weather had its advantages, it also brought an unexpected challenge: the picturesque lake would be a muddy brown hue due to frequent rainfall.
Originally, we had planned to hold the ceremony on the dock overlooking the pond, but the intense afternoon sun forced us to relocate to the wooded area, which offered a serene and shaded atmosphere.
Tell us about your reception:
As our photographer and officiant departed, Tom and I shed our wedding attire and spent the afternoon basking in the serenity of our private hot tub. The evening unfolded with a sizzling steak dinner on the grill, accompanied by an unexpected visit from the property owner’s canine companion, who had traveled far to seek out a snack.
As night descended and the melodic chorus of frogs filled the air, we lit a shoreline fire and offered a silent prayer to the stars, acknowledging that our bond was now reinforced by the cosmic elements. A sweet treat accompanied this moment: s’mores galore! In a moment of indulgence, we succumbed to the allure of our wedding cake, breaking into it before dinner – simply irresistible!
The cake, crafted with love by my dear friend’s bakery business, Queen Bee Cakes, was an exact replica of my Pinterest-inspired design. The octopus topper, hand-sculpted from Sculpty, boasted personal touches, including the rings, bouquet, and matching veil, thoughtfully added by our talented baker.
What was your most important lesson learned?
As I searched for a wedding dress, I faced my biggest challenge: finding one that fit within our budget without sacrificing style. After some creative problem-solving, I ended up with a bridesmaid’s gown that was transformed into a bespoke design by my seamstress friend. The result was a unique and comfortable fit that made me feel like the best version of myself on our special day. As a curvy individual, I’m no stranger to finding solutions that work for my body type.
In this case, I opted for a supportive bra to ensure I felt confident and at ease throughout the ceremony.
One of the most important decisions we made was embracing a polyamorous wedding, which initially raised some concerns. However, our loved ones were incredibly understanding and receptive to our vision, working closely with us to create a ceremony that truly reflected our love and commitment to one another.
While we may not have been able to formalize our union through legal paperwork, we did everything in our power to make the day feel just as meaningful and special. I’m hopeful that future developments will bring recognition and equality for all loving relationships, regardless of their form.
Vendors
When it came to planning the wedding celebration, the couple sought out professionals with a keen eye for detail. They enlisted the expertise of Officiant Brenda Berry from Sacred Celebrations to guide them through their special day. The ceremony was beautifully captured by photographer Doug Stanford, who brought the memories to life with his lens. For the bride’s attire, they turned to David’s Bridal, where she found her stunning dress that perfectly complemented her personal style.
Sweet treats were provided by Queen Bee Cakes, whose delectable confections added a touch of whimsy to the celebration. And finally, the groom’s tie was carefully crafted by the innovative team at Cyberoptix Tie Lab, ensuring he looked dashing and stylish throughout the festivities.
