A Garden Elopement for Genevieve & Glenn at Washington Oaks Garden State Park

Genevieve & Glenn met at acupuncture school and were soon planning a future together. Their timeline was moved along by the struggles they faced together during the pandemic. They found Simply Eloped to help them plan a romantic elopement at Washington Oaks Garden State Park in St. Augustine. Genevieve & Glenn exchanged vows under the roof of the pavilion surrounded by gorgeous gardens and ponds. Afterward, they enjoyed lunch on the beach and champagne and cake. We love that this bride, who used to arrange events, knew that she wanted a stress-free elopement with Simply Eloped taking care of all the details. Read more about Genevieve getting Glenn’s attention in the first place and how their relationship spurred their choice to elope. 

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another? 

Genevieve: We met our first year of acupuncture school! We sat near each other in anatomy class, which is hilarious in retrospect. I thought Glenn was really cute, and I batted my eyelashes at him quite a bit. He finally caught on.

Glenn: I thought Genevieve was beautiful, and then I started talking to her and found out she was pretty funny, too. Not to mention smart. 

When did you first fall in love? How did you know?

Glenn: I wanted to be around Genevieve more and more and started thinking of us having a future together. I told her, “I love you” first. 

Genevieve: I think I knew about three or four months into dating that I loved him, and he was a keeper. It was a turbulent time of my life, and he was steady with me through it.

How did you propose or accept the proposal? 

Genevieve: We had talked about getting married since our first year of being together, and we had made a lot of plans for it. The pandemic changed everything. I moved in with Glenn a lot sooner than we had anticipated due to working remotely. We supported each other through a very challenging year between the pandemic and personal tragedies. We made it out alive, and we loved each other even more because of it. The struggles brought us closer. So we decided to get married sooner! I chose a few rings that I wanted, and he picked one out. Glenn proposed over a candlelit dinner of Chinese takeout. He talked a lot about how we just work well together, and I agreed with a “yes”! 

 

What do you love about your partner?

Glenn: That she’s smart and caring. She’s good at talking about emotions and navigating difficult conversations. She’s also really hot. 

Genevieve: He’s the stable earth and forest to my moody waters. He keeps me balanced. He’s logical and pretty stoic, but he’s also got this sweet, tender, sensitive side. 

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Genevieve: We think about things pretty similarly. So when we do have disagreements, we’re able to understand the other’s perspective well. We’re also both very committed to each other. There is that sense of security that no matter what we fight about or what challenges we come across, we will see it through together.

Why did you decide to elope?

Glenn COVID, primarily. We wanted to have a wedding with close family, but we knew that it would be a struggle with restrictions in place across the country. However, we both wanted to travel (safely!), and Genevieve is a huge travel bug. We decided St. Augustine would be a beautiful place to elope. 

How did you find Simply Eloped? 

Genevieve: Google search, honestly! 

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

Genevieve: I liked the idea of an all-in-one package. I used to help coordinate events, and I know the craziness that goes into them. I loved the idea of someone doing it all for me.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? 

Glenn: The history and architecture. Genevieve is half Spaniard, and St. Augustine reminded her of her second home in Spain. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement?

Glenn: We packed, wrote out vows together, and made sure our wedding clothes fit. That was pretty much it! It was so easy just to pack a bag and leave town for a few days. 

Genevieve: I was so nervous and excited. Moments before we were married, we just walked around Washington Oaks Park in awe of the flowers and trees. It felt right. 

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day! 

Genevieve: It was great. The officiant was communicative, the photographer walked us through some great poses, and we love our photos. 

How did you celebrate after your elopement? 

Genevieve: We grabbed lunch by the beach and headed back to our Airbnb for our wedding cake and champagne! 

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping? 

Genevieve: It’s much cheaper than your traditional wedding. It’s an amazing experience when you travel and make it into a honeymoon! If it aligns with your values, do it!

 

Officiation by: Amanda Jones
Photography by: Ashley Dye
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, St. Augustine, Florida