A Romantic Elopement for Jessica & Jonathan in Whitefield Square

Jessica & Jonathan met at the movies and had an instant connection. Jonathan turned up the romance with his Savannah, Georgia proposal, which ended with a carriage ride through the city’s historic downtown. So, when they planned their intimate elopement, they decided to return to where they were engaged. They were so happy to have Simply Eloped take care of all details for their Whitefield Square ceremony. After their vows under the gazebo, they took advantage of nearby Forsyth Park for their photos. The newlyweds then joined family and friends at a nearby restaurant for a meal and to cut the wedding cake! Jessica & Jonathan have some great advice for other couples looking to elope, so read on!

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

Jessica: I met Jonathan through my brother. I went along with them to a get-together with their friends. He and I instantly had a connection. My first impression of him was that he was very sweet and talkative. 

Jonathan: As Jessica said, we met at a movie outing with some friends. My first impression of Jessica was that she was very cute and had a quiet but sweet demeanor.

How did you propose or accept the proposal? 

Jonathan: I planned a trip to Savannah, GA (our first time visiting the city) and got a nice hotel in the historic downtown district. I took her to a nice local restaurant. After which, I took her to the nearby Telfair Square and got on one knee as she was viewing the Telfair art museum. She turned around and, to my great joy, said yes. Right after this moment, I had planned for a private horse carriage to arrive at the location with flowers. We ended the night with an excellent tour of the downtown area in our carriage. 

Jessica: I said yes, of course! Jonathan went above and beyond, and it was one of the most romantic things he had ever done. I will always cherish and remember that night. 

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination? 

Jessica & Jonathan: We chose to elope in Savannah, GA, due to our proposal story taking place there. We ended up eloping about two years after the proposal, and it was our first time revisiting the city since then. 

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there? 

Jessica & Jonathan: We chose Whitefield Square to get married at because of its beautiful gazebo. Also, Jonathan’s mother’s side of the family has the name Whitfield. The square was conveniently close to the beautiful Forsyth Park, where we had many of our wedding pictures taken.

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Jessica & Jonathan: We both felt that it was the perfect place to exchange our vows with the scenery around us and the feel of the location. All of the beautiful oak trees enhanced the atmosphere.

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

Jessica: Jonathan and I got ready separately so he would not be able to see me in my wedding dress until the ceremony. At the same time, I felt at ease and nervous due to wanting everything to go as planned. And fortunately, everything turned out better than I could have wanted.

Jonathan: Leading up to the actual trip, Jessica bought a wedding dress, and I rented a suit. We bought each other’s wedding bands. Before the actual ceremony, I separated from Jessica and went to get ready at a hotel where my family was staying. I felt nervous but very excited to be doing this finally.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Jessica: my experience was very positive with everyone assigned to us. The hair and makeup pro did an amazing job. I loved my bouquet. Our officiant was very accommodating and communicative with us before the ceremony. I can’t say enough positive things about our photographer, Hilary Dykas! She was so easy to work with, and the photos came out better than I could have ever hoped. Our videographer was also very professional, and we are excited to see the final product of his work. 

Jonathan: I had a great experience with Simply Eloped. Planning a wedding can be very complicated with a lot of components. The package we used combined many of these components (officiator, photographer, videographer, etc) into a pretty good value. This took a lot of stress off of us, making the special day go right. Our officiator, Tina, was awesome conducting the ceremony with a loving, sincere tone that ourselves and our family enjoyed.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Jessica & Jonathan: We had some of our close family members meet us in Savannah to witness the ceremony. Afterwards, we ate dinner at a nice restaurant to enjoy our wedding cake and each other’s company. We also stayed in Savannah for an additional day or so to further explore the city and enjoy our trip. 

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

Jessica & Jonathan: Every couple’s situation and preferences are different. But for those who are wanting a smaller, more intimate, and memorable wedding; we can’t recommend the elopement service enough. The location provided a very unique experience we would not have been able to have in our hometown. We were still able to have close family attend without any issues. Elopement doesn’t always mean being alone if you want to share the moment with loved ones. We chose to go with a smaller guest count, and we both felt like we had a very nice wedding without breaking the bank. This plan really helped us balance between our financial priorities and having a beautiful wedding that was right for us.

Officiation by: Tina Nelson
Photography by: Hilary Dykas
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Jessica Malpas
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Whitfield – Gazebo, Savannah, Georgia

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.