Vanessa & Brian’s Charming Savannah Elopement in Forsyth Park

General, Real Elopements,

4 min read Jul 28, 2024

If live oak trees with Spanish moss and quaint Victorian townhomes are your idea of the perfect ceremony backdrop, then you may want to consider a Savannah elopement like Vanessa and Brian! And having a Forsyth Park wedding or elopement is the perfect destination to do so: the park is filled with lush greenery, an iconic fountain, and colorful homes dotted along the park’s outskirts, meaning your Savannah elopement will have the southern charm you’re wanting for your day. After Vanessa and Brian realized planning a wedding amidst the current pandemic was simply not an option they’d want to go through with, the couple eloped on May 20, 2020 at Forsyth Park, then headed back to the beautiful Alida Hotel to capture some more intimate post-ceremony portraits. Scroll below to read their love story and to check out the incredible photos that were captured that day!

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

We met in the Atlanta airport about 2.5 years ago. I was headed to work (I am a flight attendant) and he was going to visit family. I thought he was handsome, but I didn’t take him seriously, and so the friend zone it became. My first impression of him was that he was quiet, and he is actually nothing like my first impression of him. Brian’s first impression of me was that I was funny, outgoing, and had a beautiful smile.

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

Brian had to travel to East Africa for work and was there for four months. Before he left he surprised me with four months worth of cards for me to open while he was gone. Some of the cards were romantic, some were for if I had a bad day, and some were just thinking of you cards. His dedication to preserve the relationship during his time away convinced me that his love was here to stay. Brian first fell in love with me the day after Christmas later that year. He said that the time apart earlier that year made him realize how strong his feelings were for me. He first told me he loved me the day after Christmas that year.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Brian proposed to me at a coffee shop in the small town where he was working for the last few years. We had discussed marriage for a while, but of course his proposal caught me off guard (in a great kind of way).

What do you love about your partner?

I first fell in love with Brian’s commitment to consistency. I love his loyalty, intelligence, curiosity, and open-mindedness. Brian says he loves my affectionate nature for him, loyalty, and most of all he says I make him a better person, man, and husband.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

The greatest strength of our relationship is our ability to openly communicate with each other without fear.

Why did you decide to elope?

The thought of eloping was always enticing because of logistics. We both have big families whom we are both very close with that live all over the world. It was a bit intimidating to attempt to plan a wedding that could bring everyone together….especially now with the current pandemic. We became increasingly unsure of when we would ever get to bring everyone together and where we would be able to do this. Also eloping provided us with the intimate setting that better suits our personalities.

How did you find Simply Eloped?

I found Simply Eloped online after exhaustive research. Simply Eloped’s style matched ours perfectly.

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

We knew we liked Simply Eloped based the packages they provide, professionalism, and prompt communication. Another selling point was the edgy and sophisticated style of their photography. Flexibility is important and the Simply Eloped team were more than happy to improvise if need be.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

We chose Savannah because of incredible scenery and it’s proximity to where we live. There were a number of locations to choose from but Forsyth Park in our opinion was the most beautiful.

What activities did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

We stayed at The Alida Hotel in Savannah. Brian had told the manager we were going to get married and she delightfully upgraded our room to a beautiful suite. We chose to stay in and enjoy our wedding morning together. It was raining all morning so we were a bit concerned that the wedding would be rained out. Right before it was time to leave the hotel the clouds disappeared and the sun came out. We both had feelings of happiness, anticipation, and relief that the sun would shine down on us on our perfect day.

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

The entire team at Simply Eloped was communicative, professional, and warm. They made our experience absolutely unforgettable. We’d like to give shout outs to photographer Karen Norian, officiant Melissa DeLynn, and Simply Eloped’s Roni, Laura, and Janessa. This is what all customer service should look like.

How did you celebrate after?

Champagne, champagne, champagne!!!

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

Eloping is a personal choice. People who truly love and support you, will honor how you choose to get married. Marriage is about love and commitment and eloping is an incredibly intimate way to celebrate that union. We would choose an elopement again and again if we could! It was the best decision ever.

Planning: Simply Eloped
Photographer: Karen Norian
Officiant: Melissa DeLynn
Flowers: Magnolia & Fleur
Post-Ceremony Photos: The Alida Hotel

General Real Elopements

Written by Karen Norian

Karen Norian is an elopement photographer and has photographed over a hundred elopements. Karen has also worked as an elopement planner for Simply Eloped. She's been quoted in the New York Times, Brides, Hello Giggles, Bustle, Yahoo, and more.