Guest Count: 11 + 1 dog

Location: Groom’s parent’s backyard

I honestly don’t think I’ll ever get sick of documenting these intimate backyard ceremonies and celebrations. Even as things open back up for 2021, I know that some of you out there are still looking to keep things small - so I’m here to provide you with continued inspiration to do so!

I met up with Lauren and Joe at a local forest preserve before their wedding ceremony in Joe’s parent’s backyard.

Even for a smaller scale wedding day, time alone to take portraits is a nice way to relax with your partner before all the hustle and bustle.

I loved how green everything still was in early fall - not to mention that it all went perfectly with Lauren’s amazing dress from Anthropologie.

Once we wrapped up photos we headed to Joe’s parents backyard to meet up with both families.

We showed up to find the guests mingling over champagne and getting set up for the small ceremony.

Joe’s parent’s backyard was so cute and there’s just something super special about getting married in the backyard of the place you grew up in.

Joe and Lauren’s short and sweet ceremony was officiated by an aunt and was perfectly them. Afterwords they celebrated with champagne and bubbles.

I love these little just married moments where everyone is still so full of excitement!

After catching some candid post ceremony moments, I got the family together for a few quick photos. I even got an overhead group shot of everyone together.

After I wrapped up photos the small group got ready for a dinner together to celebrate the newly weds. But before I go here’s some quick bonus content:

Up first: very cute dog content. You know I had to. If there is a dog at your wedding, I will always try to befriend it or at the very least take a bunch of photos of them.

And last but certainly not least is this amazing shawl the bride knitted for herself. Lauren is super talented and I’ve loved keeping up with her latest creations!