An Elopement at Hershey Gardens in Hershey, PA

While there’s a lot to be said about the magic of celebrating your marriage with a big wedding, surrounded by your friends and family, I have to admit that I’m also a sucker for intimate elopements.

A private ceremony was an especially touching choice for Kaitlin and Robert, whose love story started in middle school. Their puppy love grew into a high school romance, and continued through more than a decade of growing up, supporting each other, and navigating life together.

When it came time to get married, they chose to be surrounded by nature, with only their two closest guests present.

On June 20, 2026, Kaitlin and Robert exchanged vows at Hershey Gardens in Hershey, Pennsylvania, surrounded by lush greenery, colorful blooms, and the peaceful beauty of the gardens. With the venue closed to the public, we had the entire space to ourselves, which created an incredibly personal atmosphere for their ceremony and portraits. Every part of their day felt meaningful—and entirely their own.

A Quiet, Meaningful Elopement at Hershey Gardens

Not every wedding needs a packed guest list to feel perfect and bountiful. Kaitlin and Robert wanted an intimate ceremony with plenty of time to focus on each other and create portraits in the natural spaces they love. Their only guests were Kaitlin's sister, who served as her maid of honor, and her sister's boyfriend, who officiated the ceremony and stood beside Robert as his best man.

Having Hershey Gardens entirely to ourselves made their vision even more special. I've visited the gardens many times for photoshoots and outings with my children, but I'm used to sharing the space with other guests. Experiencing the gardens after hours, with no crowds around us, was an amazing experience.

In the quiet atmosphere, Kaitlin and Robert were able to be present with each other without feeling like they were performing for an audience. They trusted my guidance throughout the portraits, but they never seemed overly concerned with how they looked or whether they were posing perfectly. Instead, they could focus on the excitement of finally getting married.



That combination of documentary photography and guided portraits allowed me to capture both the planned moments and the spontaneous ones, from laughter to tears. We ended up with a collection of images that felt natural, warm, and true to the way their day unfolded.

Getting Ready Among the Gardens

One of my favorite details about Kaitlin and Robert's elopement was where Kaitlin chose to get ready. She works at Hershey Gardens, so she wanted to begin her wedding day in her own office. It was such a personal touch, connecting a place that is already part of her everyday life with one of the most meaningful days of her life.

Her getting-ready details told the story of their relationship in small, beautiful ways: a promise ring Robert had given her back in high school, a framed photograph from their prom night, and a postcard accompanied by a lucky dime. She also had a white handkerchief embroidered in light blue with a funny message, which was a playful detail that added a little personality to the more sentimental pieces.



Kaitlin's wedding dress was equally beautiful. The mermaid silhouette featured intricate beading that gave the fabric incredible texture, while her short, classic veil complemented her elegant updo. Her bouquet brought everything together with white roses in full bloom, English lavender, globe thistle, and fresh greenery. One of her coworkers at Hershey Gardens made the arrangement, which was a sweet personal connection

Nothing felt chosen simply because it was traditional. Every detail had a story.

A First Look Before the Ceremony

Kaitlin wanted coverage of her getting-ready process and a first look with Robert, giving them a chance to share a quiet moment before exchanging vows.

After more than ten years together, there was something especially meaningful about documenting this new chapter in their relationship. They had already shared so much life, from their teenage years to the challenges and changes that came with growing older. Yet their wedding day still brought a sense of anticipation and excitement.

Their first look captured that.

Exploring the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden

Hershey Gardens was the perfect location to photograph this elopement, because the different landscapes offer so much variety. The gardens are rich with greenery and colorful flowers, so the portraits felt as romantic as a storybook. 



The Japanese Garden was my favorite portrait location of the day. It was so whimsical! A brick pathway leads toward a Japanese bridge, creating a beautiful setting for intimate portraits surrounded by greenery. The atmosphere feels tucked away from the rest of the gardens, making it a lovely place for quiet, personal photographs.

Nearby, a wooden bench sits surrounded by walls of green trees. As the sun began to set, sunlight streamed through the branches behind Kaitlin and Robert, creating the most incredible natural rays of light. The beams seemed to peek through the foliage like a star, illuminating the couple as they sat together.

This was one of those moments that reminds me why I love photographing outdoors. The light was entirely natural, with no digital enhancements needed to create the effect. We simply had the right place, the right timing, and a beautiful moment unfolding in front of us.

I was especially proud of these photographs because that kind of light is never guaranteed. You can plan your timeline and choose your locations, but sometimes nature offers something unexpected that makes an image feel truly magical.

The rose garden was another important stop for their portraits, and for a very sweet reason.

Back in high school, Robert once gave Kaitlin a bouquet of orange flowers. Kaitlin wanted that memory to be included in their wedding photos. As luck would have it, the garden featured a wall of orange roses.

I love when couples bring details like this into their wedding day! The orange roses were the perfect way to honor everything that had brought Kaitlin and Robert to this point.

Kaitlin also wanted photographs at an area she calls the bird cage. The space features two benches, surrounding flowers, and gated walls that curve together into a dome shape overhead.

I loved the opportunity to approach this location a little differently. The gate's square openings created a natural framing device, allowing me to compose a portrait of Kaitlin and Robert through the geometric pattern. The structure added an interesting visual element without taking attention away from the couple.

A Garden Gazebo for Their Ceremony

The main gazebo at Hershey Gardens provided a beautiful setting for Kaitlin and Robert's ceremony. Located near the entrance, the structure offers lovely views of the fountain and garden building.



The contrast between the pale gazebo and the surrounding greenery gave the ceremony photographs a romantic, timeless quality. It also felt right for a wedding that balanced traditional elements, like Kaitlin's veil and personal vows, with a more intimate approach to celebrating.

With no large crowd to entertain or long list of formalities to work through, Kaitlin and Robert could simply be there, together, with the people closest to them.