Alex + John: Hollywood Couple’s Intimate Summer Elopement

There’s a reason this girl looks like a movie star. I met Alex in a theater class at the University of Houston during our undergrad, circa 2003. She is actually the one and only person I still know from college since I lived off campus and didn’t participate in any extracurricular activities. We did a few skits together and I quickly realized what a sweet and genuine girl she was. Soon after, I realized acting wasn’t meant to be and changed my Theater major to History & English Literature and transferred to a different university and our friendship was left to Facebook acquaintances. But I never forgot that effervescent girl with the bright and welcoming smile.

Fast forward 14 years to Alex living out her acting dream in LA and me on the road full-time as a traveling couples photographer. I reached out to her last autumn on a whim when I decided to pass through LA and, much to my surprise, she got engaged to a fellow UofH actor, John, that very week! We decided on the only reasonable reunion you can image: an adventurous engagement session in the rugged Malibu Solstice Canyon! You can read all about their epic decade-long, slow-burn love story here.

Another eight months pass and Alex is in the midst of wrangling wedding plans and planning to accommodate their ever-growing guest list. I’m in LA once more for an adventure session when she confides in me they’ve been thinking about moving up their wedding and eloping. (!!!) Things moved very quickly after that and Alex + John decided to book Houston’s contemplative Rothko Chapel for their intimate ceremony and tell only a few friends and family that they were eloping in less than 60 days!

Their warm August day was filled with only their closest family and friends and the most lovely details: Alex’s grandfather married them, John’s ring was re-made from his ancestor’s ring, and Alex met her one-week-old nephew for the first time.

The Rothko Chapel doesn’t allow photography inside so this is the moment they walked out as husband and wife!

I know it’s easy to toss around the phrase “made for each other” but no couple has ever made me believe as much as these two. Their energy is magnetic and the love and affection between them is nothing short of palpable. I’m so amused to think back to that ill-fated theater class and image if someone had come up to us and predicted that I would be photographing her wedding 15 years later. Life is pretty amazing y’all, and it has a funny way of working out just exactly as it should.

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Melody is a full-time nomad who calls an RV home while roaming all over the western US and beyond for couple’s adventure photography in the wilds of nature. Her style is cinematic, romantic and richly colored and she believes that the beauty and chaos of nature, with its twisting paths, coarse landscapes and breath-taking wonder is a poignant analogy for relationships. The Pacific Northwest will always hold a special place in her heart but, life is short and the world is wide so check out the travel schedule to follow along with her adventures.

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3 comments
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  • Ann

    Stunning couple! I just loved the details of this intimate wedding <3ReplyCancel

  • Sarah

    Oh my! This is one gorgeous and intimate elopement! Love the dress and the moments you caught!ReplyCancel

  • Jeannie

    I’ve gazed over these photos and read about their love story more than once. I’m in love with the whole gallery. This couple is adorable, perfect for an intimate elopement! The photos are fantastic!!ReplyCancel

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