Sometimes the perfect wedding venue is simply the place where you first met. Hillary and Andrew met at the YMCA in Camp Lakewood when they were both camp counselors. It only felt right that they say I do where they fell in love. With help from wedding planner and Junebug member Coda’s Events, their summer camp elopement paid homage to their counselor days with the sweetest details.
With matching Chacos sandals, a s’more shack, and camp flags, this elopement shows how you can tastefully personalize your big day. Grab your lanterns and prepare to relive your childhood with this summer camp elopement, as captured by Enkindle Photography.
The Couple:
Hillary and Andrew
The Wedding:
YMCA Camp Lakewood, Potosi, Missouri
Why A Summer Camp Elopement?
In 2009, Andrew traveled from Bristol, England to work at a summer camp in the states. Through Camp America, he was placed in this amazing camp tucked away in the middle of nowhere Missouri. I went to that camp as a child and it was my first year as a counselor. We fell in love at that summer camp, and being able to elope at the place it all began was truly magical.
Hiking In Chacos Sandals
I am so proud of hiking the whole way in my Chacos! We went into the woods and the lake. It brought back all the summer memories spent in our Chacos before.
Shop Chacos sandals: Women’s Z/1® Classic ($95); Men’s Z/2® Classic Wide Width ($95)
Personalized Vows
We wrote our own vows and incorporated camp traditions into them. It was a way to make them light but capture our love.
Recommended reading: Want to write your own vows? Pick your perfect wedding vow books to write your words of love that match your vibe.
Some More S’Mores
The most memorable part of the day was the s’mores. It was a nice take on a camp classic and a fun way for us to personalize our day.
Wedding Advice: Get a Planner
Weddings are so special. When it comes to your day it is so easy to get caught up in everyone else’s expectations. It really helped us to have a wedding planner to help make our vision come to life. This elopement allowed me to create the wedding of my dreams.
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Enkindle Photography
Event Planning – Coda’s Events
Venue – YMCA Camp Lakewood
Floral Design – Roses & Mint
Cake – Spoil Me Sweetly
Videography – Matthew Jay Films
Invitation Design – Second Twin Stationery
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Ashley Boren HMUA
Wedding Dress – Watters
Groom’s Apparel – The Suit Shop
Rentals – Styled + Staged STL
Congratulations to Hillary and Andrew on their summer camp elopement! Big shout out to Junebug member Coda’s Events for sharing this day with us. See more of their work on their profile of wedding planners from around the world.
Whether you choose to run off and elope or plan a large ceremony, your big day is a day you’ll remember forever. If you want to pay homage to your hobbies, your passions, or where you fell in love, do it! We absolutely support you and are here to help you plan it.
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