We eloped.
Elena & Mateo. Just us, a photographer and one very confused goat.
The night before
Everything we carried up a mountain to get married, laid out on the living-room floor at 11 pm. Tap things to pack them.
The bag is empty. So is the coffee thermos. Start with that.
5:10 am · trailhead · 1,840 m
Headlamps and nerves
We'd talked about a big wedding for a year. Then we looked at each other one night and said, what if it's just us? Six weeks later we were lacing up boots in the dark.
9:40 am · the lake · 2,610 m
A very cold first look
Mateo turned around at the lake and forgot every word he'd planned. Elena's dress was tucked into her hiking socks. Neither of us has ever been happier.
12:15 pm · the summit · 3,104 m
Two yeses, one goat
We said our vows at the top with the wind taking every other word. The photographer cried. The goat ate a corner of the marriage license. It still counts.
The route, drawn
7 h 05 min · 9.4 km · 1,264 m up · one goat
Conditions at “I do”
12:15 pm · summit · from Mateo's watch
Took every other word of the vows.
The dress was not built for this.
Not the climb. He checked.
The vows
as heard over the windI promise to always pack you a snack, to tell you when you're wrong, and to choose you on the hard trails as much as the easy ones.Elena
I promise to carry the heavy bag, to learn your grandmother's soup, and to keep climbing toward you, every single day.Mateo
The goat files
Every elopement needs a witness. Ours had horns. Tap the evidence.
and now, for everyone we didn't invite to a mountain
Come to the party.
the fine print
Really no speeches?
Really. If you have something to say, there's a microphone by the lemon tree from 9 pm. It's switched off.
Can I bring the kids?
Yes, please. There's a bouncy castle and a grandma on duty.
Are you upset we weren't invited up the mountain?
That's our line. We hope you're not. Come eat tacos and see the photos on the big screen. You'll feel like you were there, minus the cold.
Will the goat be there?
No. The goat has not RSVP'd.
transmission from the summit · 20 sec
Hi everyone, it's us, from the top! It's freezing, we're married, and we love you all. Sorry we didn't bring you up here. We'll make it up to you with tacos. Okay, the goat is coming back. Bye!
A real voice note, recorded for this sample. On a real Wedding Webfolio, it's your own voices.