frequently asked questions
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elopement collections
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galleries
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Meet your elopement guide, Lena
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The Most Popular Spots for Wedding Photos
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how to elope in boston
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Let me walk you through the whole process of eloping in Boston.
CONGRATS! You’re in the best hands.
If you're considering a non-traditional wedding, dreaming of an intimate elopement, or imagining a romantic City Hall wedding in Boston...
+ City Hall Weddings
Boston Elopements
o to your local City Hall to fill out a Marriage Intention form. This can be done in any Massachusetts town, not just Boston! You do NOT need to get your license from the town you’re getting married in. Wait 3 days, and you can pick up your marriage license. It's valid for 60 days! Don’t forget to bring it to your ceremony the day you get married. Your officiant will process it for you then!
GETTING YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE
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I photograph ceremonies on Mondays - Thursdays, typically a few hours before sunset! I’ll advise you on the best time based on your location and lighting conditions on your date. If you’re getting married at City Hall, you can schedule an appointment via phone, email, or online. If you’re feeling lucky, you can apply to elope at the coveted Boston Public Library! They offer a small number of appointments on select Mondays, and dates are released 90 days in advance.
SCHEDULING YOUR APPOINTMENT
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o make it official, hire the best (and my favorite) Justice of the Peace in the world, Priscilla Geaney to perform your ceremony and take care of all your official documents. Call my girl Jackie at Central Square Florist for the perfect bouquet. For the best hair and makeup experience, you have to go with Zena Rose in Beacon Hill. If you need a larger network of referrals, my expertise is ready to help!
securing your vendor dream team
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here is no dedicated parking at Boston City Hall or Cambridge City Hall, so plan to park in a nearby garage if you’re driving (my favorite way to book parking is via SpotHero) or Uber there. If we’re traveling to another location in Boston, we’ll most likely drive, ride share, or take the T after your ceremony. Plan lots of buffer time into your travels for the most easeful experience!
GETTING TO YOUR CEREMONY
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heck into the City Clerk’s office on the 6th floor at least 15 minutes before your ceremony to pay and get your paperwork squared away. You can read your own vows or recite the standard ones they provide. If eloping, arrive early to park and settle in while I escort you and your guests to your ceremony spot! Then it's vows, rings, champagne, CHEERS! You're married!
IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING!
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hat should you bring to your elopement? YOURSELVES! But also - bring a bottle of your favorite bubbly (and two glasses) so we can pop a bottle and celebrate your marriage! More of a beer or bourbon drinker? Let’s stop at your favorite bar and have a toast. Don’t drink? Sparkling cider for the win! There are endless ways to celebrate.
CHAMPAGNE & CELEBRATIONS
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Elope in Boston
How To
The South End is brimming with historic charm! With its brownstone lined streets, adorable colored doors, and charming parks, there are plenty of great photo ops in this part of town. Grab a drink at the many bars and restaurants and celebrate in style!
THE SOUTH END
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For arguably the best skyline view, Piers Park in East Boston is the place to get married. There’s a gigantic, grassy, tree-lined park, docks, the shipyard, the harbor, and the beautiful Boston skyline to take in. It’s romantic and industrial, too! Oh, and the free parking lot and ample free street parking is a bonus too! You can also take a water taxi from Seaport to Eastie, which makes for amazing photo ops in both locations.
EAST BOSTON
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If you’ve got a sweet tooth and love the historic charm of Boston within a 5 minute walk of Boston City Hall, you’re in luck. The North End is the place for you! We'll hop over to Hanover Street in no time. You can go on a cannoli tour, stopping at Mike’s Pastry, Modern Pastry, and Bova’s Bakery, or grab limoncello shots at Caffe Vittoria. It’s also right next to Columbus Park on the waterfront, which has a beautiful ivy-covered trellis for the best photos.
The north end
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Seaport is a quick 10 minute drive from City Hall and is the BEST spot for Boston skyline photos! The cobblestone-lined Harborwalk has sweeping views of the city, and ends at the Institute of Contemporary Art, which is a modern, clean-lined building on the waterfront. Seaport Boulevard has tons of photo ops, and you can end at one of the many breweries for a toast!
Seaport
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Copley Square in Back Bay is a quick trip on the green line from City Hall. The facade of the Boston Public Library is stunning and the Commonwealth Ave Mall is lined with rows of trees and foliage and adorable, historic brownstones. Hop over to the famous Newbury Street and grab some cupcakes or champagne to celebrate!
Back Bay
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The Massachusetts State House is a hidden gem when it comes to wedding photos: if you're into grand, royalty-inspired architecture mixed with some serious European flare, this is your place. The entrance is open to the public until 5pm. There’s a beautiful garden, Roman arches, a grand marble staircase, and the most gorgeous facade you'll see in Boston.
THE STATE HOUSE
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Another popular location right across from the Public Garden is Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is the epitome of old world charm with colored doors, cobblestone streets, and winding hills. There’s the famous Acorn Street, adorable Rouvalis Flower Shop, and Deluca’s Market, to name just a few! Bring comfy shoes - it’s called Beacon Hill for a reason!
BEACON HILL
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The Public Garden is the most romantic, quintessential Boston location for your wedding portraits. Those sweeping willow trees, the pond, flowers in bloom, the charming powder blue bridge... and you may even see the famous lovebirds themselves, two white swans that swim around the pond named Romeo & Juliet!
BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN
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for boston wedding photos
The Most popular spots
’m a proud Bostonian, so I know all the secret spots and hidden gem locations all over the city. I’ll tell you where to snag the easiest parking, the tastiest post-wedding cupcake or latte (or beer), catch a rooftop skyline view, and even how to time the traffic lights for those epic middle-of-the-street shots (someone legitimately mentioned this in a review)
I’m a professional hype woman, so I’m there to make you laugh, lift you up, and melt away any awkwardness for even the most camera shy couples. My passion is bringing couples out of their shell and documenting their unique celebrations in an artistic, high end, and authentic style.
As my elopement bride Anna said, “Lena is a pro at pinning on boutonnieres, wrangling large amounts of people for quick family portraits, and getting real smiles out of everyone.” I create a custom timeline and family photo list tailored for your day to ensure everything runs smoothly! And just take it from my elopement bride Sarah: “It was pouring rain that day, not only did she come prepared with umbrellas for us, she also had creative ideas to still get some great shots of us having fun outside even though the weather wasn’t cooperating!” Rain or shine, I’ll help make bring your wedding day vision to life and be as flexible as possible to make the forecast work for us.
I’m the queen of Photoshopping gum spots off of the pavement, getting rid of trash, and making unsightly city distractions disappear. I clean the streets of Boston one click at a time (and even teach a course on how to retouch). Did you wake up with a pimple on your big day? It’s gone now. Dirt on your dress? Handled. Boston will look even more spectacular with me behind the camera (and computer) with a master retoucher in your corner!
I’ve photographed over 150 elopements and am an expert on how to execute an unforgettable Boston elopement from start to finish. I’m here to be your honorary planner, connect you with the best vendors, craft your timeline, plan travel logistics, and accommodate your special requests. 13 years of experience has prepared me for your best day ever!
Hi! I'm Lena: Boston native, social butterfly, hype woman, City Hall regular, and elopement expert at your service!
Lena
Meet Your Elopement Guide,
I mean, take it from these folks...
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE A BOATLOAD OF FUN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, WE PROBABLY SHOULDN’T WORK TOGETHER!
Check out these start-to-finish love stories on the blog below - and take notes from the latest elopement inspiration!
WANT TO SEE MORE BOSTON ELOPEMENTS, BACKYARD WEDDINGS, CITY HALL WEDDINGS, MINIMONIES, AND MICRO-WEDDINGS?
Not sure what collection you’ll need? That’s what I’m here for! Tell me all about your dream day in the contact form below and I’ll match you with the right fit.
$3850
1 hour of coverage on Monday - Thursday
Ceremony & portraits in one location
Best for couple only, no guests
75+ edited photos
Downloadable online gallery and full printing rights
COLLECTION III
$4650
2 hours of coverage on Monday - Thursday
Ceremony & portraits in one neighborhood area
Best for 0 - 15 guests
125+ edited photos
Downloadable online gallery and full printing rights
COLLECTION II
$7450
4 hours of coverage on Monday - Thursday
Getting ready, ceremony, & portrait coverage in multiple locations
Best for all guest counts
200+ edited photos
Downloadable online gallery and full printing rights
COLLECTION I
Collections
Elopement
Fill out the contact form! I want to hear all about the epic plans for your wedding day. Make sure to include your date and the potential location of your elopement. If you’re flexible about the date, send me the month(s) you're interested in and I’ll send you my open dates!
WHERE DO WE EVEN START?
You can expect between 75 - 200+ photos depending on your collection in 4-6 weeks. You'll receive a handful of sneak peeks in the first week, so you'll never be without your gorgeous wedding photos.
HOW MANY PICTURES DO we receieve, AND HOW LONG WILL we WAIT FOR THEM?
All photos are hand edited in my bright, joyful, colorful signature style. I am a seasoned retoucher too, so if you wake up on your wedding day with a blemish, it's windy and your hair is flying around, a stain appears on your clothing... it’s all taken care of - NO WORRIES! I even edit out trash on the ground, distracting background elements, cracks in the pavement, all sorts of fun stuff (see my pinned Instagram before and afters for a peek!) You're going to look at these photos for the rest of your life, so I want you to look and feel your absolute BEST.
ARE THE PHOTOS EDITED?
They're YOUR wedding photos - of course you can! You can purchase prints and products through your gallery straight from my professional lab to your doorstep, but you also have the freedom to make your own albums, prints, thank you cards, and even have your mom put your faces on a coffee mug. Family and friends more than welcome to download and share in the love, too!
CAN I PRINT or POST OUR PHOTOS?
Of course! If you're eloping outside City Hall, you can have up to twenty guests join you. If you're getting married at City Hall, you can have four guests plus me.
CAN I BRING FAMILY AND FRIENDS?
Of course you can! First looks aren't just for "big" weddings - they're easily coordinated during LM elopements, too. If you're looking for that big reveal in front of your almost-spouse, just ask and I'll plan it for you!
CAN WE DO A FIRST LOOK?
I want your wedding photography to feel like less of an obligation and instead, all about being present on the most joyful, fun, and fulfilling day of your life and leaving the capturing to me. Most of my couples describe themselves as "awkward" in front of the camera, so I wave my magic wand, turn the energy and excitement up, and within a few minutes, I can guarantee that any awkwardness will melt like an ice cream cone in the summer. Making couples feel comfortable and confident is my speciality!
WE'RE KIND OF AWKWARD IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA...
Nope! Most of my couples prefer to be married in a location of their choosing by a Justice of the Peace or a friend for both flexibility and aesthetic reasons. I've worked with Priscilla Geaney for over years now and she's the best officiant out there! You can get married in the Public Garden, your backyard, in nature... the possibilities are endless!
DO I HAVE TO GET MARRIED AT CITY HALL?
Elopements are available to book Mondays through Thursdays only.
CAN I BOOK YOU FOR MY WEEKEND ELOPEMENT?
Click here to learn what we do if the forecast shows rain on your big day!
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS?
Head over to The Knot or WeddingWire to see what LM Elopement couples have said about their experiences.
CAN I HEAR WHAT YOUR PAST ELOPEMENT COUPLES SAY ABOUT YOU?
Big yes! I'm fully insured and bring backup gear - multiple lenses, camera bodies, flashes, batteries, memory cards, you name it. Also, band-aids, bobby pins, chapstick, umbrellas... the list goes on! I shoot on two memory cards at once, so I leave a wedding with a backup of your wedding, then upload the photos to multiple hard drives + the cloud. I’m a lightning fast boutonniere pinner and I can sew on a button in a snap. 13 years in business means I’ve got a game plan for whatever situation a wedding day throws at me. Sit back and enjoy your big day - I've got everything covered.
ARE YOU LEGIT?
I’m chock full of backup plans! If something serious happened (injury, emergency, hospitalization, Covid, etc), I have a network of incredibly talented wedding photographers who would step in for me. Most have worked alongside me before, so they know my shooting style, personality, and how I approach a wedding day. Then, all editing would be completed by me in the style you hired me for! I know elopements can be more flexible though, so if something happens to me and you'd rather wait until I can personally be there for your wedding, we can postpone instead!
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU?
First, I send over your contract to sign online and pay the 30% retainer that reserves me for your day. Then, we celebrate! Four weeks prior to the big day, I’ll check in about the weather forecast, craft your family photo groupings from your guest list, craft our timeline, and get connected with any other vendors. Let the good times roll!
WE DEFINITELY WANT YOU TO CAPTURE OUR DAY. HOW DO WE BOOk?
Asked questions
Frequently
-ANNA & MATT
y husband and I hate being the center of attention, but working with Lena made walking through Boston in a wedding dress on a Monday afternoon seem like a totally normal, everyday occurrence. We’re pretty awkward in front of a camera, but Lena’s energy is so infectious and enthusiastic you can’t help but relax, have fun, and laugh. If we had to do this all over again, we’d pick Lena to photograph our day every time."
-Rachel & Alex
espite only meeting in person on our wedding day, it was like we've known Lena our whole lives and the energy she brought to the day instantly made us feel comfortable. I was impressed with how Lena handled our families that were with us (12 people) and made sure we got every single combination for formal pics and amazing candids as well. I have loved every second of working with Lena starting from the first time I clicked on her website!”
-Dori & Liz
y wife and I are both awkward when it comes to photos, but Lena brought such energy and enthusiasm to our photo shoot that we felt totally natural and in our element the entire time! We are beyond thrilled with the photos she took - several family members/friends commented that our photos looked like they came straight from a magazine, and we agree! Not only is she an incredibly skilled photographer, but her website was beyond helpful."
-Aimee & Bruce
fter researching a number of elopement photographers in the Boston area, I knew Lena was our lady the minute I saw her photos! She had a positive attitude, lugged my accessories around town, and captured all of the important details. As an international couple, it was important for us to photograph this day for our family on the other side of the world, and Lena managed to do so with such ease."
-Nicole & Johnny
ena made our little City Hall elopment in Boston look and feel so perfect - It was truly like having a photographer, wedding planner, and bridesmaid all-in-one! Despite the cold, heavy winds, and freezing rain, she kept up high energy and made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera. But more importantly, the comfort of knowing Lena had timing / angles / locations covered and allowed us to be the most present."
-Caroline & Austin
ot only are your pictures going to look so good that everyone is going to message you and ask who your photographer was, but you get a super supportive, extremely sweet, hype woman/best friend for the day. Lena makes sure that everything goes great, you get all the shots you want, AND she makes walking around Boston in full wedding gear seem normal!”
-ELAINE & CONOR
organized our wedding from abroad and didn’t quite know where to start. From the moment we discovered Lena’s website and Instagram, we were sold. When we met her on the day itself, it felt like we were meeting a friend we had known for a long time! Our wedding day was such a joy, and was made even more so by our experience of having Lena share the day with us and capture all the laughs and all the serious moments.