Sunrise Griffith Park Elopement in Los Angeles, CA

Sarah and Patrick reached out to me in December 2023, and we immediately hit it off. Despite hopping on a call at midnight (Norway-time, where I was at at the time), I got off the call feeling incredibly buzzed and excited about having just met these two incredible people. S & P decided to elope in January, after Sarah’s mom affirmed that Jan 28 was supposed to be an excellent day on the astronomical calendar, with 9am being the optimum time to seal their first kiss & make it official. So with that in mind, we planned their day around concluding their ceremony with a first kiss & having myself (their officiant) and their witnesses sign their marriage license at precisely 9AM.

Since these two were no strangers to early wake-up calls, planning a sunrise elopement was a no-brainer. I arrived at their Los Angeles home at 3:45am, where they shared a cup of coffee (a daily morning ritual for them) before getting ready separately. Later, they shared a sweet first look at the Griffith Observatory, as the morning sun lit up the sky in a myriad of colors and the city below us starting coming alive.

I’ve been to Griffith Observatory on countless occasions and have hiked countless miles of trails in Griffith Park, exploring almost every nook and cranny and falling in love with it more and more each time. Yes it’s a very touristy place, but it’s also a staple of Los Angeles, a city I have grown to love and am now proud to call home. It was SO special sharing this place with people who feel the same way about it.

After their sunrise portraits at Griffith Park, we headed back to their home on the LA River. We walked down to a spot on the river — a place close to their home and hearts. There, they exchanged vows against the sound of rushing water beneath their feet, as the rising sun continued to warm our faces. At precisely 9AM, they sealed their bond with a first kiss.

They ended their day with a beautiful brunch reception at Redbird DTLA, where more of their friends and family joined them in celebration. It was an incredibly beautiful morning filled with so much joy and love, and one I feel endlessly thankful to have been a part of. :’)

Other vendors that made this day happen! —

Brunch: Redbird DTLA
Dress: Wear Your Love
Suit: Garrison Tailors
Engagement ring: VRAI
Wedding bands: Tiffany & Co.
Cake: Lila Cakeshop