Santa Barbara Courthouse Covid Elopement | Lydia+Mark

Things may look a little different nowadays, but that didn’t stop Lydia & Mark from having the best day ever during their Santa Barbara Courthouse Covid wedding. Although they hit a few bumps along the way, this stylish couple’s energy was radiant, their love for each other palpable, and they came ready to not only have a fabulous elopement, but knock their Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding photos out of the park!

A little bit from the couple…

“Mark and I met back “home” in Ohio working in the beer industry and with some of the best and worst timing, fell in love after he moved to Southern California. We both agree that the strength of our relationship exists because of how hard we had to work to stay connected from 3000 miles away. For one year, we bonded over video calls, monthly visits and creative date nights – we could give the best advice about staying connected to any pandemically-challenged couples out there!

After becoming engaged in New York City last December, we immediately knew we wanted our wedding day to be as uncomplicated and totally ‘us’ as possible- and set our sights on the most beautiful courthouse in the west – the Santa Barbara courthouse. The very last thing we did together before Shelter In Place was walk through the corridors, touring the grounds and becoming excited about our plans.

Ha. “Plans.” We shifted gears from a June wedding to October 2, just the two of us. And we had the most incredible, intimate, and romantic day. From start to finish, there was magic to it – including a very nice employee sneaking us to our dream photo op – that gorgeous staircase inside the Courthouse.

The last couple of years have been quite an adventure for us, but we’ve survived a lot together so far and are trying to live in the present every day – relishing in calling each other “my husband” and “hey wife”.”

Proof elopements don’t mean you have to forgo beautiful details!Lydia & Mark found a way to incorporate their parents into their elopement, by bringing framed photographs of their parents at their respective weddings.If you have to wear masks, might as well make them look great! I love the custom Hubby and Wifey masks Mark and Lydia brought.I’m pretty sure Mark and Lydia are the only couple since mid-March to be able to take photos at the infamous Santa Barbara Courthouse staircase!Next we went to Alice Keck Park and the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara to capture some of that gorgeous golden hour light.Congratulations, Lydia & Mark! Another Santa Barbara Courthouse elopement for the books!