All The Other Things
Question
Why did you elope?
Answer
Short answer: We wanted it to be about us. Long(er) answer: We love our family and friends, and we're excited to celebrate with you soon! But we're two private people, and we wanted to be able to focus on our day together without the hustle and bustle of a larger wedding.
Question
Where did you elope?
Answer
We're members of the Trustees of Reservations, which allowed us to apply for a special-use permit at Noanet Woodlands in Dover, MA. The hike to Noanet Peak was about 30 minutes—maybe 40, after you factor in Brittany's short legs—and the views were stunning.
Question
So, what happened?
Answer
Brittany got ready with Shelby at her apartment, where they watched "Pitch Perfect," ordered takeout, did their own makeup, and tried to figure out how to touch up Brittany's curls with a flat iron. They took the cape and dress out to let wrinkles fall, and then promptly forgot both of those things when they left for Noanet. (Shout out to Shelby's sibling Lacey for saving the day and calling to say, "Uh, you guys forgot the cape. And the dress.") Sean and Kaitlynd hiked up together first to get set up, and Shelby and Brittany met up with Molly for their hike up. Two-thirds of the way through, Brittany realized she forgot her wedding boots and commissioned crystal crown in the car, and it was too late to go back. So, once she changed into the dress, she left her Hokas off and got married in her AOC socks. We read our vows to each other from scrolls we'd bought in Salem and made each other cry. And in a fun turn of events, we ended up doing the same thing with our vows!
Question
You kept your last names, right?
Answer
Duh. We're both feminists and not down with the patriarchal tradition of branding a woman as property. It's not perfect logic because Brittany's last name is still her father's, but she was dead set on keeping her initials: BMW. So, we aren't the Wallaces or the Martins or the Wallace-Martins. We're just Brittany and Sean (and Zora, our perpetual third wheel).
Question
Why did you wait to tell people?
Answer
Sometime in 2022, we saw a video about a couple who surprised their wedding guests by sharing that they'd actually gotten married a year prior. We really wanted to do that but just couldn't commit to keeping a secret THAT long; Brittany is not great with secrets. We wanted there to be a little extra fun in sharing the news, and we wanted to be in our little newly married bubble for a bit before people start asking, "So, when are you having kids?" (We're not, but we do want to adopt a second dog soon.)
Question
Okay, but Zora's harness?!
Answer
We know, it's cute as hell. Shelby and Brittany DIY'd it while rewatching season 2 of "Bridgerton," which is unequivocally the best season. One old harness, some tasteful silk flowers, and a hot glue gun later, and you've got a little forest fairy princess pup.