By Jason Alexander
When Bre, a model, imagined her wedding day, it certainly didn’t involve eloping. But when former schoolmate Barry proposed to her that November, he expressed his desire to marry in a more spontaneous fashion. Barry, an IT consultant, had already booked a Christmas vacation for them and suggested that they elope while there.
“I thought the idea was crazy and perfect,” says Bre, who hadn’t even an inkling of where they were going. In fact, it wasn’t until they were boarding the plane that Bre learned they were destined for Paris! But what she didn’t know was that Barry planned for them to exchange their vows and immediately depart for their honeymoon (the location of which would also be a surprise). When the couple arrived in Paris at 5:00am, they took a taxi to Sacré- Coeur, and in what Bre describes as a magical moment, climbed the stairs to the top and exchanged vows just as the sun was rising. Later that day, the couple flew to Italy, where Barry arranged for one of Bre’s favorite photographers to document the special occasion.
As a model, the photo shoot was a dream come true for Bre. “It was amazing and made a MUCH better story than the silly little wedding I had imagined,” Bre admits. While honeymooning in Italy, the couple visited Venice, Florence and Rome.
Photos: Benj Haisch | Gown: Vintage, Thrift Store | Suit: Paul Smith | Venue: Wedding in Paris; Wedding Photos in Italy | Wedding Coordinator: The Groom | Dessert: Italian Gelato | Entertainment: Christmas Eve Mass at St. Marks in Venice | Paris, France | 12.24.11