If you’re dreaming of a calm, neurodivergent wedding and need a little inspo, this post is for you.
As an LGBTQ Bay Area photographer who often works with neurodivergent couples, I’m all about encouraging my clients to do whatever the hell feels right for their wedding day—and make it totally their own.
That’s exactly what this incredible T4T neurodivergent couple did. They made sure their elopement day was all about them, accommodating their own needs and doing what was meaningful and special to them.
In this post, I’m super excited to share how they created their neurodivergent-friendly wedding, so you can get a few ideas for your own big day. Are you ready to dive into this one-of-a-kind celebration? Let’s go!
Here’s how Nova & Arden made their neurodivergent wedding day uniquely theirs
Feel free to take any of these ideas and make them your own!
1. First, a private vow exchange under massive trees
Nova and Arden are big-time nature lovers, so it felt perfect for them to start their day surrounded by the towering redwoods at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The sun was shining, the air smelled like trees and wildflowers, and they were just soaking in all the peace and quiet.
They spent the morning running around, giving each other piggyback rides, and just having fun. Honestly, they were so playful; it made the whole moment feel so full of love.
When it came time for vows, they kept it low-key. Just the two of them, reading what they wrote. One of them wrote their vows on the cutest tree-patterned paper that totally fit the Redwoods’ vibe and the other one a notebook.
They poured their hearts out to each other, and it was one of those moments that felt so right.
After that sweet moment, we wandered through the woods some more, stopping for fun shots like them peeking out from behind a tree (which was so them).
We even spotted a local deer along the way! It was such a beautiful start to their day before we headed to the next spot.
2. They rocked matching outfits with their own fun twists
But wait, before I get to what was next, I have to talk about their outfits because they were so cool!
Nova and Arden went for almost matching looks with a few fun twists to keep things interesting. They both chose teal vests with trousers and bow ties and even tucked little bouquets of wildflowers into their shirt pockets.
Another amazing detail was that one of them wore a little bow on their collar, while the other had a tie with a they/them collar pin featuring a sparrow—which just so happens to be their new spouse’s last name! Such a beautiful, personal touch!
But the best part? They played around with their hair and shoes to add some personality! Each of them matched their Dr Martens to their signature hair colors of teal and purple.
I loved seeing how much they had fun with their outfits and all the little details they put into them. It made everything feel so personal and true to them!
3. Then, it was time to stim and play by the creek!
Alright, let’s talk about the next stop— the creek! Still within the Redwoods, this spot was another gorgeous, quiet, nature-filled area full of privacy.
As you can see in the photo above, they hopped into the creek to stim, play, and run around barefoot, making it the sweetest, most love-filled day.
We captured some fun shots of them walking around and holding their Dr Martens (which were the same style, just different colors, of course!), really showing off their fun, edgy style.
Then, we got even more playful—taking pictures on fallen logs, kissing, hugging it out, and just enjoying all the tiny moments together.
4. And added some fun accessories for playful shots
Another super cool detail worth highlighting is that they brought their own funky accessories like rainbow fans and heart sunnies. So, of course, we had to take some shots with these in the creek, too!
5. Next, they had a chill, cozy picnic with their closest ones
After goofing around in the creek, we met up with Arden’s sister and their best friend at Natural Bridges for a super laid-back celebratory picnic.
These two really stayed true to who they are—just chilling in the woods, snacking on Italian subs and other tasty things, without trying to make it all fancy.
It gave them the chance to fully soak in the breathtaking spot and enjoy being in the moment with their closest people without worrying about sensory overwhelm.
I absolutely loved much they all valued being present together, just celebrating in the most chill, genuine way. It was pure magic.
6. Followed by splashing around in the ocean
After the picnic, we headed down to the beach at Natural Bridges State Park, and they all ran straight into the ocean—totally ignoring the chilly air. I kid you not, they had a full-on splash battle in the water, getting soaked and loving every second of it.
The mist over the ocean added this dreamy, romantic vibe, making it feel like it was just them and their friends, far away from the rest of the world. And honestly? That’s pretty much how it was!
We got some gorgeous shots with the famous natural bridge and shore birds in the background. What a perfect, wild backdrop!
7. Oh, and they stashed their wedding rings in a seashell!
Another super cool highlight of the day that I just couldn’t get enough of was their wedding rings—everything about them was incredible!
First off, the rings were made of opal and wood, shaped like a mountain range. The teal and purple in the opal perfectly matched their signature colors, tying everything together beautifully.
You could really feel their connection to the Redwood forest, and since they stashed the rings in a seashell…It was a beautiful way to show their love of nature. So unique and meaningful!
8. Finally, they celebrated with a laid-back reception a few days later
Spending the day in the woods, exchanging vows, and enjoying the sweetest time with their two favorite people was more than enough for one day.
And that’s exactly what I loved about them—they knew what worked for them and didn’t push for more.
They knew adding a big reception right after would feel overwhelming, so they just let that part happen a few days later, giving them time to recharge. When the time came, they had the loveliest reception with more friends and family, at their own pace.
I was so happy to see them break away from tradition and create a wedding experience that was fully their own—taking it slow, enjoying a break, and then celebrating again.
Final thoughts on T4T neurodivergent wedding ideas
Nova and Arden were truly such an inspiring and genuine couple, with some amazing ideas that I hope can inspire you too. Feel free to steal some for your own neurodivergent wedding and make them yours
If not other days, at least on your wedding day is when you should feel free to do things your way.
And if you’re planning a Bay Area wedding and want to work with a photographer who’ll fully support all of your nontraditional ideas and capture some amazing moments, feel free to reach out.
I’ll be super excited to learn more about your vision and all the uniquely-you ideas you have in mind!
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