[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/texas-couple-elopes-to-lgbtq-friendly-new-zealand-and-their-warm-moody-beach-wedding-photos-are-to-die-for\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/texas-couple-elopes-to-lgbtq-friendly-new-zealand-and-their-warm-moody-beach-wedding-photos-are-to-die-for\/","headline":"Texas couple elopes to LGBTQ+ friendly New Zealand and their warm, moody beach wedding photos are to die for","name":"Texas couple elopes to LGBTQ+ friendly New Zealand and their warm, moody beach wedding photos are to die for","description":"Lauren and Melissa traveled from Fort Worth, Texas, to elope in Auckland, New Zealand, after a 10-month-long engagement. They both proposed to each other, and Lauren proposed first. They exchanged vows on Piha Beach and their first dance was to \"I Belong To You\" by Brandi Carlile.\u00a0","datePublished":"2019-01-29","dateModified":"2019-01-31","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/alainaleary\/#Person","name":"Fin Leary","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/alainaleary\/","identifier":6376,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2d51014ed1230c3de5b543787b5bebf7ad45072e559a4cdb76347a56854d47a4?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2d51014ed1230c3de5b543787b5bebf7ad45072e559a4cdb76347a56854d47a4?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Texas-couple-elopes-to-lgbtq-friendly-new-zealand-equally-wed-8.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Texas-couple-elopes-to-lgbtq-friendly-new-zealand-equally-wed-8.jpg","height":800,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/texas-couple-elopes-to-lgbtq-friendly-new-zealand-and-their-warm-moody-beach-wedding-photos-are-to-die-for\/","about":["Destination Weddings","Real LGBTQ+ Weddings"],"wordCount":193,"keywords":[" lesbian wedding"," two brides","Auckland","beach","destination wedding","elope","elopement","eloping","gay elopement","lesbian elope","lesbian elopement","moody","New Zealand","New Zealand gay wedding","same-sex wedding","Texas","Texas gay wedding","warm"],"articleBody":"The beauty of our elopement was there was no theme. No time constraints, no schedule\u2014just us, our love and all things spontaneous. We wanted our wedding to reflect our love and the incredible country we chose. Wild, unexpected, and unique. We got just that. This once-in-a-lifetime experience couldn\u2019t have been more genuine and magical.Lauren and Melissa traveled from Fort Worth, Texas, to elope in Auckland, New Zealand, after a 10-month-long engagement. They both proposed to each other, and Lauren proposed first. They exchanged vows on Piha Beach and their first dance was to “I Belong To You” by Brandi Carlile.What advice would you give to engaged LGBTQ+ couples?Lauren: Do whatever feels authentically you! Always remember, it\u2019s your wedding day. Don\u2019t do anything for anyone but you and your partner. You only get this time once, it goes by so quickly. Enjoy every second.Melissa: Do not make it a priority to please everyone else. You and yours should always come first.SEARCH FOR LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY WEDDING VENDORSVENDORSPhotographer:\u00a0Dawn PhotoCeremony Venue:\u00a0Auckland District\u00a0CourtReception Venue:\u00a0Piha BeachAttire:\u00a0Madison James &\u00a0J. Crew"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Texas couple elopes to LGBTQ+ friendly New Zealand and their warm, moody beach wedding photos are to die for","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/texas-couple-elopes-to-lgbtq-friendly-new-zealand-and-their-warm-moody-beach-wedding-photos-are-to-die-for\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]