Eloping at the Tarrant County Courthouse | The Keels

“People say, “When you know, you know,” and it couldn’t be more true for us. Our love is easy. We choose each other every single day—and most importantly, we keep God at the center of our relationship.” — Mrs. Carolyn Keel

May 2, 2025, Carolyn and Brandon were married in downtown Fort Worth in an intimate elopement at the Tarrant County Courthouse. They’d reached out to me earlier in the year with a clear vision of moody, romantic, and timeless vibes. NEEDLESS to say I was all for it.

I spent time scouting the downtown area for all the right character that matched the vibe of the mood board Carolyn had been carefully crafting on Pinterest - something I take TRULY as inspiration. Mood boards are for inspiring, for me, it is to see what catches your eye, the emotion in the photos you save, and gives me the ability to dig a bit deeper as to why you are drawn to what certain images capture. We are not here to re-create. We are here to tell a story that hasn’t been told before. So let’s do just that!

The courthouse was buzzing with couples coming and going, many families and friends, including those of Carolyn and Brandon’s ready to witness the two become one. It is a busy place, but stepping into the courtroom, the hands on the clock seem to slow ever so slightly. Judge Swearingin always does such a beautiful job in creating a ceremony that slows time and is incredibly personal. Amid the chaos, there was peace. Love. Intention.

If you know anything about weddings, you know time flies. We planned a walking route, post-ceremony and a handful of family photos, that let us hit every stop on our list and helped bring their gallery to life.

We wrapped up our time with photographs that feel like still frames pulled right off the screen of your favorite romcom. Telling a story the way it deserves to be told.