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Their Story

Kristine and Justin certainly have had a long and winding road that led to their Vegas elopement in Red Rock Canyon. They first met in 2012 through a co-ed fraternity but unfortunately Kristine was dating someone at the time. Kristine was in a long distance relationship though and Justin had mostly only video games to tend to so they had ample time to hang out and get to know each other at various fraternity events. During one particular event at the Long Beach Aquarium, Justin watched as Kristine proceeded to eat too much sushi and immediately threw up in front of him. It was at this moment that he knew she was the one for him. Kristine soon broke up with her boyfriend and the two started dating and never looked back.

Things were smooth sailing until they got into a car accident, totaling her car and forcing them to exit through the trunk! Luckily nobody was hurt but Kristine’s parents (understandably) didn’t take too kindly to Justin after that. The two journeyed ahead though and Kristine got an internship at the prestigious JPL while Justin slowly and secretly moved in. “Under the cover of night,” Justin says he “moved in and became just like the new couch she had inherited from her parents. Too annoying to get rid of and perfectly fine until something better came along.” This couple definitely has a sense of humor!

After graduating Kristine got a permanent job at JPL and Justin started his own company consulting for tech start ups. He proposed on New Years Eve 2020 at the Grand View Park in San Fransisco where the couple goes every year to celebrate. While the fireworks were going off Justin told Kristin that he had a late Christmas Gift for her and took out the ring. Kristine was so excited that instead of saying yes she just started hugging him. Five minutes later she realized she hadn’t officially said yes so made him ask her again.

This fun couple decided they had to elope in Vegas because both of their parents had Vegas weddings so it was tradition. They chose February 1st to say “I Do” because…I kid you not…it’s Justin’s birthday and he knew he’d never forget their anniversary that way. He almost made it Valentines day but realized that restaurants and flowers are usually more expensive around that time. Justin says, “Much to her amusement, Kristine has accepted that this is who she will be marrying and is okay with it (on most days).” Their favorite part of the wedding was when the minister made reference to this as a joke and they all laughed.

The couple went with tones of pale gold and pops of olive green. They love succulents in all shapes and colors so they let that be their decor and inspiration. Kristine wore a dress from YaMuughni on Etsy and Justin’s tie and pocket square were found on Amazon. Everything else they already owned or was a sentimental piece. Kristine’s pearls were a gift from her parents when she was younger and her heels were from her college sorority days. She does however say that her advice for anyone eloping outdoors is to forget the heels. She started the day in them then quickly turned to flats. Many of our brides echo this advice! Here’s to many more years of odd adventures for these two.

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McKenzi Taylor
McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor is America’s go-to elopement and micro wedding expert, often featured in small and major media outlets, such as the New York Times. With over 15 years of wedding photography experience, it was after planning her own Las Vegas elopement in 2016 that McKenzi felt her purpose shift into elopement coordination. She started Cactus Collective Weddings soon after in 2017. Since then, she’s become a WIPA board member, and has helped well over 1000 couples get hitched in style around Las Vegas, San Diego and Black Hills.