After organizing and officiating over 300 elopements on the Vineyard, Jacalyn Kane has finally tied the knot herself.  

Ms. Kane, founder of My Vineyard Elopement, married her husband Gary Brown in May at their new home in Santa Fe, N.M. 

Ms. Kane has officiated elopement ceremonies since 2013. When planning her own ceremony, she said an elopement did cross her mind, because it’s “way less stressful.” But after talking with her future husband and consulting with her loved ones, she realized she wanted to gather friends and family.

“It started to become really important to me to have that crossroads happen where [our friends and family] would witness our love and meet and have all these different crossroads in our lives come together,” she said.  

Jacalyn Kane and Gary Brown at their wedding. — Larisa Stinga

Witnessing and helping so many other couples get married definitely had an effect on her over the years, she said. 

“As time went on there were moments, admittedly, where sometimes there was a little bit of melancholy . . . because I hadn’t found that yet,” she said. “The couples all inspired me with what they had to say about one another and their feelings and their journey.” 

Larisa Stinga, a photographer for My Vineyard Elopement and one of Ms. Kane’s closest coworkers and friends, traveled to Santa Fe to photograph the couple.  

Ms. Stinga met Ms. Kane in 2015 by chance, when Ms. Kane needed a wedding photographer last minute for one of her elopements. Ms. Stinga had no wedding photography experience at the time, but took a chance with Ms. Kane’s encouragement. 

“She trusted me with no portfolio or experience. She just loved my energy and I really appreciated that chance,” Ms. Stinga said.

Though My Vineyard Elopement’s team has grown, Ms. Kane said the main joy of her job hasn’t changed.  

“The best part is marrying people and writing their story,” Ms. Kane said. “I always say if I can make them laugh as well as bring tears of joy and laughter, then I’ve done my job.”