Mountain Matrimony
written by lori kersey
The collective also allows Maddox to show off the beauty of her home state , which is something she loves to do as a photographer and videographer .
“ Exploring and showing people West Virginia — places like Spruce Knob , Dolly Sods and the New River Gorge — is a big part of my heart ,” Maddox says . “ To help people see the beauty here in West Virginia is incredible .”
Maddox met Michelle and Thomas Breiter through a videography mentorship . For Maddox , they were the perfect pair to go into business with .
IN WEST VIRGINIA
“ They have perfected their craft and provide an experience in love and friendship to their couples that I ’ ve never seen wedding vendors do before ,” Maddox says . “ For weddings , you spend the most intimate day of someone ’ s life with them and barely know them . We ’ re hired to do a service for them , and they should feel comfortable around us .” Maddox admires the way Michelle makes people feel comfortable in front of the camera . “ I ’ ve worked with her as a videographer and photographer for weddings , and I love the connection she has with all of her clients ,” she says .
Michelle ’ s love of nontraditional weddings started with her own . She and Thomas married during a small destination wedding in Jamaica . The couple landed on the idea after reaching out to vendors and caterers and being overwhelmed with the potential cost of a traditional wedding .
Photo by Michelle Breiter .
The West Virginia Elopement Collective is a one-stop shop for couples who want to skip the traditional wedding — including the expense and headache that can go along with it — and elope in the hills of West Virginia .
The business offers couples small , customized weddings complete with an officiant , wedding photography , videography and a small reception in any of the countless picturesque settings the Mountain State has to offer .
“ We just didn ’ t have those kinds of funds ,” she says . “ If we did have that kind of money , I still don ’ t know if we would have planned a big , traditional wedding . It just seemed like a lot for one day .”
Instead , the couple and their close companions spent the week together swimming and boating on the Caribbean island .
Braiden Maddox , a Winfield , WV , native , owns and operates her own photo and video company called Lady Mountain Films . Maddox started the collective with fellow wedding photographers and videographers , Michelle and Thomas Breiter , in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Earlier in the year , Maddox ’ s wedding clients were canceling their special days to comply with COVID-19 guidelines . Maddox could see the defeat on the faces of the couples . They were frustrated by postponing and rescheduling their celebrations , so many couples decided to tie the knot at a courthouse instead .
“ I saw that their weddings could be better than coming to the courthouse and checking it off the list ; they could still have an intimate celebration while also having their entire day planned for them ,” Maddox says .
Photo by Michelle Breiter .
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