Some love stories unfold quietly. Others demand attention.

Summer and Aristide’s love story began with a DM — a digital spark that crossed continents, defied a language barrier, and grew into something beautifully rare.

Their wedding wasn’t just a celebration of their love. It was a celebration of their patience, persistence, and decision to choose each other again and again, even when the odds were stacked against them.

From a DM to “I Do” — A Love Story Across Oceans

When Aristide first reached out to Summer, his messages were polite and surprisingly formal. It wasn’t until their first video call that she realized why — he barely spoke English. Every word he sent had been translated.

And that effort? It was everything.

Within four days of talking, he said he wanted to meet her. Three weeks later, he was on a flight from France to the U.S. A bold move from a quiet man with big intentions.

It wasn’t supposed to work. They lived in different countries. They didn’t speak the same language. Then COVID hit, and they were separated for 19 months. But somehow, they made it work — because they wanted it to.

A Sweet Surprise Proposal — Across Cultures and With Intention

In Aristide’s culture, proposals aren’t the dramatic, knee-dropping kind you see in movies. But Summer — a wedding planner who knew what mattered to her — made two requests: One, it had to be a surprise. And two, he had to get on one knee.

He took notes.

With the help of her close friends, Aristide invited Summer out for a casual dinner. There was nothing suspicious — just warm food and talk of Thanksgiving. But when her friend asked about wedding seating, Aristide approached her with a nervous smile, held up a finger, and said, “Summer, I have one question…”

He then dropped to one knee and asked, “Summer, will you married me?”

It wasn’t perfect English. But it was perfectly him. Of course, she said, “yes!”

According to Summer, one of most memorable moments from the day: “I’ve worked with Elle for years on weddings so when she walked into the hotel room, I was getting my makeup done and I started bawling. I didn’t cry when my best friends walked into the room. I didn’t cry when I put my gown on but I was BAWLING when Elle arrived. I think it made it real when she showed up. My idea of what I’ve wanted for a wedding has changed many many times but Elle being my photographer has never changed. Ever.

Whew. I have to figure out a way to work that into a testimonial!!

A Wedding Day Full of Joy in Charlotte, NC

As a destination wedding photographer, I get to witness beautiful love stories come together all across the country — but this Charlotte, NC wedding was something special.

Aristide was nervous until the first look. When he saw Summer — radiant and real — everything softened. She was anything but nervous. She laughed all day. Really, she glowed. “Every time I walked past a mirror, I gasped,” she said. “I couldn’t believe I was in a wedding dress.”

A Marriage Built on Effort, Not Perfection

What makes Summer and Aristide’s love extraordinary isn’t just the story — it’s the work behind it. They still speak different native languages. They still use Google Translate. But now they’re both learning each other’s language. They meet in the middle. They love in action. And they remember just how far they’ve come.

“I said during our first look, ‘We’re going to have such a beautiful life,’” Summer shared.
“And I believed it with my whole heart.”

A moment made the day even more meaningful: Aristide’s sister (looking gorgeous in her black pant suit below) flew in from Paris to be by his side. That kind of family presence, that kind of love? It’s the kind of thing that lingers long after the music stops.

Wedding Advice from a Bride Who Plans Them for a Living:

• You don’t need everything to be perfect. You just need to be present.
• Be kind. It’s your wedding day, but the next day still matters.
• Grooms: Say yes. To the photo booth. To the dancing. To the little things your bride asks for. You won’t regret it.
• Don’t go broke for a wedding. Love is the only thing worth the investment.

Summer and Aristide — thank you for trusting me to capture day. Your story is proof that love transcends distance, language, and tradition. And documenting the joy between you — that laughter, that stillness, that grace — was a privilege.

TRUSTED VENDORS: Planner: My Simply Perfect Events // VENUE: Grand Bohemian Charlotte, Autograph Collection // PHOTOGRAPHY: Elle Danielle // BRIDAL GOWN: Eloquii (with a lot of alterations!) // GROOM’S ATTIRE: Men’s Wearhouse // CATERING: Mico Restaurant // FLORALS: Cut at an Angle