Dacia & Terrence's Santa Monica Elopement

Dacia and Terrence met at a Chargers game, which almost didn't happen. A delayed flight back from New York had Dacia ready to stay another night, but her family's Sunday season tickets won out. Good thing. Early in the game she caught Terrence looking over, they traded smiles across the rows, and by the fourth quarter the emptying stadium gave him the opening to walk over and introduce himself. Numbers were exchanged. The rest followed.


Dacia says she knew the moment she saw him — the night before, she'd literally told the universe she was done dating and ready to meet her person. Terrence knew when he got laid off and she had his back through the whole thing. Four years, three countries, and a lot of laughing later, they came to Santa Monica to get married. No big production. Just the two of them, a Jeep with the roof off, and the coast.

They chose a private ceremony on Ocean Avenue, steps from the water, with the Fairmont Miramar as home base for the day.

Two worlds, one coast

After the ceremony and the license signing, the day moved the way the two of them move best: no rush, plenty of coastline. They started near a fig tree at the Fairmont, then took the Jeep down to Ocean Avenue and out along the Idaho Avenue pedestrian trail, winding past the spiral staircase and the cliffs as the light dropped toward the water.

Their photographer shot it candid and let the day unfold — the same documentary style that suits a couple who'd rather be caught mid-laugh than posed stiff.

Santa Monica at sunset, just the two of them, was the quiet version of all of it.

Bolt up.

Get married however you please.