About this vendor
Samantha Thornton
LEAD FILMMAKER
I'm Samantha, an elopement filmmaker and director of photography with over a decade of experience creating films for couples across the world. But this isn't about me—it's about you and the profound moment you're planning to celebrate.
I take elopements seriously. Not as "budget weddings" or "Plan B" celebrations, but as the intentional, deeply personal ceremonies they truly are. When you choose to elope, you're choosing presence over performance, meaning over spectacle, and authenticity over expectation. That choice deserves a filmmaker who understands the weight and beauty of what you're creating.
A Process Built on Intention
From our first conversation, I hold you with intention and sensitivity throughout your entire journey. This isn't just about showing up on your day with a camera. Before we ever start filming, we go deep together—exploring your story, understanding what matters most to you, and discovering the essence of your relationship that needs to be honored in your film.
Through thoughtful conversations and sacred intention-setting practices, I get to know who you are as individuals and as a partnership. This depth of understanding allows me to capture not just what happens on your wedding day, but the energy, emotion, and authentic truth of your love story.
Visual Medicine for Generations
I create films from a space of authenticity—something that genuinely represents you and your unique story. This isn't about following trends or recreating what you've seen on Instagram. It's about crafting visual medicine that will heal, inspire, and remind you of who you are together, especially on the hard days that every marriage inevitably faces.
Your film becomes an heirloom that your children and grandchildren will treasure, understanding the foundation of love their family was built on.
Technical Mastery Meets Spiritual Depth
With more than 10 years of experience as a journalist, international producer, and wedding videographer, you can trust that I know what I'm doing. I've filmed across continents, in challenging conditions, and in some of the world's most breathtaking locations. I bring technical excellence, creative vision, and practical expertise to make your film both epic and beautiful.
But technical skill alone doesn't create sacred films. What sets my work apart is combining professional mastery with spiritual awareness—the ability to read energy, anticipate meaningful moments, and witness the sacred ceremony unfolding between you.
My Approach
I work intuitively, capturing genuine emotion rather than posed perfection. I honor the complexity of your story—the joy and grief, presence and absence, celebration and reverence. Whether your elopement takes you to mountains or beaches, foreign countries or your backyard, I travel wherever your love leads us.
If this resonates, I'd love to explore whether we're meant to work together.
Rite of Light is an artistic wedding and elopement videographer in Winter Springs, FL
Meet the team
Samantha Thornton
Lead Filmmaker
I'm Samantha, and my journey to becoming an elopement filmmaker hasn't followed the script.
I started as a photojournalist, working with major food magazines. Later, I documented human stories across the globe—learning to see beyond the surface and capture the essence of what makes us human.
When I transitioned to wedding filmmaking over a decade ago, I brought that journalistic eye for authentic storytelling with me. But something deeper was calling. Through my own spiritual awakening, I began to understand that weddings aren't just events to document—they're sacred ceremonies where the veil grows thin.
This transformed everything about how I approach my work.
I don't just film your wedding day—I witness it. Witnessing requires presence, intuition, and the ability to read energy and emotion in real time. It means knowing when to capture and when to simply hold space for what's unfolding.
My process is deeply intentional. Before your day, we go beneath the surface together through conversations and sacred practices that help me understand not just who you are but what your story wants to become. This allows me to create films that capture your authentic story—the real energy and emotion of who you are.
I work intuitively, following the flow of your day rather than forcing moments. My goal isn't to create trendy content—it's to craft visual medicine that serves your relationship for generations.
With over 10 years of experience, I bring both technical mastery and spiritual depth to every film. I've worked in challenging conditions across continents, but the location doesn't matter as much as the story. Whether you're eloping on a mountaintop or gathering family in your backyard, I'm honored to travel wherever your love leads us.
Because every story is sacred. And sacred stories deserve to be witnessed, honored, and preserved with the reverence.
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Rite of Light
Samantha Thornton
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Lead Filmmaker
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Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure. Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place. Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go. For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.