Top 5 Places to Propose in Moab

As an elopement photographer team that captures love stories in Moab during the spring, we are so lucky to say that we are able to explore and enjoy some of the most beautiful places in the United States. With over five years of combined experience exploring this area, we have put together a list of the locations we know will make for an amazing proposal location in Moab. While Moab has over 1.8 million acres of canyons and wilderness galore, we’ve narrowed down a selection of proposal locations that we know offer amazing experiences and produce photographs that are out of this world.

When it comes to photographing proposals, we work closely with our proposing client, talking over every detail from how to keep it a secret, how to get your partner there, and of course to provide our professional expertise to help find the perfect nook for you to ask your partner to marry them. But first, we’re so excited to share you with you five stunning places that make for an unforgettable start to your next step in your journey with your partner.

1. Canyonlands National Park Proposal

Planning a proposal in Canyonlands National Park is our first recommendation on the list. With nearly one million visitors annually, once you enter the park it’s easy to see what all the draw is. From soaring vista view points on both sides of the road as you drive through the park, the iconic Shafer trail which takes you down the canyon and along the river, to the iconic sunrise at Mesa arch, this place is absolutely gorgeous.

With stunning options with the perfect light both at sunrise and sunset, it’s a location that should naturally fall into your plans while visiting Moab and allow for a smooth surprise proposal location. We highly recommend checking out Green River Overlook while you’re there!

2. Arches National Park Proposal

With so many amazing locations to choose for your Moab proposal, Arches is without a doubt THE main attraction that brings people to the area. This park receives twice the annual visitors as Canyonlands does. Arches is only 15 minutes from the center of town, so it requires a low time commitment for a huge payoff.

If you aren’t looking for a lot of hiking but loads of accessible spots that would be perfect for your Moab proposal, then this place certainly checks that box and more. Due to the high volume this park experiences, they require timed entry tickets for over half the year, so be sure to keep that in mind while planning your travel!

3. Fisher Towers Proposal

While this area receives less attention than the two main national parks, it certainly draws a healthy crowd for rock climbing and hiking. The rock formations are completely unique to this area and are absolutely stunning. The main trail ends at a beautiful vista that will take your breath away at sunset. This one takes a bit of hiking to get there but it is absolutely worth it!

An awesome perk here is that if you plan your Moab proposal by telling your partner that you hired a professional photographer just for a couples session, we can bring our drone along and take images of you two from some unbelievable perspectives.

4. Dead Horse Point State Park Proposal

Tired of stunning vista options yet? No? Good! Because we aren’t either! When it comes to planning your proposal in Moab, Dead Horse Point State Park is a lesser known location that offers views very similar to Canyonlands National Park.

Why choose one location over the other? Here are all of the benefits! It’s a cheaper entry fee, there are less crowds, and even when it’s “busy” it is so dang easy to find your own private nook to pop the question with just you and your partner.

5. Corona Arch Proposal

For our last stop on our top 5 locations to propose in Moab, we’re recommending Corona Arch! This trail is only 3 miles round trip without a whole lot of elevation gain. It leads you into a place with a striking arch and as another bonus it’s not in a national park! While we love national parks and completely agree with their drone regulations, while out on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, our commercial drone license lets us fly here! So think of it this way. More freedom with less crowds means the potential to have this magnificent slice of nature all to yourselves!

Moab Proposal Photographer

We (Traci + Bill!) have captured love stories all over this area as Moab photographers. We photograph elopements, vow renewals, engagements and proposals in Moab on every sort of adventure that you can imagine.

We would love to capture your proposal in Moab and to assist in the planning as needed. There are typically two distinct ways we work as a proposal photographer in Moab:

• We set out an hour or two ahead of you and secure the perfect hiding spot. Don’t worry, we’re professionals when it comes to photographing a proposal so we absolutely do not stick out like a sore thumb. The benefit of being a two person team is that we blend in, just like any couple would! Then when the moment is just right and you’re ready to propose, we capture the moment you drop down on one knee! This is followed by a portrait session.
• Or you book a portrait session with us and your partner but little do they know that we’re actually there to photograph your proposal in Moab! We come up with a plan together to know if you’d like to start or end the session with your proposal. We’ve planned for code words, specific body positioning, really whatever you feel will be best in that moment. And if you get caught up in the excitement, don’t worry! We’ll capture the moment as it happens.

This list is for sure a great list to pick from when deciding where you’d like to propose in Moab, but we are here to tell you there are many, many more amazing options. Part of our consultation is that we discuss exactly what you’re envisioning and we use all of our expertise in the area to provide suggestions on what will be the perfect fit. All of your proposal images are delivered right to you within one week where you can download all of your photos!

Our proposal sessions for the Moab area start at $1200.

Our proposals for anywhere else in the State of Utah start at $1400.

We also offer a video add on! Inquire with us to discuss the details and we can’t wait to help bring your proposal vision to life!!

All of our Moab Proposal Packages include:

• Assistance in selecting a location
• Timeline
• Same Day sneaks peeks
• Full Gallery within 3 weeks with printing rights
• Suggestions of your overall trip and proposal day

Tim Yee

We Can’t Wait To Hear What You Have Planned!

Moab Proposals F.A.Q.

When is the best time to propose in Moab, Utah?

We would recommend proposing in Moab at sunrise or sunset depending on the location. Weather wise your best option is late March to mid May and then late September through early November. We recommend avoiding Jeep Week and weekends if possible.

What should we wear for a proposal?

We recommend wearing proper shoes for being on sandstone, uneven ground and near big cliff edges. Attire wise, we recommend colors that compliment the sandstone for example: white, cream, black, tan, teal, purple, light blue. You want to be comfortable and well dressed for your plans!

What are some fun activities to celebrate our engagement or do during the proposal in Moab?

Moab has lots of activities to consider before, during or after your proposal! Our top recommendations are:

• rent a UTV and go off roading
• go horse back riding near Fisher Towers
• star gaze in the parks after dark
• grab dinner + a drink at 98 center (casual dining) or Desert Bistro (fancy dining)
• base jump with Base Jump Moab
• go on an aerial tour, in Moab you can go in a hot air balloon, helicopter or small crop plane
• you could go on a hike, rock climbing or canyoneering

Top 25 Places to Propose in Washington State

As elopement and adventurous couples photographers in Washington State, we often find ourselves in the most beautiful places. With our years of experience out on the trails throughout Washington, we have crafted a list of the locations we know will make for an amazing proposal. While there are so many stunning locations in the state of Washington, these are our top 25. We work closely with our proposing client, working over every detail from how to keep it a secret, how to get them there, and of course to help them find the perfect nook for them to ask their partner to marry them!

Best Places to Propose in Seattle

1. On top of the Space Needle

The space needle is a staple of the Seattle sky line. It has been standing proud since 1961. You can ride the elevator to the top and take in the 360 degree views of the city, mountains and ocean for your proposal. Or you can propose at (or celebrate after in) the lounge where they serve craft cocktails and local food.

2. On the Seattle Great Wheel

This is another iconic piece in the Seattle Pike Place Market and pier area. It is open daily 11am to 9pm. You will need a ticket to get onto this ride. If carnival rides, festivals, piers, or the Pike Place Market hold a significant place in your relationship, then imagine proposing here at sunset to take in those epic costal views to kick start this next phase in your lives!

3. Kerry Park

Kerry Park is a popular location in Seattle where folks come to watch sunset on a clear day. Why? Because it has an iconic view of the Downtown Seattle landscape and Mount Rainier! This could be a great spot to propose! Whenever we visit here and make a date night of it, we pick up to go food from a local Mexican restaurant and eat it as the sun sets enjoying the view!

4. On the Ferry over to Bainbridge

The Bainbridge ferry from downtown Seattle is beloved for its view of Seattle, an easy escape from the city while looking for whales. This is the only ferry in the state that still has the original 1960s interior. You could walk onto the Ferry to ride there and back. Or you can drive onto the Ferry to ride over and from there have dinner or even head over to Olympic National Park as a newly engaged couple.

5. Discovery Park

Discovery Park is a beautiful coastal park just outside of Downtown. It features a Lighthouse which can be a romantic place to propose at. It could be super cute to bring along a blanket and have a picnic here.

6. Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park is a park sitting on the shores of Lake Union. The park has a green space and a wonderful sky line view of Seattle. With over 19 acres of land for public use, you are bound to be drawn to the perfect nook for a proposal.

7. Lake Union

Lake Union to me is like the heart of Seattle. It has great views and is surrounded by great areas of Seattle. There is so much opportunity for adventure at this lake. One of my favorite ideas for a proposal here would be on the hot tub boats or overnight on a house boat! You could also propose at Lake Union on a Sea Plane ride or while kayaking!!

8. Seacrest Park Cove 1 + 2

This is attached to a popular park Alki Beach, just west of Seattle. In my opinion this area has the best view, especially at sunrise, of the downtown Seattle city-scape. However, if you propose here at sunset you can grab a celebratory dinner + drink at Salty’s which has the best fresh seafood!

9. Your Favorite Climbing Gym/Bouldering Gym

Seattle has no shortage of climbing gyms. If you two are both into bouldering or climbing together we have seen many super cute proposals at gyms. If this is something you are interested in, I would speak to the gym manager to discuss an option where you could come in and propose while it is not open so you can set up things if you want and have privacy.

Hiking Proposal Locations in Washington

10. Colchuck Lake

This is one of the most photographed trails in Washington. This hike is in Leavenworth and goes through the forest ending at the dragon scale and a beautiful colored lake. While you can for sure find some privacy here to propose, you may also find yourself in the presence of a mountain goat! You can even stay the night if you back pack in or you can hike even further if you have a permit for The Enchantments.

This trial is 11 miles and 2400 feet of gain.

11. Mount Storm King

This is probably the most well known hike in Olympic National Park. This trail starts out near Lake Crescent which is a stunning, clear lake surrounded by big ever greens. This hike takes you up through the forest, past some scrambling where you will need to hold onto ropes and ends at an awesome overlook of the lake, mountains and ocean. I recommend going here for sunset. I also do not recommend this if you are scared of heights or do not have the proper hiking shoes or much hiking experience.

This hike is 5 miles and 2100 ft of elevation gain.

12. Maple Pass – in the Fall for the larches

This trail is up in the North Cascades area. It is a very famous hike in Washington state for its fall colors and larches. It has amazing views the entire trail and a lovely lake which you can take a detour to. There is no shortage of perfect spots to choose from to pop the question while hiking this trail!

This trial is 7.4 miles and 2200 ft of elevation gain.

13. Lake Ann Trail

This trail is in Northern Washington in the Mount Baker Wilderness. This trail goes through a meadow with a view of Mt Baker and ends at an incredible lake with up close views of Mt Shuksan. Another great spot to swim, or even back pack. Either way, you can not go wrong here.

This trail is 8.6 miles long and 2000 ft of elevation gain.

14. Dog Mountain – in the spring for wildflowers

This hike is hiked year round from the winter with snow shoes to spring with wild flowers and the rest of the year! We highly recommend it for Spring! It has beautiful views and would be a great place to get engaged!!

The hike is 6.5 miles with 2999ft of elevation gain.

15. Fall Creek Falls

Washington state is full of beautiful waterfalls, but this one I think would be the best for a proposal! This is a double fall that is stunning. This fall is not as busy as some of the more well known ones and easier accessed ones in the state. If your partner loves waterfalls, then this is definitely a dream location!

This trail is 3.2 miles and is 700 ft of gain.

16. Tolmie Peak

(or any of the other fire towers!)

Tolmie goes to a fire tower look out on the North West side of Mount Rainier National Park. This hike is a popular trail, but not as much as the Fremont fire tower, which is another fire tower in this park. The trail goes through the forest, past a lake which is great to jump in for a swim on a warm day and ends at a stunning overlook and of course the fire tower. Here you could propose in front of the fire tower or on the rocks just below.

This trail is 7 miles and 1600 ft of gain.

17. Backpacking with Llamas

We got the chance to backpack with Washington Llamas for an elopement and it was an awesome experience. This is a guided trip and they offer several hiking options. You can backpack with them from 1-5 nights in the Washington area, mostly around the south side of Mt Rainier. When it comes to combining luxury and backpacking, the llama guide made an awesome home made apple pie at camp! This would be a fun and memorable way to propose to your partner!

18. At a Climbing Crag

Not all adventures happen on the trail! It you two are both into climbing or bouldering this could be the way to go!! Imagine spending the day cragging with your closest friends and as the sun sets over the mountain, you are all at the top of the peak for you to propose. Our recommendations for an outdoor rock climbing proposal in Washington are:

• Mt Erie
• Boulder River
• Peshastin Pinnacles
• Little Si
• Lake Cushman
• Leavenworth
• Index

Washington Proposal Destinations

19. Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth is known as a German town in what we like to think of as the American Alps. Just a 2 hour beautiful mountain drive from Seattle, making it a great weekend trip from the city. If you want to propose in Leavenworth these are the locations or ways we would recommend:

• On a horse drawn carriage ride around town under the stars/town lights. This is great any time of year in the town.
• At the ski resort nearby, Stevens Pass, in the winter.
• Lake Wenatchee – great anytime of year with a huge lake, mountain views and if you are kayaking or boating you can even propose on a little island on the lake.
• At a winery! There are several wineries and even breweries in Leavenworth which could be a fun place to pop the question.

20. Artist Point, Mt Baker

While this may seem adventurous at first since it has epic mountain views – it really is the most stunning location in Washington state with the least amount of hiking required. In this area you have Artist Point, Picture Lake and the Chain Lakes area. All of these are accessible within a 3-10 minute walk from where you park. Some of the trails are paved. This is great if you are a couple that loves taking road trips to sight see together! We live right by here and I can tell you this spot never gets old, the views are always incredible!!!

21. Seven Hills Winery

Washington actually has many wineries and makes great wine due to the soil, heavy rains and coastal location. Seven Hills Winery has been named best winery in the state by many folks. It is located in Walla Walla, Washington. On their websites you can check out events, propose at a tasting or inquiry about a tour of the vineyards!

22. The San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands are accessible via a ferry ride from Anacortes, WA or via a Sea Plane from Seattle. The islands consist of San Juan, Lopez, Shaw, Ocras and many other small islands. For a proposal I would recommend either going to Friday Harbor or Orcas. On both of these islands you can hike, kayak, whale watch, dine and more. They also each have their own unique fun things to consider. You can visit our resources on how to elope on the islands to learn more about which one might be the best fit for your proposal.

23. Sunrise Visitor Center

The Sunrise Visitor Center is on the North Side of Mount Rainier National Park. While the park has a ton of epic hikes, if you aren’t up for the adventure this area has great views without really having to hike anywhere. Also on this side of the park you could consider Tipsoo Lake. Many people park on the higher end of the lake to watch the sunset behind Rainier as it reflects in the lake. Both are great options for a Mount Rainier Proposal, without the hiking.

You could also consider proposing at Crystal Mountain for a view of Mount Rainier via the gondola. Just keep in mind that it may be really busy.

24. Snoqualmie Falls

This may be the most well known waterfall in the entire state of Washington. Most easily you can propose at the overlook of the falls which is a great vantage point, but can be busy. Our advice for proposing here – go on a week day!

Please note that the only way to get to the bottom of these falls is to be come a member of the theater via a yearly pass then you can access the trail that goes to the bottom.

25. Ruby Beach or Rialto Beach

The beaches of Olympic National Park are another great option if you are a couple that enjoys road trips together or just getting out of the city. At all of the Olympic beaches you can definitely hike, but these two require little to no hiking with beautiful pay offs when it comes to views. Now, if you are feeling adventurous, we hear Rialto Beach is a great place to surf, if that is something you two enjoy!!

Beaches not your vibe? Another good destination in the Olympics is Hurricane Ridge which is at the top of the mountain. You don’t have to walk anywhere to access the stunning mountain views, but if you want to hike or explore there are good trails.

Washington State Proposal Photographer

We (Traci + Bill!) are local Washington State adventurous couples photographers. We capture elopements, vow renewals, engagements and proposals for couples on every sort of adventure that you can imagine. We are available to capture your proposal + assist in the planning as needed. There are usually two different ways we go about capturing a proposal:

• We hide out or act like just normal bystanders until we see you get down on one knee then we come out to capture the moment. This is followed by a portrait session.
• Or you book a portrait session with us and your partner is lead to believe it is a just because type of thing. However, you propose during it! We would plan together if you would rather propose towards the start or end of the session, if you want a code word or pose to happen before, things like that.

We also help you pick the perfect location and put together the logistics timing wise! We send sneak peak images that day or night to your phone. The entire gallery is delivered within one week where you can download all of your images!

Our proposal sessions for the Artist Point/Baker area start at $850.

Our proposals for anywhere else in the Washington State Region start at $1000.

We also offer an add-on for video, please inquire with us to discuss details!

We Can’t Wait To Hear Your Washington Proposal Plans!

Marriage Tips, Advice and Stories from Couples who have gone the distance in their Marriage.

We ended 2020 with a blog post wrapping up the year and talking about 2021 trends in elopements. I am so stoked for the year ahead capturing love stories. I want to start this year on a positive vibe level, you know what I mean?! Last year someone asked me on a call, why are you an elopement photographer? I did a lot sole searching to really answer this. Part of my “why” for how my elopement business is structured is “to give people a place and the space to freely express themselves to each other.” I could be doing this with portrait sessions, but I chose working with couples because I truly believe in love and have always been profoundly drawn to marriage/long lasting love. Finding that person that is your forever partner and growing into that relationship as life goes on is the highest goal to me in life. Now I could take this why and this passion and just shoot weddinga, but I don’t, I only shoot elopements. So why? Simple. I truly believe the best way, as in the most authentic, raw and free, way to start off your marriage is eloping. I believe the locations you elope are powerful enough to make hold each other closer, to allow you feel and express yourself. I believe adventure elopements are stress free, emotive, focused on the reason for the day and beautiful.

I want to start off this year with a gift or inspiration you could say. Since strong marriage is something that really pushes me in this business and all of you are entering marriage I wanted to share a blog post of love stories, advice and more from married couples who have made it 35+ years and are still happily doing life together. So I spent the last month or so documenting some of these love stories, chatting and asking questions to these couples. I hope this blog post inspires you, reminds you how to get through the tough times and helps your love keep growing in marriage. Below are my interviews with seven couples I got the chance to speak to. On your elopement day you have a long life ahead of you in marriage, just remember there is always growth and learning to be had.

Listening to each couples stories, spending time with and reading their answers I learned there was a few things they all had in common: they all spent time traveling together, almost all mentioned counseling and being your best self to be the best partner, being able to laugh with each other, having similar values and goals but also having your own activities/self.

A saying I starting saying in revelation to a good marriage after these projects was:

In life you go through ups and downs, you have bad days, bad weeks and maybe bad years. You know what though? You never give up on yourself, you always work to improve. So in a marriage you may have a bad day, bad week and maybe a bad year, but you shouldn’t give up on your relationship or partner. The most beautiful things in life, take hard work.

Words and Advice from Couples in Arizona

Married: 35 years

Dated how long before marriage: friends for 1 year, dated a few months before engaged and then married!

How did you know they were the one?

We did things as friends since I was new to the area. I had a personal “rule” to never date someone I worked with. We enjoyed playing racquetball, going downtown Chicago to Jazz clubs & spent time checking out things in Chicago. I was originally going to fix him up with a friend from college, since I never planned to get married. After about a year of doing fun things together, I changed my mind & thought it’d be good to date and move the relationship forward. I had grown in love with him. I had dated many different guys in college and afterward. I knew that R was a guy with the qualities I valued, and we could build a good life together. R had not done much dating, so he wasn’t sure he wanted to get serious. We stopped seeing each other for a month, so that he could figure out what he wanted. After that time, we dated another couple of months, then got engaged in June & married 6 months later.

What is their marriage advice to you?

K: WHEN you’re frustrated with him, let him know what’s going on inside your head/heart with a phrase like “when you do xx, the story I’m telling myself is … because…”. R: Agreed, also be courageous enough to enter your partner’s world. Get to know their perspective, why they see the world the way that they do. Know their hurts, fears, hopes and dreams to provide comfort, compassion and a positive future.

What are things that helped them navigate through the hard times?

K: Going to counseling personally (individually) and working on my own stuff. Being committed to God to work on myself, and be honest with R, about what I’m feeling (and why)

R: Yes! Both of us have spent time on individual counseling. We also spend time building relationships with others who want to work positively on their marriages. Also, notice the “small bids” for connection that your spouse presents, often several times a day. And, manage your self-talk, especially when you are being a jerk. Stop and admit to yourself, and to your partner that “I’m being a jerk right now, I’m sorry.”

Married: 45 years

Dated how long before marriage: We didnt really date, we were living in a communal area overseas. Once we became a couple he proposed in less than 1 month.

How did you know they were the one: When I realized I couldn’t imagine not being with her everyday for the rest of my life.

What was your wedding like: We more or less eloped. It was in a little Pentecostal church in Birmingham, England, none of our families were there, but the church members made us feel like they had adopted us. It was my hippy wedding. I wore fresh flowers in my hair, a beautiful lace and Muslim dress, and I wrote the whole wedding.

What is your wedding advice or things that helped you through the hard times?

There is no one answer to it. But, learning how to forgive, be willing to change, and nobody will believe this, but things will be very different than what you imagine. Don’t look to your partner to provide you happiness. Counseling, self examination, learning to be honest about my insecurities. Do not let small annoyances build up into resentments by not addressing them.

What is one of your favorite memories together?

An evening in Paris. We were at a small restaurant and it was near closing time. We were sitting next to the bar and we had a meal and a bottle of wine. Music was playing and we stood up by our table and began to slow dance. As we were dancing the bartender lowered the lights and when we finished everyone working behind the bar applauded.

Married: 60 years

Dated before marriage: We met in college and started dating for 2 years before our engagement.

How did you know they were the one: We just realized we wanted to go through this journey of life together.

What was your wedding like:

Our wedding was in August of 1960. It was with a small group of family and friends. We gather for the reception in the church parlor.

Advice to Newly Weds:

Be patient and let the new relationship grow and strengthen. Keep a sense of humor too. We each have continued to have our own activities outside of the paired interest in our relationship. Inertia moved us through the tough times – just keep moving forward. A backward look helps you to see how far you have come.

What are some thoughts on have on marriage today?

Some people come to marriage thinking it’s all sunshine and roses it is NOT always great – you have to preserver, but, if you do, now we can look back at 60 years of marriage. We are enjoying our retirement with half of our family here with us in AZ. We have four grand daughters, two of which who are completing their second year of college. Their younger sisters are headed in the same direction. It is one of the greatest joys to wonder what they will achieve. We are hoping to do more travel while we can still manage it.

Words and Advice from Couples in North Carolina

Married: 36 years!

Dated before marriage: We dated roughly 3 1/2 married before marrying. Engaged for little over a year.

How did you know this was the one?

I think within the first year or so of dating, I knew this was the guy. Neither of us had dated much before so we didn’t have much relationship experience. What we both did have were great parents, who themselves had long successful marriages, as roll models. Mark was respectful of me and my family. An example: Before we started dating, (we had only just met ~ he was a college senior, I a freshman and we had mutual friends in our dorm), he drove through my hometown to go visit another friend in a neighboring town during spring break. He found my house, no one was home. He left a note for me, and a box of chocolates for my mom! Mark moved out of state for a job after graduation, about 8 hours from college. He’d drive down after work on a Friday night, stay Saturday, and head back on Sunday ~ just to see me! By the way, he’d stay with friends, never in my room! As I said, respectful! He was so kind, treated me like a queen, and always looked at me with such love. Mark was fun to be with and we shared so much fun and we could always make each other laugh! I knew from watching my own parents, laughter would be key down the road! I knew by the way he was with his parents, especially his mom, he’d know how to be a good husband and father. I always felt warm and safe when I was with him ~ my heart skipped, and still does!

After 36 years of surviving many joys and several sorrows, what is my best relationship advice?

My first bit of advice ~ Don’t take it all too serious! Do listen to each other, do respect each other’s views and opinions. Always have each other’s back! Be each other’s best friend. Make each other laugh every day and be ok with laughing at each other. Humor will get you through a lot. Enjoy having mutual interests & doing things together, but give each other space for your own friends and interests. That being said, honestly, it’s ok to go to bed mad. You will have arguments, he/she will make you nuts from time to time, and it’s very stressful trying to fix it quickly so you can go to bed. Sometimes it actually is good to sleep on it ~ morning can bring a whole new perspective!

We have definitely had our share of tough times, some came with lots of discussion and arguments and some due to the heartaches of life. For us, we often slept on it, rethought our positions and discussed again. Honestly, looking back, I’m not sure how we navigated and survived the toughest times. I just know that at the end of the day, there was mutual love and respect and a desire to have the best outcome for whatever the problem. I will say, while not wealthy people, we’ve never had money issues, which can be a huge source of tough times. Raising children is another area that can cause issues. Whatever the issues, it helps if you can decide on what you want the outcome to be, have a common goal and work toward it.

Often, couples are in love, the relationship is new and exciting and they just want to get to the wedding. Couples don’t necessarily talk about long term expectations for their relationship and their views on the big things that can cause issues down the road. Money, raising children, religion, jobs, relocating, aging parents, illness, etc.! It’s important for the success of a long lasting relationship to talk about your views on the major issues that WILL pop up in most people’s lives. Make sure you are somewhat compatible!

Is there anything else you want to share on Marriage?

My husband & I waited till we were married to sleep together. Yes, a bit old fashion, but it was 1984, and we were raised Catholic, and I still had a healthy fear of my mom! ???? I mention this because so often I hear younger friends & co-workers discuss dating today. They say by the 3rd date ~ you sleep with the guy/girl. They seem to put a high premium on sexual compatibility being a sign of overall compatibility. I’ve heard, “if the sex isn’t good, it’s a no go”. Don’t get me wrong, sex IS important, but great sex comes when you find great love! When the real issues arise in a marriage, sex is not going to fix things.

I thought on our wedding day I loved my Mark as much as I could ever possibly love him. So wrong! My love was one dimensional in the beginning. We were young and healthy with not a care in the world! Once we had to navigate the tough times, the sad times, the joyous times ~ my love grew and grew exponentially! Our shared experiences, good and bad, have made our marriage special and long lasting.

Married: 31 years

Dated before marriage: We met in 1989 while in school, we dated until January 20, 1990. We got married as Seniors in High School. We lived with my parents in Cullowhee and drove over 30 miles each way to attend school until we graduated high school.

How did you know this was the one?

When I got saved (gave heart to Jesus) at her dad’s church. Her answer: Within a c couple of dates; I knew. There were so anything we had in common.

What was your wedding like?

Our wedding was…..borrowed. lol Literally the wedding dress, the bridesmaid dresses, etc, was borrowed from another couple; and our first set of rings belonged to my parents. The reception was given to us by my dad’s church (he was a Pastor). Yet everything matched and was beautiful.

What is your advice to newly weds?

Her answer: Don’t stress over small stuff! Everyone disagrees, everyone has fights; it’s not the end of the world nor is it the end of your marriage. If you have a solid foundation where you truly love each other you will make it. And continue to date and court each other. His answer: Happy Wife; Happy Life! Remembering God, family and friends in the hard times helps. The realization that “this too shall pass.” And “Joy comes in the morning.”

What do you think is something folks don’t talk about when it comes to marriage, but is important to creating a long-lasting relationship?

I think one of the biggest challenges is “we are all different.” We don’t necessarily want or need the same things. However, just because my list of wants and needs doesn’t exactly match Kevin’s; it doesn’t make his needs less important than mine. (Those can be sexual needs, physical, emotional or material needs)

One of your favorite memories together?

I remember when we got married as Seniors in high school; I was pregnant. Kevin was earning $150 a week! Within a year of our marriage we bought our first home. It was small but perfect for us. We brought three girls home from the hospital to that home. Years later, we sold that home and built a new house. In January of 2012 we received a phone call asking if we were ready to bring a new baby home from the hospital. Even though we were in a very different place in life at this point (we were expecting a new grandbaby and our youngest was about to graduate from high school) we did not hesitate. We prayed and sought God’s advice and direction over the next few days. We knew if God had truly sent this baby to us then we had an obligation to go get her and to raise her. Ever since that day I can not begin to explain how God has turned our lives around. Not only has this little girl brought so much happiness to our whole family and everyone who knows her; but God has blessed our family in ways I cannot explain. He truly showed us once again that if we will attempt to serve him and obey him he will take care of our needs; he has done that and then some!

Want more? Check out some of the books or videos on marriage that some of the couples recommended!

Read “The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work” by John Gottman. Here’s the short video overview: Youtube Link!

Books by Louise Hay on loving yourself and life.

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson

5 Love Languages

If you are looking for an elopement photographer that cares just as much as you do about the experience on your wedding day that starts the rest of your life, you’re at the right place!

We are an elopement photography team based in Washington state, but I travel all over the Western part of the country capturing wildly authentic wedding days. Your story deserves to be told in the most real way and you deserve a wedding day dedicated to your relationship in a way that celebrates the bond you have over what society tells us the day is supposed to be.

Adventure Couple Session Guide

Sessions for adventurous couples for their engagement, anniversary or just because!

Maybe you have seen an adventurous couple on a rock kissing each other just there by the ropes that hold them or maybe you your self are an adventurous couple and taking photos downtown in dressy clothes to annouce you’re getting married doesn’t appeal to you and you’re looking for ideas or more information. Welp, my friend, you are in the right place! In this blog I will tell you everything you want to know about an adventure engagement session from what it is, where to do it, how to prepare, dress and more!

First things first…..

What is an Adventure Couples Session?

Put very simply it’s a photo session with your lover that includes some sort of adventure. Put more in detail with more thought, it is a couples session more rooted in who you two are as a couple. Think of it as a date that you two would typically do together or a date day you have have been dying to do together, but a photographer is coming along to capture it as well! An adventure session can be as simple as exploring a beach together you have been wanting to go to or that is your favorite one you have ever been to. It can be as extreme as rock climbing a spire in Sedona to get to the top just in time for sunset! Here the world is your oyster, no adventure is too small or big. What’s important is that you get to be yourselves and connect with each other on your session!

Adventure sessions are not just for those that are engaged! They are great for folks wanting to celebrate an anniversary or couples that are on a special trip to a new place. If you have a destination wedding and want to get out and explore the following day this is a great way to do it! An adventure session is truly just a great way to celebrate your love doing something you love.

How is an adventure session different from any other couples session?

For an adventure session you’re putting in a little more work! It is pretty similar in the differences between small weddings and adventure elopements. The key word is adventure, which really means whatever ‘adventuring’ means to you. To me this may mean taking a hike to beautiful outlook or going horseback riding through the country side. To the couple next door this may mean rock climbing a new pitch or sky diving!

The second biggest difference in having an adventure session is connection. While you may not be saying vows with each other it is still a very emotive experience. Every adventure session I have done with a couple I leave in awe of the moments that the couple was able to share together. There is a sense of connection, fun, carefree spirit and time that they are really expressing their love and just being with each other that allows magic to happen. One session that specifically stands out was an adventure anniversary session in Sedona at the end of last year. Not only was it an adventure to even get to the location during snow storm that hit Arizona, but Kyle and Amber really took in the rare experience that was being surrounded in the red rocks in the snow and being the only people there on the trial. You may be wondering just exactly how an adventure session can be more emotional or connected than a session not out in the great outdoors. It is has been studied and proven that being outside in general can improve your stress levels, energy, memory and be calming. This in relation to your relationship helps communication and connection.

Adventure sessions are also usually longer than your average couples session. Why?? Well, you are doing an activity so naturally you will need more time. Your session will usually be as long as it would take typically for whatever activity you choose to do and then and an extra 1.5+ hours. What is great about adventure sessions is this time, because it is not rushed and allows you to really enjoy the session and time together.

Reasons to have an adventure session

Adventure sessions are all about quality time together. Often in our society, we think there has to be a special reason to do something together where a photographer is involved, but we are here to tell you that is not true.

Top reasons for an adventure session:

• Engagement
• Elopement announcements/Wedding invites
• Anniversary
• Date night!
• Just because
• A re-kindling moment, maybe you have been through something had lately
• Baby announcement/Maternity

The best reason of all, is because you have each other. Time is forever fleeting, tomorrow is not a promise. You are out here living your dream life together, do not be afraid to document it time to time.

Adventure Couple Session Locations!

The location of an adventure engagement session is truly dependent upon you two where you want to go and what you want to do during your session. For starters, National Parks, State Parks, BLM and other open lands are great places to start, but the options do not stop there.

For the most part we book adventure sessions in regions we are already traveling to. These are common locations you can book us for an adventure session:

• Moab, Utah
• Sedona, Arizona
• Page, Arizona
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Bend, Oregon
• Oregon Coast
• Washington State – Olympic National Park, San Juan Islands, Mt Rainier, Mt Baker region, Leavenworth and so on
• Alaska

For more information, you can view our travel schedule and available dates on our homepage.

What to do at your Adventure Session?

We breifly went over this when defining what an adventure engagement session is, but let’s dig a little deeper. Digging deeper is exactly what I recommend you two do over date night! Talk about what would make the most sense to your relationship. Talk about things you love doing together, how some of your favorite memories together were made and talk about places you love or that’s on your most go to list! Below are some ideas of activities to do at your adventure engagement session:

• canyoneer
• rock climb
• kayak/canoe
• go boating/sailing
• hang glide/skydive
• horseback ride

• hike
• picnic
• star gaze
• camp fire
• surf
• hot air balloon ride

After you decide what type of adventure you want to do it can help you figure out where may be the best location to elope. Also, choosing where to do your session will help you decide what you can do for your session. These elements go hand in hand. Once you have both figured out you can plan the rest of your session! I will always say the most important things are communicating with yourself, your partner and your photographer about what you want out of the session, what matters most to you to come from the session and what you are comfortable with. After you have more plans into place you can decide if sunrise or sunset is the best time to hold the session. You can decide the best time of year so that you can prepare better for the weather and what to wear. Once you have location, activity, photographer booked and a time you can plan anything else you may need to like travel, lodging or booking other things you may need like an off road car, guides, tickets, etc.

What to wear on your Adventure Couple Session?

What you CAN wear greatly depends on what you are doing on your session! Remember though, you can always change into something else after you have done the big adventure or got to the main area you will take photos. Here are my biggest suggestions when deciding what to wear to your engagement session:

• Wear something that works for what activity you’re doing. I almost always suggest to my clients to wear a boot. Closed toed shoes for almost any adventure is a must! There is absolutely no shame in a hiking boot, but if you want something a little more stylish check out this North Face boot for ladies and this one for men. My rule of thumb for clothing is also to usually wear long pants or a long dress/skirt for style reasons and safety reasons. If you know you dont want to do the hiking or other activity in your out fit for photos just throw it in your pack and change somewhere along the trail!

• Coordinate do not match. This little golden rule you will find also for almost any photo session and there is a reason! Visually it is great, you want a little contrast in your photos. Try to match each other in color or pattern. Wearing colors that are complimentary is a great way to go. If you want to look more into this check out the color wheel. Thinking about the color wheel is also a great way to put in perspective what to where in relation to what colors will be in your photos from the location the session will be held at. I also tell my couples to feel free to send me photos of the outfits if they want a second opinion or to bring options.

• Flowy for the win! Often times for adventure sessions we are on a mountain peak or along the coastline. This usually means there will be some great wind! Flowy dresses and skirts photograph amazingly in these situations. Here are some websites that you can find a great dress at: Lulu’s, Free People, Revolve or you can go thrifting! Not all flowy dresses are created equal! Dresses that are a lighter weight in fabric like silk catch wind better and dresses with slits look more beautiful in the wind typically.

• When in doubt layers. If you are unsure of the weather layer up. Mountain tops can be much cooler than where you start at the trail head so if you are in a flowy dress some nude tights might be a good thing to have on hand. You are also likely to get warm while hiking to the spot where most the photos will be captured. I always suggest prepare to shed layers or prepare to layer up depending on what type of environment the session is in. When selecting your layers just think to yourself “am I okay having photos with this as apart of my outfit” and “can I move in this.” The chances are I will also be photographing you during the hike and during those chilly moments.

• Accessories. Have fun with your session and be you! If it is cold and you just love fun winter hats, bring one! Going on a big hike for your session? Bring all your gear! It makes for an epic adventure photo. Bringing your lady pup along?? Flower collars are super cute! Hats are all the rage right now!

• Communicate!!! This is my BIGGEST suggestion. Your photographer is a resource. This is our job! I LOVE working with my couples to help them have the best experience, feel the most confident and love their photos after. I am here to help you plan your outfit and/or give you a second opinion on what you have picked out. I have a Pinterset board I send to every client doing an adventure session with me that has tons of ideas and useful tips for dressing the occasion. Every adventure is different and I cater the information to each couple based on their session.

How much does an Adventure Couples Session cost?

Our adventure engagement sessions promise to be an unforgettable memory for your relationship either somewhere new or already cherished, all the while we capture award-winning level photography from every moment! Think of the perfect date in a stunning location where you really do get to bring the memories to life as we freeze it into forever one picture at a time. As experts in outdoor photography, we know the ins and outs of any place where we photograph our couples, so you’re able to have a completely stress-free experience and only excitement around every turn.

All of our adventure sessions include:

• Two international award-winning photographers (we are a husband and wife team!)
• Location recommendations
• Timeline based on the best lighting for your session
• Local recommendations to the area you will be in
• Online + In Person scouting of your location/activity
• Outfit recommendations
• Photography Permit fees included
• Same day sneak peaks
• Full gallery within 3 weeks of beautifully edited images with printing rights
• Drone coverage when permitted

We have three different packages for adventure sessions, the right one depends on what all you want to do on this day. We will hop on a call to meet and chat about your session to best advise you on which package to book! When needed, we can also build a custom package.

• 2 hour adventure session // $2400
• 4 hour adventures session // $4000
• 8 hour adventure session // $6500

If you want more information about what it is like to work with us view our elopement packages page!

Traci did an amazing job with our engagement photos! The views were stunning! Our photos came out so natural looking. She even hiked to the area with us and helped me along the way in my heels and white dress. She took plenty of pictures and they were ready for us so quickly. I would highly recommend Traci for anyone wanting professional photos done in Sedona.

– Ankura Patel

Working with Adventure and Vow for your Adventure Session!

Hey there! We’re Traci and Bill and photographing love stories is our passion. We capture engagement sessions all over the Western Part of the United States throughout the year as we travel for our elopements. Here is our current travel schedule. We update it frequently, but please reach out even if you don’t see your location on the list! Sometimes dates change and locations get moved around so absolutely let us know what you’re envisioning!

We take limited bookings for these each year so be sure to inquire soon! Our adventure sessions are available for engagements, anniversaries, and “just because” sessions. We believe there is no time greater than the present and every loving relationship deserves to be celebrated. We can’t wait to hear your vision and to come together to bring it to life!

Drop Your Info Below and Let’s Chat About Your Plans!

(it says elopement but don’t worry! just mention you’re looking for engagement coverage and we’ll get back to you asap!)

FAQ

What if the weather is bad?

We photograph/work in rain, snow or whatever else mother nature gives us, unless it is unsafe. However, if we shoot is up to you! We try to remain flexible for our couples as needed when it comes to weather. We can switch times if needed or locations.

Can I wear a wedding dress?

Of course! This is your session! For anniversary sessions we have had gals that wanted to re-wear their wedding dress! Or for couples having a traditional wedding, but want an elopement experience you can wear that dress!!! Just keep in mind these sessions are not meant for elopements – these are simply portrait sessions with an adventure! If you want to elope please visit our elopement packages page.

Can I wear more than one outfit?

Yes! As long as there is time you can totally change outfits during your session! We recommend only one outfit change for a 2 hour session, but the longer sessions you can change more if desired.

What if I want something shorter than 2 hours?

We do offer a 1 hour portrait session for $1500. This session is not available for anything that requires hiking more than .5 mile in total. This session can be great for just portraits at a scenic place, but can be rushed if you try to add in anything else.

Your complete guide to proposing in Sedona, Arizona

updated for 2025

The who, when, and what’s of proposing from a local adventure photographer in Sedona

A quick Summary for planning your Sedona Proposal:

Top Proposal Locations: Iconic spots like Merry Go Round Rock and private options like Doe Mountain.

Best Timing: Sunrise, sunset, and weekdays for fewer crowds and stunning light. All depends on the location!

Unique Ideas: Add hikes, picnics, or hot air balloon rides for a memorable experience.

Capture the Moment: Hire a photographer (hey, that’s us!) to plan and discreetly document the proposal.

Attire Tips: Wear outfits suited to Sedona’s rocky terrain and that go well against the red, orange, and green natural landscape colors.

.Celebrate After: Explore Sedona’s dining scene to mark the moment.

Where to Propose in Sedona

The top proposal locations in Sedona are pretty much the same as the most popular trails to hike in the area or the best elopement locations. The three most popular locations to propose are:

(Note, most location links will take you to elopement stories, but the images show the location!)

• Devil’s Bridge
• Cathedral Rock
• Merry Go Round
• Airport Mesa
• Bell Rock area

These locations are the most popular trails by far due to their epic views. While all of these locations once were quiet corners of Sedona, that has surely changed. There is almost always a long line of people waiting to have their picture taken at Devil’s Bridge which starts as soon as the sun comes up. Cathedral Rock now operates on a shuttle system due to how busy it has become, so definitely expect this trail to be dense with crowds.

Thirdly, since there is no permitting system for weddings on Sedona’s national forest land, Merry Go Round can often have multiple weddings occurring at one time. While Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock are always busy, due to Merry Go Round being a longer hike or a serious off road drive, Merry Go Round on a rare day does still have the chance of complete privacy.

Devil’s Bridge

Devil’s Bridge is a 4-mile hike that can be shorter if you off-road part of it. We always suggest to our couples proposing who have their heart set on this location, to do so at sunrise to avoid the large crowds and the lines to take photos on the bridge; this way you have both privacy and beautiful light for us to capture the moment.

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is a 1-mile hike/scramble up a popular vortex spot known for its sunset cliff view. It’s important to note that despite how popular this trail is, the scrambling required midway on this hike can often send less experienced hikers back to the trailhead. We recommend to our couples proposing here to do so at sunset because the light is incredible. Yes, it will be busy at sunset, but everyone waiting in line to take their picture at the iconic spot are typically mindful of other visitors and there is always a roar of applause after the question gets popped. So if a ton of positive energy and congratulations while at a beautiful spot is your thing, Cathedral Rock definitely delivers.

Merry Go Round

Merry Go Round is most often accessed by a lifted 4×4 capable vehicle or one of the many jeep tour businesses in town. If you don’t have your own vehicle that’s up for the task, we highly recommend Barlow Jeep in the heart of town. They have a seemingly endless roster of brand new lifted jeeps, and when you rent one for the day, it operates on your time schedule. While the jeep tours can be convenient for family events or a day trip, the jeep tours will not stay out until sunset which is when the most stunning light is for viewing and for pictures.

We highly recommend to anyone proposing at a location that requires a 4×4 vehicle that if they don’t have their own, to rent a jeep so they can stick around and pop the question during the best lighting. If you and your partner are avid hikers, you can also access Merry Go Round by hiking 6 miles round trip. I think we’ve alluded to this already, but Merry Go Round is arguably the best spot to watch the sunset over Sedona! If you are proposing at any of these locations, I can not recommend enough considering a weekday for less crowds (and for sure not a holiday!)

Private Proposal Locations in Sedona

• Red Rock Crossing
• Doe Mountain
• Bear Mountain
• West Fork Trail

These locations are less crowded but also offer more options to kind of find your own quiet nook for the big moment! For example, while West Fork Trail has become a busy hike, it follows lots of water crossings and open forests. Unlike the equally popular areas mentioned above, there is plenty of space to break to the side and find a spot all your own. Doe and Bear Mountain are the same way!

Many resorts also offer options for proposals that can be 100% private like L’Auberge.

Locations NEAR Sedona for a Proposal

Horseshoe Bend is a large tourist attraction in Page, Arizona. It is a hot spot for proposals, and for good reason! It is a romantic place to catch the sunset and take in the massive rock walls of the desert.

Going from the parking lot to the overview is a short walk with big rewards. The drive from Sedona is 3 hours one way, so it is a great day trip to check out the charming mountain town of Flagstaff, drive the stretch up to see Lake Powell in the city of Page, and then circling back to Horseshoe Bend for popping the big question before driving the five minutes back to spend the night in the city of Page!

Sunset is for sure the best time here, and again, try for a weekday! This location has become very busy over the years, but the bend is gigantic, so many visitors congregate to only a few areas, so making your way to a private spot isn’t hard to come by. Especially working with a local who knows the area!

Other ideas could be:

• Grand Canyon
• Flagstaff, AZ
• Arcosanti

Sedona Proposal Ideas

• Take a hike! Trails in Sedona vary from .2 miles to 12 miles and offer incredible views.
• Rock climb! Be sure you are well experienced to climb sand stone and have the right gear.
• Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise! You could propose while in the hot air balloon, before you get in, or at the end of the ride when they hand you a glass of champagne!
• Off-road! We mentioned Merry Go Round, but there are many places to off-road in Sedona and northern Arizona in general to stunning locations. You can take a Jeep, a dune buggy, or other off road toy.
• Have a picnic! You can plan to go on a picnic or surprise your partner with one! Here at Adventure & Vow we offer options where we will hike in before you and set up a full set up with food and drink, candles (if there is not a fire ban), and/or music!
• Go wine tasting at one of the many wineries near Sedona in Cottonwood, Verde Valley, or Cornville!
• As I mentioned above, take a day trip! Maybe Horseshoe Bend is not your cup of tea; you could look into the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Rim Country, or several other options.

**keep scrolling for more planning tips and info**

How to capture your Sedona Proposal

Everything we are telling you here is based on working with us at Adventure & Vow for your proposal. We have spent years living in Sedona and have hiked up and down almost every trail on the map, so we are full of good advice Having a professional photographer capture this moment is so, so so worth it!

A maybe okay photo on your phone that someone took for you in the moment will not do justice to this landmark occasion in your relationship. Hiring an adventure photographer for your proposal is so helpful when it comes to planning the moment, putting it into action the day of, and of course preserving this moment in time to share with your friends and family.

So how does getting your proposal photographed work? Here at Adventure & Vow we recommend a few different ways to go about it:

• Hire a photographer to capture the proposal as a total surprise!

Maybe the two of you already have plans for a hike or to go to dinner. This option works by you telling us where you want to propose and already having a plan in the works with your partner to go to this location. Then we let you know what time will be the BEST time to propose there based on light, crowds, and every last important detail. Then you work out a plan to get your partner there for that time. We are here to help with ideas to help keep it a surprise and from your partner getting too suspicious.

Usually the plan gets put together and it all goes perfect! Sometimes your plans change on the fly and that means we won’t be capturing that stunning sunrise light, but that doesn’t make capturing the moment any less perfect! As a tip, if this is your plan and you want your partner to dress nice, but don’t want to spoil the surprise, a great thing to do to is have brunch or dinner plans set for right after the proposal! Then they don’t suspect anything and you don’t have to give any direction on attire.

• Hire a photographer for a setup at the proposal location!

This is a surprise that always wows the person being proposed to. Imagine thinking you’re just going on a casual hike for sunrise to find a complete picnic setup in nature just for you and mega bonus! Now you’re engaged. This is a little more involved than selecting a location and just making sure to be there at the same time.

A great example of this was a recent proposal we captured where we hiked in prior to the couple and set up a blanket with a basket of fruit and pastries with champagne, orange juice, and string lights so the person proposing could easily spot the setup. Their sunrise picnic was set up right where all of the hot air balloons take off in Sedona for a great morning start before they headed to brunch and more hiking in Sedona. This could be an option for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert!

• Hire a photographer to do a couples session and then propose during the session!

This method is great if you are okay with there not being a huge element of surprise or if your partner will think nothing of doing a couples session together! Maybe you have been wanting to have pictures taken together for a while, or maybe it’s an anniversary, or maybe you’ve planned to go to Sedona for a long time and you can play the “no big deal, I booked us a couples session” card. If photos are a totally normal part of your relationship, then your partner wont blink an eye!

If you are going about it this way I suggest popping the question at the end of the session because at this point you are both comfortable with us (the photographer) and being in front of the camera. Also, they’re less likely to suspect anything if you do it at the very end. If you are feeling really nervous, I recommend proposing at the start of the session so you can both enjoy it!

Once you decide which way you want to go about getting the proposal photographed, leave the rest up to us to help you plan, navigate, and make sure everything goes perfect!

What to wear for your proposal photos in Sedona!

First and most importantly, if you aren’t dressed to the nines, don’t worry about it, this moment is about you two and your love, not about what you are wearing. But if you do have any control over what you and your partner will be wearing for this big moment, here are some outfit tips!

• Casual

  Sedona is mostly red rocks and juniper trees so colors like black, teal, tan, white, blush, navy, dark green, and burgundy all look great! If you are dressing casual, try to avoid any loud patterns or things with big bold words on them. No matter what, you’ll be able to control what you wear, so think solid, natural tones for your outfit. Avoid wearing a hat unless its a beanie so we don’t lose your face to shadows when taking photos.

• Dressy

  If you are planning to propose while on a couples session, or for some reason you plan to dress dressy for this moment, there are a few things you want to consider. If you are a fella, make sure your pants aren’t too tight! Yes, this is a thing, We have seen someone rip their pants front-to-back. Make sure you can get on one knee easily! If you are hiking to the location in your dressy clothes, make sure you can easily move around and make sure to still wear hiking shoes!!! You can always change into a different shoe once you are at the location if desired The same colors apply here as the casual attire.

Sedona Proposal Packages

Ready to do the thing?! We are here for you and can’t wait to help bring your plans alive and capture this special moment for you to get to relive the rest of your lifetime together.

While adventure weddings are what fills most of our time, Adventure and Vow is available to capture proposals around our elopement schedule.

Our proposal packages averages around $1400, but this varies based on the couple’s needs and details for the proposal plan!

Currently, for 2025 proposals we are available the following dates:

• March 16-18
• May 20, 21, 23-31

Sedona Proposal Photographer

Hi, I am Traci, owner of Adventure and Vow! Myself + my husband, Bill, believe adventure is a lifestyle and something two people can be deeply rooted in that shapes their relationship and life. W

e are here to cheer on all moments of your relationship, from being a dating couple to capturing your elopement day! We are your all-in planners and photographers. No plan is too much. We are a get it done and make it happen kind of team, so whatever you’re, planning we are about it.

When it comes to photography, we believe it’s the most beautiful way to capture who you two are as a couple and preserve moments in time that tell your story throughout your life. If you’ve been dreaming up a dream proposal and are looking for a team of professionals to bring it to life, just reach out and let the planning begin!

Let’s Get in Touch!

What to do after your proposal in Sedona?

Now that you are engaged it is time to celebrate! These are the restaurants we recommend for a celebratory meal or toast to follow.

After a sunset proposal

Mariposa – Latin American steak house (recommendations required + dress code)

Elote (reservation required)

The Vault (dinner or lunch)

Javelina Cantina (dinner or lunch)

The Hudson – recommend reservation 

Shorebird – highly recommend reservation 

Vino De Sedona – for wine + personal pizzas and small plates, live music 

Tortas De Fuego in the VOC specifically for casual Mexican food 

 Gerardo’s Italian Kitchen

After a sunrise proposal consider these options!

Creekside in VOC – good coffee

Oak Creek Expresso – amazing pastries they usually sell out by 10am

Shorebird for brunch!

Fifteen Year Vow Renewal in Sedona, Arizona

Amanda and David celebrated their 15 year wedding anniversary in Sedona with their children and a vow renewal! They had originally planned to do their celebration in St. Maarten, but due to covid had to change plans and stay in the state. Sedona was truly the perfect place for them. They had been to Sedona as a couple and as a family in the past. It holds a special place in their heart, so much so that Amanda has  Gibraltar Rock ridge tattooed on her wrist. We met at a location that was an easy enough hike the whole family could enjoy with amazing views of Cathedral, Gibraltar Rock and Little Horse. We settled in and took in the view as we waited for Jesse, the flute player, and Jen Paul, the officiant, to arrive to start the ceremony. The kids set up a circle made of crystals for their parents to stand in during this special ceremony. I knew the ceremony was going to be sacred and beautiful with Jen and Jesse being a part of it. Their ceremony was filled with surprises from both kids and each other. Ellen their daughter, sang a song for her mom during the ceremony and David gave Amanda a new wedding ring. They recalled memories from their time dating, the proposal at Amanda’s parent’s house with tons of red roses, their wedding in Philadelphia and pregnancy when they found out they were having twins! They shared new traditional vows with their kids being a part of the readings and new hand written vows to each other celebrating the last ten years and committing to their forever forward again. It was such a joy to capture their ceremony filled with emotion, love and such strong family values. It truly was a celebration.

The sun set just as the ceremony was finishing up and we hiked back out under the most colorful Sedona sky. We all took a break for dinner before meeting back up on the other side of town for some photos under the milky way! These were some of the photos they were all most excited about! We arrived at the parking lot and the night was clear, you could see SO many stars! We took a short hike and had fun taking photos under the milky way, it was a perfect way to end the day. Congrats, to Amanda and Dave for celebrating ten years as a family and couple. I wish you all many, many more happy years together!

From their ceremony:

“I didnt fall in with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way. I do believe in fate and destiny, but I also beleive we are only fated to do the things that we’d choose anyway. And I’d choose you; in a hundred lifetyimes, in a hundred worlds, in any verison of reality, I’d find you and I’d choose you.” – Kiersten White’s novel The Choas of Stars

Vow Renewal Planning Tips:

• Hire an officiant if you want it to feel like a ceremony, be formal, or have help with coordinating the ceremony. Do not hire an officiant if you want to fully go with the flow and have an informal reading of vows.
• Hand write your new vows ahead of time and/or you could re-read your original vows to each other. (Extra tip: If you are getting married you could hand write a letter to each other has new husband and wife and then read it to each other years later at a renewal)
• Ways to include your kids: have them recite the vows, tell your love story, let them hold your flowers and/or rings, etc
• Don’t stress, this is a celebration! Purely think about what you two want out of this ceremony and your desires to have it, then plan around that. Take your time planning and be open to ideas.
• You could do the vow renewal at your original wedding location, somewhere that holds significance your lives together or somewhere you two have always wanted to go!

Looking for a photographer to capture your vow renewal or elopement!?

Sedona and Washington based, I am here to help you find the perfect spot to celebrate your love, plan the experience you imagine and be there to capture your story the day of! Email me to inquire about your special day from elopements to vow renewals. All love deserves to be celebrated! <3

Charlie & Dariella Surprise Proposal at Horseshoe Bend – Page, Arizona

Charlie reached out to me a couple of weeks ago with a very big and exciting surprise up his sleeve. He was looking for a photographer to capture his proposal to his girlfriend on the last day of their Southwest road trip. Him and Dariella flew to Las Vegas from their home in Austin to road trip around Nevada, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. A road trip like this was the perfect way for Charlie to propose. Not only has Dariella been wanting to see Horseshoe Bend for some time, they are also very adventurous and love to travel! Together they’ve been to ten different countries, including places in Europe, Central America and Southeast Asia. Every year they try to plan a big trip to a new place. They are also planning on going to Banff National Park in Canada later this year!

They met while in college at the UC Berkeley and started their adventures together by having dates all over the Bay area. Charlie knew she was the one when they moved in together in an extremely small apartment in San Francisco. This place was 350 sq ft, had a mini stove and only one closet. It could have easily torn a couple apart, but instead it brought them closer together and they made it the coziest home. Dariella knew he was the one when they were doing karaoke with friends. According to Dariella, Charlie is so outgoing, adventurous and fun, and he’s never afraid of making a fool of himself. In that moment, all those characteristics were so apparent and she just knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. They’ve also been through so much in the nearly seven years they’ve been together. They have done long-distance, graduated college and started their first jobs, moved across the country together to a city where they knew no one, and adopted their dog Piper together.

The proposal went flawlessly. Charlie had friends help him get everything together. One friend took Dariella to get her nails done before they left for their trip and one friend helped Charlie get in touch with me. Charlie got Dariella to wear a nice outfit instead of their camping attire by mentioning going to dinner on their way back to Vegas for their flight home. I stationed myself in a spot I could see them when they arrived. When Charlie and I had our call to go over the planning and details I mentioned a couple of spots at Horseshoe Bend where there are less people usually standing that he could propose at. To give them space and let him choose where he felt was right I followed along with my long lens at a distance until he got down on one knee. Dariella was for sure surprised and I could hear her saying “Is this for real?! Is this mine?!” It was a beautiful day and a great way to end their trip! After photos at the bend, a few phone calls to friends and family, they dined at Rocking V Cafe (a personal favorite of mine I recommended in Kanab, Utah) on their way back to the airport. I knew they were both excited to get home and celebrate the news with their pup Piper in their new home together!

Let’s Plan an Unforgettable Horseshoe Bend Proposal!

Hey, it’s me here! Your photographer <3
I am Traci! I am an extremely passionate person about places and telling your love stories. I truly believe in what the outdoors can do for your connection. As an elopement photographer I am here with you every step of the way from planning the day and to capturing the moments. Page is one of the many places I continuously explore to find perfect locations for my couples to say ‘I do’ or ask that very important question for your best friend to marry you! If you are planning your elopement, proposal or a trip where you want photos with your love,
reach out! I would love to help! <3

This proposal story was recently featured on How He Asked!

Dura & Joshua’s Adventure Anniversary Session in Sedona, Arizona

Meet Dura and Joshua! These two won the 2019 Holiday Anniversary Session giveaway and got married in San Diego a few years ago, which is where Joshu proposed. He proposed on Valentine’s day in 2016 by surprising Dura with a plane ticket on her car windshield for her to join him in San Diego the next day. Upon arriving to California they spent the day together exploring and he talked her into taking a small random boat to a sailboat. He mentioned they should check out the inside of one of the boats, and Dura went along thinking it was odd that he was so willing to hop on random boats, because she was usually the one up for bending the rules and exploring. Once she got into the sail boat and saw that there were flowers and a special setup, she panicked telling Joshua they had to leave immediately. That was when he let her know that it was all planned and for her, not just a random sailboat. Needless to say it was a special day for the two of them that started a beautiful marriage. Before their dating and engagement these two were being brought together by fate: Dura was on a mission trip over seas, and Joshua was in school in Spain, when mutual friends started telling them about each other. They met a year and half later at the friends home warming party and after some time started dating, really hitting it off while hiking and spending time talking with each other. After their wedding in San Diego, they quit their jobs, sold and packed up their belongings, and went on a nine month honeymoon. Yes, 9 MONTHS!!! From listening to their stories and memories it sounds like the most epic way to start forever together. They started in Iceland camping and hiking for a month, seeing many waterfalls, and even camping at one of my favorite local spots outside of Vík. They then traveled to Switzerland, Norway and many other places around Europe.

Planning for their anniversary session, they were super stoked to have images that would tell more of their story as a couple that hikes, climbs, and enjoys adventuring together. They had explored Sedona a lot, and they wanted to get off of the beaten path and onto some heights with amazing views, so I spent a week hiking around trails that are not popular in Sedona. We set the date and the location, but sadly the weather was calling for rain and storms, so we postponed since we could. Luckily, we did this, so I had an extra day to scout and spent the day looking for caves I had seen online in Sedona. I found a great spot and scouted it out and we changed the location. I sent Dura photos of the spot and we were all stoked. We set out for the hike on the day of the shoot chatting about our travels overseas, some of our favorite spots and memories, and sharing travel tips. We took a few photos of them just hiking in the elements with the final destination looking over us. Once we got to the caves they changed and started exploring the spot. The shoot was so much listening to the the two of them recall their favorite times together as married couple, talk about their wedding day, and tell their love story, as well as spending time quietly watching the sunset from the caves on top of a rock overlooking all of Sedona. To end the shoot, we popped a bottle of champagne just as the sun set and the Sedona sky turned orange and purple. We enjoyed our night hike down with almost a full moon lighting up all of the red rocks. On the way down Dura was speaking of how lucky she was to be married to her best friend and someone that she shares so much with in her life. They truly have a special bond and a beautiful relationship. I love their passion to go places, explore and value their time together!

Hey! It’s, me Traci your Arizona Elopement Photographer…

I am based in Sedona, Arizona and thoroughly enjoy spending my free time discovering perfect nooks for your elopement day. As an elopement photographer not only am I your photographer, but I am your guide, friend and planner. Arizona has an abundance of locations for you to say I Do where you can have the time and space to feel connected to your partner making unforgettable memories on your wedding day. I thoroughly believe adventure elopements are the most sincere and natural way to get married. The day should be about you two. I believe the outdoors provides a space to freely express yourself and have the most calming day. As your photographer I strive to capture images that tell your love story, authentically and artistically.

Let’s Chat About Your Elopement!

Since this blog has been published this session has been

featured on Photobug Community’s top photos of the month!

Ana & Zalo’s Adventure Engagement Session near Flagstaff, Arizona

Meet Ana and Zalo! These two and I had the absolute best time at their engagement session and nothing short of an epic adventure. As I always say, hats off to my couples for always being down to go the extra mile and put in the work to make the magic happen! These two were traveling to Arizona for a several day trip with Ana’s brother and his girl friend to check out the highlights the desert has to offer and look further into moving here from Texas. Ana and Zalo woke up in the wee hours of the morning to drive to the airport, fly to Phoenix, rent a motorcycle, drive it in the cold weather three hours North, off road with the motorcycle, adventure around a canyon and then drive back to Phoenix!! Whew, I am tired just typing that lol.

When they came to me to discuss their session they were completely open to locations. We threw around the idea of Joshua Tree and Sedona at first, but as soon as they saw this canyon they were sold. This canyon is one of my favorite places in Arizona so I was super excited. While I have photographed a couple there before for an anniversary session I still went to scout out the location to make sure getting the bike somewhere along the rim wouldn’t be a safety issue. I sent Ana & Zalo videos so they could get an idea of the land and give them a live view of the location.

The day of the session Flagstaff showed off its beauty from a recent snowfall. I knew they would be driving on the bike so I decided to pull over and snap some shots for them for later. I could not have imagined a better day for them to make this drive North, it was gorgeous out! As we neared the canyon the excitement grew and once we had the biked settled we took a moment to take in the view. In preparing for the session I knew the one of the most important things for them was the scenic experience and I think we for sure got the view they were wanting! Ana and Zalo have been together for ten years! As much as this was an engagement session it felt like a moment of celebration of their entire relationship together. They told me stories of how they met in through family and became friends at first, to how they started out as an official couple, to moving to Chicago together, times on Zalo’s motorcycle together and the time that Ana tried to learn to ride herself, to then moving back to Texas together and their proposal story in Colorado Springs. One of my favorite memories they told me about was the road trip they took together through many national parks and several states! Before the session and at the start of the session they expressed their concerns of being shy and nervous in front of the camera. I always love watching my couples blossom in front of the camera in a way they didn’t expect they might once we get the session going. Every couple’s love is different and it means so much to me to be able to capture their authentic moments together. We adventured around the canyon for a couple of hours from sunset to blue hour, which if you ask me is when this canyon really becomes an absolute show stopper. From hiking the rim, to getting the bike settled in a wet desert on a cliff and snow ball fights it was one heck of an Arizona engagement session. It was a fantastic day and I am so, so thankful that these two trusted me from a different state to help their vision come alive for their engagement session and explored in the depths of Arizona with me!

I always love working with couples from out state because it gives me a chance to share with them all of the unreal, amazing places to go see, epic hikes to go do and yummy restaurants and bars. Arizona is a place I am SO passionate about and I get so excited to hear about my couples adventures while visiting. I was lucky enough the next day after the session to meet up with Ana and Zalo and her family for dinner in Sedona. We met at Javelina Cantina, my favorite restaurant in Sedona, after they hiked Cathedral rock for dinner and (you guessed it!) Mezcal! It was such a fun time getting to know them better without the camera and sharing life stories.

Hope you all enjoy the images. Feel free to drop a comment or share the blog! Lastly, cheers to Ana and Zalo!

This canyon is nestled on Hopi Reservation land. The canyon is very fragile. If you decide to visit this canyon please be respectful of the Hopi, pull the proper permits before going practice leave no trace behind. If you are interested in how you can practice leave no trace behind, especially during your elopement or engagement session you can read all about it here!

This engagement session was featured recently on Wander Wedding’s blog called What to Wear to your Adventure Engagement Session! <<<<< Check it out!

How to prepare for being in front of the camera for your engagement session or elopement!

Camera Jitters, it is a thing folks

Guess what?! It is TOTALLY normal to be nervous in front of the camera. Almost all of my clients tell me before the session that they are nervous or super awkward in front of the camera. Every time, they are totally fine and have a blast during their session! So how do you get over the nervousness or camera anxiety?? For engagement sessions, weddings, elopements or anniversary sessions this is so easy, because you are not alone! You have your best friend, life long partner there by your side! Sounding much better already right?? Nervous or not here are some things that will help ensure a fun, smooth time:

• hydrate the day of and day before, especially if your session is taking place in the desert
• be well rested, do not stay up super late the day before
• try not to stress about the session or event, it is a fun day together just remember that
• show up in a good place with your partner, things will for sure be way more fun and easier if you arrive to your session excited to share this experience together

Some things that may calm the nerves:

• envision your session – if you are a planner do your natural thing by pulling some images of things you know you like and plan your outfits
• jam out in the car with your lover to your favorite tunes on the way to your session
• select with your photographer a location that you will feel comfortable at and be excited about being there
• chat with your partner, how are they feeling about the session? knowing how each other feels about being in front of the camera may help you feel secure by confiding in each other
• just get in front of the camera! I once had a couple where they told me they wanted to do a shoot just because they had never been in front of the camera and wanted to get comfortable with it before they get married some day

A lot of how you calm your nerves for a session also has a lot to do with your photographer. Each photographer runs a session differently and has their own ways for getting their couples at ease. Also, each couple is different so being a photographer that can read and adapt their game plan to match their couples vibe is key. Here are some of my personal tips and some ways I run a session to help my couples get over their camera fears:

• This is just a date with a third wheel tagging along. Seriously, this is my favorite thing about working with couples. I am here to just document a really epic, adventurous date you two are on. Be yourselves, have a freaking blast and let all of your love for each other out. Staying in tune and connected with each other will make you almost forget you are in front of the camera.
• Building up the intensity. I start almost every single session with my couples pretty far away from me, walking towards me. This is something every single person can do confidently and it helps you two get into the photo shoot mindset and start to feel at ease in front of the camera. Sometimes walking will turn into jumping, running or dancing. The moment is yours to do what you want and have as much with it as you want!
• At almost every session we pop champagne at the end, but hey! life is short. If you want to pop champagne at the start of your session I am down. A little bubbly to calm the nerves and start everything off with something so fun is sure to set the tone for the rest of the session.
• Talk to me! Often times during sessions we chat a lot before we start shooting, between shots or locations. This way you’re getting more comfortable with me and the whole situation. Sometimes while I am shooting I will have you tell me stories on how you met, how the proposal went down or just some of your favorite memories. Now it’s like you’re not being photographed at all and you’re just reminiscing together.
• While most of the work I do with couples is very movement based and natural posing sometimes I will pose couples to help give them some direction and build confidence. Even when working with couples freely and not posing I will still give little direction as we move through things. Sometimes, all you need is a little reassurance that you are totally killing it

I hope this helps all you out there with a session coming up that you are nervous about or those of you who haven’t booked your session due to nerves. I am always here to help, so feel free to reach out!

I promise it’s not as bad as the dentist

“Jenn and I were nervous at first, but Traci was quick to get us feeling relaxed and before we knew it, we were laughing and joking with her while she was taking our pictures. The session was thorough, and we left it excited and eagerly anticipating the final pictures. Before we knew it, our pictures were ready and my fiancée and I spent longer than I’d like to admit scrolling through our pictures to try and find a favorite among all the amazing pictures.We both highly recommend Traci and cannot wait to have her shoot our wedding, too! ”
— Ben —