A Flagstaff Elopement Story

Kelsey + Mike were looking for the perfect mountain elopement location in Spring that would be complete with a cute cabin stay, mountain town vibes, and potentially wildflowers. After consideration, they landed on the incredible Arizona town of Flagstaff!

The energy going into the elopement day was very much “But, Daddy I Love Him” by Taylor Swift. We started with an off-road adventure with their rented Bronco to get ready out in nature. Mike, ready for the ceremony, stood among the ferns and waited to see Kelsey for the first time, down privately down the aisle. Starting the ceremony off with tears of joy and excitement as he soaked in the stunning gown.

Bill officiated the ceremony, stepping away for them to share their private, handwritten vows and co-recite the poem, The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. They ended their ceremony with a passionate dip kiss and instantly took their rings back off to see the surprise scribing on the inside of the bands from each other.

We explored the vista we were on, taking portraits on the ledges overlooking Sedona (where they would be having a mini-moon in a couple of days) and among the lupines that were blooming. Then it was back down the dusty, two wheel off road route to another incredible high desert location.

We came into view of Humphreys Peak, where we set a blanket out in the field for them to sit, have a beer in celebration, and cut their cake! As a surprise to these two, their friends had texted us videos of congrats and well wishes for them to watch while they enjoyed their cake and relaxed to just soak in the day!! Before the last light of the evening, we ran around in the field blissfully enjoying the views and having the mountains to ourselves on this special day.

To end their wedding day, we headed back to their stunning A-frame cabin tucked in the ponderosa pines for them to make pizza and share their first dance to “New Year’s Day” by Taylor Swift. The twinkle light dance party continued as their heart-shaped pizzas finished baking. It was a cozy, perfect evening to end a special day celebrating their years of building a friendship and partnership to live this big, beautiful life together.

Why Elope in Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is a perfect location for an elopement in the pines or with mountain views! Since this is not a place that has become Instagram famous, it is a location where you can find privacy for your day. Being a high desert environment, the area typically offers a lot of sunshine and great weather year-round, depending on what you are looking for.

While beautiful and offering a lot of adventures like off-roading, hiking, climbing, and biking, the town also offers lots of breweries and great restaurants. Some of our favorites in the area that we recommend trying while in town for your wedding are: Forét for brunch/breakfast, Shift for dinner and Sosoba for a low-key dinner + happy hour.

Not only is Flagstaff itself a beautiful location, but it is a great “home base” location for your adventure desert honeymoon! With only a short day trip drive, you can access the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Page!!

Planning your Flagstaff elopement

Best time to elope in Flagstaff

The best time to elope in Flagstaff, Arizona really depends on the type of weather you want and the type of adventure you are interested in. Personally, I think the best week is the first week of October and the last week of May.

Spring – Spring can be a great time to elope in Flagstaff, especially late Spring. A lot of the forest service roads do not open until May due to snowmelt. These roads give you a lot of access to beautiful locations in the area and offer camping.

Summer – Summer is filled with lovely temperatures and sometimes evening showers. Folks are out and about there is a lot to do in town!

Fall – The aspen leaves in the mountains change vibrant yellow late September to early/mid October. Each year’s exact dates depends on temperatures and rainfall.

Winter – If you have any interest in skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or building a snowman man this is the place with sunny days and a lot of snow!

How to get to Flagstaff

Flagstaff is located in Northern Arizona. There is a small airport located in Flagstaff, Arizona, but there are few flight options out of it. We would recommend flying into Phoenix, Arizona, and making the two-ish hour drive north to enjoy the desert plants and views along the way.

If you are eloping in Flagstaff, we highly recommend being sure to book a car rental.

Get driving directions from Sky Harbor Airport to Flagstaff here.

Where to Elope in Flagstaff

Flagstaff offers a great variety of elopement locations, depending on what you are looking for, view, and experience-wise. A lot of locations in Flagstaff are locally known or don’t really have names – which is amazing for privacy reasons. However, we will name a few of the top, most popular here for you:

• Snowbowl
• Humpfery’s Peak
• Buffalo Park
• Oak Creek Vista
• Sunset Crater

Where to stay in Flagstaff

Being on the famous Route 66 and known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon, there are lots of places to stay! As for a hotel, our favorite place to recommend is High Country Motor Lodge. We love this place as it has a kitchen, a lovely bar with fantastic cocktails, a place to sit outside by the fire and is within walking distance to downtown.

If you want to consider an Airbnb, there are plenty of options within town and downtown. A lot of our couples tend to stay in Kachina Village, which has a lot of cute cabins and is just a few minutes outside of town, headed towards Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona.

Flagstaff Elopement Photographer

Looking for an elopement photographer in Flagstaff, Arizona?? This is a location that can helpful to work with a team that is already familiar with the area – someone that knows the best bars, the best dirt roads to incredible views and can help you plan the best desert road trip honeymoon to follow!

Hi – that is us!! We used to live locally to the area and still frequent the region each year. We have lived van life on these high desert roads, learned to climb on Flag’s limestone, have friends who own the local bars, and more. We would be more than happy to help you plan your own dream elopement location in this cute, quaint town!

I would recommend Adventure & Vow over and over again.

Adventure and Vow were the perfect photographers for our wedding day, we couldn’t be more happy with how the whole day and planning process went because of them!
Their communication was frequent but never overwhelming – we always knew exactly what they were looking for and felt very prepared going into the day. The script Bill wrote for our ceremony felt like he had known us our whole relationship. They really went above and beyond, like offering to pick up my husband’s boutonnière, and they sneakily took our phones at one point to record videos of us throughout the night without us knowing, they were such a fun surprise to see when we laid down in bed that night. Traci helped take me to the bathroom with a ball gown, fix my hair throughout the day and even surprised us with home videos from my best friends as the day settled down.

If you’re worried about the cost, they are probably charging lower than they should for all the roles they play (officiant, photo, video, planning, location guide/scouting, a friendly/calm presence to the day, etc.), I could go on and on! Truly a stress free experience.

Kelsey + Mike

Flagstaff Eloping Couple

Flagstaff Elopement Video

See more Flagstaff Elopement Photos below from the Fall!

Rich + Paige’s Fall Adventure Elopement

From Colorado to Utah

Colorado | Wedding Day

Rich + Paige’s day started out at their stay in Telluride where they exchanged gifts and got ready for most of the morning together. Paige gifted Rich socks with their kids faces on it since they could not be with them for the elopement. Rich gifted Paige a beautiful leather book filled with their adventures and travels together.

Once it was time to put the dress on, Rich set out for the Gondola to the first look location. Once Paige was in her dress, hair and make up complete, her and I set out up the mountain as the full moon was starting to fade away, dawn starting to bring light to the day.

Rich + Paige shared their first look overlooking the stunning mountain range where we would soon be heading into in total privacy, sharing a moment between themselves to soak it in – the day is here.

From there the day was in full swing! We headed down the gondola to our next location. After a little bit of off roading through the colorful aspens we arrived at a beautiful lake surrounded by massive mountains. This location was one that Paige was most excited about for their Colorado portion of the elopement! Rich and Paige laid out a blanket, poured themselves some hot chocolate and started writing their vows. This is always a favorite as an elopement photographer. Starting with writing vows or simply re-reading your vows before starting your wedding day can feel so grounding, bringing the intention of the day front of mind.

Up next we ventured off to one of the prettiest, most private waterfalls I have ever seen! We were so excited to show this location to Rich + Paige! Rich had another surprise for Paige – he gifted her a book by their kids of which they had colored and drawn in it all about their lives together and Rich + Paige on their wedding day. It was the perfect place for such a special gift! From the bottom of the falls, to the top! It was the perfect lunch spot and make up touch up before heading out for the ceremony.

From Telluride, to Ouray we went!! We set out for an off road adventure, this time much deeper into the mountains. We stopped along our way to the lake where they’d share their ceremony at various view points, forests and lakes. Eventually, making our way to the main event and ceremony location. The ceremony was lakeside and we had the entire mountain range to ourselves it seemed. They started their ceremony off with a wine ceremony, shared prayers, exchanged rings and becoming officially Mr + Mrs. It was a beautiful ceremony from the view, the feeling and the words.

After the ceremony we headed up to the top of the pass to look down on the lake they had gotten married at. Another beautiful view point and perfect place for a little celebratory joy + of course a champagne spray!!

Before the night ended, we headed back out towards the main road, stopping along the way to enjoy cake + sign the marriage license in the beautiful blue hour light a little lower in elevation for slightly warmer temps! We also got to enjoy the stars on our way under the dark mountain skies – a perfect ending to day one!

Day 2 Adventure + Celebration | Moab, Utah

We took a one day break for everyone to drive from Telluride to Moab, which is about 3.5 hour drive. This way everyone could be rested for the full day of adventure ahead. We kicked off day two under the stars again, but this time for a sunrise hike to one of the most magnificent natural arches in the Southwest. We arrived as blue hour started to bring color to the beautiful sandstone. They started their day intentionally by joining each other in prayer. This was followed by the first of their two first dances as husband and wife. They each picked a first dance song, surprising each other with the song they had picked during the dance!

As we made our way back to Moab, we stopped for breakfast to go and headed to a beach side location along the Colorado River. As they ate their bagels + drank coffee they read letters of congrats and advice from their community within their church. As the desert sun started to warm us they decided to get into the river for some fun and rock skipping before heading out.

For the second half of the day we went for even more off roading! We had several stops planned – sand dunes for some quick fun, a riverside look out for a pizza picnic, overlooks and of course the back country Canyonlands National Park sign. We eventually reached our main overlook where the day was going to slow down and we were gonna spend the rest of the evening. After exploring the massive ledges we found the perfect spot for Paige + Rich to share their personal vows with each other as the sun slowly start to set behind them. Another magical moment together, this time just them and the massive red rock canyon walls as they shared their love with each other privately.

Just because the sun went down, did not mean the fun was over! First, they shared their second, first dance together in front of the 4Runner’s headlights. Then we built a fire where they sat and shared left over cake together from the night before. Then we waited, watching the night sky growing darker and darker. Eventually seeing the Milky Way in all of its glory until the beautiful, bright full moon rose over the La Sal mountain range in the distance (you have to see the last photo of the blog!). It was the most relaxing, peaceful way to end the wedding celebration – slowly soaking it in, no rush, no where to go – just enjoying the moment.

Truly, none of us wanted it to end.

Rich + Paige’s elopement is a beautiful example of going on a new adventure together, but also building a lot of intention into the various locations and activities. From special surprises, to memorable words and incredibly moving views. We are so happy for these two and thankful to have been a long for the epic journey from the Mountains to the Desert.

Dreaming up your own adventure elopement experience?! We’d love to hear more!

Vendors a part of this Elopement:

Photographer + Officiant: @adventureandvow

Floral: @flowersbyellatelluride
Cake: @figandbloomcake
Food: @telluridechef
Dress(long): @bridaloutletjax designer: @pronovias
Hmua: @wild_brides_backcountry @kendralisestylist

Ready to start planning your own elopement day!? We got you covered….

Cynthia and Paul met by chance. They started their relationship as friends and overtime it became clear to them that they should be more than that. Each of them have a quality that sparked their interest beyond anything they had ever felt before for anyone else. Within each other they found passion, love, friendship and a balance within each other and their lives. A push to be better and a love for sharing life together.

After getting engaged at a local park with their friend capturing the YES moment, it was time to start wedding plan together. Neither of them envisioning the big wedding day most people dream about, they decided to plan something more intimate and intentional where they could share quality time with each other and those they love. As far as where to get married, they knew they often felt their happiest outside and they love road tripping together, knocking National Parks off their places to visit list. With their love for the road and travel, they decided to bring their closest family and friends to one of their favorite places, Moab!

In this blog you will find their wedding day story along with tips for your own wedding or elopement at Red Earth Venue.

Hi! Meet your Red Earth Venue Wedding Photographers!

We are Traci + Bill, a husband and wife, elopement photographer team. We are both ordained and we offer video packages to go along with any of our photo packages. Moab is our home during the Spring months and we love getting to share this little slice of the desert with our couples while capturing their wedding day.

While we focus on adventure elopements, we understand not all of our couples want to celebrate this day(s) without their closest loved ones. Sometimes an intimate venue bridges that gap for family friendly and still adventurous! We could not recommend Red Earth Venue enough for all of the couples bringing their loved ones together here in the desert.

Within this blog you will get to read the story of one of our couples elopements/small wedding at Red Earth Venue, along with exploring the National Park’s in Moab. From there we will take you though some thoughts and tips for planning your own wedding here at Red Earth! We can not wait to connect!

Meet us!

Pre-Wedding

Sunrise First Look at Canyonlands + Private Vows

Cynthia + Paul’s day started well before the sun was up, getting ready along side a few of their friends in town for the wedding day. Being sure to keep their space so that they could share a sunrise first look, the couple arrived at Canyonlands National Park without seeing each other by shuttling in different vehicles. Their first look would be with the first light of the day gracing the canyons as they stood above the canyon floor thousands of feet below. Why here? Cynthia + Paul’s favorite National Park they have been to so far is Canyonlands. So the stoke was high to start the wedding experience off here, a place that feels familiar, beautiful and meaningful to them.

Paul and Cynthia’s first look was beautiful – they looked great, the view couldn’t have gotten any better. More importantly, it was a moment that you could tell was fully felt. Meaning they took their time looking over each other’s outfits for their wedding day, taking in the view together and just relishing in the moment of we are finally here. It was quiet, it was still, it was joyful.

Cynthia and Paul opted to read their vows (looking for advice on writing your own wedding vows?) in private following their first look along the canyon rim in Canyonlands. They shared their vows and many tears, as Paul would wipe away each tear that fell down Cynthia’s face. However, there was also lots of laughter. Their vows they found were actually pretty similar to each other’s. They both promised to enjoy food together that maybe them selves didn’t love, but the other did. They promised to finish seeing all of the National Parks together during their marriage. They shared what each other has meant to them in this life so far, with future promises of continued growth in their relationship. It was the most perfect way to start off their two day wedding adventure with laying the foundation of what they are here for – joining together in marriage.

After sharing vows we decided to off road down Shafer trail to have a picnic overlooking the river. Cynthia + Paul had always wanted to do this drive, but had never been here during a time the road was open. Paul was also very stoked to take his own personal truck down the road for the adventure! We made our way down the winding road through the changing views. Cynthia and Paul, in their true fashion, stopped along the way for some “window shopping”, stopping to see the different view points. They also stopped once for an impromptu dance together by their truck with an incredible view. We had lunch at a famous movie view point filled with their favorite things – flaming hot Cheetos, sandwhiches and their favorite wine.

Sunrise in Arches National Park Wedding Day

On the day of their wedding, we met together for sunrise in Arches National Park for some morning quality time together before getting ready separately before the ceremony at Red Earth Venue. We spent the first bit of the morning at the Windows Section exploring and taking portraits along their favorite arches in the park. Later heading over to Sand Dune arch, a new arch for them to see and explore together. It was a great way to start of the day, together with their best friend watching the sun rise on the day would become husband + wife, before separating for the next several hours.

Wedding Day at Red Earth Venue

Getting Ready for the Wedding

Since Red Earth Venue doesn’t have a designated bridal suite, the couple decided to get ready at their stay, The Moab Resort. The guys got ready all together in the Lobby area where they also played pool and took some time just relaxing together. Before the fella’s set out, Paul’s best woman gifted him with a local liquor that had a story of two coming together, in honor of their wedding day.

The ladies got ready together in Cynthia’s room getting their hair and make up done over mimosas and snacks. Cynthia had her mom help her get into her dress and shoes, her mother praying over her before setting out for the big event. Cynthia’s sister helping her put all of her jewelry on before sharing a first look with her bridesmaids.

Red Earth Venue Ceremony

Paul gathered his guests outside under the iron arches to have a seat and prepare for his bride to walk down the aisle. On the other side of the glass room, Cynthia shared a private and emotional first look with her dad before he walked her through the building and down the aisle to Paul. While their private vows were already shared with each other, their ceremony was filled with key moments from meeting, dating, getting engaged and other moments that lead them to this day. However, they had a surprise for their parents and bridal party. They asked each of them to join together in helping them with the more formal vows. Each person would read a line, then Cynthia or Paul would answer “I do” to them. It was a fun surprise and a beautiful way to include their loved ones in the ceremony, helping them come together as one big unit. Elopement ceremonies offer so much freedom to curating the moment to be exactly how you’d like it to! They sealed the deal with a kiss and celebratory walk back down the aisle as everyone cheered in congratulations to them.

Before joining all back together for the reception, guests took in the views surrounding the venue, captured group photos and then snuck Cynthia + Paul away for some final sunset portraits of just them two!

Red Earth Venue Reception

Cynthia and Paul entered the reception by going into their first dance together as husband and wife. Setting the tone for a fun, love filled evening ahead. The chef had prepared a very special meal at Cynthia + Paul’s request. They looked high and low for a chef that would create a specific vision they had and found a company in Salt Lake City excited to honor their idea. Done to Your Taste prepared a fusion dinner in honor of Cynthia + Paul’s two different cultures and of course, their two favorite cuisines. The food was amazing, and accompanied by their favorite wine, which is also their go to choice for a sunset hike to take along the trail to sit at the end, taking in the view, chatting and simply enjoying their time together before hiking back.

Following dinner there were a few toasts made. First, Paul’s best woman and best man shared in a toast together to honor Paul and congratulate their marriage. Complete with the text messages of Paul letting them know he was going to propose passed around for everyone to share in that moment, which was mostly communicated via emojis! Then two of Cynthia’s friends made toasts sharing stories of who Cynthia is as a person and how excited they are she found her soul mate. Paul’s brother gave his first speech/toast ever ending in a huge hug with his brother. The last speech was Cynthia’s father’s which was the real tear jerker – welcoming Paul into the family as a son. He ended his speech with a Father Daughter dance. Cynthia’s mom, sister and brother watching along with happy tears in their eyes.

Before the evening got too late and before the group dancing started, Cynthia + Paul did a bubble send off out of the of Red Earth Venue on a path that led to their truck where a friend had put Mr. and Mrs on their windows and Just Married on the back window!

Once everyone was back in, the party was on! Cynthia and Paul danced with their guests to an array of music, some from their cultures, some that were lively dance songs, but also several slow, loving songs.

It was a magical, happy, fun ending to their two day celebration and honoring of their commitment to each other.

Things to know when Booking Red Earth Venue for your Wedding

• Red Earth Venue is located just north of town on the corner of the main highway into Moab and the 313 which is the road that takes you out to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands.
• The venue pricing starts around $4000 for the space. The venue offers the ability to add on things through their own rental options once you book the space like tables, decor, fire pits and other items.
• There are two main spaces at the venue – the glass house and the platform. We recommend the platform for your ceremony and the glass house for the reception!
• Be mindful of the time of year that you’ll be holding your event here. There is no central air and the heaters must be rented and aren’t included automatically. That said, they have plenty of big doors that open for the perfect draft and more than enough heaters to keep you nice and toasty
• Depending on your group size, the indoor space may not be enough to hold your entire party. Somewhere around 50 people can fit comfortably depending on your table lay out, but the doors all open up and can be a wonderful mix of indoor and outdoor spacing.

When do you need to book with Red Earth Venue?

As you know, we are mainly adventure wedding/elopement photographers. We encourage our couples to book a venue if they have 25+ more people in total coming to their elopement. We have laid out this foundation for many reasons, a few of them being: the ability to follow Leave No Trace, the ability to easily get married without stress to you or worrying about sticking to your timeline and not disrupting other people enjoying nature. It is also important to know that getting a permit in the National Parks around Moab (Arches and Canyonlands), only allows for a 15 minutes ceremony time limit, having your event fully or partially hosted at Red Earth Venue allows you all the time you want in an incredible canyon.

Photography Packages for Red Earth Venue

Our photography packages are broken down by 4 hours, half day, split full day (sunrise/sunset) and multi-day. We think Moab is the perfect place for a two day elopement if you want to spend one day adventuring and exploring the area with just you two and one day gathering with your loved ones – much like what Cynthia + Paul did. Otherwise for coverage at this venue we would recommend either the half day or full day. Our packages start at $4500 and our average booking is $8000. All of our packages include assistance in planning, a two person professional photographer team, same day sneak peaks, full printing rights/high resolution downloads and officiating. We offer video as an add on option to your coverage.

Red Earth Venue Wedding Vendors from this wedding

• Hair and Make-up: Seventh Ave Beauty
• Officiant: Adventure and Vow
• Photography + Planning: Adventure and Vow
• Venue: Red Earth Venue
• Cake: Baked by Rachel
• Food: Done to your Taste
• Dress: David’s Bridal
• Suit: Men’s Warehouse
• Moab Event Rentals

We’d Love to Hear More About Your Moab Wedding Plans!

Maggie + Rex’s Desert Elopement

From the start of meeting Maggie + Rex over zoom, there was a bright light and high energy around their relationship and in planning this day. Maggie + Rex love spending quality time together doing new things, exploring escape rooms, playing games, road trips and more. They knew for their elopement day they wanted something new to them and different from what they see everyone do.

We selected locations for their day that felt out of this world and when the day came, there wasn’t a cloud in sight on this perfectly warm spring day in the desert. We met up with the couple at the trailhead after Maggie’s hair and make up was done. At the end of the trail, not only would we find a fantastic view of Lake Powell, but also the lovely picnic set up they had booked. It was so cute, complete with a table, pillows, lunch, drinks and a cake! From the start of the day you could tell how in love these two were, how excited they were to spend the day together just them two and to fully embrace all of it. They read letters together from their loved ones sharing in laughter. Rex cut the cake and they shared bites together as boats passed by below.

Once they were done with lunch, we slowly made our way to their Jeep taking in the views before they were hidden behind the orange rock cliffs.

We spent the next couple of hours road tripping deep into the desert surrounded by orange, red and white rock mountains with the contrast of green mountains graced with brush and grass. While road trips were something they did often, even on their engagement day, this was a new adventure for them to be off roading in deep sand. Doing a “first” together on your elopement day is so special and can help create even stronger memories from the day!

Once we arrived to their ceremony location, Maggie + Rex got ready outside of their Jeep. Rex’s suit had an awesome starry night like design on the back of his vest and awesome fun socks. Maggie’s dress was a blush color which I thought was perfect for the location with a cool texture of beading on it. Rex helped zip her dress and then we were off to explore this new outer-worldly place.

We ventured through the sand and over the rock to a perfect nook for their ceremony. They walked together down “the aisle” created naturally by the rock formation where Bill stood to officiate their ceremony. There is something so special about a just you two ceremony, no distractions, no eyes watching or ears listening, it can be as long as you want it, just you two and your words. Together they shared private hand written vows from the heart. Before sealing the deal with a kiss they also came together in a knot tying ceremony.

As their ceremony came to a close, their were claps from folks passing through the rock formations. One of them stopping to sign as our witness to their marriage!

Once their ceremony was complete we explore more of the stunning location, every turn you take a totally different view filled with color and wild formations. They popped a bottle of champagne in celebration of becoming husband and wife. As the sun started to set behind the distant horizon, we made our way back towards the Jeep. Rex stopped to collect a little bit of sand in a glass bottle his sister had given him for today. A token of this wild place and now a very special to them place to keep forever. We mad our way in the dark back through the winding desert roads. As we made our way closer back towards town we had one more stop on Mars to make. We pulled off on a black dirt road, stopping in a pull out surrounded by big orange boulders. It was dark. The only light coming from the stars. We took a few star photos to end the night in this stunning, serene place. It was the perfect way to end the day, still and soaking it in.

The celebration wasn’t over as they planned to spend the next day in the area celebrating and exploring with friends who were traveling over to join them! Their elopement day was a perfect celebration of them and their love. It was their story, creating new memories together to cherish as they started their marriage. A day filled with joy, awe and love. We are so thankful to have gotten to share this day with Maggie + Rex.

Other Vendors a part of this Elopement Day:

Dress: BHLDN (BRONX & BANCO special collection)

Ring: Eden’s Garden Website // Instagram

Hair & Makeup: Angie Evens — Website // Instagram

Pela + Marty’s Fall Elopement in Zion National Park

I remember the first call we had with Pela + how excited she was for their elopement! Pela + Marty reached out to us a little over a year before their elopement. We love when there is a lot of time to plan because you can take your time and truly enjoy the process and craft a day that is exactly what you want. Pela + Marty eloped just them two in Zion, but prior to the elopement they were able to go to the area with their kids and make some memories around the lake.

On the morning of their elopement we started out at a local coffee shop to pick up coffee (a morning must!) and breakfast to go! As we headed out the pouring desert rain came in. While rain may not be ideal for a wedding day, it felt soothing, calming and slow. Just right for the mornings activities. We had our breakfasts in our cars while we waited for the rain to pass. And when it did shortly after, it left us with a desert smelling of fresh rain and if you have ever experienced it you know how magical it can be. Once the skies started to clear we headed to a picnic table near the lake so Pela + Marty could write their vows. It’s always such a great way to start off a wedding day, taking the time to sit together and to focus on why you are marrying your partner and setting the tone for the day.

Once the vows were written, it was time for a little adventure!! They hoped into two different kayaks to kayak around the lake together surrounded by towering canyon walls. Between their laughter and joking around together, I was able to hear them sharing memories with each other from when they first met and all that they had been through to lead them here.

After the morning adventure, they set out to head back to their tiny home rental on the outskirts of Zion to start getting ready for rest of the day. They had found the perfect stay – it had great starry night views, the most charming porch deck, and even a hot tub for spending some close quality time together! With their busy schedules + raising kids, they were very excited to celebrate together and get this special time together! After they were both dressed and ready to set out, we sent Marty out to a field surrounded by wild flowers to wait on Pela for their first look. You could feel the excitement as Pela made her way over to show off her dress! They shared a beautiful moment together and of course the holy crap this is happening + lets freaking do it!!!!! We set out for their ceremony location – a private nook off a dirt road at the mouth of a canyon. Their ceremony was just them two! They shared private vows with each other + ended their ceremony with a hand fasting ceremony. Of course, sealing the deal with a big kiss!!!

Now that they were officially wed it was time for more adventure! We hopped into the car and headed into Zion National Park. We started up the trail on a new hike for both of them. As we made our way they stopped to take in the views and say thanks to the folks congratulating them on trail. Once we made it to the top they took in the view, played on the cliff edges and really took the time to be present together. Before the sun set behind the canyon Pela changed into her second dress – a vintage 1960’s dress she had found -a true gem. Marty also changed into a suit more complimentary to go with her dress change. I loved their change in outfits. It was like two completely different vibes – At first they were dressed for a day time big event and then switched to a super classy and dressy evening of fun. We explored more areas of the high up cliffs as the sun began to dip. Once the sun was gone it was time to hike back to the trailhead. These two had a private catered dinner and personal chef waiting back at their stay for them!

Upon arriving back to the house the chefs had set up their space to cook outside. Pela and Marty were kind enough to invite us to stay for dinner! As we all snacked on appetizers they poured a drink to begin the celebration for the evening. Before sitting down together, they shared a fun and flirty first dance with one another. We dined over an absolutely amazing meal, chatted about life and all of their goals for the future as a now Mr. + Mrs. We said our see ya laters that evening as they were jumping into the hot tub under the stars.

The entire day was filled with so much fun, so much laughter and quality time together. It was a true celebration of these two lovers, parents and friends becoming husband and wife. We love that their elopement wasn’t somewhere too far from home so they can hopefully go back as time goes on to make new memories and visit these special places together again.

Check Out Pela + Marty’s Vendor List!

Pela and Marty had such wonderful details as a part of their elopement day. If you are eloping in Zion be sure to check out their vendors. If you are eloping in general check out the items list for ideas and great options to shop at!

Items

Dress: Truvelle Bridal @truvellebridal
Ring: Alexis Russell @alexisrusselljewelry
Handfasting Cords: Embracing Cords
Vow Books: Print Smitten & Co @printsmittenpaperco
Mugs: Glam Co Designs

Vendors

Hair and Makeup: Wild Cactus Weddings @wildcactusweddings
Catering: Kelso’s Catering
Bridal Shop: Grey Pearl @greypearlbride
Location: Zions Tiny Oasis @zionstinyoasis

Watch their Elopement Video!

Words from the bride…

“

Where to begin? When I first contacted Traci, she was very professional and gave me all the bits of info I needed to get started. Once we settled on a time and place, Traci and Bill made it the smoothest planning experience ever. A lot of brides say their wedding was stressful or the planning was overwhelming, but I didn’t feel like that when I worked with them. They gave me options and made an itinerary that fit what sounded most enjoyable to us. When the week of the wedding we were notified the lake we were meant to go to for kayaking was having an event/closed – no big deal! Traci and Bill found another lake – even more beautiful than the original – and found a kayak rental spot nearby too. When it rained the morning of, they literally gave us their jackets to sit on so we could write our vows without sitting in water. Working with them allowed me to sit back and enjoy the experience instead of fretting over every little detail. I was able to be present in the moment and truly keep a positive outlook, even when things weren’t going exactly as planned. Our day was not just special, but genuinely fun and it was mostly due to Traci and Bill. They were patient, caring, authentic, passionate about their work, and above all, kind. They feel like instant family and you just want to keep hanging out with them. Don’t hesitate in hiring them. You will be beyond satisfied.” – Pela

Shannon + Cole’s Spring Elopement in Moab, Utah

Shannon + Cole traveled to Utah on a trip and fell in love with the desert and adventures there. When it came time to get married they knew they wanted to share their love + the love they had for this region with their family. We planned for an elopement in Moab since it would still be where they love, but a new place for them to check off the bucket list!

Their elopement day started with a first look at Arches National Park. Cole waited to see Shannon for the first time while standing beside a tall red rock feature with a building excitement that you could feel. Little did Shannon know as she made her way to her future husband, he had a surprise up his sleeve. She tapped his shoulder and he turned around smiling from ear to ear checking out his brides beautiful dress as Shannon showcased all of its sparkle. As they were ready to move on from the first look Shannon’s sister handed her a letter to read. In the letter it explained that she had secretly gifted her video coverage of their day, with the help of Cole. Shannon didn’t realize we had already been filming the whole thing! It was a wonderful surprise leaving everyone in happy tears – a perfect way to start off their elopement.

Following the first look, since this was their first time in Arches National Park we planned to explore several of the arches in the area we were at. As we walked around the park we could also see the La Sal mountain range! It was still covered in snow and absolutely stunning.

From the park, we headed to where they would be staying for the evening, one of our favorite spots in Moab – Under Canvas. This unique glamping stay is a fantastic place to spend your wedding night and experience Moab up close and comfortable. While we were stopping by their place we also made sure to capture them riding around in an ATV they had rented while in Moab. They had made a super cute sign for the back of their ATV – Just Married! <3

Now – it was time to finally get married!!! We went over to Dead Horse Point State Park to meet up with their family and go to their approved ceremony location. The spot was perfect, one of the best views of sunset and the thousand feet canyons below them. Shannon’s mom helped her switch her shoes and prepare to walk down the trial to the ceremony as everyone else gathered around Cole and the officiant. They had a close friend, a fellow firefighter, officiate their ceremony. It was special to have a close friend perform their ceremony, since he had an insider view of their lives together. During their ceremony they shared touching personal vows with each other in front of their guests – including their kids. It was a beautiful ceremony, even bystanders stopped to give a moment of awe and congrats at the end. With the family surrounded around, some of their closest guests standing by their sides and the monumental cliffs below them.

As they sealed the deal with a kiss they went straight into their first dance. Accompanied with the song Dressed Up in White by CAL – a romantic song to dance to in the desert sunlight just after getting married. It was a beautiful juxtaposition – Shannon in her white dress with the sparkles twirling in the sunlight with the red rock far below them! After their dance their family joined them in hugs and moments of congratulations. As the sun started to get closer to setting below the canyons we explored different areas of the state park. They had came out the day before to see just where they were going to get married and picked some of their favorite locations they would want photos at. I love this idea as it is like a date night before the big day!! We watched them play along the ledges and captured their love in these stunning spots until the light was almost completely gone from the sky.

As we returned back to the cars, two of their family members signed their marriage license as witnesses and just like that they were officially married!! The fun was not over though for the evening! They were headed to dinner in town in Moab with all of their guests to continue celebrating and gathering together for the special occasion. For the rest of the week they had plans to go explore more of Utah and to continue making epic memories together. I am sure these two will be back in Moab sometime in the future! Until then, we wish them so much love and happiness in their marriage!!!

Are you looking to Elope in Moab?

Moab is a stunning part of the desert with diverse adventures for nearly every outdoor enthusiast! It is a fantastic place to play, get married and explore National Parks and canyons! Eloping here is breath taking + there are endless beautiful places to consider for your elopement day!

Best Places to Elope in Moab

Looking for an Elopement Photographer?

Well hi! Adventure and Vow is a husband and wife elopement photography team! All of our packages include officiating, assistance in planning and the option to add on video! We know Moab super well – we spend most of our Thanksgivings there, we rescued our dog from there and we take our cat deep in the slot canyons on canyoneering trips lol. We would love to help you plan your elopement day in Moab!!!!

Let’s Chat about your day!

Chelsee + Tucker’s Two Day Rock Climbing Elopement + Ceremony with Guests

Chelsee + Tucker got engaged last year while hiking an epic overview trail in Zion National Park. Chelsee soon found us at Adventure and Vow and the idea of their adventure elopement started to blossom. They love the red rocks and wanted to keep with the theme of their story leading up to their marriage and get married among them. They climb often together and it has become a huge part of their relationship. So, for their wedding they decided they wanted to experience one day of adventure climbing together on the red rocks and another day with their closest family and friends celebrating with them in this beautiful place.

Naturally, the week of the wedding they drove their 4Runner across several states with their dog Hobbes along to their wedding destination. These two, the car + their dog, have always been a part of their most memorable events.

They selected a climbing route that fit a few important criteria’s for them: epic views, a sport route and an authentic experience ( 7 pitches of climbing). It was the perfect route for getting to spend the day together on an awesome adventure, just them two and nature.

We started the day in the morning hours meeting at the trailhead with our coffees in hand to organize ropes and gear, setting out onto the trail. As we hiked along the quiet trail leading to the base of the climb, the excitement continued to grow as we got closer to the climb. Like most Sedona climbing, it wouldn’t have been complete without at least a little bit of bushwacking through a dry wash to be deposited at the base of pitch 1.

Chelsee + Tucker took turns leading up the route, alternating pitches so they both go to experience all aspects of the climb. Between the slab, pulling a roof, varied face climbing, and the occasional crack for a bomber jam, this route really offered tons of opportunity to play around with the sandstone that covers the area. Before heading up the seventh and final pitch, we took a break to snack and talk all about life, plans, and about more climbing.

Once they made it to the top of the final pitch, they hugged and stood together taking it all in. The view, The fact that they just conquered the route together and the excitement of it all. The entire route they climbed had epic views, but the top out didn’t fail to deliver a totally different stunning vista viewpoint. So before rapping and hiking back to the car, we scooted around to the other side of the formation to see more of the land below us. Another super cool part was that they could see feature where they would be in a couple of days to share their private vows during sunrise with each other!

As the wind whipped around us it was time to get down the rock to some warmer elevation. This would be Chelsee + Tucker’s longest rappel together so far! We love seeing couples do new things together and push their boundaries (but within their limits) during their elopements because they have to work together, just like in marriage. At the bottom of the rap they shared a kiss and quickly got over to their bags to grab their jackets! We started the hike down the big red sandstone mountain back to the start of the climb, admiring the stars as they appeared and the moon rose over the edge. The night before, their first night in town, there was a blood moon eclipse, the only one for the next several years. As they hiked out they shared with us more about their story of meeting during college, their guests they had invited that were waiting for them back at their airbnb and many of their adventures/travels together.

Starting their two day elopement with the climbing portion of their elopement was for sure a heck of an awesome way to kick off their elopement and trip to the area.

While day one for Chelsee + Tucker ended under the stars, day two started under them. We met up funny enough at the same trailhead as we left a couple of nights before. This time though, we were hiking to a different nook deep in the red rocks. It was fun to catch up on how their last two days had been celebrating with friends and family in town – mountain biking, going to the winery and more.

We got to the top of of the red rock cliff high above the trail just in time for the first light of the day, making the red rocks look like a painting surrounding us. They each got dressed separately so they could share a first look together privately on a rock they scrambled up, even in their wedding clothes

After the first look they walked hand in hand and helped each other over the edge onto a bigger rock, they had all to themselves. They each shared their private, hand written vows with each other and at the end the sun peaked up over the ridge line warming them with the first light of the day. It was a beautiful and intentional way to start off their wedding day together, just them two.

We hiked back down, seeing for the first time with our eyes everything we hiked through and up under the stars. We separated so they could rest, eat and start getting ready for the day with their family and friends. Tucker got ready with all the guys and had lunch together and of course spending some time with their dog Hobbes. Chelsee got ready with all of the girls at a different house as they got their hair and make up done. While her mom helped her get into her dress, she helped her mom with her hair! As the time finally came to head out for their ceremony Chelsee’s friends sang to her as she headed to the car “we are going to the trailhead and she’s going to get married!” It definitely added a little spark of excitement to the big moment finally here!

For the ceremony, all of the guests hiked down to the location with Bill and prepared for the space. I hiked down with the two of them, Tucker’s parents and Chelsee’s mom. It was a beautiful sentiment of two families that will soon be one coming to a space together. We arrived to the location where their friend officiating stood surrounded by all of their closest loved ones. Tucker walked hand in hand with his parents down the isle. Then Chelsee walked with her mom down the aisle with Tucker’s eyes fixed on her. Since they had a friend officiate the ceremony was filled with tokens of how they met, their adventures and personalities. It was so sweet to look around them at the love surrounding them, some guests with tears and others with big smiles. After the ceremony they celebrated with hugs from everyone and getting portraits with all of their guests. We sent their guests on their way to the reception space as Chelsee and Tucker stayed behind for portraits on their own, popping some champagne and watching the sunset together over the red rocks.

Once we were back on the road we headed to the Amara Resort for their intimate, indoor reception with their guests. They had decorated earlier in the day setting up images on the wall from their relationship up to this day, a crossword puzzle for guests to figure out with questions about them, a slide show on the big screen and flowers on the table. They had craft cocktails + were planning to enjoy a lovely dinner with everyone who had made this journey with them! They showed off their rings, hung out with guests, enjoyed the drinks and signed the marriage license with each of their mother’s as witnesses to make it official! It was a perfect ending to the days events!

Before we left them, we had to share with them more sneak peaks from their elopement day so they could throw them up on the big screen for their guests to see what all their adventure had been about. It was such a sweet moment hearing all the oos and awes and getting to share what their whole wedding day was like with everyone still with them celebrating! We said our tearful goodbyes (yes, tears were shed telling these two goodbye!) and hopeful see-ya later’s since they will be calling their elopement location their home state soon!

Chelsee + Tucker’s elopement was filled with so much of their favorite things – Hobbes, climbing together, red rock views, family, friends and adventure. It was a beautiful week, not just the two days we spent with them, planning with intention. I can not imagine a better way for them to have said I do.

Read Chelsee + Tucker’s Google Review

“I don’t know that Tucker and I can adequately put into words how wonderful, fun, and excellent Traci and Bill are at what they do or recommend them more!! Their overall professionalism and welcoming and genuine personalities, their attention to detail and meticulous planning, the sheer amount of effort they put in behind the scenes to make everything flow perfectly on the day of, the extent they are willing to go to make your dreams come true (not even being over dramatic here, seriously I mean it) on every level, their communication skills and timely responses to any and all questions, not to mention their actual talent level and ability to naturally take perfect photos throughout your entire session while making it feel so effortless and like you’re just outside having fun with a couple close friends, they nailed it all so perfectly. Traci asked us for some constructive feedback so she could improve future experiences because that’s just how hard they work at their craft, and we’ve thought really hard about this and honestly couldn’t come up with one single critique. Not even down to the tiniest of details. They were the definition of under promise and over deliver on all levels, and what they promised already set the bar pretty high. We feel like our overall experience and photos belong in a National Geographic.

We wanted to have the best of both worlds with an adventure climbing day while also having private vows and a small ceremony with 30 of our closet family and friends and they made that happen! We never felt like we were doing a photo shoot, or had a camera in front of us – we felt completely comfortable as if we were around friends the whole time!

They went out of their way to scout and really LEARN a new climb they had never done before when we said that’s what we wanted to do! And then when bad weather rolled in on our scheduled day, they moved it earlier for us! During the whole process they made everything seamless and truly enjoyable! We never worried about a thing! Not only were they amazing to work with, but were so friendly! After spending 2 days with them, we cried having to say goodbye!

For the wedding day, when the originally planned location for the ceremony was more full than normal with other wedding parties, Traci didn’t hesitate for a moment to switch up the plans a bit and knew exactly where to move us to which was still very close but even more secluded! THEN, at our reception they surprised us with sneak peeks from our private vows that morning and pictures from the ceremony just 2 hours before that we were able to show everyone with a slideshow! When I say everyone was in awe I mean it, there were literal gasps!”

– Chelsee + Tucker

Why did they choose to elope in Sedona?

Emily + Andrew truly planned an elopement day that was authentic to them. They had found us on Instagram through one of their past coworkers, Jess and Tyler, who eloped with us the year before. Upon seeing their photos and hearing about their experience, they knew right away that this is how they want to get married. It was centered around connecting with each other, the beautiful location they selected to get married at and their family. They had created the perfect balance of intimate adventure together and celebration with their loved ones during their elopement day. 

Their Intimate Sunrise with Private Vows

They started their day off hiking into the depths of the Red Rocks with just them two before the sun had even begun to come up over the horizon. We hiked together through the beautiful landscape that had yet to reveal itself to arrive at the location where they would share a first look for sunrise. Each of them had gotten changed in their own pocket of wilderness before Andrew climbed up onto a mini sandstone spire where he waited for Emily to turn him around. It was clear seeing his face as he looked at Emily for the first time in her wedding dress of how much love the couple shared for one another. Andrew said the dress was perfectly Emily. It was a soft and romantic styled dress. From this ledge, they made their way to the main spot where as they shared their personal vows for one another, the sun broke over the horizon and rose over the rocks behind them. After they shared their emotional vows on this daring rock cliff, they sat together taking in the views, listening to and watching the birds fly around them as they drank champagne and ate some freshly baked cinnamon rolls, their Sunday tradition together.

We love when couples are able to include things from their everyday relationship into their elopement day, making it that much more special and that much more them. It was so beautiful to see them experience everything together, connecting and taking in all of the views. They both kept saying that it was unreal and they couldn’t believe the day was here as they had been planning for about 6 months and the time just flew by. Before we started our hike back to the trailhead, Emily gifted Andrew a very special token with his favorite photo of him and his mother on it, so that she in a way would be here on this day with them. 

Their Elopement Ceremony with Family

After a short resting and refueling break, the couple got ready in the same Airbnb with all of their guests at a stunning property in the heart of Sedona (Learn more about the best places to Elope in Sedona!). The Airbnb had so much character and color, it was a lovely cozy place to be and a perfect reflection for the vibe of the day. Emily was hanging out with her friends in her own part of the home and when the time came, her mother had helped her back into her wedding dress. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. One of my favorite moments was Emily’s mother telling her how beautiful she was and Emily saying, well, I got it from you. It was fun to see the relationship and connection as mother daughter throughout the day.

Emily shared a first look with her father as everyone loaded up the cars and we all headed out for the short hike with big views for the ceremony (Looking for advice on planning your Elopement Ceremony?). Her father walked her down the trail to her soon to be husband. The ceremony was touching and walked through the history of their relationship and their hopes for the future and this commitment as their close friend officiated. After the ceremony and some family photos, they got to spend a little time alone together again taking in the landscape and then hiked out together through the cacti. 

Dinner and First Dances

We arrived to their dinner at Mesa Grill where they had set up a beautiful clear and heated tent across from all of the small planes at the Airport in Sedona where they were congratulated again by family with cheers and excitement. Before dinner began, Andrew + Emily shared a first dance together where there were smiles all around for the entire song. This was followed by Emily’s first dance with her father. After a delicious dinner it was time for some fun as they danced the night away with their siblings and close friends. The elopement day was so authentic to them, so full of love, purpose and true moments of celebration and joy. 

 It was a beautiful day with so much attention around the events and it was beautiful to see Emily and Andrew thoroughly enjoy their day and to completely embrace the experience together from the stunning views from sunset to sunrise. It was a beautiful way to celebrate their marriage and we wish them the best and hope to see them again someday in the future!

Full Day Elopement with Family in Sedona, Arizona on an Off Road Adventure with a Romantic Dinner

Cassie and Tyler met each other in Kentucky when Cassie was doing her masters and happened to go into the bar that Tyler owned on a night typically he wouldn’t be working. And from that chance encounter, it all began. As they dated and moved in together they went on many adventures traveling all over the world. One of their favorite places being Turks and Caicos. When they got engaged, they knew that they wanted a wedding that would focus more on the commitment and celebration, without all of the stress that is so common with a traditional wedding. Of course they wanted a day that involved a little bit of adventure too. Once they reached out to us after deciding Sedona was the perfect place for them they fell in love with Merry Go Round rock, and the planning began!

A couple of days before their elopement, some bad weather was set to come in to Sedona. While usually we shoot rain, wind or snow, the road up to Merry Go Round Rock closes if it gets too wet. We thought it was best to move everything to the day before so the couple could continue with their plans in the location they most desired. As it turns out the universe also thought this was a good idea because everything that had their date on it either broke, never arrived in the mail, or was unusable at the wedding.

So as the ceremony came a day early, we met up with them at their super cute Airbnb rental to capture Cassie as she was spending time with her mother and closest family members. Cassie spent time writing her vows, drinking mimosas and getting ready. It was a relaxed morning, with time well spent connecting with family and prepping for the fun of the day ahead. To complete getting ready, Cassie’s final touch was wearing her grandmother’s pearls.

The couple had planned a gift exchange to share before hitting the dirt roads, and while we were with Cassie she opened hers first. Cassie could not have been more excited by the gift she had received from Tyler. He had found her a rare pair of shoes she had been wanting for a long time now, perfect to wear on the wedding day!

As Tyler was getting ready he added a few special things to his outfit before starting the day. He got to wear his grandfather’s bolo tie and he had special shoes made with paintings of their two huskies on the top and their cat on the side. Their pets are definitely their babies and it was super cute to be able to see them include them in their day in a fun way. When it came time for Tyler to open his gift, he received a watch and a journal that Cassie had been writing for a year. She wrote memories of them being together throughout their adventures and thoughts and wishes for this day and beyond. It was a really special touch and gift for him to read through before setting out to get married. As their family and friends finished getting ready, Cassie and her father shared an emotional first look before we all hopped into the Jeeps and made our way up the mountain road.

After some bumpy off road driving, we arrived to the top of the mountain and our group walked to the ceremony location. We all organized for the ceremony ready to go as Cassie and her father walked the rest of the way down the trail together for Tyler to see her for the first time in her wedding dress. The ceremony was beautiful. Their personal vows were so touching and talked all about their journey together and their wishes for the future. It was filled with such joyous emotion. It was wonderful to see their family gathered around them, supporting them through their ceremony and supporting this marriage.

After the ceremony, there were hugs in celebration and after capturing some family photos, the guests headed back down the mountain to gather at the Airbnb to hangout and prepare for dinner. Cassie and Tyler stayed up at the top of Merry Go Round to explore all the pockets of what Merry-Go-Round has to offer. They had so much fun scrambling to the top of the rock formations and ended the evening with one of the most beautiful and colorful sunsets I have seen in Sedona. The evening was quiet and serene. It was nice to soak in all of the blue purple and pink colors in the sky quietly together as we had the entire place to ourselves, probably due to the bad weather due to roll in the following day. Once the sun dipped, we headed back to the jeep for the adventure back down the mountain. We talked about their travel plans, past travel they have shared and their goals for life. As we made our way back into the house, we were greeted by family and two shots of tequila. They signed their marriage license with each of their mother’s as their witnesses making it legal! We left them to enjoy their dinner after a full evening of adventure and getting married! 

We captured their elopement celebration into two different days since the chef they had booked wasn’t able to switch their dinner date. It was actually really nice to have it seperated into two days so they could fully enjoy and embrace each part of their elopement So the following day, we were set to arrive at where Cassie and Tyler were staying to capture them in the cutest cabin. During the day before we had arrived, Tyler and some of the family had put together their dinner set up. Tyler had created a romantic display with a lovely blue decor, a chandler and more. He had even handled the floral arrangements as he told his mom later that he thinks what he learned at the Boy Scouts was really coming in handy. We headed back to the Airbnb the family was staying where everyone mingled over appetizers and dinner was served: a fantastic steak and duck fat fries with Brussels sprouts.

Following dinner several of the family members stood up to give a toast to the newly weds. There was so much laughter, tears of joy and reminiscing. Cassie’s sister gave an emotional toast, definitely roasting her sister just a little bit here and there, but it was beautiful to see them welcoming Tyler into the family officially after years of memories all together. Tyler’s sister also gave a speech that was emotional and you could tell that she was so excited to finally have a sister and welcome Cassie into the family. 

Their first dance music was played on a record they had gotten made with a photo on top of their engagement session. It was a fun touch and I love that it is something they can listen to over and over again at their home. The dances started with their very own first dance which was flirty and fun ending in one of their epic deep kisses. This was followed by emotional first dances with their father and mother. Their intimate reception was one for the books with so much meaning as everyones connection with each other truly showed. Before the formalities of the night came to an end, Cassie’s father sang and played everyone a song on his guitar. It was a touching moment and the perfect way to end the evening.

Before everything finished up, Cassie and Tyler thanked us for all of our help in making their day special, and a dream come true with their family chiming in with good words as well. In return, we really just had to thank them for planning an elopement based on their values and who they are as a couple and everyone embracing the experience of an elopement creating a really authentic space to form lasting memories for everyone.

 A lot of times family elopements can run behind and kind of add stress to the couple which is essentially the opposite of what we think an elopement day is all about. A tip for planning a family elopement that Cassie did that really helped was she made a very detailed spreadsheet. It included information on their elopement day, on Sedona in general, locations and more. It was easy to follow so that everyone knew exactly what to expect and even with changing the plans last minute, everyone was ready to go and knew exactly what what was going on. We couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of their day. This elopement day was a true reflection of who they are as a couple. Fun, adventurous, spontaneous and special to those around them. We stayed for awhile and hung out after the elopement coverage was complete. We chatted about life and places, there were cigars smoked, cocktails toasted and laughter before we headed out. Before leaving we reached out to Cassie’s father to see if he would be willing to record the song he performed for their elopement video. He enthusiastically agreed to rent studio space and make the song for the wedding video. It is such a special touch for them to be able to look back on throughout their whole life together and hear his music played along with their wedding day.

Congrats to Cassie and Tyler!!! We can’t wait for that one year anniversary somewhere epic and we wish you a guys, all the best.

This wedding has been featured on Bespoke Bride.

This wedding was also featured on Strictly Weddings.

Lake Powell Adventure Wedding and Sedona Intimate Elopement Ceremony

Kari and Eric have traveled all over the US and outside of the US together. When it came time to plan their elopement, they wanted to pick somewhere that they had not been to together yet for new memories. Kari is a large event planner, so she wanted a day that would not be a large production to maintain. The focus when planning was adventure on day one all over the Page, Arizona region and day two to be focused around an intimate ceremony. They flew in their own plane from Indiana to Page after exploring other parts of the desert during their flight to get ready for the next day of exploring. They picked us up bright and early at our camp site along the same road we needed to venture down to their first location! They had rented a jeep from a local company to be able to access the area. However, without Eric’s past experience off-roading, I don’t think we would have made it! It was a fun morning going through the slightly outlandish mud slide of a road hearing them think back on all the epic adventures they had been to together from many trips to Costa Rica and of course their first trip early on in their dating to the British Virgin Islands.

Upon arrival we hopped out excited to see just how muddy the jeep was. They changed into outfit one of the day and started exploring different areas of the big rock shelf as the sun started to rise. Once the sun had been up long enough to warm us all up, we hopped back into the jeep to head to location number two! Driving back down the Mars like road in the daylight, Kari and Eric were able to take in all of the odd beauty around. We got to Lake Powell and checked in, picking up the boat and kayaks to start our venture of boating, kayaking and hiking in a beautiful private slot canyon! For Eric, driving the boat was like going down memory lane as these two took in all the new beautiful scenes around them that we had seen earlier that morning from above and working together to navigate driving the boat through the rock walls. Once we navigated to our docking point it was exciting to get closer to the water and slow things down for the day as we all paddled through deeper into the rock walls. Hiking through the slot canyon was fun, touching all the different textures on the walls, admiring the different colors and shapes made by the water. After returning back to the boat we just cruised taking in the final bits of the day and views on the water. Day one of their adventure wedding was full of exploration, excitement, adventure and love. It was care-free and beautiful, setting the perfect tone for the next days ceremony and hike in Sedona.

Everything you need to know about getting married on Lake Powell!

Lake Powell is located in Page, Arizona but spans all the way past Bullfrog, Utah. The lake itself has over 2000 miles of shoreline, some of which you can dock at or even camp on. The lake has over 90 side canyons ready for exploring and is home to one of the largest natural arches in the United States. The water levels lately have been extremely low, even with the large amount of rain Arizona saw this year. This is because the water source for the lake is actually snow melt! The lake creates a water source and electric power for many on the Navajo Nation so while this is a man made lake, it is sacred in use.

Do I need a permit to get married on Lake Powell?

A lot of Lake Powell is located on Glen Canyon Recreational land, so yes you do need a permit to get married here! Specifically you need a Special Use permit and this can be obtained on the Parks website. Note that parks sometimes change their policy so you as the couple and photographer should be in contact to get information at least 45 days in advance. Outside of a permit, you will also need your marriage license! If you are going to the lake from Page you can get your marriage paper work from the Page clerk office. It is important to note however, that when you are on Lake Powell, you are dancing between Arizona and Utah pretty much the entire time. The other option would be getting your paperwork in Kanab or if you are leaving from a different area look into other options in Utah.

Is it safe to get married on Lake Powell?

Safety and understanding the desert is very important when exploring this area. It is important to understand the weather systems here and how they effect the area from the roads, to the big body of water and the canyons. If it has has rained recently (even a week ago) you may want to avoid going into any canyons. We have seen ten foot sand walls be washed out of these canyons before within a few days span from rain. If there is harsh weather in the forecast, it is highly recommended not going onto the lake with any boats because of the risk of flash flood and lightening. Also, when there are low water levels, there may be rock formations now visible and threatening to your boat if you are not aware of them or paying attention.

So in short, yes it is safe to elope on Lake Powell. It is important to be able to flexible in your day in the event that weather has made it unsafe.

When and where on Lake Powell should you get married?

Personally we think the best time of year is late March to the end of April and October to November. These are not the warmest months, but they are also the months that avoid monsoons and heavy summer crowds. Lake Powell has a strict policy of not moving boats on the water past sunset. So most rentals require boats back early. If you are wanting sunrise or sunset ceremony/photos I recommend getting a house boat to overnight on the lake or preparing to tent camp along some of the shoreline for camping.

Along Lake Powell, there are many shorelines you can get married at, different areas you can hike to and slot canyons you can explore. Importantly, pick locations you know you have time for and the ability to get in and out of. If you do not want to access your elopement location by water, you can always pick somewhere you can hike in from or off road from overlooking the lake as there are many locations like this in Arizona + Utah.

The ceremony in Sedona

The next day Eric and Kari traveled in their plane from Page to Sedona, cruising around to take photos from the sky of the amazing scenery. For day two we meet at the trail head that they would get married at. Kari’s hairstylist had traveled to Sedona to do her hair which was so special for the both of them! We hiked to a secluded spot surrounded by red rocks that tested Eric’s fear of heights just enough to get amazing views, privacy and still enjoy the evening. They shared their hand written vows together, laughter throughout the evening and celebration. Once the sun set behind the large rock canyons ahead of us, we started our hike down under the moonlight.

The next morning we met at the Sedona Airport before sunrise to hopefully take some photos of their plane flying among the red rocks. We got up into the air and immediately decided to abort the plan as the turbulence was very, very extreme. Once everyone landed safely we took some portraits of them together with their plane on solid ground. We grabbed a coffee in the airport away from the wind to chat about their next plans. We talked about their favorite places, where they will go next and swapped tips on some of our favorite places. We said our good byes as they set out to greet some of Kari’s family to continue the celebration of their relationship and marriage in the desert.

Vendors that helped make this day possible:

Harley Page Jeep Rentals

Dress: @willowbywatters from @magnoliabridalhouse | also check out Kari’s own bridal salon @sagebrides

Hair: @kellseymariie owner of @studio.3019

Bouquet: MossyMossByOliaWe