Elopement Wedding Dresses + Shopping Tips

I am SO excited you are here, because that means you are eloping!! I am so happy for you.

Now you are wondering, how do I select a wedding dress for an adventure elopement???

In this blog post I will share with you all the secrets I have gained from previously being an adventure bride myself, photographing over a hundred elopements in different locations! When I was shopping for gowns I found that I have a huge love for wedding dresses. All of their textures, colors and fabrics always catch my eye. I hope this elopement dress guide helps you in finding the perfect gown!

If you have any questions at the end please drop them in the comments!!

Or feel free to reach out to us about your elopement, I would love to capture your day and help with the planning along the way!

What makes a great Adventure Wedding Dress?

Adventure elopements often involve hiking, kayaking, getting in and out of helicopters, off roading, climbing and beyond. When shopping for a wedding dress in general you may consider:

• Is the dress comfortable
• Does the dress go with my venue/vibe of wedding
• Can you dance in it??

These are all things you may still consider when shopping for an elopement dress.

However, these are the important factors specific to what makes a great elopement dress:

Is the dress practical for the type of adventure you are going to be doing?

For example, if you are going to be hiking is the dress comfortable with a pack on? Can you pick up the skirt easily if needed?

If you are rock climbing consider how it fits with a harness on and will it make climbing harder?

If you are kayaking, riding in a helicopter or anything that involves big movements, can you do those things?

The biggest mistake you could make is buying an elopement dress that holds you back from the adventure you plan for your wedding. You want to have fun, be relaxed and feel beautiful. Not be worried about logistics!

Dress Fabrics

Fabric is really important for an elopement wedding dress. You want something comfortable to wear, light weight for mobility and you may want a fabric that is flowy for those awesome dress in the wind shots.

Some of the best fabrics for an elopement wedding dress are:

• Tulle
• Chiffon
• Crepe
• Types of Silk

The dress below is a great example of an elopement dress as it is easy to hike in due to how light it was and how easy the fabric was to move around. This dress is a hand painted silk gown by House of Savin.

A dress that is secure

Considering that you will be adventuring around all day in your beautiful elopement dress. You really want to be comfortable and able to move around! We recommend getting a dress with some sort of strap or sleeve unless you have a strapless wedding dress that is really secure and that will work with your elopement plans. If you get a dress with long sleeves be sure to purchase it with enough time to get it altered, as most sleeves will need to be fitted to your arm/shoulder to not restrict your arm mobility.

Elopement Wedding Dress Cost

You purchase an elopement wedding dress anywhere from $75 to $10k+ it just depends your budget + where you shopping/the brand. My advice is to spend what you are comfortable spending on a dress they may get dirty or get a rip in it. You do not want to be worried on your elopement day about keeping the dress perfect because of what you paid for it. That number will vary from bride to bride.

Top 10 Elopement Wedding Dress Designers

There are so many incredible designers out there! Below is a list of our favorite designers specifically in regards to designing elopement dresses that bring all the elopement dreams to life! Be sure to check out their websites to see their dresses + learn where to shop for their gowns.

Daci Gowns – perfect boho elopement dress!

Daci gowns are all custom made, extremely flowy with unique texture and they are stunning. The designer is based in Idaho, but you can also connect with her online. You can also consider renting one of her gowns for a cheaper option.

Daci Gowns

Instagram – Daci Gowns

Jenny Yoo Elopement Dress

Jenny Yoo is a long standing name in the bridal industry for tradional wedding and elopement dresses. Her dresses are minimalist and classic. This is a great designer to consider if you are doing a hybrid of an intimate wedding with an adventure!

Jenny Yoo

Instagram – Jenny Yoo Nyc

Rue De Seine – another epic boho elopement dress option!

Another absolute favorite for eloping brides, especially for our desert brides! The colors, textures and boho fit are so amazing!! This brand has long been associated with elopements and for good reason. You may also know them for their iconic, unique, detailed veils. Some of their dresses have color, but not all of them!

Rue De Seine

Instagram – Rue De Seine Bridal

Watters Elopement Dress

Watters or even more specifically Wtoo or Willowby by Watters is another excellent and popular choice among eloping brides. We love this brand because they have a large array in pricing, but also in styles. There is something here for almost any bride! You can also shop for this brand in a lot of place!

Watters

Instagram – Watters

Leanne Marshall – love these for a mountain elopement dress!

This one might be my personal biased favorite as this was the designer of my own elopement dress! Leanne Marshall stopped producing wedding dresses last year, however, you can still buy her wedding dresses at used shops. Also, she still creates AMAZING gowns – though they might have some color, which isn’t a bad thing. These wedding dresses are the queens of flow.

Leanne Marshall

Instagram – Leanne Marshall Official

Grace Loves Lace – beautiful simple elopement dresses!

This Australia based brand focuses on comfort and sustainability, however, that does not mean their wedding dresses are not absolutely gorgeous. And yes, you can still shop the designer here in the States

Grace Loves Lace

Instagram – Grace Loves Lace

Lillian West

Lillian West by Justin Alexander has a lot of different styles making it a perfect brand to shop for no matter your elopement. A lot of our brides that have worn Lillian West get a dress with some detail to the top and a flowy skirt from the waist down – the perfect in between of detail + functionality.

Lillian West Website

Instagram

Calla Blanche Elopement Dress

If you are looking for a luxury look and brand that ha elopement friendly options – this is it! Choosing one of these dresses would be a unique elopement dress option! Be careful which dress you choose as some of them can be very tight around the legs, loosing mobility to hike.

Calla blanche Bridal Gowns

Instagram – Calla Blanche Dress

All Who Wander Elopement Dress

All Who Wander is a fitting name for an elopement wedding dress, don’t you agree!? We love their unique sleeve options on some of their wedding dresses, making a bold statement and still being easy to move in! Lots of variety here!

Instagram – All Who Wander

Dreamers and Lovers Elopement Dress

Romantic and Boho is exactly this brand to a T. Their elopement dresses are also quite affordable, most of them ranging between $2,000-3,500. You can easily shop online or find a store!

Instagram – Dreamers and Lovers

5 More Designers you Should Consider

These designers may not be as well known, but we are obsessed with the flowy fabrics they use, modern designs and simple perfection. They are definitely worth considering!

• Nordeen Bridal
• Truvelle Bridal
• Mywony Atelier
• Rish Bridal
• Sarah Seven

Where to Buy an Elopement Dress?

If you are shopping for a dress in person our personal favorite shop is Brides for a Cause. They are based in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, San Deigo and Sacramento. We love this shop because dresses are donated by past brides, other shops and designers and all profits are donated to women causes. We also love that their dresses are affordable and that you get to shop at your own speed without pressure from a sales person.

Research online first the styles you like and shops that carry those dresses through Pinterest or Instagram. See if the bridal stores you are considering carry the designers you are drawn to. Then consider the shopping experience they offer. Is it what you want? Some stores are pushy with sales, some stores are extremely hands off. Some stores have limitations on how many people you can bring with you so just do your research by calling or reading previous brides reviews. I personally found that I prefer stores that are super hands off and give you space.

No matter where you shop, before booking an appointment check out:

• What brands they carry
• Reviews
• How long they require for you to order a dress ahead of time

Where to shop online for an elopement dress?

Since a lot of eloping brides plan their wedding on a much shorter timeframe than traditional brides you may need to consider shopping online. These are the best places we have found for shopping online:

• Anthropologie’s BHDLN – a must option among elopement brides!
• Lulu’s – this is actually one of our top recommendations if you need a second dress for climbing elopements.
• Azazie’s – we see our brides wearing these dressings a lot!
• Still White – resale
• ASOS
• Reformation
• Shop Gossamer – vintage elopement dress options

Elopement Dress Shopping Tips

• When you shop bring with you any undergarments you think you may want to wear day of and if you already them, the shoes you plan to wear. This is very important for fittings, but can be helpful when shopping too.

• If you need to order a dress for your elopement day then you want to shop at a minimum 5 months beforehand as you need time for it to get in and alterations. If you are shopping off the rack you can go whenever, but do keep some wiggle room for alterations if needed with your timing.

• Be prepared for alterations, especially if your dress has sleeves. You can ask your shop where they recommend to go. A tip someone shared with me that I have personal experience with is I looked for someone on Facebook. I made a post and a wonderful lady on a local Facebook group replied and she altered my dress in only three days for $75! I’m not saying you’ll find a deal quite that good, but be mindful that it is an option.

• Date the dress. Do not feel like you have to buy something while shopping. Spend some time in it to make sure its comfortable, envision wearing it on your day.

• 100% you need to make sure that your elopement dress is wear-able for the adventure you plan to have on your elopement day.

Elopement Accessories

While accessories are never required to be a part of your elopement look, they can for sure be fun to play with. Below are some of our tips on where to shop, what to purchase and more!

Elopement Bridal Shoes

For sure your most important accessory is your shoes for an adventure elopement! You want to be the most comfortable and prepared you can be on this day. Always pick a shoe that is safe for what you are doing, you like the look of and is comfortable. Remember, you can always change into a different shoe for the ceremony or some portraits. For hiking shoes specifically our recommendation is to shop online or go to REI and try on shoes in person. Personally, I LOVE Blundstones for hikes under 5 miles. Be sure you can get them broken in before the elopement day. You may also even consider getting them embroidered!

Elopement Veil

Veils are a great touch for windy shots, to add something special to the ceremony or for those dreamy under the veil photos. The trick with veils is to purchase one that is either Chapel or Cathedral length. If you purchase a veil, remember you make the rules in elopements. You can wear it all day or for just part of the day.

Don’t be afraid to pair your veil with another accessory like a hat, a flower crown or another head piece. Or you can skip the veil for one of these options. One of our favorite alternatives is a cape or wings. This gives you a very similar look to a veil, but you avoid something flowing in the wind coming from your head.

Places to shop for a veil:

• BHLDN
• Lamnhi Studio (Etsy)
• Grace Loves Lace
• David’s Bridal
• Amazon
• Twigs and Honey
• Rue De Seine

Bonus: Consider getting your veil personalized.

In the horizontal photos below one bride added to her veil their first date day at a coffee shop +their wedding date. The bride in the second image had “veil wings” with each one being a unique tribute to her father who was no longer with us as away for him to still walk her down the aisle.

Bridal Jacket

Often for elopements we are starting before sunrise or ending after dark which means it can get chilly. Even so, we are out in the elements and having a jacket on hand is crucial because you want to be comfortable for your wedding day.

We recommend a practical jacket that will keep you warm and that is a good fit for the adventure you have planned and that you are happy to be photographed in. A lot of our brides simply bring and wear their puffy jacket which you can purchase at an REI or through any outdoor gear store. We have also seen brides choose something made from wool like Abby’s Pendleton Jacket – perfect for a very cold elopement day.

Otherwise you can totally have a “bride” jacket for your day! We have seen these as something that is just white or something that you get bride painted/printed on. Here are some of our favorite places to shop for a bridal jacket:

• Rue De Seine for something unique
• Heirloom Bridal Company
• Etsy

Elopement Wedding Dress FAQ

Will my dress get dirty during my elopement?

Most likely, yes! This is not a huge deal because after a dry cleaning it will be back to normal in most elopement locations! Now, if you are eloping in Sedona or Moab it could stain depending on the fabric of your dress. There is a chance of your dress getting torn, getting sticks or cacti in it so be mindful of that potential.

If you are eloping somewhere like Alaska or other wet mountain regions your dress could get wet or dirty from the dirt on the trail or the melting ice on the glaciers. This type of dirty is usually pretty easy to clean, but it is avoidable depending how much you pick up your dress.

A lot of our Olympic Coast brides truly go for it on the shore getting their dresses quite wet + dirty from the ocean water. It is important to know the dress will get heavier when wet and some fabrics can stretch or tear when wet. Others that are made out of things like tulle are perfect for this. The trick to cleaning it is soak it in the tub with water, dry and repeat as needed. It takes a lot to ruin a dress, good care after your adventure can do wonders.

These are just risks you take when choosing to have the most epic wedding day possible. If you are concerned with your wedding dress getting dirty it is best to change into the dress after the hike and carry the bottom of the dress as much as possible.

Where will I change into my Wedding Dress during my elopement?

This really depends on a lot of things like, where are you eloping? What are you doing as far as an adventure? Do you want to get the dress dirty? Can you adventure in your dress? Some couples change at their Airbnb and hike in the dress. Some change at the top of the location where they plan to get married via a changing tent or hiding behind a tree or bush. Some brides change at the trail head in the car or bathroom. It all really depends on what you’re envisioning, but be assured there is no shortage of possibility here!

Can I do a first look in my dress if I am eloping?

Of course!!! First looks are not just for the big traditional weddings. You can share a first look on the top of any mountain peak. The great thing about elopements is that the day is truly all about what you two want to do and the experience you want to have. If you want your partner to help you get ready, great! If you want to get ready separately and have that surprise moment together, great! We can make it happen.

Are there tips for hiking in a wedding dress?

Hiking in your dress can be easy, can be hard – depends on the dress. You can carry you dresses extra layers, but that is only ideal for a short distance. We like to utilize our bride’s packs when helping them hike in their dress. You can also make modifications to your dress on the inside layer to create a way to pick it all up and carry it. More tips for hiking on your elopement day can be found here.

Can a wear an alternative to an elopement dress?

Nope, not one bit!!! You do not have to wear a white dress if you do not want to. We have had brides wear pink dress, blue, yellow and black dresses! Some of the designers we mentioned above offer elopement dresses that are not white!

To be even more specific, you do not even have to wear just one dress! We have had brides that had 2 dresses and we have even had a couple brides with 3 or 4. This is your day, do it your way. You also. do not even have to wear a dress, you can wear a bridal romper/jumpsuit!

How do I fly with my dress?

Yes, you can 100% fly with your dress and we recommend you fly with it as a carry on. For more information about flying with your dress please review this guide – it details carry on sizes for each airline, pro tips and more.

Hey there! Traci here – owner, marketing agent + lead photographer for the Adventure and Vow team.

Bill + I hiked 74 miles for our backpacking elopement and then some a couple of days later to backpack with our cat, Indy! I have been in your shoes as an adventure elopement bride + photographed over 100 brides in various locations + dresses. We are here to help, we want you to have the best elopement day imaginable.

Part of that is feeling your best in what you are wearing.

Our team is with you every step of the way when it comes to planning your elopement, even helping you decide on a dress and helping you on the elopement day with your dress! We would love to connect with you + hear about the adventure you have in mind!

Get in Touch!

We’d Love To Bring Your Elopement Dreams To Life!

Jennie + Michael’s Two Day Elopement in Moab, Utah

Planning your own Desert Elopement? Learn More Here!

Jennie + Michael reached out to us one year before their elopement. They knew they wanted to get married somewhere with mountains, desert, stars and water access. After chatting about what their dream day would look like, thinking about places that would be accessible and dog friendly for a wedding, we landed on Moab, Utah. After planning, chatting, laughing and hearing about mile stone moments throughout our year together, the week of their elopement finally arrived. They loaded up for their biggest road trip yet with their two dogs + themselves, driving in their Tesla from Toronto Canada all the way to Moab!

On the first day of their elopement, we met for the first time in person in the dark in a parking lot out in the desert, but it felt like we were meeting up with old friends for a fun hike! We hiked under the stars catching up on how the road trip had been and we were all filled with the stoke for the events ahead. We got to the end of the trail just in time to see the Milky Way in all of her glory. We photographed them under the starts in this vast land of red rock with a massive sky over head. Once the Milky Way wasn’t visible anymore due to the morning light, Jennie + Michael snuggled up in their sleeping bags enjoying some coffee and chatting about some of the trips they had taken. As the sun brought it’s beautiful morning light, it unveiled a new landscape to us as we hiked in the dark. The massive natural arch towering over us. We took some time to explore and have a little fun in the morning light before hiking back out.

This being their first trip to Moab, we were stoked to share with them all we could about the area. On the way back to town we stopped at a nearby climbing crag to show them some of the petroglyphs that date all the way back to BC years.

The next day was a break day so they could get settled into their stay, pick up their jeep for the next adventures and relax. We recommended a few off road routes in the area that they decided to take advantage of and later would get to see the roads they took from above looking down in the canyons on their wedding day. We met up for dinner that night reminiscing on stories from how they met, their proposal in Dubai and going over the final details for the next day as they also watched the hockey game.

Before we all knew it morning was here and it was the day they were going to get married! We arrived at their glamping stay early, as the stars sparkled. They got ready separately as the pups watched on and we carpooled separately to the first location of the day so they could share a first look. Jennie walked out to Michael passing the beautiful spring wild flowers and massive rock towers surrounding them. Michael took in her entire look head to toe, then shared some light hearted moments. They were both laughing away, enjoying each other in their truest forms. We soaked in the area as we had it all to ourselves on this moody morning, having fun and being in the moment. Before heading back to the glamping tent we stopped in town to pick up coffee. Once we returned, we met Honcho and Guapo whom were very excited for the day and all the adventure!!! They shared their coffee on the porch of their tent with their pups, taking a break between the morning of the wedding day and their adventure for the rest of the evening!!

We met back up in town where we picked up pizzas for lunch/dinner and cake for dessert. Then we headed out for an off roading excursion up the cliff side. As we made our way up, you could see the wild weather happening all over Moab on this spring day. Some sun, some clouds, some rain. We made it to Dead Horse Point State Park for a lunch picnic on a vista. Oddly enough getting snowed on just a bit! They admired the view while enjoying their pizza as the pups wagged their tails hoping they might drop a piece!

The off roading continued to our last destination through a long sandy field. We arrived without another soul in site and selected our camping spot for the night. We each set up our tents, chairs and set up the fire pit for later. Once camp was good to go, it was time for them to change back into their wedding attire. They helped each other get ready and this time they both wore their Jordans, the same shoe that Michael was wearing when he met Jennie, which was one of the first things that caught her eye about him!

After getting the pups ready for the ceremony they walked hand in hand together, pups in tow to the ceremony spot overlooking the depths of the canyons below. We tied the boys off near by so they could watch their mom + dad get married. They shared personal vows that were true to them and their relationship. Without a doubt you bet there was lots of laughter shared, but also a few happy tears. As the sun was setting they shared their first kiss! It was a perfect end to the day.

As night grew on, they all four changed (yes, the pups too!) into their matching outfits from one of their favorite brands to cozy up together by the fire. We ate cake at the fire and chatted about some of their favorite camping trips to date and some camping trips they hope to experience in the future, like visiting Yosemite National Park! For now though, they said this spot was for sure the best place they had ever camped. What an amazing and unforgettable way to spend your wedding night!! As the fire faded, it was time to head to sleep after a day filled with love, fun and adventure.

The next morning we woke up with the sunrise painting the La Sal Mountains in beautiful hues of pinks and purples. Guapo jumped into our tent in excitement to make sure Bill was awake! As Michael + Jennie packed up their camp, we boiled some water for morning coffee in the cutest camp mugs they had made for all of us. After some time enjoying the morning, playing with the pups and chatting, it was sadly time to say our so longs. We truly hope to catch up with these two again one day on the East Coast or out here in the West on an adventure. Their day included everything they love the most, each other, their pups and exploring the outdoors. It was an honor to help build out these few days with them, to experience and capture all the beauty, love and fun!

Hey, we are Traci + Bill, your Moab Elopement Photographers!

We absolutely love capturing a couple’s authentic connection out in the wild on an epic adventure. Elopement days about about peace, experience and thoughtfulness going into your marriage. We are based in the state of Washington, but capture elopements all over the Western United States and Internationally. We would love to connect with you to capture your own elopement!

Let’s Adventure Together!

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!

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

When planning Sam + Monica’s elopement this is what they stated for how they wanted their elopement day to be:

“We want our wedding day to actually be about us and things that we love to do together. We want to be able to look back at our wedding day knowing we had the greatest adventure building memories that are authentic to our relationship. Life has thrown each of us a few curveballs over the last couple years, and through everything we have known that at the end of the day all we need is each other. We want our wedding day to be a reflection of this simple concept. No matter what family drama, life crisis, or pandemic comes our way… we have each other’s back and always will.”

Reflecting on their elopement, it truly was just this. Which I think is so beautiful. Many of their favorite memories together are rooted in adventuring and being outside together. So what better of a place to get married than in a new National park together?!!

Sunrise Elopement Ceremony

Sam and Monica wanted privacy during their elopement so we ultimately decided to do a sunrise hike and ceremony to start off their wedding day. We left Packwood in the wee morning hours to drive into the park and start our hike under the stars! With our headlights leading our way we scrambled up a rock field opening up into the most beautiful view of the mountain with just the twilight light starting to peak over the peaks around us.

Sam got dressed first and then went down the way to wait for Monica to get dressed, so they wouldn’t see each other and could share a first look together. They shared an emotional first look together with Mt Rainier towering behind them. It was 100% for sure that moment of, oh dang, this is finally happening, we are getting married!!! It is also was so special and beautiful to elope at sunrise, I think there is such an emotional and purposeful parallel in doing a first look at vows as the sun comes up to start the day.

Following their first look, they sat together to write the vows they had written on their phones into their vow books. It is so nice to wait until the elopement day to write these into your vow books, as you get a refresher on what you wrote before reading them to your soon to be spouse. It also, I think help sets the tone for the day and mood for the start of the ceremony.

Once they were ready we started the ceremony, just them + Bill officiating and the mountain on this still quiet morning. Sam went first to read his vows. They started out with him getting down onto one knee to re-ask Monica if she would marry him. Monica often joked about Sam not getting down on his knee when he proposed to Monica. So it was a very fun moment during their ceremony that was a big surprise for her!

Monica also had her own surprise for Sam during the ceremony. She had saved one of the many sticky notes Sam had written her over the years and brought one very special one during her vows. He was surprise and taken with emotion. It was a beautiful ceremony filled with so much love and intention for starting off their marriage.

Picnic near Packwood, WA

After the ceremony we started to hike back down the mountain, but in daylight! So we could enjoy the other mountain views we couldn’t see on the way up. We stopped to eat wild blue berries that were in season for this September elopement. We made our way back towards Packwood to visit a stunning waterfall for a brunch picnic.

They hiked through the forest and scrambled over some rocks for a front row view of the colorful falls. It even had a rainbow over the water with the way the light was coming through the trees. They even did a little practice for their first dance which would come later in the evening. It was a fun stop and lovely to see more of what the park has to offer outside of just mountain views. Picnics are a perfect way to slow down the day and spend some quality time together, soaking it all in!

Packwood Cabin Reception

After a short break and nap for everyone to relax and regroup for the evening portion we met back up at the Packwood Cabin. We started the evening portion by Monica calling to let her mom know they had just tied the knot! Monica + Sam went the more traditional route in the sense of an elopement and got married without most of their loved ones knowing!! They planned to share the news with their loved ones by sharing their elopement video + photos with folks privately. Monica’s mom was so excited for her and definitely couldn’t wait to see photos of her in her dress!

Sam then made cocktails for dinner, it was the first cocktail he made Monica when they first started dating – cherry juice, Dr Pepper and Bourbon – you should try it! We ate Pizza together from a local Packwood classic restaurant, even trying THE Packwood pizza! Following dinner they opened up letters from one of the only person that knew this was happening on this day, Monica’s sister. She was very close to the couple and wrote them each a letter of congrats and touching words, bringing them both laughter and tears. Monica also took this time to share a gift she had bought Sam for this day.

As the sun was slowly starting to set over the mountains it was finally time for their first dance!! They had put quite a bit of practice and planning into their dance which they shared on the deck of the A-frame cabin. It was so beautiful to watch the dance and you could tell what a special moment it was for the two of them. It was the perfect space to share this moment together with the twinkle lights surrounding them.

The night was for sure not over though! Sam prepped the fire and Monica set up one of the game they were going to play. They love playing games together and brought one of their favorites for this evening. They played their game by the fire on a blanket. You can tell they each have a healthy dose of competitiveness in them. Monica won the round, in all fun and games. For desert they shared s’mores by the fire. Sam’s trick to the perfect s’mores you ask? Reese peanut butter cup instead of a chocolate bar, YUM!

Before the night was over star photos were on the docket! Star photos were really important to these two. We knew the best spot for them would be across the river on the rocky river banks. How would we get there in the night you ask?? Well the Kokopelli of course! We inflated the raft while they ate marshmallows. Then Bill rowed each of us across the water after we all scrambled down the rocky shore side. The moon was rising behind the trees surrounding the cabin and the mountain ridges were illuminating. It was a fun and surreal way to end their elopement day.

Monica + Sam planned such a beautiful day with so much intention. I loved that they included so many aspects of their dating life together throughout the day. It was beautiful to see their love and support for each other on the trail. Their connection was evident as they enjoyed their time together at the cabin. Filling their day with their favorite things in a new National Park and having a space that was so perfect for the celebration was key to creating a core memory day.

It was a wonderful celebration and we are so happy to have been able to capture their day and spend the day with them. We love this cabin because we there is a sweet camp spot we stay right across a smaller river. So we just hop the rocks and boom, we are their elopement location! It was fun to stay close so we could meet the day before, ride together into the park and we got to say hello again before they left the area! <3

Rent the Packwood Cabin for your Elopement

The Packwood Cabin is for rent on Airbnb. You can reserve it yourself here. Our tip for booking your rental for an elopement is to be sure to have it at the very least the night before and night after. We say this to give you cushion in case of bad weather or for anything else that may come up. This is also great for just being able to relax and get situated to help have a smooth elopement experience.

Packwood, WA is a great location to stay when eloping in Mount Rainier National Park because it is so close to the South entrance. We love this cabin so much because it is dog friendly, right by the river, lots of outdoor accommodations. If you are looking for other cabin rentals, here are a few other options that are great!

• Little Owl Cabin
• Heartwood Cabin
• Riverfront Cabin

Remember anytime you rent a space on Airbnb or VRBO for your elopement if you are going to have a photographer on property or any type of “event” you need to ask permission from the host.

Packwood Elopement Video

We got the privilege of capturing Sam + Monica’s elopement day on video as well! We love elopement videos because they are such a great way to share your day with loved ones. But also to get re-live your day over and over throughout marriage. <3

Adventurous Wedding in Yosemite National Park

Michele + James are avid hikers and enjoy a big hiking trip together each year. After getting engaged on a big hike in Yosemite National Park. They knew they wanted to get married in this place which was already so special to them. They wanted to celebrate their union by hiking to the places that meant the most to them and share it with those closest to them. We spent about a year planning together their dream elopement experience. Planning is always so fun as we get to know the couple, hear what values they have that are important to include in the day and how to include guest.

Wedding Day 1 – Hiking to Taft Point

The plan was to hike the trail they did when the got engaged – taking Four Mile trail to Panorama Trail. However, due to smoke that came into the valley and surrounding areas, we changed gears and put together another super meaningful and adventurous plan. The new plan was a similar trail as far as difficulty, experience, but somewhere totally new they hadn’t been to in the park yet, Taft Point. We started our hike in the morning hours from the classic Tunnel View area.

We started our way up from the valley floor gaining in elevation to some incredible views. Along the trail we talked about their travels and adventures so far together from Patagonia to hikes within the park and other areas of the US. About half way up we stopped for lunch at one of the many view points, eating our sandwiches on a massive downed tree. As we continued hiking we went through forests with the most beautiful mosses, lush florals, passed creeks and only one group of backpackers through our epic wonderland. Eventually we arrived at a spot where we could see our final destination. They were so excited to see where they were headed even though it still looked quite far.

Once we finally made it, we all sat down to take in the views and have a water break. Michele did her make up and hair while we capture the details of their attire and vow books. They got ready together near a tree, without seeing each other so they could share a first look together with the trail they had just conquered in the background. Michele’s dress was so beautiful with the lace and bow in the back! After their intimate first look, Michele helped James with his tie and they walked together to where they would be sharing their private vows.

Taft Point is one of the most iconic and busiest places in Yosemite National park. It is so rare to get it to yourselves. This year (2022) the road to the location was closed, so not many people are willing to make the hike up there. We had the entire area to ourselves except for the group of backpackers we passed earlier on, whom gave us plenty of space to enjoy the location. They got to share their vows standing on the famous cap rock with El Capitan in the background. It was serene, stunning and unreal. They shared their vows in total privacy, taking their time soaking it all in and wiping each others tears away as they were able to share their love deeply with just each other. You could tell they poured their whole hearts into their words to each other.

After sharing their vows, Michele gifted James a traditional Korean wedding present, wedding ducks, to symbolize being together for life. We explored the Taft Point area, taking portraits with the incredible landscape and enjoying this once in a lifetime opportunity. We had our dinner at the top and started our hike down the mountain, stopping for a few photos with the milky way. It truly looked like we were in a snow globe, but surrounded by an unreal, bigger than life sky.

We reached the valley at around 1am after hiking 19 miles with 5600 ft of elevation gain. We were tired, but, we were all so full from the experience. It could not have been a more fun, meaningful or surreal day to start off their marriage celebration!

Wedding Day 2 – Wedding Ceremony in Yosemite

After some well deserved rest, we met the following day to celebrate with their family and hold their official ceremony. Michele + Jame’s chose a stunning lake location to hold their ceremony out past Tiago road. We set up chairs on the sandy shores facing the lake and granite mountains. As we got ready in the parking lot and gathered together, a bird joined us, who also followed us to the ceremony location and stayed for the entire event! Michele’s parents walked her down the aisle to James as their family and friends watched on.

Since Michele + Jame’s had already shared their personal vows, but wanted their family to be a part of this special experience, they did something different with their ceremony. They called up each person to share with them why they were so important to them, some of their core memories together and how they had shaped their life. Being invited to an elopement I always say is so special. You’re not just a seat at a table. You are being asked to intimately share a wedding experience with a couple.

So many laughs were shared as Michele + James took turns speaking of and to their guests. There was also not a dry eye at the ceremony throughout many vulnerable and beautiful moments shared. The still shared a version of their own vows with their guests at the end of the ceremony. This was followed by many cheers and hugs. Everyone gathered at the nearby picnic table for pre-dinner snacks and cake prepped by the private chef.

Before dinner, we headed to a different location with a great view of Half Dome for photos and to watch sunset. It was a perfect, fun and peaceful way to end their time within the park together and with their guests.

At one point during the couples portraits, I saw all of their friends smiling at them, watching on in awe and taking photos on their phones. We had each of the couples that were already married share their favorite image from their own wedding days. To which Michele and James to recreate which was super fun and touching. As the sun set, everyone headed back to the Airbnb for dinner. Their friends paired wines with each course the chef prepared, all of it was simply amazing. The private dinner was the perfect way to gather around one long table and end the night together over good food. It truly was an event filled with so much love around these two!

Yosemite Wedding Photographers!

It was truly an honor to capture James + Michele’s day as it is to work with all of our adventure wedding couples! We will never get over how incredible these experiences are and we are so thankful to get to work with couples who want more out of their wedding day, something that is real and authentic to them. If you are looking for a wedding photographer that knows the parks, is here to help you bring your dream elopement together and capture your story then we are your people!

Let’s Connect Over Your Yosemite Wedding!

Read what the couple had to say about working with us as their Yosemite Wedding Photographers!

“Perfect. That’s the first word that comes to mind when my partner and I reflect on our adventure elopement. And with Traci and Bill, we couldn’t have asked for two better people to help us make that happen.

When we first began looking for adventure elopement photographers, there were a few things we knew were important to us (and likely every other prospective eloper): how much we liked their photography style, what their price range was, how much experience they had hiking and shooting in our preferred destination, and finally how we thought our personalities meshed. Traci and Bill checked off all these boxes for us. But honestly, it wasn’t until after the elopement was all over that we came to really appreciate just how important that last box was.

As an eloping couple, you’ll be spending more of your special day with your photographers than you will with anyone else. You want things to be completely comfortable so you can be completely present with your partner on your special day. For us, Traci and Bill were more than just our photographers that day: they were our hiking buddies, keeping us company and in good spirits all the way through our ambitious 19 mile journey; they were our guides, making sure we never got off path (especially at night!) and reassuring us about time (which was never a worry due to Traci’s meticulous planning and timeline); they were our (much needed) extra pair of hands for all the little things, like buttoning up the back of a wedding dress, or carrying the train, or fluffing it just right for a photo (yes, wedding dresses still need a lot of care, even at an elopement!); finally, they were our very own cheerleaders, cementing our special moments with warm words, encouragement, and congratulations.

Of course, there are a bunch of other things that make Traci and Bill such a great team. Namely, as a team, they can do things that a single photographer simply can’t, like shooting different coverage at the same time, and even from separate locations. For example, we did some shots where Traci was photographing us from afar (far enough that they could only communicate via walkie talkie), while Bill stayed with us to shoot up close and to also tell us how Traci wanted us positioned for her own shots. Getting that kind of coverage during magic hour when the light is just right put our minds at ease that we would definitely get some great pictures. We weren’t disappointed!

We couldn’t be more thankful to have had Traci and Bill with us, and we genuinely feel they played a huge part in making our special day what it was. If you’ve made it this far, what are you waiting for?! Go book them now before their schedule fills up!!” – Michele + James

This Yosemite Wedding was recently featured on The Wedding Standard California.

Summer Elopement with Family at Lake Crescent

Rylan and Claire love traveling to different national parks together and exploring the outdoors. They even got engaged during a hiking trip to Zion National Park! When it came to planning a wedding they knew they wanted to be outdoors and somewhere beautiful with diverse landscapes. They love to hike, camp, kayak, drink coffee, spending time with family and check out different breweries – which was a perfect fit for Washington and even more specifically for the Olympic National Park area.

These two Texans drove to Washington state for their elopement celebration with their parents and siblings. It is always wonderful when the elopement becomes a whole trip, time for everyone to enjoy. The day before their elopement we met up with them at a coffee shop to meet over crepes. They told us their day plans of exploring the mountain and going to their “reception” location. We decided to go with them to scout the perfect spot on the beach for a picnic.

On the morning of the elopement they got ready separately with their loved ones. With it being such a smaller group it was nice to see everyone spending quality time together as they prepped for the day, without having to rush through the experience. The florist came to Claire’s Airbnb to prep all of the gorgeous florals for the day while Claire got ready with her mom and sisters. Rylan got ready in a separate Airbnb with his parents.

Once ready, we traveled to a waterfall for the first look. Rylan was most excited about seeing Claire for the first time in her dress for the elopement day. It was all smiles and laughter when they finally saw each other for the first time, their connection was apparent right away. Claire looked amazing in her dress. Getting to share their first look privately tucked away in the forest by a waterfall was so surreal and special, like they had their own little private nook in the park to just soak it all in. They shared their personal vows with each other with just the sound of the waterfall around them recalling their story that has lead them to this day together from meeting on a mission to road trips and visiting endless REIs together. Sharing their unique promises for the life they will build together throughout their marriage. It was a beautiful moment together in nature to kick of their day together.

Then we were off to the ceremony on the lake shores of Lake Crescent. Rylan, fell quite sick as the day went on and we changed the plans for the day. He was for sure going to marry Claire this day though no matter what though. The original plan was to elope on the shore of the lake. Instead we moved the arch and flowers to a meadow closer to the parking lot and held the ceremony! It was so beautiful with the tall green grass, giant evergreens and their family surrounding them. I think it also ended up being a bit more private. They signed the paperwork in their duo camp chair with their parents as witnesses, making it official! That was it for the day with how Rylan was feeling, we all agreed it was best for him to get some rest and relaxation. The rest of the day was supposed to be on the beach for sunset by a picnic. We decided to chat in the morning about the game plan to see if we could continue their celebration!

Luckily by the late evening after some naps and light food he was feeling much better! We planned a back up option that would be similar to their original plan. We met at sunrise at a local rocky beach side backed up by the mountains. We hiked out and explored the coast, looking for starfish and crabs as the sun came up through the coastal trees. It was an absolutely stunning morning, and we practically had the whole place to ourselves. They made morning coffee to share and take it all in and we even popped a bottle of champagne before heading back to the lake shores!

Their family had help them set up a beautiful picnic set up with florals, plate settings, pillows to sit on, candles and snacks with the stunning mountains and crystal clear blue water as their backdrop. They got to cut their cake and start the celebration with their families enjoying the place, some champagne, conversation and food together on a perfect sunny warm PNW day. Everyone even opted for a quick dip into the lake as the day warmed up. It was a perfect way to end their elopement – laughter, relaxing, quality time somewhere stunning.

While their elopement may not have gone as planned, it truly shows the beauty of elopements. We always say elopements are just like marriage, you never know what’s going to happen in life, it’s about being a team and navigating together for the best, sweetest outcome. Elopements keep you free of being tied to an event space, a plated dinner with timed events and tons of people to interact with. Giving you the freedom to do what you want and make it what you wish. The important thing is that the core values to their elopement day still happened. They got to share their love and explore this area together at such a special time together with those they love the most! They put so many special details into their elopement from the gifts Claire gave her mom and Rylan’s mom, to Rylan carrying the pack on the beach with them that he carried on the day of their engagement in Zion National Park and being with those they love the most sharing a new national park with them. It was truly so beautiful in every way, filled with so much love, compassion and joy and fun!

I think it is important to remember that you elopement is based on experience. You can plan your dream experience. The key is to enjoy the experience you have no matter what, immerse yourself into. I love so much that Claire and Rylan not only had their elopement day as an experience, but time with the family before and after the elopement. They also had planned for their road trip home to travel to many other National Parks in Canada, Montana, and more as they traveled back south to Texas. The entire thing was magical and I am sure a lifetime adventure they will never forget.

Meg + Alex’s Elopement day among the Oregon mountains

Meg and Alex decided to elope because they felt as though traditional weddings are more performative and impersonal, and invite a lot of unnecessary stress into what should be a happy and memorable event. It was important to them to be able to enjoy their day together and intimately celebrate their promises to each other. Keeping this in mind when planning how they envisioned their day and things they wanted in incorporate from their lives together, they did just that – shared a personal and calm day together celebrating their relationship. They traveled across the United States to Portland, Oregon where they would start the most epic week for their elopement!

Getting Ready + First Look in Welches, Oregon

Megan + Alex rented the cutest A Frame cabin you have ever seen tucked in the forest of a nearby town to Mt Hood. It was the perfect nook to spend the morning relaxing together, getting ready for the adventure and for sharing their first look. While they spent the morning together, the two brides got ready separately so they could still share that special, and emotional moment, of seeing each other for the first time as brides. It was just them two, in the privacy of the front yard of the cabin. All was still and quiet. It was a perfect moment filled with so much love to start off their elopement adventure together. There were tears shed of joy, laughter and smiles. During the first look Megan gifted Alex a beautiful bracelet. Once they were ready, we went back into the house to grab everything we needed for the day and headed out to explore everything Oregon has to offer!

Mt Hood Elopement Adventures

When I asked these two how they envisioned their elopement day being they said “We would love for our day to be a representation of the way we would spend a day together on a weekend getaway, just extra special. Peaceful, relaxing, low-key, Honeymoon vibes.” So we went with this idea and ran with it. They visited Portland before coming to the mountain trying all the amazing food and sight seeing. Once they got to the Mt Hood area for their elopement, we knew we still wanted to treat it as all the things you would do on an epic get away together, including all of their favorite things. So first we stopped at a great view point of Mt Hood where they got to check out the glaciers on the mountain, soak up some wonderful sunshine and check out the glacier river running off the mountain.

Our next stop was a beautiful waterfall! They got to walk around on a bridge to check out the bigger falls and smaller falls with no one else around, it was a prefect day of enjoying all the mountain had to offer like it was all theirs. Having never been to Oregon before Meg and Alex got to share all of these new places and new experiences together on such a special day, creating profound memories.

Mt View Brewing + Ice Cream in Hood River

After some sight seeing and exploring we started making our way towards Hood River. The thing with summer elopements in the Pacific Northwest is that sunset is pretty late and the small town dining options typically close pretty early. So our solution was an early dinner and snack, which worked out perfectly for their elopement day vision. We stopped at Mt View Brewing first to grab dinner and a couple of beers. This was super fun and special, because Meg and Alex’s first date was brewery hopping in Florida! It was a great first date that lasted longer than expected and kicked off their relationship. They enjoyed pizza and hummus as Mt Hood towered behind them and the vineyard bloomed with flowers. It was also just great to sit down together and soak in the day so far since elopement days can go so fast.

After the brewery we stopped in the cute small town of Hood River for Ice Cream at Mike’s Ice Cream. The cutest Ice Cream shop with it’s very own castle tree house which served as a fun and romantic spot for Meg and Alex to enjoy their cones. The town was having an event this day, so across the way they even got live music to listen to as they ate.

Hood River Elopement Ceremony

While Meg and Alex’s elopement day was filled with a lot of things that they usually do together when exploring a new place or even things they do back home, there were also lots of new things. For example, in order to get to their elopement ceremony location they would go on their first hike together! It was a beautiful trail passing another water fall, hiking through the tall golden grasses and wild flowers. It was like having the mountain all to ourselves as we did not pass a single soul on our way up, or down the hike. They hiked out to the edge together and started getting ready for their ceremony. Bill officiated for them, but they also shared their own personally hand written vows. Their ceremony was so beautiful, true and emotional. You could feel their love for each other and how present they were in this moment with each other as the sun was starting to set behind the mountain peaks surrounding the river. After their vows, they held a hand fasting and sealed the deal with a kiss. After their elopement ceremony was simply a true moment of bliss and taking it all in. After exploring more of the area up top and taking in the view Megan and Alex sat down together on a cool blanket they picked up at the REI in Portland showcasing many of the National Parks and pretty locations in the area. They sat and setup their doughnut picnic which they also got in Portland to enjoy instead of cake in celebration of their marriage. The top donut of the night was the pool boy from Mikiko Mochi Donuts. It was a fun way to end the evening after the ceremony. Once the sun was gone we packed up and started out hike back out. On our drive back to Welches we stopped at a very popular Mt Hood viewing location in hopes that we could see the milky way. Sure enough, there was the Milky Way in all of her beauty passing right over Mt Hood. Meg and Alex stood near the edge of the lake water holding each other as we took photos of them with the stars, it was the most relaxing way to end their elopement. Just them, the mountain and the stars. Surreal.

Your Oregon Elopement Photographer + Team!

Yep, that’s us, and our cat lol. We are a husband and wife photo/video elopement team! We are both ordained and here to help you create the most epic day you can envision to get married on anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. From the Mountains to the Ocean, we are here to help you plan a day that is authentic to who you are, in an incredible place and celebrate the way you want! We can not wait to connect with you about your own elopement day! <3

Let’s Chat About Your Elopement Day!

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

Our last blog was a Sedona elopement from the bride’s perspective, but I could not leave out an elopement story told this way in the Pacific Northwest as well! Luckily, another one of our 2021 brides offered to write her version of their elopement day in Olympic National Park this past summer. I am so excited to share with you another elopement day story from the bride’s perspective, check it out below and to follow my own side of the story.

Anne here! Joe and I eloped in Olympic National Park on July 5, 2021, with Adventure + Vow. Here’s the story of how and why we decided to elope. For years when I thought about my wedding day, I imagined the stress and anxiety leading up to it. I thought of the expectations others would put on me for the event to be just right. These preconceived notions made me stressed each time I thought about getting married, far in advance of being engaged. I knew a big wedding was not right for me. It terrified me. It made me feel like the time leading up to my wedding day would be stressful and uncomfortable. Instead, I decided to seek another option. One where I could focus on the love I had for my partner and the importance of committing to each other forever. A day that was focused on us.

Joe and I were together a long time before we got engaged, over 8 years. The first Christmas we were together, Joe gave me a long weekend trip together. It was the perfect first Christmas present because travel was a priority for me, and I was impressed by how quickly Joe picked up on this. From the destination options he provided me, I decided we should go to Olympic National Park and Seattle, WA. Months later we took our trip and Olympic National Park became the first US national park we traveled together.

We made traveling together a priority and some of my best memories from our developing relationship were on trips- getting knocked over by the wind in Patagonia, sharing my first fine dining meal in Washington wine country, and exploring Tokyo were a few of them. We got engaged in September 2020 on a rim-to-rim hike through the Grand Canyon. It was important to me that we got engaged in a place that was special to us, but also while we were on an adventure together.

When it came time for Joe and me to decide where to get married, we debated several options- the dark red rocks of Canyonlands NPS, a glacier in Alaska, or the verdant green forest of Olympic NPS. After much debate, we finally decided on Olympic National Park, the first national park we explored together. We found Adventure and Vow online, reached out, and locked down a date that worked for us in July of 2021. Planning an adventure elopement turned out to be infinitely simple and straightforward compared to how I imagine planning a full-blown wedding with guests would be. Traci and Bill helped us determine our locations for the day and we decided to split our time between the Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach on the Pacific Coast. We debated how much hiking we preferred to do in our wedding dress and tux and after much debate decided 4 miles or less would work just fine. We have so many good memories hiking together and supporting each other through panic attacks, general fear of heights, and slippery slick rock hiking situations. Hiking together is one of the ways we feel closest to each other, so it was a natural fit to hike on our wedding day.

On the day of our elopement, Joe wrote his vows and I tried to stay calm while getting ready. I was fearful about spending most of the day crying because I was extremely emotional. My emotions were overwhelming and intense, which was not normal for me. Once we navigated some holiday weekend-related national park traffic, we met up with Traci and Bill in the early afternoon. We started by reading letters from our closest family and friends filled with advice about marriage and this set the tone for our wedding day. We hiked through the thick trees, moss, and huge ferns in Hoh Rainforest and marveled at the unexpected sunny weather. After a few hours in the rainforest, we proceeded to Rialto Beach and were slightly dismayed by the thick marine layer of clouds while approaching the coast. It wouldn’t be a Pacific Northwest Day without some gentle mist and fog, so we quickly let go of the notion of sunset vows on the beach and embraced the mist. At least it wasn’t torrential rain!

Bill officiated as we shared our handwritten vows on the beach with no one around. It was so peaceful to be able to focus on each other while sharing our vows without the distraction of others. I found myself only tearing up for a few seconds, but mostly smiling ear to ear as Joe told me how much I meant to him, his promises for our future together, and that he loved me. It was pure magic.

We spent time at the beach scrambling in our gown and tux over huge fallen tree driftwood which proved to be more logistically challenging than I expected. Joe and I had waterproof Xtratuf boots which we put on to get in the ocean surf, only to be surprised two minutes later by a massive, soaking wave that hit us from behind. It had been a long day and we decided it was time to settle onto a tree-sized piece of driftwood to have a picnic of salt and vinegar chips, cheese, focaccia, and chocolate chip cookies. We used a small piece of driftwood off the beach as our cheese plate and popped some high-quality champagne to toast our marriage. The plan for our elopement day was simple. Go hiking, open letters from loved ones, and say our vows while soaking up the extraordinary landscape around us. We finished the day as it was getting too dark to see and said goodbye to Traci, Bill, and Indy.

Anne and Joe booked us many months before their elopement date in the summer at Olympic National Park. I will never forget one of our first calls as we chatted about each of our cats and traveling. I was excited for these two as they had decided to do an awesome cruise around Alaska before their elopement. It was going to be one of those freaking awesome trips you never forget together! We had planned to start their elopement in the rain forest of the park. Bill and I headed out to location to arrive a couple of hours early,which is pretty typical of us, what we had not prepared for was the very long line to get into the parking area. We luckily had one bar of service to check in with Anne and Joe to see how they were looking on time and make a back up plan if needed. The line picked up quickly and we were able to park with enough time to walk the cat, enjoy the views along each of the trail prior to Anne and Joe arriving. Once they arrived we set out to a spot we had selected that would be private for them to be able to read all the letters their family had sent them. Their were cards that were cool drawings, cards with cats on the front and cards with beautiful messages to the couple on their wedding day. After we finished reading the cards Anne and Joe got to explore the river and rain forest, checking out all the moss and big ole trees or a short hike.

Following the rain forest we ventured off to one of Olympics moody beaches for a sunset ceremony and time on the coast. One of my favorite things about Olympic is that it offers mountains, beaches and rain forest to explore and enjoy on an adventure or your elopement day. We arrived and hiked out to a spot on the beach that offered some privacy for their ceremony. They shared their heartfelt vows they had written for each other followed by a hug and kiss, their first as a married couple! We signed the marriage license following the ceremony to make it official! After the ceremony we ventured around the PNW beach shore climbing over down trees and taking in the cliffy views. Anne and Joe brought their Xtratuf boots, which had been a big part of their Alaskan adventures for some fun photos out in the ocean. It was a fun way to tie in both adventures and of course spark some laughter. We ended the evening with these two setting up a super cute charcuterie board on a piece of near by drift wood, not complete though without their salt and vinegar chips. They relaxed, ate, laughed and reminisced on their trip and wedding day as the last light disappeared into the night behind those moody skies. It was such a beautiful and special day that was so filled with love, peace and enjoying the great outdoors to celebrate the start of marriage! We are so thankful to have gotten to work with Anne and Joe and help bring their day to life!

“Traci and Bill helped plan and photograph our outdoor elopement in a way that is authentic to us as a couple. They were responsive when we initially requested help on deciding our elopement location and mapped out a full schedule far in advance to help me plan our day. We felt immediately at ease with Traci and Bill when we met them for the first time on our elopement day. They scouted our multiple locations in advance to make sure we did not encounter any unexpected roadblocks during the day of our elopement. We received our photo gallery extremely quickly following our elopement date and received sneak peek photos same day which was amazing. The turnaround time of our full photo gallery was SO much quicker than industry standard! The true emotion of our day was captured in our photos which was incredibly important to me. The quality of our photos exceeded my expectations and I love that our elopement was so well documented to look back at through the years. I would 100% recommend Adventure and Vow to friends and family based on our seamless experience working with them. They quickly built our trust, made us feel at ease, and captured our elopement, a sacred day, in an authentic and true to us way. We are thrilled with our photos and would work with them again!” – Anne