The elopement planning guide and inspirational love stories
helpful elopement resources
If you're considering eloping, congratulations! It's an amazing way to celebrate your love and commitment to each other. As a photographer who specializes in elopements, I've got a few tips and tricks to help make your day even more special. It can be very tough to decide what to wear, whom to spend the day with, and where to elope. Use the useful information and tips to simplify the process!
My insights as a Mount Rainier elopement photographer—covering the best photo spots, ceremony locations, and ideas about where to stay.
If you love mountains peeking out of the fog, whimsical driftwood, layers of rock, formed over millions of years, and black volcanic sand, this is the place to be!
If you have already chosen our beautiful state for one of the most important events in your life, congratulations! Believe me, you have made the right decision. If you haven't yet, this post is for you.
North Cascades National Park reconciles my love for both the sea and the mountains. Just three hours from Seattle, this natural treasure features stunning turquoise mountain lakes that look like the sea near the shores of Cyprus.
Olympic National Park is a gem of Washington State. The following information will help you plan your ideal adventure wedding in Olympic National Park.
When you fill out the contact form, I start brainstorming adventure elopement ideas based on your past experiences, needs, and wishes. To help you plan your adventure, here is a list of some of the most popular activities in the PNW.
Eloping in Seattle can be an alluring and adventurous experience, but careful planning is key to ensuring a unique and fulfilling elopement day. This post outlines some essential points to consider when planning your elopement.
My main focus is helping couples organize elopements, so I have recommendations for those who are just beginning their elopement journeys. In this post, I've compiled a list of locations I think are ideal for elopements.
In planning an elopement, the main question is "Where should we elope?" Seattle offers a wide range of stunning locations for adventure elopements. As an experienced elopement photographer living in Seattle for five years, I can suggest some of the best places to say 'I do.'
Eloping offers the chance to tailor every aspect of your special day according to your tastes and wishes, and your attire is no exception. From traditional wedding gowns to thematic or film-inspired outfits, the only rule is to select something that brings you joy and confidence.
I was born in the late 80s. When I was little, it seemed like all women wanted a big wedding, with lots of guests, beautiful flowers, and a two-day celebration. As I grew up, I saw that people started to think differently about weddings.
The United States has some of the most beautiful places to say your “I do’s”. From stunning beaches, to breathtaking mountain ranges, there’s an elopement destination for every couple. Here are some of the best places to elope in the US.
Washington is the best state for eloping in the US. It has a variety of landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to temperate rain forests, that make it the perfect place to elope. Learn more about location and areas for elopements in Washington.
An adventure elopement is the perfect way to have an intimate wedding while still being able to explore and be adventurous! There are many factors to consider when planning an adventure elopement. Here's everything you want and need to know.
An adventure elopement is a great way to make your special day even more unique and memorable. If you and your partner love adventure, this could be the perfect option for you.
adventure elopements & intimate weddings
Each love story is special, and here are a few that I have been privileged enough to capture. Click on the images below to learn more.
This beautiful intimate wedding took place in the backyard, right by the river with mountains as the backdrop.
A. and J., originally drawn to Olympic National Park for their elopement, discovered through planning that their love for city life and foodie adventures made Seattle a better fit. Embracing the flexibility of elopements, they shifted their plans to enjoy Seattle’s unique restaurants, architecture, and vibrant atmosphere.
This May elopement in Olympic National Park will be remembered for a long time. Not just for its beauty and emotion. A few weeks after the ceremony, the groom sent me a photo of his arm—a large tattoo of one of my photos on his shoulder. That message made my day.
It was a sunny August day, perfect for a mountain elopement. Nature was still in full bloom, with long daylight hours.
This adventure elopement at Olympic National Park was a full-day celebration, filled with personal touches, emotional moments, and picturesque locations, ending with a rainy but joyful ceremony on Ruby Beach surrounded by loved ones.
The nautical theme of this intimate wedding and the choice of a yacht were no coincidence. The bride is the daughter of a sailor, and the groom is a retired Navy officer.
It was an intimate gathering: just the bride, groom, two of the groom’s brothers, and the bride’s brother and sister. Each guest played a part in both the preparation and the ceremony.
E. and C. had lots of personal details in their elopement’s decoration, including their names and wedding date. They couldn't bring their dogs, cat, and turtle to the ceremony, so to be together with them their pets' faces were engraved on the groom's cufflinks and the bride's bracelet.
K. & V. got married during the peak of COVID-19. Their formal ceremony had to be canceled, even though everything was ready.
This wedding left a lasting impression on me because of its tenderness and family atmosphere.
This was an incredibly heartfelt and meticulously planned elopement with just the bride and groom present.
H & D had eagerly awaited their wedding for years. However, life kept throwing hurdles their way, delaying their celebration.
When I prepared for this early summer elopement, I had plans A, B, and even C. In plan A, my optimistic vision included the road to Artist Point being plowed and open to vehicles by late June. However, after days of hopeful waiting, reality set in, and it was time to pivot and create an alternative timeline.
Sometimes you just know destiny is leading you and everything will work out. It's that kind of story!
This intimate wedding required more planning than any other before it. It was a two-in-one: an wedding with some guests followed by a love story adventure photoshoot.
This is a story about how love can overcome any obstacle, even war. A couple from Ukraine chose to get married in the midst of the war going on in their home country. They chose an elopement over a traditional wedding because of the events taking place at home.
This wedding made me think of my travels to places with ancient history. The couple made me think of the legends and myths of the ancient world. I felt honored to be a part of this event and I could feel the love and happiness radiating from the couple the whole time.
I was nervous before this elopement, even though I knew everything would go as planned. Seeing the tears of joy in H's eyes, I was happy that I became more than just a witness to a momentous occasion.
engagements & intimate couple sessions
Whether you are planning to elope or just want to capture some beautiful memories with your loved one, I'd be honored to be your photographer. I hope that the blog will inspire you to celebrate your love in your own unique way. Thank you for stopping by!
When I stumbled upon an old, rusted car in the forest, it sparked an idea for a photo session.
K. wore a cast for months and used a wheelchair. To lift her spirits, I set up this photo session with her husband.
This sweet and photogenic couple chose to have their romantic photo session with their two dogs.
This was the most unusual engagement photoshoot I've ever done, and I even won an award for “Best of the best engagement” from Junebug Magazine for it!
This shoot was planned for this lovely couple's 15th wedding anniversary. Over the years, they have participated in many photo sessions and tried many looks. So on this day, they just wanted to have fun and enjoy the experience.
This day perfectly illustrates my belief that there is no bad weather for an adventure photo session.
A. and N., visiting Seattle from Texas for their anniversary. A. planned a surprise proposal with my help in selecting the location and capturing the moment.
K. & R. wanted a romantic photo session with wind turbines in the background. You don't have to ask me twice when it comes to wind turbines!
Visitors from all over the country come to our region for its natural beauty and to see locations from David Lynch's cult series, Twin Peaks.
I love watching and photographing wind turbines. They add a lot of energy to any photo session.
Maternity photo sessions capture the radiant happiness, tenderness, and love that parents feel for their baby.
K & V, married for nearly 20 years and parents to three children, make it a point to celebrate their anniversary each year with beautiful photos.
North Cascades National Park is my go-to location when I need a lonely place to photograph an adventure couple session.
I had the fortune of meeting the delightful A and E at the end of summer. They wanted a scenic mountain location with moderate hiking. I suggested Artist Point at Mt. Baker in Washington, as the scenery is incredible and would make a wonderful setting for A and E's memories. And that was the plan. Alas, as the days creeped closer to the shoot, thick forest fire smoke made its way to the area and threatened to ruin everything.
I'm a photographer who specializes in adventure photography, and I was recently hired by a married couple to do a Christmas-themed photoshoot. Together, we came up with a story in which the couple played the role of Mr. and Mrs. Santa, and we took photos of them in various scenarios. The photoshoot was a lot of fun, and the couple was very happy with the results.
In this post, I’ll share what you need to know if you’re planning to elope in the woods. At the end, I’ll list the most magical spots in the PNW to book for your forest elopement.