White Sands, New Mexico

Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado

amber + tyler

Thomas + Kassie’s elopement was an intentionally spent day in mid-April. We started the morning exploring the beach and hanging out by their tent eating pastries from Big Sur Bakery. Their tent was a canvas room strung up between trees and set deep into a redwood forest that’s part of Ventana Big Sur’s resort. Ethereal clouds hung overhead and filtered soft light to the forest floor below. Their time spent getting ready felt like something out of an enchanted storybook. Big Sur evokes that, especially on foggy days like this one.

We walked out amongst the Joshua Trees, and they said their vows in the shade of peculiar formations of boulders in mid-afternoon. We spent the rest of the evening drinking cheap beer together, hiking up to some of the tallest views in the park, getting whipped by the desert winds and marveling at Southern California’s notoriously golden light at sunset.

We hiked a mile or so into the forest to a perfectly framed opening in the trail with giant redwood trees all around. Kelly + Jacy shared vows, each so intimately written and intentionally spoken that we were all in tears by the end. It’s difficult to not get emotional in a landscape like that one, with giant redwoods towering far above your head and the sweet smell of eucalyptus in the air.

I’ve never seen such a vast display of wildflowers in my life.

Colorado had an exceptionally wet and late winter last year, which pushed all the seasons back by about a month. When we planned for Sam and Gabe’s elopement in the mountains of Colorado, I was expecting that by late August the wildflowers would have peaked and begun to die off and hints of Fall would be on the horizon. I was wrong. The wildflowers were more widespread than I have ever seen. Queen Anne’s Lace up to our heads, Columbines in troves, bright purple Lupines dotting the landscape, Larkspur absolutely everywhere—there was more diversity and color in this year’s wildflower display than I’ve ever seen. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect time to adventure up into the high backcountry and elope.

Christine & Fernando…I could say so much about these two—they are the epitome of the kinds of couples we love working with for real elopements. Present, spiritually aware, open, playful…I think the two of them being so open with us left the students with more inspiration than the photos or the shoot itself ever could. It was a fantastic evening going through how we would treat a real elopement from getting ready, to first look, to hiking, to ceremony, to portraits.

Yosemite at dawn is a magical experience. It’s quiet. The parking lots are empty. The light breeze and chill in the air reminds you that despite its popularity, Yosemite is still a wild place.

The Alta Lakes Observatory cabin is particularly unique. It feels sort of like a treehouse, but with a touch of industrial modernism to compliment the rustic qualities. The cabin was perfectly suited for the vacation/wedding John and Mia had planned for their family. It could house all of their guests so no one would have to leave after the wedding.