I am so excited to finally share about a special project we were part of earlier this year. Well before the pandemic hit, we were blissfully running through the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert in Morocco, taking photos of gorgeous, handmade wedding dresses, watching sunset and traveling, unaware of what would come in the months ahead. But let’s rewind a few months before that even, and go back to the start of the idea for these amazing gowns.

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.

Most of the weddings that we're part of don't happen at traditional venues. Typically we're photographing couples getting married in National Parks, on public land, at vacation rentals, and in their friend's backyard. You don't have to have a wedding at a multi-thousand dollar venue to have an inspiring wedding day, and in fact, I think the more stunning places tend to be the ones that are free of buildings and rules and a wait staff. 

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.

Inside Kelsey and Jordan’s room in their Moroccan riad was a bed draped in a linen canopy, tall windows facing the courtyard, and stunning turquoise zellige tiles in the bathroom. We had tea on the roof of the riad before retiring into their room. We spent the afternoon taking photos and swapping travel stories. Kelsey and Jordan and their sweet baby Norah — doing their normal life, just in a new space.

This adventurous couples session took us deep into the remote desert landscape of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah. We backpacked overnight and woke up to watch the sunrise and capture this couple doing what they do best -- exploring nature.

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.

For Liz & Jim’s elopement, we hiked around to the backside of Cap Rock and met the family beneath the Joshua Trees for their ceremony. Their officiant, Garrett, had everyone in tears, which was spurred even further by the thoughtful vows Liz & Jim spoke to each other. They exchanged rings, kissed, then both wiped happy tears as they walked back down the trail/makeshift aisle. We spent the rest of the evening watching the sun go down from a hike near the top of the Mojave Desert.

There are so many benefits to having your wedding in the desert. For one, you can easily get married in the “off-season” months, of March, April, October, and November, when more wedding vendors have availability and travel and accommodations are cheaper. And if the location being secluded is important to you, you have your pick of absolutely incredible epic spots where you won’t find a soul in site—after all, eloping is usually about not having 100 people around to watch you say your vows, so why do it in an overcrowded view? The desert weather at certain times of year can be pretty mild compared to other places, and when it does rain in the desert, it’s a stunning thing to experience.

We met Mary and Joe in Telluride, Colorado at their hotel and started their day by driving up a bumpy dirt road and hiking out to a waterfall for their first look. From there, we continued up the road and started our 6 mile hike to an epic and secluded alpine lake. Mary changed out of her dress for the hike up and packed it in her backpack to put on again once we made it to the lake. Then she strapped her flowers to the outside of her backpack and we started up the mountain. The hike up was steep, but beautiful, with the landscape in the middle of its transition from summer to fall. Warm yellows and golds dotted the hillsides.

We started the day with a short hike on a secluded trail in an area of Big Sur that not many tourists go. Lyndsie put her dress on in the forest on the way to their ceremony site. She dawned an epic bridal cape in lieu of a veil, carried a mix of dried, foraged, and wild flowers from an amazing local florist, and put her mother’s garter on before walking down the trail to meet Brett for a first look. They met teary-eyed, and embraced before continuing down the trail to a sanctuary in the woods where they’d say their vows. Their ceremony site was a perfect bend in the trail flanked by four giant redwood trees—a hidden little spot we scouted just for them.

If there is one thing I could see and attempt to capture in Abe and Isaac’s story, it’s their unending strength. Much like the desert. Where life can be harsh, they choose to see the sweetness in it. It’s like the way the Joshua Tree grows from dry, granite gravel ground and it stretches skyward, twisting, flowering in season, and always green no matter the season. Abe and Isaac are that way. Rooted in humility, they are a life force of their own.

This adventurous and creative styled elopement on the foggy beach of Short Sands Oregon was a beautiful wedding set in the Pacific Northwest coast.

Jenn and Dillen celebrated their biggest adventure yet surrounded by their closest friends and a few cactus in the desert of Alabama Hills in the Eastern Sierras. They invited their guests to come out to the desert, brave the heat, and camp with them for a few days surrounding their intimate, eco-friendly wedding day.