Why Elope?
(or have a “micro-wedding”)
The quick answer? Because this is your wedding day and you should celebrate exactly however you two as a couple want to! Long gone is the connotation of “running away to Vegas to get hitched” - Today, elopements take on many different shapes, but the common denominator here is that the day is about your incredible love story and not necessarily the production that goes along with it. It’s your wedding, but stripped down. (Think acoustic coffee shop cover, as opposed to sold out stadium tour; intimate, heartfelt and dynamic.) Instead of a ballroom of guests, maybe you’re surrounded by a trees in a century old forest. Perhaps the ocean waves crashing upon the shore replaces a DJ’s playlist. Whether it’s just the two of you together on a rugged Whidbey beach, or a tight knit gathering of loved ones on the cliffs of Rosario, elopements are intentional, private and highly personal celebrations of love.
view more elopement stories here
debunking an “adventure elopement” myth
“You have to be a master hiker and go on a 3 day backpacking journey to get stunning wedding day images.”
FALSE - if that’s your thing, go for it! But Whidbey Island, Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands are such hidden gems, that you can get jaw-dropping landscapes, while still making it back to your hotel that night for a celebratory drink. With our experience and knowledge of the area from years of exploring and shooting, we know all of the most scenic locations that will give you those epic photos, without making you hike 8 miles with a headlamp, eat from your campfire skillet and sleep in a tent. (No shade to anyone who wants to go that route, of course.)
Additionally, our “favorite places” includes a range of locations and trails, ranging from wheelchair accessible to more strenuous and advanced, so couples and guests of all physical abilities are guaranteed incredible landscapes and photos, regardless of any limiting physical factors.
visualize this
The pacific mist is cool and refreshing, bringing you a sense of calm, even as your heart beats faster with each step you take. The sand is warm on your bare feet from the northern sun, and the sound of the Salish Sea dancing upon the shoreline is the perfect rhythm as you step closer to the one you love. You lock eyes, smile, and freeze this moment in your memory forever. This is your wedding, your way. And it couldn’t be more perfect.
dream it, plan it, do it
Envisioning your vows at the top of a mountain with Mount Shuksan standing proudly in the background? Is a private cove of turquoise water hitting jagged dark rocks your ideal ceremony location? As a photographer, guide, and planner by nature, we’ll help create your wedding day vision into a reality. Our experience is so much more than just the photos (which will be epic, by the way)! From finding you the perfect ceremony spot to match your vision, going over the terrain, monitoring weather, to gathering the right permits you’ll need, we’ll be with you every step of the way to make sure that your day is absolutely unforgettable.
is this you?
- If your relationship was a novel, it wouldn't just be a love story but an adventure! Dynamic and emotional.
- You can see yourself rocking hiking boots underneath your wedding dress.
- You can’t imagine having a big audience on your wedding day. A handful of your most favorite people feels much more comfortable.
- Stress free wedding planning sounds pretty rad.
- You don't mind getting your feet sandy, taking the path less traveled or climbing rocks.
- You’ve never been a big fan of banquet wedding cuisine. Pizza and a beer at the ski lodge after a day of exploring, or a bowl of Penn Cove mussels at the Captain Whidbey Inn is just what you’re craving.
- The great outdoors makes your soul come alive. The only that makes your heart beat faster is the one you’re about to marry.