Blog | Real Elopements | Adventure Instead Photographers & Guides

Where to Elope in Colorado

Where to Elope in Washington

Where to Elope in Oregon

How to Elope in Colorado

How to Elope in Washington

How to Elope in Oregon

Elopement Packages Colorado

Elopement Packages Washington

Elopement Packages Oregon

Adventure Elopements

California Elopements

Colorado Elopements

Destination Elopements

Elopement Planning

Engagements & Couples

Hiking Elopements

Iceland Elopements

Intimate Weddings

Mountain Elopements

National Park Elopements

Oregon Elopements

Planning Resources

Self-Solemnizing

Small Wedding Ideas

Washington Elopements

Weddings + Elopements

Winter Elopements

Adventure Elopements|October 28, 2020

Orcas Island Wedding

Oregon Elopements|October 25, 2020

Forest Park Portland Elopement

Adventure Elopements|October 19, 2020

How to Choose the Best Flowers for your Elopement

Adventure Elopements|October 8, 2020

Epic Elopement Ideas and Inspiration

Elopement Planning|October 2, 2020

Elopement Ceremony Script

Adventure Elopements|September 25, 2020

Yosemite Elopement

Washington Elopements|September 24, 2020

Washington State Forest Elopement

Elopement Planning|September 19, 2020

How to Plan an Intimate Wedding

Washington Elopements|September 17, 2020

Olympic National Park Wedding

Ready to

start your
adventure?

Let us help you create an incredibly fun,
stress-free experience while we document
the whole story of your day.

What does it mean to
“Adventure Instead”?

See for Yourself...

🙋‍♀️Who prefers Chacos over heels? Well

🙋‍♀️Who prefers Chacos over heels?

Well all 3 of us ladies here do! 😂 Which is why I thought it was EPIC that Rebecca & Micah decided to wear their Chacos on their wedding day.

Eloping is about doing what feels the most *YOU*—including what you want to wear.

Rebecca & Micah knew that poofy white dresses and high heels were not the attire that they wanted for their elopement. They did not feel the need to put on a huge show for each other––and they knew that dressing the way they wanted to would make their day much more intimate—and more *for them*. So instead, Rebecca had on this super comfortable jumpsuit and Micah wore a stylish button up shirt with pants.

👉 But what made their outfits even more awesome was the CHACOS! 😍

They hiked in their chacos as we headed down the trail until we were met with a gorgeous waterfall. There was an incredible amount of mist seeping all throughout the air and we felt transported into a different world. We stared in amazement as we watched the water pour from above into the clear blue pool beneath it.

When we reached their ceremony spot, Rebecca & Micah began saying their vows. Because of the raging sounds of the waterfall surrounding them, I could not hear a single word. But I saw them laughing, crying, and having the best time just being in each other’s arms––the expressions in their faces said it all ❤️

After their vows, we got to explore around the waterfall by popping champagne and listening to a song sung by their loved ones. We hiked back just as the sun was slowly lighting up the forest.

I am so glad Rebecca & Micah wore outfits that truly allowed them to be themselves … Besides, who doesn’t love chacos?

xx Tori

I have seen many sunsets in my life, but none have

I have seen many sunsets in my life, but none have been quite as beautiful as the one on Mae & Ken’s elopement day 👇

I met Mae & Ken at a trailhead in Washington and I cannot get over how unique & fashionable their elopement attire was! Mae wore a lacy, vintage dress with a gorgeous bouquet, while Ken wore a stylish, plaid vest and carried the most perfect picnic basket to match 😍

We hiked along the lake until we got to the perfect river spot. This spot was completely surrounded by mountains with deep, blue rivers rippling from all directions into the lake. It was a calm, quiet spot with the peaceful sounds of water flowing around them. Mae & Ken were overjoyed - this spot was ALL theirs! 🙌

After they said their vows, we packed up and headed to the mountains where the trail was very steep and rough. Mae & Ken didn’t seem to mind the hike––they were basically like two little kids racing to the top, sprinting up the mountain and playing in the snow ❄️

We got to the top just as the sun dipped below the mountains. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen! We watched as the scene of colors turned from a golden orange to a stream of blue and pink. After that glorious sunset, we hiked back down with our headlamps and enjoyed looking at the stars until a big, bright moon took its place in the sky 🌙

Mae & Ken’s elopement made me fall in love with Washington all over again ❤️

What’s the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen? 👇

xx Tori

P.S. 👉 Check out our stories for some more BTS of Mae & Ken’s special day!

There’s nothing quite as joyful as getting marri

There’s nothing quite as joyful as getting married with your dog by your side. 🥰🐶

Jen & Michael had to postpone their wedding due to COVID—but sometimes when plans change, they change for the better. And having this stunning redwood forest elopement in Portland with Esme (their french bulldog) in tow was better than they could have ever imagined.

After writing their vows in their Airbnb the morning of their elopement, Michael took Esme and headed into the forest to wait to see Jen for their first look. Usually it’s the humans who are the most excited to see each other for the first time in their wedding attire… but I’ve never seen a more excited pup in my life than when Esme saw Jen in her wedding gown 🙌🐶

Right after their first look, they poured their hearts out to each other during their ceremony surrounded by the towering redwoods, and we spent the morning exploring a forest full of these beautiful tall giants. 🌲

We eventually adventured to a meadow where we popped champagne and unleashed Esme—and she hopped through the meadows like the happiest bunny in the world with her freshly married parents by her side.

I think the best part about bringing your dog along with you when you get married is they feed off of your excitement—and you feed off of theirs.

And seriously, what could bring you more happiness than a stoked little bouncy french bulldog with a flower garland? 😂🙌

xx Tori

P.S. 👉 Check out our stories for some more BTS of Jenn & Michael’s elopement… and to see more of precious little Esme—you know, cause that’s the content we all need right now 🙌🥰

IT’S TIME FOR A BOUQUET COMPETITION! 🏆💐 W

IT’S TIME FOR A BOUQUET COMPETITION! 🏆💐

Which bouquet is YOUR favorite? Let us know your vote in the comments below! 👇

We LOVE bouquets 👉 If there’s one “wedding” detail we think you should splurge on for your adventure elopement, it’s a bomb ass bouquet 🙌

There are so many different styles, colors, & sizes that each look *incredible* in the gorgeous landscapes our couples choose to elope. Every time we think, “this one is my favorite!” we see another one that’s *perfect!* 😂❤️

So, what’s your favorite style? 👉 Colorful, or neutral? Abundant, or minimalist? Floral, or leafy?

Vote for your *favorite* bouquet in the comments below! (Numbers in the bottom right corner of each photo)

May the BEST florals win! 😉

xx Maddie Mae, Amber, & Tori

How do backpacking elopements actually work? 🌄

How do backpacking elopements actually work? 🌄

👋 Tori here! And I’m STOKED to share one of my favorite elopements of this year—an *EPIC* multi-day backpacking elopement here in the North Cascades of Washington.

Toby & Nancy bonded over a mutual love of backpacking & wanted every detail of their wedding day to be as adventurous as their relationship has always been.

To prove that—they basically hiked to their elopement location *TWICE* 💪 The day before their elopement they hiked 12 miles out & back to their camp to set up their tent & drop off their wedding attire, and the next day we all hiked out together for their sunset ceremony among the wildflowers in full bloom.

✨Backpacking elopement pro tip✨ One AWESOME detail Nancy's florist added wires to her bouquet so it could attach to her hiking backpack, and it held together perfectly!

When we arrived at what would be their camp for a couple days, Nancy did her own hair and makeup in the backcountry. Toby got dressed into his suit & helped Nancy button up the back of her dress, and they both put on their backpacks and we set out to explore!

Part of where Nancy & Toby eloped touches a section of the PCT, which Nancy had hiked years ago & was one of her fondest memories. She was able to stand in the same spot—now years later—still with a hiking backpack but also a wedding dress 👏to get married to the love of her life 😍

As if on display just for them, the sun dipped below the horizon just as their ceremony was ending, which cast us all in the most gorgeous colors! We were all cheering, & popping champagne, and the next morning we witnessed alpenglow cast first light on Mt. Adams before hiking back.

👇What do you think? Would you go backpacking for a multi-day wedding adventure?! 🥰🙌

xx Tori

P.S. We were very careful to stand on durable surfaces during the duration of this peak wildflower season elopement, and also being 12 miles into the backcountry where there are few trails, LNT applies a bit differently and some offt-trail travel can be okay if you're careful 🥰

Ever meet someone and just instantly click? That’s what it was like meeting Dona & Malisa.

I’ve photographed a LOT of elopements in the last 5 years, but there are just some days that will forever be etched in my brain—and Dona & Malisa’s elopement is one of them.

We had an early start to our day as we drove up the mountains before sunrise. When we got to the top at dawn, we hiked to their location and Dona and Malisa parted ways so that they could change into their dresses separately (they had yet to see what the other was going to wear). When they saw each other for the first time as the sun crested over the horizon, we were all in tears.

They read their vows to each other and every word felt so personal and heartfelt. Through many tears and laughs, they exchanged rings and made their marriage OFFICIAL 🙌 Because they were self-solemnizing (an AWESOME thing about getting married in Colorado), they could “self-officiate” their own marriage by signing both their names on the officiant line of their marriage license.

After their ceremony, Dona had a special surprise for Malisa—she had collected letters from Malisa’s family members and brought them to read on their wedding day. 😭😍

They spent the day exploring in the mountains and just enjoying each other’s company as they wandered around the mountaintops in their gorgeous flowy dresses.

I am positive that Dona and Malisa were made for each other—they had the kind of love that you can just feel by being around them—the kind of deep, supportive, vulnerable love that every couple on the planet should be striving for.

This job brings me to a lot of incredible places, but hands down, the best part is getting to be in the presence of couples like this who deeply inspire me—who challenge me to love as deeply as they do, and who I still think about, even 3 years later.

xx Maddie Mae

💐What type of bouquets & flowers work best for

💐What type of bouquets & flowers work best for adventure elopements?

If you splurge on one detail for your day, we totally suggest getting an epic bouquet from a bomb-ass florist (one of our faves @laceandlilies made all of the bouquets in this post)! Bouquets add so much color & and romantic “wedding vibes” to your day that can be totally customized to your style.

But what kind of a bouquet will hold up well in these sorts of adventures?

The floral arrangements that we’ve seen that work the *BEST* for adventurous elopements need to check quite a few boxes: they need to be able to hold up while outdoors, traveling, maybe getting transported in a backpack, survive warm or cold temperatures and wind, & stay strong to not drop petals, leaves or seeds in the environment. Some of our couples have even backpacked with their elopement bouquets, which then aren't photographed for days after being put together.

👇So look for these things when choosing your flowers to make sure your florals are as ready as you are and can adventure with you:

✅ Hearty blooms, nothing super fragile
✅ Dried flowers or grasses
✅ Native, non-invasive plant species
✅ Plants with woody stems
✅ Feathers, or other materials that don't produce seed

If you're unsure how get the right flowers for your day, we can get you in touch with florists we've worked with who have done INCREDIBLE work for our eloping couples in the past—it amazes us that with a quality florist, it’s possible to hike a dozen miles into the mountains, change elevation, change temperature, and camp overnight… all to find a well-made bouquet looking *fresh* & ready for photos at sunrise!

While most elopements we photograph don’t have at on of crazy details… we’ll definitely say that a great florist can make all the difference to the overall look and feel of your photos ♥️

If you're looking for more elopement bouquet inspiration, you’re in luck! 👉Check out our stories and read a super informative blog post all about how to choose the best elopement flowers from our friends at @laceandlilies (link in stories).

xx Maddie Mae, Amber, & Tori

5 Reasons you should go off-roading on your weddin

5 Reasons you should go off-roading on your wedding day 🚙

1. You can get epic views all to yourself, without having to hike at all. Let’s be honest, getting up at 1am, and hiking up 5 miles in the dark just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you have a 4x4, you can get the same type of stunning secluded scenery all to yourself, without breaking a sweat. 🙌

2. Self-driving your own 4x4 vehicle to your destination makes you feel like a total badass—and is an incredibly fun adventure to include on your wedding day. Enjoy the adrenaline rush, and have a blast riding the "roller coaster" of bumpy dirt roads and watching incredible views out the windows.

3. You can bring way more stuff for your ceremony & celebration in a 4x4 than you can in a backpack—so if you want a super fancy picnic, or a bunch of beautiful florals, or if your dress is just really huge and difficult to put into a backpack—a 4x4 will have a lot more room! It's also a good place to take shelter if it's cold or if it rains.

4. You can get a professional 4x4 driver to take you up absolutely INSANE roads, that are an unforgettable adventure all in themselves. Many of the coolest 4x4 spots require pretty intense vehicles (like a tricked out Jeep Rubicon) and a pro 4x4 driver to access—so you can get the adrenaline rush of being on a gnarly road, without any of the stress of driving it yourself.

5. If you do hire a pro driver, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the views and the experience of your wedding day, while someone else drives you around! The experience is honestly an amazing combination of feeling really relaxed, a little bit extra, but also like an adventurous badass at the same time.

We absolutely LOVE 4x4 elopements and have some great recommendations for pro 4x4 drivers in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, & Washington as well a so many epic 4x4-accessible spots you can elope! 👉Get in touch with us if you'd like us to plan & photograph your adventurous off-roading elopement!

xx Maddie Mae, Amber, & Tori

👉And check out our blog post on more of the best "epic elopement ideas" we've seen in the over 300 elopements we've photographed (link in our stories today!)

👉 Planning a *picnic* as part of your wedding c

👉 Planning a *picnic* as part of your wedding celebration can be so much fun!

We LOVE elopement picnics – getting out in nature to have a "reception" of any size without the need to rent a poorly lit event center...

We've seen picnics that are super elaborate, as well as more simple ones (our favorite will always be the baguette casually stuffed into a hiking backpack) 😂

Planning a picnic into your elopement day schedule is the *perfect* way to ensure you take time to slow down, enjoy your surroundings, & don't get hangry – you'd be amazed how often we hear "I was having so much fun I forgot to eat!"

Things to pack for a fun elopement picnic 👇

👉Wine, champagne, a favorite beer, or whatever is your drink of choice! You could go all-out & pack the whiskey & mixers if you're feeling extra fancy 😉

👉Charcuterie board, donuts, cheese & crackers, cake, pizza, or whatever meal is your IDEAL wedding dinner! Remember, this is YOUR day, so if what you're really crazing is Taco Bell – GET👏IT👏

👉A blanket or something to sit on – the *scene* you set for your picnic can be as structured or casual as you want it to be, so you can bring a beach towel, or pack in a table & chairs.

Don't forget to eat on your wedding day – so why not plan a romantic picnic to enjoy your beautiful elopement destination?!

xx Maddie Mae, Amber & Tori

P.S. Check out our stories today for a *link* to our blog with more Epic Elopement Ideas & Inspiration!

Did you know you can get married on your own priva

Did you know you can get married on your own private island? 🌴 How? With a packraft!

There are dozens of alpine lakes in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, and other mountainous regions around the world, that have *ISLANDS* in the middle of them.

And all you have to do is bring a packraft, and paddle out to them 🙌

How do you hike up to a lake with a raft?

Well you can get ultralight packrafts that weigh very little and don’t take up a ton of space in your bag. They are super easy and fun to hike with, take about 5-10 min to inflate once you’re there, and then you have the perfect adventurous wedding transportation for your ceremony on a private island.

We’ve been fans of this particular 2-lb pack raft from @klymit but @kokopellipackraft also makes bigger, more rugged ones. A collapsible carbon-fiber paddle is a great choice for hiking with it too.

We LOVE couples who go above & beyond to make their elopement THEIR kind of adventure, and hiking up to a lake, paddling out to an island, and saying your vows, is pretty damn epic. Don't just stand on the shore, GET👏OUT👏THERE👏

✨PRO TIP: If you only have 1 packraft, but you both want to paddle somewhere, bring a reel so you can pull the raft back and make 2 trips! We’ve been using a scuba diving reel, but a reel of paracord also works.

👇 Would you get on a packraft in your wedding attire?

We think it’s a pretty epic elopement idea!

👉 Check out our blog post on all the best “epic elopement ideas” we’ve ever seen in our stories today!

*P.S: Some high alpine lakes have sensitive sediment or ecosystems where watercrafts may endanger it, so do your research before paddling 🙏 Also, as with anything involving water, there’s of course always a risk you’ll get wet or go for a dip—we haven’t seen it happen yet, but make sure you’re safe always safe around water.

Follow @adventureinstead and show how you #adventureinstead in your life