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ADVENTURE INSTEAD Blog

The best elopement blog for ideas, inspiration, and planning tips to make your day wildly yours

Garden of the God’s Perfect Wedding Spots | Meghan & Naveed

Mehgan and Naveed got married in a sunrise elopement with their family at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. It was January, but they got lucky with an uncharacteristically warm winter day—it was perfect! We began the day just before sunrise at a place called Mesa Overlook. I met Mehgan and Naveed there for…

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REAL ELOPEMENTS

A bride and groom stand on a rocky desert landscape at Amangiri, with large sandstone formations in the background. The bride's veil flows in the wind as sunlight illuminates the scene, creating a romantic and serene atmosphere perfect for an elopement.

Luxury Meets Adventure for Pam & Elliot’s Amangiri Elopement

Garden of the God’s Perfect Wedding Spots | Meghan & Naveed

Silhouette of a couple holding hands during a sunset wedding photoshoot at their Crested Butte elopement. The sun peeks through the branches of a fallen tree nearby, creating a dramatic effect against the mountainous backdrop. The bride holds a bouquet.

Crested Butte Elopement

A couple stands facing each other, exchanging vows amidst the stunning landscape of a Smith Rock wedding. The bride wears a white dress, and the groom is in a suit. Tall, rugged cliffs dominate the background under a soft, cloudy sky.

Smith Rock Wedding in Oregon

A couple dressed in wedding attire stands on a rocky cliff edge in a desert landscape with expansive views of canyons and mesas at sunset, creating a romantic and adventurous scene.

Moab Wedding for Brooke & Jake

A couple dances under a natural rock arch in Arches National Park, their elopement creating a mesmerizing scene. The woman wears a flowing black dress, while the man is also dressed in black. The smooth, reddish-brown formations catch the sunlight, casting intricate shadows on the sandy ground.

Arches National Park Elopement in Utah | Holly & Zach

PLANNING TIPS

The Ultimate Elopement Planning Guide & Checklist | 2025

Elopement Dresses

A scenic sunset view of a beach with a tree and palm trees silhouetted against the sky. A group of people are gathered under parasols, with tiki torches lighting the scene, near the ocean.

What vendors do you need for an elopement?

Elopement and Wedding First Looks | Tips & How

A couple sits on a sandy beach surrounded by candles and a picnic setup with food and drinks, enjoying an intimate elopement party. They are cuddled up on a blanket, with cliffs and greenery in the background, during what appears to be a romantic evening.

How to Plan a Post-Elopement Party

A couple stands on a field of wildflowers, exchanging vows. The bride is in a white dress, and the groom is in a dark suit. Behind them are rolling green hills and jagged mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

How to Cancel a Wedding

DECIDING TO ELOPE

A bride and groom stand on a rocky cliff, holding hands against a backdrop of rugged mountains and clouds. They are dressed in traditional wedding attire, and the bride's long veil flows with the wind. The scene is lit with a warm and dramatic sunset light.

Should I Elope? Top 12 Reasons to Elope from 3000 Couples Study

A couple stands on rocky terrain, the woman in a flowing dress, holding hands with the man. They overlook a vast, misty landscape with distant mountains under a clear sky, creating a serene and romantic atmosphere.

Luxury Elopement: The Ultimate Romantic Experience

Two people in white dresses hold hands on a narrow path amidst lush greenery and misty mountains, embracing a non-traditional wedding vibe. A bare tree stands between them, with clouds and fog obscuring the distant landscape, creating a serene and mysterious atmosphere.

4 Reasons to Have a Non Traditional Wedding

A couple, perhaps choosing to elope, embraces on a grassy hilltop against a scenic mountain backdrop. Nearby, a blue helicopter stands poised, overlooking a distant glacier under the cloudy sky.

Elope Definition: What does it mean to elope in 2024?

A couple stands on a field of wildflowers, exchanging vows. The bride is in a white dress, and the groom is in a dark suit. Behind them are rolling green hills and jagged mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

How to Cancel a Wedding

Two people in flowing white garments gracefully move across a red rocky landscape under a vast, cloudy sky, as if dancing away from all objections to you eloping. A rugged mountain formation appears in the background, enhancing the dramatic atmosphere.

Top 10 Most Common Objections to You Eloping

IDEAS & INSPIRATION

Elopement Dresses

A couple stands on a rocky shore, embracing as they face a tranquil body of water. The bride, in her once pristine white dress now speckled with signs of their adventure, hugs the groom in dark attire. Mountains and clouds provide a serene backdrop to their story-filled day.

A Dirty Wedding Dress Makes More Memories

A person in a non-traditional wedding dress stands on a large rock at the edge of a cliff, holding a sheer scarf that catches the wind. The background is a hazy mountainous landscape with soft, diffused light, creating a serene and ethereal atmosphere.

14 Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses

A vibrant bouquet of elopement flowers featuring red, yellow, pink, and orange blooms with green foliage. The arrangement is held by someone wearing a brown jacket and white dress, set against a blurred outdoor background.

How to Choose the Best Flowers for your Elopement

A couple in a canoe on a calm lake, surrounded by mountains and trees, embraces an idyllic elopement idea. The woman holds a bouquet of flowers as both smile. The clear sky and reflective waters enhance the scenic landscape.

Epic Elopement Ideas and Inspiration

A couple in wedding attire stands on a rocky cliff, embodying the essence of national park weddings. The desert landscape, with its layered geological formations and muted earth tones, crafts an expansive view that creates a dramatic and romantic scene.

National Park Wedding Ideas

BEST PLACES TO ELOPE

Silhouetted couple holding hands under a large tree at sunset, with the orange sky in the background creating a romantic and serene atmosphere.

The World’s 19 Best Safari Elopement Locations + Planning Tips

A couple in wedding attire stands near a helicopter on a grassy field. Snow-capped mountains rise in the background under a cloudy sky, creating a picturesque and romantic setting.

How to Plan an Epic Helicopter Elopement: Locations, Pros & Cons

A couple embraces on a mountain peak at sunset, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The bride wears a white gown, and the groom is in a dark suit. The landscape features dramatic lighting and shadows.

The 32 Most Stunning Places to Elope in the Mountains Worldwide

A couple in formal attire sits on the sandy ground amidst sparse trees, set against the backdrop of vast orange sand dunes under a clear sky. The shadows of the trees and the couple stretch across the sand, creating a striking visual contrast.

Guide to a Stunning Desert Elopement: Best Places, Tips, & more

World’s Best Beaches for Elopements: Top 32 Locations Worldwide

How to Plan an Ethereal Forest Elopement: Best Places & Tips

LOCATION GUIDES

Elope in Death Valley National Park: Everything You Need to Know

A bride and groom stand on a rocky cliff with arms outstretched, overlooking the vast expanse of Rocky Mountain National Park. The scene is serene, with soft, neutral colors blending into the misty distance.

Rocky Mountain National Park Weddings & Elopements

A bride and groom walk hand in hand near a waterfall in a lush forest setting. The bride wears a white gown, and the groom is in a dark suit. The waterfall cascades down behind them, surrounded by green foliage and rocks, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Waterfall Wedding Venues in Oregon – 8 Unique Options + Tips

Your Sedona Elopement Guide | Plan Your Arizona Ceremony

Garden of the God’s Perfect Wedding Spots | Meghan & Naveed

A couple stands on a large rock in a desert landscape, embodying the essence of a Joshua Tree wedding guide. They are surrounded by Joshua trees and boulders under an overcast sky, capturing the magical allure of this iconic setting.

Joshua Tree Wedding Guide

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Hey, I’m Maddie Mae

Your Elopement Photographer, Experience Designer & Planning Consultant

A person with long hair and glasses is sitting on sand, smiling at the camera. They are wearing a black lace cardigan over a beige top, with hoop earrings and a necklace. The background is a sandy expanse.

“The woman who sparked the adventure
elopement trend” – Forbes

I don’t just photograph elopements –
I design and plan a curated, unique experience around the two of you—one you’ll enjoy every minute of.

I want to get to know what makes you two feel alive and create an experience worthy of this
incredible love you’ve found

“The woman who sparked the adventure elopement trend” – Forbes

40

countries and 7 continents worth of travel experience and knowledge

13

years experience planning and photographing elopements & weddings

300

one-of-a-kind elopements & intimate weddings planned & photographed

2019

the year I eloped too (after planning my own destination elopement in just 6 weeks)

What makes my elopement packages different?

Every Adventure Instead elopement experience includes:

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One-of-a-kind
Experience Design

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Expert Planning
Consulting

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Award-Winning
Photography

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Stunning & Secluded
Location Ideas

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Unique & relaxing
lodging
recommendations

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Personalized & Fun Activity Ideas

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Customized, Experience-Focused Timeline

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Personalized Mood Board & Styling Suggestions

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No Additional Travel Fees

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Direct Access & Full
Support by Maddie Mae

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Unlimited Planning
Consultations & Revisions

Line drawing of a bouquet featuring a large protea flower, surrounded by leaves and smaller flowers.

Pre-Vetted Local
Vendor
Recommendations

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Expert Advice on Permits, Marriage Licenses & Safety

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Specific Gear Advice + Packing Checklists

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“How to Adventure Instead” VIP Planning Guide

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Customized, Experience-Focused Timeline

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Guided & Fun
Photography Experience

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Empathetic,
Introvert-Friendly
Posing & Directing

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Creative GIF’s &
Drone Photography

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Artistic, Hand-Crafted Editing

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All Your Photos to
Keep Forever

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Complementary
Album Design +
Convenient Print
Ordering

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