California Elopements Archives | Adventure Instead

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Consider the Oregon coast in your search for the p

Consider the Oregon coast in your search for the perfect wedding spot—it was the perfect dramatic setting for Tessa & Rob’s elopement!

Tessa & Rob are from Florida, but they were looking for a drastically different, first-time experience for their elopement day, which is why they decided on the Oregon coast 🌊

I usually recommend eloping in the late afternoon on the West Coast to catch the gorgeous sunsets, but Tessa & Rob said that they couldn’t wait all day to be married—so we decided on a morning timeline instead.

The morning of their elopement, it was so moody & mystical! There was a dense fog across the shore, heavy clouds lying close to the ground in the distance, and a cool breeze coming off of the ocean.

This weather was perfect for their super sweet first look. Tessa emerged from a bramble-lined trail and walked towards the edge of the coast where Rob was waiting—and they got to see each other in their wedding attire for the first time.

The fog made it feel like they were the only two that existed in that moment ❤️

We then set off exploring the beach, including nearby rocky cliffs, a small freshwater river flowing into the ocean, a sea cave, and tidepools. It was so peaceful, and we had this entire stretch of beach to ourselves!

Next, we hiked up to what would become their ceremony spot—a gorgeous overlook of the ocean with dense trees tucked into the mist behind them. Along the way, we admired wildflowers glistening with dew and spotted a bald eagle that flew overhead.

Tessa & Rob said the sweetest vows at their chosen spot and exchanged their rings with SO much excitement, all while listening to the calming ebb & flow of the ocean swells in the distance.

It was seriously SUCH a romantic day—and proof that you don’t need “perfect” weather to have a beautiful & meaningful elopement experience!

xx Tori

P.S. The possibilities are endless for eloping couples—but there are also a lot of super great intimate wedding venues around the Oregon coast 🥰 Check out today’s stories to read our blog post with our favorites!

Believe it or not, this waterfall is not in Icelan

Believe it or not, this waterfall is not in Iceland—it’s actually in central Oregon!

Brandy & Zach and I met at the trailhead to start our hike to this epic waterfall right after sunrise 🌄 Normally the Adventure Instead team is all about hiking up in the dark and having sunrise ceremonies, but it can actually be too dark in forests to photograph right at sunrise because of how thick the foliage is.

Our timing ended up being perfect, and we were able to hike in as the sunlight was just beginning to stream through the Ponderosa pines 🌲 We traversed some epic lava beds, and when we arrived, we were the the only ones at the waterfall 🙌

And let me tell you: this waterfall is even more stunning in person—photos don’t do justice for the actual size and splendor of it!

Brandy & Zach explored and found an amazing ceremony spot with a gorgeous view of the waterfall, scattered moss-covered logs and rocks all around them, and a cooling mist blowing in their direction (which felt delightful on this warm July morning).  They had complete privacy for their ceremony, which they started by laying a cord over their hands. Brandy & Zach had known that they wanted to do a handfasting ceremony from the start, but they found that they couldn’t find a cord that really reflected what they were envisioning for their day…

So Brandy learned how to weave, bought the material, and wove a beautiful, thick cord for their handfasting ceremony!

During the ceremony, they read their heartfelt vows, exchanged rings, and finally tied the knot in their handfasting cord.  Afterwards, we explored another set of falls above the ones that they had their ceremony in front of and finished out the remainder of the hike.

It was such a special elopement in a seriously unreal place—and the handmade handfasting cord only made their day even more special and authentic to who they are as a couple!

xx Tori

P.S. Inspired to plan your own Oregon waterfall elopement? Find out how with our “How to Elope in Oregon” blog post in today’s stories!

Did you know that you can have more than just *one

Did you know that you can have more than just *one* first look? 👇

Leala & Yannick did two first looks: one with just them and another with their parents!

We started out their day by driving up to a mountainside lake in a built-out van that they borrowed from Yannick’s parents. They wanted to spend some time together before getting into their wedding attire, so they spread out a blanket and enjoyed sparkling water and gifts as the sky started to brighten ✨

They then got ready for their first look—Leala got ready in the van as Yannick did the same outside. Once they were both ready, we found the perfect spot for their first look: on a path weaving through wildflowers (don’t worry, we were careful to stay on trail & not trample the fragile flowers so others could enjoy them after us)!

Leala came up behind Yannick, and he turned around to see his soon-to-be spouse with so much joy—he had not seen her dress before their first look, so he really got the full effect of being able to see her for the first time!

They had a chance to really soak in their gorgeous surroundings ahead of their family arriving:
🛶 the clear lake
🌻 the vibrant flowers
⛰ the greenery crawling up the mountainside

And right before their four parents showed up, Leala & Yannick hopped into the van…

Then I instructed their parents to face the lake and turn around together so that they could have their own first look with Leala & Yannick!

There was so much excitement—and you could see how stoked they were about these two getting married and how special it was that they had this special moment & got to be a part of their day ❤️

It was incredible that Leala & Yannick got to celebrate in so many unique ways meaningful to them during their elopement—surrounded by friends, family, and so much love! Check out more photos from their day in today’s stories 😉

xx Amber

Sometimes you have to take your shoes off and dip

Sometimes you have to take your shoes off and dip your feet in the stream to be completely in the moment!

Piper & Kevin’s vision for their day included:
🌄 basking in the early morning sunlight
🌸 being among wildflowers
🌿 laying in nature together, really soaking in the moment

So that’s what they did 👏

We started our day at the trailhead before the sun was up—and let me tell you, one major pro of hiking to your elopement spot in the dark is that you can stargaze while you’re doing it! Piper & Kevin even got to see the Milky Way for the very first time on their elopement day ✨

Dawn broke across the skies, casting a warm glow on the rocky mountain behind Piper & Kevin as they had their first look.

They then went in search of the perfect place for their ceremony—and decided on a spot beside the stream flowing through the meadow so they could listen the water flowing as they said their heartfelt & joyful vows ❤️

After they exchanged their rings (which they surprised each other with!), we continued on our adventure...

When we came across the stream again, Piper didn’t hesitate to take off her shoes and step into the cold water. Kevin quickly joined her 🥾

They admired their surroundings as we wandered, taking in the sunlight, the scenery, and everything else around—including moss, wildflowers, frogs, an alpine lake, and mountain goats!

We ended the day at the lodge that they were staying at—spending time on the cute patio, sitting in the vintage VW camper they were going to be staying in over the next few days, and spreading a thrifted blanket across the grass outside for some relaxation.

Piper & Kevin’s day is a reminder to do what makes you feel alive, whether that’s playing in the stream, listening to water trickling in the background, or truly taking in the beauty around you—especially on your elopement day ❤️ You deserve to be entirely present in the moment!

xx Tori

Allison & Joey eloped to have an authentic, “jus

Allison & Joey eloped to have an authentic, “just us” experience—and their wedding day was a perfect reflection of their relationship & who they are ❤️

I arrived at their nordic-inspired AirBnB as they were getting ready, and I could tell that they were excited to see each other in their wedding attire. They had spent the morning baking & decorating their wedding cake and were looking forward to the adventure ahead.

Once they were ready, he stood outside their AirBnB and she came out to greet him for their first look, hugging him from behind—he was SO happy to see her!

After that, we headed out to start the hike they had picked, which took them through the woods surrounding Mt. Hood ⛰

Allison is a nurse and Joey is a geologist—so as we were hiking, he would name the rocks as we were passing, and sometimes she would try to guess first. This little game was so sweet and so genuinely *them* 🥰

The forest of mossy trees eventually turned into a field of wildflowers flowing down the hills, and Allison & Joey found the perfect spot to say the most beautiful vows to one another. We were careful not to harm any wildflowers to help do our part to Leave No Trace!

Afterwards, they found a spot further on for a picnic & to pop a bottle of champagne. As they were setting up the charcuterie, Allison surprised him with a cutting board that had been engraved with the new last name!

We watched the flowers sway in the wind as the moon rose over Mt. Hood and the sun set behind us in the forest. Once it was dark, we headed back to their AirBnB so they could eat the delicious cake they made & dance by the campfire.
 It was such a peaceful day, and Allison & Joey weren’t afraid to be anything but themselves.

They found quiet moments just to be in each other’s arms, to whisper to one another, and to be fully present in spending this special day together—and isn’t that what eloping is all about? 🙌

xx Tori

P.S. Ready to plan your elopement near Mt. Hood? Then you won’t want to miss today’s stories!

Sometimes unexpected circumstances become the best

Sometimes unexpected circumstances become the best surprises at the end of the day ✨

Brittany & Brian were originally planning to elope in June 2020 but made the decision to reschedule their Washington elopement for a year later… which ended up being in the middle of a historic heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.

So the plans changed again. He no longer needed his wool jacket, and, instead of spending the whole day exploring in a VW bus that didn’t have air conditioning, we drove it around the waterfront instead.

But Brittani & Bryan made the best of it.

They still had an incredibly sweet first look, back-to-back so that they could both be surprised at the same time.

They still had the chance to adventure through a forest, to wander on fallen logs, to breathe in the mossy air.

They still got to spend time together in an awesome VW bus and had the chance to see the mountains we were planning on hiking later on from sea level.

Once the afternoon started to cool off, we headed out & made the short trek into the mountains for their ceremony. Brittani read her vows first, illuminated by the setting sun, and then Bryan sang a song that he had written just for her.

When you’re up and away from everything, you’re totally surrounded by impressive views to take in—but they only had eyes for each other.

After their ceremony, we headed to a meadow of wildflowers so they could have a picnic to celebrate and watched the sunset slip behind the mountains as the sky turned a deep shade of blue.

Usually, once night falls, the temperatures do too—but because it was so hot that day, it just felt wonderful, with no jacket necessary, and we got to sit there staring up at the stars.

Even though the day wasn’t what Brittani & Bryan had expected at first…it was perfect, it was meaningful, and it was theirs.

xx Tori

P.S. Ready to plan an elopement adventure of your own? Check out today’s stories to learn how!

For their elopement, Brooke & Cody wanted to take

For their elopement, Brooke & Cody wanted to take a helicopter to visit places with unreal, breathtaking views of mountains, water, & wildflowers… can you guess where they decided to elope?

If you guessed Alaska, you’d be right!

Brooke & Cody had never been to Alaska before—but they were intrigued by the chance to explore such a variety of landscapes on their elopement day...

So that’s exactly what we did ✨

We started the day off by hiking up a fairly steep trail to get to their ceremony spot, which had a stunning backdrop of lush green mountaintops. It had been gloomy and raining the entire week before in Alaska—but now the sun was out and making the colors even more vibrant ⛰

After Brooke & Cody exchanged their vows, we headed back down the trail to catch a helicopter tour!

🔸 For our first stop, we landed on top of a glacier—one of 100,000 in the state! The glacial lake was a bright vivid blue, and we had an epic view of snowcapped peaks...

🔸 Our second stop took us directly to that very ridgeline! It was amazing to take in the glacier from an entirely new perspective 😍

🔸 Our next stop was a lake filled with icebergs. Brooke & Cody enjoyed skipping rocks across the lake’s smooth surface and taking in the gorgeous sight.

🔸 Our final stop on the tour took us to an epic overlook on a mountaintop where Brooke & Cody got to admire a field of wildflowers before playing in a patch of snow!

The number of different places you can see in Alaska is seriously amazing—and you don’t need crazy, strenuous hikes to get to the sort of unforgettable views that Brooke & Cody were looking for when you take a helicopter around!

Alaska is hands down one of the best places to elope—check out today’s stories for more of the best places!

Would you elope in Alaska? 👋

xx Tori

I can’t quite describe how redemptive it is to g

I can’t quite describe how redemptive it is to get to finally meet a #2020 couple whose elopement was supposed to be last year—and for them to finally have their long-awaited day.

Katie reached out to me back in October of 2019 about 3 hours after they had gotten engaged—she knew that she wanted to elope in Switzerland and was already on top of planning 👏

But then #2020 hit, so we postponed. And then, with borders still closed, they decided they could still have their day in the alps, right here in the “Little Switzerland” of Ouray, Colorado.

The mountains in southwest Colorado were formed volancially… so they are incredibly steep-sided and sheer, and the most alps-reminiscent range in CO.

Instead of gondolas, we took a 4x4… but we still drove straight up a mountain and they said their vows surrounded by the uniquely colorado Red Mountains, still capped with snow.

Nothing could stop these two from having an incredible elopement day that was just about the two of them ❤️

I know the world is still in chaos, but it's days like these that feel like coming up for air from all the hardship of the last 18 months.

And that’s why I love this job more than anything in the world.

xx Maddie Mae

📷 Photographed on @sonyalpha

P.S Check out today’s stories for tons of ideas on how to make your elopement ceremony special ❤️

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