Real Couples' Stories - Adventure Instead

2-Person CeremoniesApril 20, 2023

Luxury Meets Adventure for Pam & Elliot’s Amangiri Elopement

Ceremony Planning ResourcesDecember 29, 2022

Best of 2022 – Adventure Instead

Ceremonies by LocationMarch 26, 2022

Alyssa & Kevin’s Alvord Desert Elopement in Central Oregon

Adventure SessionsFebruary 25, 2022

A Dirty Wedding Dress Makes More Memories

Adventure SessionsFebruary 24, 2022

Erin & Steven’s SUP Adventure Elopement in California

2-Person CeremoniesFebruary 3, 2022

The ethereal Proxy Waterfalls were perfect for this Oregon Elopement

2-Person CeremoniesDecember 30, 2021

Best of 2021 – Adventure Instead

2-Person CeremoniesDecember 20, 2021

The Ultimate Elopement Planning Guide & Checklist | 2021

Intimate WeddingsMay 12, 2021

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

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Three Adventure Instead Photographers

What does it mean to
“Adventure Instead”?

See for Yourself...

We’ve all been there. Family and friends try and

We’ve all been there. Family and friends try and tell you what your wedding should look like or who you should invite... but we’re going to let you in on a little secret:

You can do it your way.

Design the wedding day exactly how you want... and if a big wedding doesn’t feel like you, the best decision you can make is to create a day that does feel like you, that you’ll back on and smile remembering all the little things you did to keep it authentic, to keep it 100% you.
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#weddingexperience
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#elopementphotographers

You have your whole life to take things seriously.

You have your whole life to take things seriously. What if for one day you let yourself be a little silly? What if you were to give yourself permission to channel a spirit of childlike wonder? What if your elopement day were meaningful–of course–but also so. much. fun.  If there’s one place to help you bring this day of play to life, it’s the Great Sand Dunes. The entire national park is a giant playground for kids of all kinds–the ones in age, and the ones in heart.  Ashley & Morgan were no exception, as they found every possible game the dunes had to offer.  They started in the sandbox, where shirt and shoes are optional. In the hours just before and after the highest sun, sands hold the Goldilocks of warmth–not too hot, not too cold. Perfect for burying feet and fingers as deep as you dare. Perfect too for sand angels.  Next up, the slip and slide. The tallest dunes in North America make for a pretty thrilling ride, and Ashley & Morgan made sure to get as many laps as they could. Climbing up up up, running down down down, never tiring of scooping each other up.  They bounced onwards to the tumbling arena. Cartwheeling through saltbush, viewing the bordering mountain peaks from all the angles, landing safely in giant pads of singing sands… there couldn’t be a more beautiful topple. The launching, the giggling, the twirling and kissing–it’s all amplified by the dramatic Sangre de Cristos.  To wash off the granules, they traipsed through the trickling creek bed. There’s not an age too old that splashing your crush with a handful of chilly water doesn’t bring out a smile. Mixed with the scents of pinyon-juniper, the stream provides an oasis in the desert.  To top it all off, they settled into a round of I Spy under the stars. The game is much more exciting in an International Dark Sky Park, where the complete lack of light pollution lets the galaxy shine through in sparkling detail.  Ashley & Morgan spent all their tickets at the Great Sand Dunes and had the time of their life.  It’s your turn–what shenanigans will you get up to?  xx Amber

Which environment are you choosing? . . . #explore

Which environment are you choosing?
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#explorecolorado
#rockymountainbride
#pnwdiscovered
#destinationweddingvenue
#alaskawedding

A wish for you on your elopement day…  Among

A wish for you on your elopement day…  Amongst the bustle and excitement, may you find peace and quiet.  Though the adrenaline’s kicking in and you’re feeling go-go-go, may you give yourselves space to pause, breathe, and soak it all in.  May you take your time and move with leisure. Remember that you have nowhere else to be, nothing else you should be doing, and no one else to take care of. There are no deadlines to meet, no checklists to attend to, and no ends to tie up. Your only job today is to enjoy yourself to the fullest, and for that you can take all the time in the world.  String up the hammock and put your feet up. Lie your head on your love’s chest and listen to their heartbeat. Close your eyes–or better yet, leave them open and let them linger. Every tiny detail–the wildflowers, the ripples of the lake, the light on your love’s chin–give each the attention it deserves. You owe it to yourselves not to jump ahead.  Spread out the picnic blanket and kick back for a few. Don’t hurry through the treats–it’s much too delicious to be rushed. You hand-selected this meal because it’s precisely what you wanted to eat on your wedding day–honor that with time to truly savor the taste. From here on out, you’ll associate these flavors with the day you married your best friend.  Take a walk. Not a quick we’ll-be-right-back jaunt, but a slow and winding meander. Let your stomachs digest, your muscles loosen up, your minds wander. Ignore your watch–you’ll come back when you come back. Stroll till you’re tired of strolling, then let it reach its natural conclusion. When you let time unfold on its own, how wonderful the ease it’ll reward you.  Give your brain the opportunity to synthesize the inputs. So much is going on around you, and you will want to remember it all. The pictures are one thing–of course you can always pull them out and reminisce on demand. But actually committing the moments of the day to memory… there’s no greater gift. Allow yourselves this.  A wish for you on your elopement day…  May you relax. May you take your time. May you drink up every last drop.  xx Maddie Mae

Not your mom, not your dad, not your aunt, or frie

Not your mom, not your dad, not your aunt, or friend, or brother, or grandpa. Your wedding day is meant to be celebrated how *you* want.
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#wildelopements
#adventuresession
#forthewildlyinlove
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#elopeabroad

What might compel you to elope in the salt flats?  Could it be the feeling of being in the middle of infinite space? There’s a unique freedom in the salt flats, where there’s nothing at all closing you in. To be in the center of a sprawling, weightless, borderless room and have the entirety of it all just to breathe… it’s liberating.  In the flats, all sense of time changes. With only the sun overhead, there are no creeping shadows. The only indication of minutes passing comes at the edges–sunrise and sunset. To be fully suspended not only in space, but in time as well… it’s the epitome of epic.  It might be an event of geological curiosity–twirling around remnants of waters past, resting on carpets of crystal. You are at the bottom of what was once splashing waves, now a sea of brilliant white. As expanding salt crystals push through mud cracks, the surface morphs into ever-changing sketches. Which then, of course, creates this fantastic contrast of barren exposure against your living and blooming love.  There’s the way that no matter where you are in the frame, you are the center of attention. When there’s nothing but expanse around you, it really is just a day about you and your love. Beyond that, what wonderful perspective to embody the big picture–you two are tiny, the world is giant. And that is awfully beautiful.  You might be enticed by pragmatism and accessibility. A benefit of the flats is that they are, aptly, flat. Rent a van, invite your closest loved ones, or bring your pup in tow–these spaces will invite them kindly. When you spend less time figuring out the how’s, you spend more time enjoying the why’s.  Then, most directly, the salt flats are flat out cool. Any place that holds land speed races is objectively awesome. If you’re pining for an unconventional aesthetic, the landscapes pander perfectly to stark palettes. And if you’re just a couple of badasses, the flats might be your spot.  So, maybe a better question–what wouldn’t draw you to the salt flats? Whether in Utah, Oregon, Bolivia, or beyond, a salt flats elopement will never disappoint.  xx Maddie Mae

Would you turn your elopement into a luxpedition?

Would you turn your elopement into a luxpedition?
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#destinationelopement
#elopementphotography
#elope
#weddingexperience
#adventureinstead

On a day of giant joys, you’ll want to remember

On a day of giant joys, you’ll want to remember the small and lovely specifics.

On a day framed in grandeur, don’t forget the details.

Don’t forget the shoe laces to match your suit jacket–cobalt blue with specks of charcoal. The pocket square that ties seamlessly into the palette of the day’s florals. The watch, a tasteful accent. Don’t forget your grandfather’s ring, passed down over the years so that you might find it on your left hand through all the days ahead.

Don’t forget the talented stylist who can set your curls just right. The wreath of flowers, pearl pins, and jeweled hair band. The lip tint that matches your roses to a tee. Don’t forget the lace gown that lights you up from the inside out–its intricate pattern a perfect complement to the textures of the nature surrounding.

Don’t forget the first look–the first time you’ll see the love of your life in all this magnificent detail. Notice every little thing about their face, their eyes, their fingers, their whisps of hair catching the breeze. Pay attention–this beauty is right here right now.

Don’t forget the handkerchief to wipe your flowing tears.

Don’t forget the floral ceremony arch, designed with a careful eye for each and every delicate stem. The blooms cut strategically to create dimension and layers so that the structure frames you in all your glory.

Don’t forget the handwritten vow books, dotted i’s and crossed t’s.

Don’t forget the candles and the centerpieces at the celebration meal. Don’t forget the multi-course dinner prepared specially for you. Cute hors d’oeuvres tweezed and plated to excellence by a catered chef. Sprigs of mint placed atop fanned puree, paired with any vintage of your choosing.

Don’t forget to soak in all the varied landscapes. The scents of alpine sage and distant rainclouds. The sounds of birds chirping at dusktime. The feel of solid rock beneath your feet. The taste of sweet wedding cake on your tongue.

On a day where you have every big reason to celebrate, take the time to choose and remember the little things. Because all of these mircroscenes together–these make up the best day of your life.

xx Maddie Mae

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