Costa Rica Elopement Photographer | Adventure Instead

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Bride and groom hold hands while walking along rocks on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk along rocks on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. The bride is wearing a white dress and holding a bouquet with pink tropical flowers. The groom is wearing a white shirt and black pants.

Bride and groom walk along rocks on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk along rocks on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace with standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace on their elopement day in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace on their elopement day in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk across rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk across rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk across rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk across rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk across rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom have their arms around me and walk across rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride stands on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. She is wearing a white dress, with her hair to the side, and is holding a bouquet of pink tropical flowers

Groom holds bride in his arms while standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and run across the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom gives bride a piggyback ride on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom gives bride a piggyback ride on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom walk across rocks together along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace while standing on rocks, along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom standing on rocks along the shore and look out at the ocean in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace while standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom share a kiss while standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands and walk on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom embrace on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom walk on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom walk on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom holds bride while sitting on rocks along shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom holds bride while sitting on rocks along shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom holds bride while sitting on rocks along shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Close up of bride and groom holding hands while standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hold hands while standing on rocks along the shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom wraps his arms around bride, who is standing in front on him. They are standing on a rocky shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Groom wraps his arms around bride, who is standing in front on him. They are standing on a rocky shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hug while standing on a rocky shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hug while standing on a rocky shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom hug while standing on a rocky shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Bride and groom kiss while standing on a rocky shore in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Landscape of ocean waves and sun at sunset in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

Maddie Mae

Elopement Photographer

& Planning Consultant

Three photographers

About us

Adventure Instead

Your Elopement Photographers & Planning Consultants. We are Maddie Mae, Amber, and Tori. We're your photographers, your elopement consultants, your cheerleaders, and your go-to adventure buddy on the day you say your vows.

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See for Yourself...

I am not a hipster, but if the French Alps become

I am not a hipster, but if the French Alps become the It Girl of Europe soon, I WILL be reminding ya'll that I told you about it before it was cool. 😎

I have shot in the Alps in so many countries–Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia...and I am here to tell you that not only are the French Alps seriously beautiful, they are also criminally underrated. To the point where some people forget the Alps even go into France. But they do, and they’re so worth it.

Do you want world-class skiing and mountain biking, the best French vibes, and stunning vistas that are all also a stone's throw away from Italy and Switzerland? Do you want to have the most picture perfect afternoon amongst the sheep and mountains that ends with a picnic full of macarons, cheese, wine, and pain au chocolat? (Sidebar...food should be at the center of more elopements.)

Then Chamonix is waiting for you, my friend.

Kaitlyn & Michael chose Chamonix for all of these reasons and more, with Michael being a huge mountain biking person. You could see Mont Blanc from everywhere during their day, peeking (or should I say peaking?) out in all its glacier-capped, tallest-mountain-in-the-Alps glory.

They took a short hike up to an insane overview, flowers and fresh baguette tucked into their packs. And when the sun hit the mountain during their ceremony and first dance, it literally glowed.

Every part of the Alps is jaw dropping, this is true. But if you’re looking for a different take that feels idyllic and peaceful without having Sound of Music tourism (though I do love Julie Andrews), the French Alps are for you. I swear, you will feel like you’re in a movie all of your own–singing and frolicking encouraged, but not required.

I am convinced there’s a section of the Alps for everybody. It’s stunning and can be hard to pick! That’s where I come in. I understand the intricacies of every segment of the Alps and I am so ready to figure out which one is right for you–no fear, no FOMO, just you and the most cinematic day you two have ever had.

xx Maddie Mae

Hi, I’m an elopement photographer who has been d

Hi, I’m an elopement photographer who has been doing this for over a decade and still can’t get over the fact that I get to do my dream job.
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#elopementphotography
#weddingdayinspo
#adventurebride
#elopementphotoinspo
#intimateelopementmoments

“I wish I could elope, but none of these photos

“I wish I could elope, but none of these photos are my vibe.”

This statement bums me out so hard. Social media can really pressure couples to have a certain look to their day or think that there’s only one way to elope, even though that’s exactly what this whole movement is going against. You don’t have to like hiking, you don’t have to be outside, you don’t even have to wear white. Let YOUR vibe and your personality stand out–I promise you don’t have to compromise who you are for the sake of eloping.

Jessica & Ryan did this to a T. They had the perfect October elopement for them. Their look alone is so distinct, so unique, and so fitting for who they are. Jessica’s all black dress and veil brought the damn DRAMA to every single shot, and I am still freaking obsessed with how their monochromatic looks contrasted against the landscape.

And the scenery got the memo on the vibe, ya’ll. Lake Crescent was out in all her moody PNW splendor. Fall foliage–which matched their florals perfectly–peeking out from thick fog, absolutely insane cloud inversions, stump platforms in the water, champagne pops in headlights, cups of local coffee to warm up...everything you would want out of fall in Washington.

But what comes through the most in this shoot is just how perfect for them it is. They look happy, comfortable, and natural. And while they would have looked amazing in any setting, they look even better here, being themselves. The result is a standout elopement full of personal touches, emotion, contrasts, and scenes that felt straight out of a movie.

I honestly wish I could show anybody on the fence about bringing their own vibes to their wedding day Jessica & Ryan’s elopement. It’s a perfect example of the variety you can have in your elopement. It doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. If it did, you could get the same experience from a traditional wedding.

Nothing about you or your love story is exactly like anyone else’s, ya know? Why should your elopement be any different?

If you’re feeling pressured to choose something that isn’t you, give me a call. Your personality is sacred here.

xx Maddie Mae

Do you know what this sound reminds me of? Elopeme

Do you know what this sound reminds me of? Elopements. (Surprise, surprise)

When I stumbled across this audio, I couldn’t believe how perfect its message aligned with why I fell in love with elopements.

When you elope, you choose yourself. You take a road all your own and do the things that nobody except you two would choose. It’s a day all your own–to listen to what’s truly in your heart and embracing who you were made to be.

When you elope, you choose to pursue HAPPINESS on your wedding day.
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#intimateelopement
#adventurebride
#smallwedding
#elopementinspo
#momentsovermoutains

If you want to see as much as you humanly can on y

If you want to see as much as you humanly can on your elopement day, steer clear of traveling by car and forget traveling by foot.

My hack is traveling by helicopter 🚁
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#helielopement
#adventurebride
#elopementdayinspiration
#weddingday
#helicopterride

If you could get married anywhere–ANYWHERE–doi

If you could get married anywhere–ANYWHERE–doing absolutely anything, what would you do? Because let me tell you, there are ways we can make that happen on your wedding day (or at least get somewhere damn close).

There is no right way to experience a mountain. It doesn’t matter if you’re hiking up it or looking at it from afar. ANY proximity to the mountains is the best proximity, IMO. This includes the big ones, like Aconcagua–the biggest mountain in South America and the second largest in the “seven summits” group, only 7k shorter than freaking Mount EVEREST.

And Sara & Eric didn’t hike it. She was in heels. The whole day.

Are you with me now?

I love their day so much because it has so many of the things I love for couples so much–total luxury, absolutely out of the norm, totally unique to them, and all with once-in-a-lifetime views. What could be better than that?

After taking a 4x4 up the mountain for a sunrise ceremony (zero! hiking!), Sara & Eric spent the rest of their day in a vineyard nestled into the Mendoza Valley of Argentina, famous for making some of the best Malbec in the world. They dressed down (only slightly, the commitment to the theme was amazing) and settled into one of by far the coolest day-of activities I have ever seen—they had a custom wine blending session.

Experts at the vineyard guided Sara & Eric through the process of making the wine, explaining the notes from different bottles and then let them loose to taste, swirl, and sniff as much as they wanted. After they settled on their own unique blend, they capped it off with an enthusiastic cork sealing and then drew their own labels to go on their bottles. Et voilà. Two wedding day blends, made right there in the valley, all ready to go.

Later on, they settled in for a private dinner in the middle of the vineyard all to themselves, complete with a private chef, local wine (of course), and a first dance. After the day was done, they retired to their private villa on-site to rest and unwind.

Don’t let the elopement mold goad you into a day you don’t want. You can let yourself run wild with ideas when it comes to your wedding day. Don’t settle.

xx Maddie Mae

If the planning is just too much, just know you ca

If the planning is just too much, just know you can always just say “forget it” and run away to Hawaii together 🫶
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#beachelopement
#outdoorceremony
#intimateweddingmoments
#adventurebride
#elopementinspo

It’s hard to enjoy the beauty of nature among a

It’s hard to enjoy the beauty of nature among a cloud of people, cameras, and phones.

My advice? Avoid National Parks.   State Parks and Forests are 100% the way to go if you’d like a better experience where you can actually enjoy the views and sounds around you.
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#elopementlocations
#intimateelopements
#smallweddingday
#elopementinspo
#adventurewedding

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