Destination elopement packages designed to make your wedding feel like the best day of your honeymoon

Available worldwide.

One-of-a-kind elopement photography & planning packages that defy expectations and are 100% customized to you.

A person with long hair and glasses, wearing a green sweater, sits in front of a plant with a neutral-colored wall in the background.

Hey! I’m Maddie Mae—and for the last 14 years I’ve traveled to 40 countries, all 7 continents, and planned & photographed over 300 elopements all over the world. 

Every Adventure Instead elopement package includes:

A fully custom, planned-for-you elopement experience by an international award-winning elopement photographer—with stunning and secluded locations, unique lodging options, pre-vetted local vendor recommendations, activity planning, a customized timeline, unlimited consultations, and a fully guided photography experience.

You can sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the magic of your dream destination elopement, knowing that you’re in expert hands.

Welcome to adventure elopement packages reimagined.

Who’s behind these elopement packages?

Hi, it’s lovely to meet you. 
I’m Maddie Mae

Maddie Mae

Elopement Photographer,
Experience Designer, & Planning Consultant

Who’s behind these elopement packages?

Hi, it’s lovely to meet you. 

I’m Maddie Mae

I’m the woman Forbes credited with “sparking the adventure elopement trend” and I’ve photographed over 300 elopements in 20 countries.



My superpower is designing, planning, and photographing destination elopements for couples who want a wedding that doesn’t look like any other wedding they’ve ever seen.

I’ve refined my process over the course of 9 years, and it’s tailored to your unique needs and pace. 

From curated locations, activities, vendors, & lodging suggestions to timelines, permits, and logistics—I’ve got you covered.

Unique perks of working with me

I was one of the first photographers in the world to specialize in elopements
Elopements aren’t just a job, they’re my life’s work and full time obsession since I pioneered this niche in 2015.

I’ve been to 42 countries and all 7 continents
My extensive travel experience means I can help you find the true *best* place to say your vows in the world and replace that FOMO with complete confidence in your decision.

I’ve personally planned and photographed over 300 one-of-a-kind elopements & intimate weddings
I don’t do “assembly line elopements” in the same place over and over again. Every single one I create is a completely unique and personalized experience tailored to each couple. 


I only work with 15 couples a year
You’ll get my undivided time and attention, and you’ll never be just a “number” to me. I often become friends with my clients and we keep in touch for years afterwards

as seen on

With so many elopement packages out there,
how do you know which one is right for you?

WHERE out of all the places in the world should we go? How do we pick?
The analysis paralysis and fomo is real.

WHAT comes first? Do we pick a location first or find the right elopement photographer or right package first?

HOW do we even do this? 
What are the legalities and logistics of eloping somewhere we’ve never been?

The problem with most elopement packages you’ll find 
is that they require you to compromise

You’ll have to pick a single location, a specific date, and use the same vendors, florist, lodging, and activities as dozens of previous couples (turning your day more a cookie-cutter template than a unique experience)

or

Do most of the work yourself to try to create something out-of-the-box and unique (which isn’t the easy, stress-free process you’re looking for)

My elopement packages are different because:

You don’t need to have a location or date picked out yet.

I’ve been to 40 countries and photograph elopements all over the world. On your first free consultation with me, I’ll help you narrow down your ideas (and share a few you probably didn’t know about) and discuss all the pros & cons of everything so you can feel complete confidence in your choices. No FOMO necessary.

You get complete personalization without any hassle or extra work.

With my streamlined planning process, all you have to do is tell me your dreams (even if they’re vague)— then I’ll create your completely custom elopement blueprint & plan for you, and I’ll refine it until it’s absolutely perfect. Working with me is like hiring an architect to build your dream house–except it’s your dream wedding experience.

Two women in flowing, white dresses pose on a rocky, red-hued landscape with a towering, rugged mountain in the background. One woman holds the other's waist while gazing into the distance, their dresses trailing in the wind, creating a dramatic, ethereal scene.
A woman in a beige dress joyfully piggybacks on a man in a red shirt and dark pants. They explore the vast, open salt flat under a pink and blue sky, capturing a moment of happiness and freedom that feels straight out of an elopement package brochure.

You can just relax, enjoy the ride, and only do the fun parts.

Since I only plan 15 custom-crafted elopements a year, you get my undivided attention. That means your vendor recommendations, logistics, and permitting are all taken care of and fitted to your precise specifications. Just pick what you want to wear and select & book your favorites from the curated recommendations I give you. That’s it. I’ll take care of the rest.

It’s as easy as an all-inclusive elopement package. 
But it’s completely personalized to you.

No two elopements I design & plan are ever the same.

A couple dressed in wedding attire walks hand-in-hand through a vineyard at sunset. The rows of grapevines stretch into the distance, with mountains visible in the background. The bride holds a bouquet, and the groom wears a suit.

introducing

The Adventure Instead
Elopement Experience™

Elopement Photography 
+ Experience Design 
+ Planning/Consulting

Two people in white outfits lie on the deck of a sailboat, laughing and holding hands. The boat glides over dark water under a checkered blanket. With sunglasses shielding their eyes, they embrace joy and relaxation—an ideal escape suggested by perfect elopement packages.

This is where

Adventure
& Luxury


meet.

Here’s what’s always included in every Adventure Instead elopement package

A desktop computer showcases a wedding program for "Sam & Pete" set for September 23, 2024. Beside it, an iPad features a map, possibly hinting at their interest in exotic elopement packages. To the left, a small potted plant adds a touch of nature to the desk.
A couple stands in the foreground holding hands, with their backs to the camera, as they embrace their elopement package adventure by facing a helicopter on a rocky landscape. The sky is overcast, creating a dramatic backdrop.
A brown checkmark icon inside a brown circle signifies the seamless completion of our elopement packages, all on a transparent background.

One-of-a-Kind Elopement Experience Design

Stunning & Secluded Location Ideas

All of the photos you’ve seen on my site are in locations the couple had no idea existed until they hired me. You’ll receive a curated menu of the very best options that perfectly match your vision.

Unique and Luxurious Lodging Recommendations

I’ll give you personalized recommendations for the most relaxing and photogenic places you can book to stay for your elopement—everything from treehouses, to glass domes, to 5-star resorts.

Personalized & Fun Activity Ideas

You’ll receive personalized ideas for unique activities and experiences (everything from helicopters to wine tasting)—plus, I’ll recommend pre-vetted operators and guides that can make it happen!

Customized, Experience-Focused Timeline

I’ll design your timeline so that you arrive at each place at the ideal time of day for the best lighting for photos, the fewest crowds, and the smoothest, most enjoyable experience. No rushing or stress.

Personalized Mood Board & Styling Suggestions

I’m full of unique ideas to help ensure your elopement is a true reflection of you—florals, dress/suit colors, and beyond—all curated to match your personality and location for a cohesive aesthetic.


Three people stand outdoors on grassy terrain with rocky hills in the background. The central person, holding a bouquet and wearing a black leather jacket, is perhaps contemplating elopement packages. The others are casually dressed; one has a camera over their shoulder. They are smiling at the camera.
Wearing glasses and a braid, she meticulously arranges items on the table by the soft glow of a lantern as dusk settles. The serene backdrop of a lake and mountains hints at an enchanting setting perfect for elopement packages, with her focus unwavering on creating the perfect ambiance.
A brown checkmark icon inside a brown circle signifies the seamless completion of our elopement packages, all on a transparent background.

Your Own Personal Elopement Planning Consultant

Direct Access & Full Support from Maddie Mae

You’ll have direct access to me personally throughout the entire planning process—have a question? Text or email me. You can also schedule a zoom or phone planning call whenever you need.

Unlimited Planning Consultations & Revisions

I’ll provide a clear blueprint for you based on expert advice—but the final decisions will always be entirely yours. I welcome all of your ideas, and I’ll keep refining your plan until it’s everything you desire.

Pre-vetted Local Vendor Recommendations

Need a florist, hair & makeup artist, private chef, or 4×4 driver in the area you’re eloping? I’ll help you find your elopement dream team (or you can keep it simple—additional vendors are not required).

Expert Advice on Permits, Marriage Licenses, Safety, and Legality

As one of the most well-traveled and experienced destination elopement photographers in the world, you can trust that you won’t run into pitfalls, logistical nightmares, or unforeseen problems. No matter what you choose, you’ll never feel like you’re in over your head. I will walk you through everything (even permits), consider all potential outcomes, and have the right backup plans in place. I’m also an expert at pivoting and changing plans last-minute should anything arise. You can relax and know you’re in expert hands.

Specific Gear Advice + Packing Checklists

With experience photographing elopements in diverse climates around the globe, I’ll consult with you on gear and create a customized list of exactly what you need to pack (and even how to pack it)!

“How to Adventure Instead” VIP Planning Guide

Refined over 300 elopements, my client-exclusive planning guide walks you through everything you need to know about planning your elopement and trip including travel advice, packing checklists, designers & brands to consider for your dress, suit, footwear, & accessories, and more.


Bride and groom stand on a sunlit mountain ridge with distant peaks visible, part of their intimate elopement package. The bride's dress flows in the breeze as they gaze at each other, surrounded by nature and sunlight filtering through the misty landscape.
A couple in wedding attire lies on rocky terrain by the ocean, embodying the essence of intimate elopement packages. The bride's white dress contrasts with the rugged dark rocks, while waves crash nearby. The view from above captures a serene and romantic moment.
A person peruses a photo album featuring an elopement package scene: a dramatic landscape with a bride and groom standing on a cliff beneath a cloudy sky. A cup of coffee sits on the wooden table beside them, adding warmth to the moment.
A brown checkmark icon inside a brown circle signifies the seamless completion of our elopement packages, all on a transparent background.

Award-Winning Empathetic Elopement Photography

Guided + FUN Photography Experience

I’ll keep track of time so you don’t have to, and if weather rolls in, I’ll already have the perfect backup plan up my sleeve. Moment by moment, I instinctively adjust whatever’s needed to ensure you get the best photos and most enjoyable experience no matter what—you won’t have to stress about a single thing.

Empathetic, Introvert-Friendly Posing & Directing

I approach posing as an introvert with deep emotions. I focus on creating a comfortable space where you can be yourselves, guiding you with suggestions that feel natural, ensuring you have a ton of fun in every moment and that the photos genuinely reflect your connection.

Creative GIFS and Drone Photography

Wherever it’s legal to fly my drone, I’ll get those breathtaking aerial photos that show how grand your elopement location is, and I always create multiple playful GIFs of your experience—turning your photos into cinematic video clips.

Artistic, Hand-crafted Edits

Each photo is personally edited by myself and in collaboration with my private in-house photo editor of 5 years—ensuring that every photo in your gallery has been meticulously crafted to become a piece of artwork.

All Your Photos to Keep Forever

You’ll always have all of the full resolution, hand-edited digital image files from your elopement delivered in an easy-to-use online digital gallery so you can view, download, print, and share your images worldwide.

Complementary Album Design + Convenient Print Ordering

To bring your elopement story full circle, you’ll receive a complimentary album design which you can choose to turn into a personal, heirloom-quality book to remind you of your wedding experience. You can conveniently order high quality prints from my professional lab directly through your online gallery.

How much do my elopement packages cost?

Adventure Instead Elopement Packages & Pricing

Where do you want to elope?

Worldwide Destination Elopement Packages

Go anywhere in the world at no added cost. Do something wild.

Always included:

8+ Hours of guided, fun photography coverage by Maddie Mae with relaxed sightseeing & exploring

The Adventure Instead Elopement Experience™

Unique & secluded locations, bespoke activity ideas with pre-vetted guides, fun & luxurious lodging options, an experience-focused timeline, mood board & personalized styling suggestions, travel advice, VIP Planning Guide, and customized packing checklists

Free initial planning consultation call, direct access to Maddie Mae via text & email, unlimited planning consultations, unlimited collaboration & revisions, pre-vetted local vendor recommendations, and advice &and help with permits & marriage licenses

Guided + FUN photography experience, empathetic posing & directing, creative GIFS &and drone photography, hand-crafted editing, full-resolution image files with printing rights, digital gallery to view, download, & print, complementary album design, and convenient print ordering

My travel costs are covered and included to anywhere in the world

Customized packages include all of the above and start at
$13,200 for 8-hours and expand to $22,400 for multi-day experiences

No added travel costs. No hidden fees of any kind.

Anywhere in the U.S.A. Destination Elopement Packages

From Alaska to Hawaii, Yosemite to Moab, I make your elopement one-of-a-kind.

Always included:

8+ Hours of guided, fun photography coverage by Maddie Mae with relaxed sightseeing & exploring

The Adventure Instead Elopement Experience™

Unique & secluded locations, bespoke activity ideas with pre-vetted guides, fun & luxurious lodging options, an experience-focused timeline, mood board & personalized styling suggestions, travel advice, VIP Planning Guide, and customized packing checklists

Free initial planning consultation call, direct access to Maddie Mae via text & email, unlimited planning consultations, unlimited collaboration & revisions, pre-vetted local vendor recommendations, and advice &and help with permits & marriage licenses

Guided + FUN photography experience, empathetic posing & directing, creative GIFS &and drone photography, hand-crafted editing, full-resolution image files with printing rights, digital gallery to view, download, & print, complementary album design, and convenient print ordering

My travel costs are covered and included to anywhere in the U.S.A (including Alaska & Hawaii)

Customized packages include all of the above and start at
$9,800 for 8-hour experiences to $19,800 for multi-day experiences

No added travel costs. No hidden fees of any kind.

Colorado Adventure Elopement Packages

My home state—full of the most gorgeous elopement spots in the world.

Always included:

4+ Hours of guided, fun photography coverage by Maddie Mae

The Adventure Instead Elopement Experience™

Unique & secluded locations, bespoke activity ideas with pre-vetted guides, fun & luxurious lodging options, an experience-focused timeline, mood board & personalized styling suggestions, travel advice, VIP Planning Guide, and customized packing checklists

Free initial planning consultation call, direct access to Maddie Mae via text & email, unlimited planning consultations, unlimited collaboration & revisions, pre-vetted local vendor recommendations, and advice &and help with permits & marriage licenses

Guided + FUN photography experience, empathetic posing & directing, creative GIFS &and drone photography, hand-crafted editing, full-resolution image files with printing rights, digital gallery to view, download, & print, complementary album design, and convenient print ordering

My travel costs are covered and included to anywhere in Colorado

Customized packages include all of the above and range from:
$6,000 for 4-hour experiences to $14,800 for 2-day experiences

No added travel costs. No hidden fees of any kind.

Out-of-the-Box Custom
Elopement Packages

Want to include 2 countries in your elopement?
Need a custom number of days because we’re going on a live aboard?

Count me in! Reach out to schedule a free consult where I can create an out-of-the-box custom elopement package just for you.

If it can be dreamt up, we can make it happen.

5-Star Rated | 200+ Reviews

Two people in wedding dresses stand on rocky terrain, arms around each other, gazing into the distance. Behind them are mountains, forest, and a body of water under a clear sky—a scene perfect for a destination elopement photographer capturing their adventure.

There are not enough excessive adjectives to describe how thrilled we were with Maddie Mae as our wedding photographer. We first contacted her during our very early planning stages when we didn’t know exactly what we wanted for our adventurous elopement but were fairly sure we wanted it to involve a helicopter. We communicated throughout the whole process, and when we finally narrowed down our perfect vision for our day (which involved a helicopter landing on a snowy mountaintop followed by a beach picnic followed by riding bikes on the beach) she immediately understood and embraced our vision with the same adventurous spirit we have!

– Kari & Karin, Eloped on Vancouver Island, Canada

A couple in wedding attire embraces by a pristine, blue glacial lake, their adventure captured by a Destination Elopement Photographer. The woman wears a long white dress, the man in a dark suit. Snow-covered mountains rise majestically under a partly cloudy sky, creating an idyllic winter tableau.

“Maddie isn’t just your photographer, she also is your own personal hype girl—always making you feel like the most beautiful (or handsome) person in the world. She’s your honorary matron of honor and best man, she’s your officiant and elopement planner. She’s down for any adventure, and will be just as excited (if not more) for every experience during your adventure elopement. It really felt like we had all been best friends for years. She made our elopement unique to us, and I couldn’t have asked for a better photographer (and now friend) to have shared our day with and to help us make it as memorable as she did.”

– Jennifer & Max, Eloped in Alaska

“From the moment we started with Maddie, we knew we made the right choice! Maddie is able to professionally match your energy where you are at and enhance the experience you’re looking for. I appreciated her curious, consistent, and inquisitive nature to try to picture what we envisioned for our day. She is very thorough in the “getting to know you” stages so that she can ensure what you see can come into fruition the way you want. I felt at ease knowing she was coming and the overall experience was better BECAUSE Maddie was there because she created space to enjoy our elopement adventure better than we could have imagined.”

– Marina & Taylor, Eloped in Washington

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How do these elopement packages work?

The process is easy. Dream of a day that surpasses what you thought your wedding could be. 
I’ll take care of the rest.

01

Reach out via my inquiry form below

Don’t worry if you don’t have anything figured out other than wanting to elope, most couples who inquire with me are still in the brainstorming stage.

02

We schedule a free consult call

We’ll get to know one another and you tell me everything you want your elopement to feel like and I give you ideas and answer your questions.

03

We start planning right away!

I start to create the blueprint that will include everything you’ve ever wanted your elopement to look like (and often things you haven’t even thought of yet!)

Reach out to start planning your dream destination elopement

Don’t worry, most couples who inquire with me have no plans at all. 
Helping turn vague ideas into a thrilling plan is my specialty.

I can’t wait to hear your ideas and help bring them to life

Note: I usually only photograph weddings with 25 guests or less
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Popular Resources for Destination Elopements

I’ve traveled to 41 countries, all 7 continents, and personally planned and photographed over 300 elopements worldwide—I’ve got you covered.

Frequently Asked Questions About Destination Elopements

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I’d love to help you
Adventure Instead
on your wedding day

Black text reading "adventure instead" in a bold serif font, displayed on a transparent background.

Maddie Mae of Adventure Instead is a destination elopement photographer based in Colorado, USA. She’s been to 40 countries and all 7 continents. She designs, plans, & photographs adventure elopements worldwide.

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