“Meeting Tori for the first time was like being reunited with an old friend”

“If you are on the fence about choosing Adventure Instead because of price or you feel anxious about where you’d go – anything – stop what you’re doing right now (well, maybe after this review) and reach out to Tori.

I had been following Adventure Instead on Instagram for a few years so by the time we got engaged, we had called and booked with them only 4 days after the proposal! The initial contact was quick and professional and we knew we were in good hands from the start. Tori was responsive to all our questions and the communication was open and flexible as we had just begun to plan in March 2020 (hello COVID-19).

We got engaged in March and married in October, a quick turn around but we never felt like anything was rushed. Tori did a thorough job of presenting us with location and scheduling options for our two-day elopement. The resource guide for the area is something we will actually use for years to come! She also was very intentional in getting to know us in order to better prepare for our big day. As the wildfires raged in Oregon the month before our wedding, Tori was already presenting us with backup options that we luckily did not end up needing, but what a relief to know that someone was looking after us so that we didn’t have to worry.

Meeting Tori for the first time was like being reunited with an old friend. She did a great job of maintaining professionalism while at the same time making us feel comfortable in front of the camera throughout the weekend. Your wedding day should be spent surrounded by people who truly care about you and this is incredibly true of Tori and the Adventure Instead team. It’s easy to see that all their photography work is incredible but it’s also important to note that the people behind the cameras truly care more about your experience than any sort of photograph they might add to their portfolio. I cannot recommend Tori enough–you’d be lucky to have someone like her as a part of your wedding!

– Ashley & Casey | Oregon

“We were able to truly soak in every minute”

“Tori knows exactly what she is doing and she wanted us to feel like she wasn’t there and made sure the day was about us and how we wanted!

“We’ve been putting off this review because we don’t think our words will do Adventure Instead and Tori justice.

The idea of planning a wedding while staying true to ourselves felt overwhelming and nearly impossible. Even after making the decision to elope there were many decisions ahead of us – where to go and what to do. Thankfully, Adventure Instead provided just the right scaffolding and pace to help us put what lived in our minds onto paper. Tori – our incredible photographer – was able to take what we saw as a jumbled mess of dreams on a form and helped make them a reality.

While we had talked to Tori on the phone, we met her in person for the first time on our wedding day and immediately felt like we were with a friend we’ve known for years. Tori helped us figure out how to pack wedding gear into a backpack before heading down the trail. The hike checked all the boxes that we had envisioned during the planning process and more – Tori had found a magical ceremony spot that she surprised us with. With Tori’s support, we were able to truly soak in every minute and by the end of the day our faces hurt from smiling and laughing so much.

The day went by so quickly but we’ve been able to relive it every time we look at our photos. Tori did such an amazing job capturing not just the big moments, but also the small and beautiful moments that the day brought. We want to print some photos to hang in our home but can’t decide on which ones because they are all stunning!

We cannot recommend Tori and the Adventure Instead team enough.”

– Morgan & Chris | Alaska

“Tori created the space and energy for us to be truly present on our wedding day”

“It was an incredible experience from start to finish. 

“We worked with Tori to plan our elopement and I just wish we could do it all over again (and again, and again). After cancelling our first wedding because of COVID, we found Tori through Instagram and reached out to see if she just happened to be available on a very specific week in a very specific location and she was – it was fate! Tori helped us plan such a fun and unique day that felt so authentic to us as a couple – and all in less than 6 weeks! And by plan, I mean she sent us pages and pages of inspiring locations, potential vendors, tips, tricks, and a very detailed timeline for our day. We felt like we were in the best hands and trusted Tori completely. We hiked through the Redwoods, ate ice cream and watched a seal sunbathe, had a picnic on the beach, explored the coastal headlands, and got married with our immediate family present – it was intimate, dreamy, and so perfect for us. Tori was a true professional – she was there every step of the way to keep us on time, to cheer us on, to encourage us, to celebrate with us, and to help make our day so special. We never felt stressed out, anxious, or rushed and Tori created the space and energy for us to be truly present on our wedding day. Our photos are STUNNING – we got them back within a month (which has to be some kind of world record) and every time I look at them, I’m reminded of how fun and special our adventure day was. Tori and the Adventure Instead team are way more than wedding photographers – they’re logistics wizards, super talented artists, amazing hype women, earth lovers, terrific explorers, and all around the best people to be present on your important day. I would book them again in a heartbeat and I can’t recommend them enough!!”

– Kristen & Andrew | Oregon