Helpful Articles + Wedding & Elopement Planning Tips
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Your Guide to Grand Teton Weddings & Elopements
The Tetons offer one of the best mountain backdrops for weddings & elopements, combining natural beauty with the amenities of Jackson Hole. This guide covers everything you need—from venues to tips—to plan your perfect day in these mountains. As someone who’s spent countless days exploring this incredible region, I can’t…
The Best Wedding Venues in Washington State
Choosing the ideal Pacific Northwest wedding venue in Washington state can be a daunting task. It’s not because you won’t be able to find a good spot, but because there are so many great locations to choose from! A problem many of my couples face as a destination wedding photographer…
The Most Romantic Olympic Peninsula Wedding Venues
Being one of the last places to be mapped & explored in the Contiguous United States, the Olympic Peninsula in the northwestern region of Washington State has some of the most enchanted landscapes in the country. Thanks to its unique geography, the peninsula has a mixed subpolar & Mediterranean climate,…
New Zealand Elopements: Your Guide to the Best Spots & Legal Essentials
Imagine some of the beautiful mountains in the world, vast lakes, & a large area of wilderness to explore– the incredible country of New Zealand will come to mind! From the peaks of the Southern Alps to the clear beaches of the North Island, New Zealand offers one of the…
Gold Mountain Ranch: A Mountaintop Wedding Venue in Ouray, Colorado
Gold Mountain Ranch is a mountain wedding venue in Ouray, Colorado & is one of my favorite places to shoot at as a wedding photographer in Ouray! In these small mountain towns in western Colorado, it can be hard to find a venue that has everything you want. Gold Mountain…
Elope in Alaska: What to Know About An Elopement in Alaska
Imagine exchanging vows amidst towering glaciers, under the dancing Northern Lights, or against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. I’m not exaggerating here! This stunning state is practically made for adventure-seeking couples who want to get married their own way. Eloping in Alaska…
10 Epic Places to Elope in Washington + How to Elope in Washington
Are you dreaming of eloping in the stunning landscapes of Washington State? Or perhaps you’re set on a mountain elopement but aren’t sure exactly where to go. If so, you’re in the right place! Discover the best places to elope in Washington State, tips for planning your elopement, selecting the…
How to Elope in Death Valley: Your Guide to a Desert Wedding
Imagine standing hand-in-hand with your partner, surrounded by the beautiful desert landscapes of Death Valley National Park, as you share your vows with each other. This remote desert landscape, known for its dramatic geological formations, offers a unique & remote backdrop for couples seeking an adventurous elopement experience in California…
Small Wedding Ideas: Why Small Weddings Make for Big Memories
As a seasoned photographer specializing in small weddings & elopements, I’ve come to appreciate the unique benefits these intimate celebrations bring. In today’s world, many couples are choosing to step away from larger, more traditional weddings & instead embrace a day that truly reflects their personal story & style. If…
Post Elopement Party Ideas for Celebrating Your Day
Elopements are usually a very private event. You might invite your parents or a handful of your closest friends. A lot of times, you might still want to celebrate in some way after your elopement. A post elopement party or reception is a great way to include the friends &…
Say ‘I Do’ Like They Do: Iconic TV Weddings to Spark Your Imagination
In television, amidst the laughter & drama, some of the most heartfelt moments come from the celebration of love—weddings. These on-screen weddings of some of our favorite characters, from the impromptu & intimate to the grand & elaborate, mark the culmination of our favorite characters’ journeys & can also serve…
Where to Elope in California
Thinking of eloping in California? Great choice! The Golden State rolls out the red carpet for you with its stunning 840 miles of beaches & coastlines, majestic mountains, & some of the most beautiful temperate forests in the world. Perfect for saying “I do” without the big to-do. Let’s cut…
Planning a Sedona Elopement – The What, Where, & When
Sedona is full of vast desert vistas, rock formations in rich red tones, & weather that is relatively mild year-round. Sedona elopements are popular & planning around other tourists as well as the best times of year is important to making sure your day is enjoyable for you & less…
The Best Places to Elope in Utah
I live right along the Colorado/Utah border & absolutely love everything about Utah! The small towns, diversity of landscapes, expansive red rock deserts, & mild weather are just some of the great things about Utah. If you’re looking for the best Utah elopement locations & unique places to elope in…
How to Plan a Surprise Proposal
A surprise proposal can be SO MUCH FUN! But they can also take a bit of effort in the planning that has to come together & in keeping it a surprise from your partner. Keep in mind that hiring a proposal photographer can take a lot of the stress off…
Why Have Your Elopement in Bend, Oregon
Bend is an exciting city located by the Deschutes River in Central Oregon. Home to a few of the top-rated hikes in Oregon, Bend has a lot to offer when it comes to all types of outdoor lovers. If you are interested in eloping in Central Oregon but have not…
The Joshua Tree Wedding & Elopement Guide – Everything You Wanted to Know!
Located in the Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree is an amazing elopement location in the desert if you love unique desert landscapes & unique desert plants. Joshua Tree is a special place that is ideal for all sorts of elopements, whether you want something chill & family friendly, or something super…
A Wedding Hike – How to Hike in Wedding Attire
A wedding hike. That could have seemed like a very unusual concept just a few years back. But with the rise of elopements, adventure weddings, & all sorts of other outdoor wedding days, hiking on your wedding day may be unconventional but is a bit more common than you might…
How to Plan a Rock Climbing Wedding or Elopement
Rock climbing weddings are some of my absolute FAVORITES! As a rock climbing photographer, I absolutely love seeing couples break so called “traditions” & do something that’s just freaking fun for their wedding day like rock climbing. If you want to have a climbing wedding or elopement, there are a…
How to Elope – A Complete Elopement Checklist for Planning
Elopements are becoming a bit more mainstream but planning an amazing elopement is still an unfamiliar process to many people. If you’re wondering how to elope, you’re in the right place! As an elopement photographer, I specialize in helping couples find amazing locations out in nature to get married at,…
Why Have a Commitment Ceremony?
A commitment ceremony is similar to a wedding ceremony, except for the fact that this kind of ceremony is not legally binding. A commitment ceremony is not the same as a marriage but it can be a part of your elopement day & having a commitment ceremony can actually make…
Telluride Wedding Venues & Places to Get Married at in Telluride
Looking for the best wedding venues & other places to get married in Telluride? This guide covers both more traditional wedding venues as well as other locations such as vacation rentals & elopement locations in Telluride in the national forest areas. If you want more information on Colorado elopements, be…
Colorado Elopement Guide: Best Locations, Planning Tips, & More!
Dreaming of a wedding day in Colorado that’s all about you & your love story? Eloping in Colorado offers the perfect blend of adventure, intimacy, & mountain scenery. Imagine exchanging vows for your elopement in Colorado against the backdrop of towering mountains, alpine lakes, or lush wildflower meadows. Colorado has…
How to Elope & Info for Getting Married in Arches National Park
Arches National Park is really an amazing display of nature. The massive arches & sandstone canyons are evidence of what beauty wind & water can create over time. And did you know there are over 2,000 (yes, two THOUSAND) natural stone arches in Arches National Park?! It is the most…
Hiring an Elopement Photographer vs. Hiring a Photographer for Your Elopement
Yes, there is a difference in hiring an elopement photographer instead of just hiring a photographer for your elopement. Is it really worth it to hire a specialized elopement photographer? And what really is the difference in hiring an elopement photographer verses hiring a photographer for your elopement? What Kind…
Moab, Utah Elopement Guide with Tips & Locations
Moab elopements are some of my favorites because of the epic scenery, wide open spaces, cliffs, canyons, arches, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, & more. This Moab elopement guide goes over just about everything you need to know for eloping in Moab. As a Moab elopement photographer, I get to help couples…
The Best Ideas for How to Make an Elopement Special & Unique
There seems to be a HUGE misconception about an elopement not being as special as a larger, more traditional wedding. But an elopement can be so special, even more special than a larger wedding! How can you make an elopement special? These ideas will help you make your day special…
Where to Stay When Visiting Moab, Utah
Are you looking for the best places to stay in Moab? Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of the best Moab AirBnBs, Vrbo properties, condos, ranches, cabins, hotels, & pet-friendly places to stay at while you are exploring the Moab area. Moab is home to Arches National Park, Canyonlands…
Elopement Timelines & How Long You Should Plan for Your Elopement
One of the most common questions I get asked is: “What amount of hours should I book for elopement photography?“ I just need to say this & yes, I am going to shout at you (via caps lock). I want more people to know that elopements can be MORE THAN…
“Why I Wish I Eloped” Married Couples Share Their Experiences
As a wedding & elopement photographer, I’ve seen a huge variety of weddings & elopements. Have you ever wondered how other couples get married & what they like, love, or regret about the way they got married? I asked a group of my peers if they liked the way they…
Shell Creek Photography: the Story Behind the Name
So why the name Shell Creek Photography? Shell Creek Photography is my elopement photography business based in western Colorado. My focus is on providing adventurous couples with the freedom to celebrate their love in their own unique way, without feeling pressure to fit into traditional wedding norms. The name is…
Colorado Marriage Licenses & Self Solemnization
Are you getting married in Colorado? In order to make your marriage official & legal, you need to follow local regulations & laws & make sure you get your marriage license. Did you know you can also self solemnize in Colorado? This means that an officiant is not needed to…
The Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Glacier National Park in Montana
Glacier National Park is one of those amazing locations that looks like something out of another world. It’s a “heaven on earth” kind of place where you fall in love with the location instantly. The snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, & clear, blue waters make for some amazing scenery for…
7 Reasons Why You Should Elope in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado
The San Juan Mountains in western Colorado are a unique & beautiful location for an elopement in Colorado. While areas such as Rocky Mountain National Park tend to be very popular, the San Juans are a much less visited place while offering even more unique beauty! Where are the San…
Leave No Trace & Elopements
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast like me, you’ve probably at least heard of leave no trace. Leave no trace (LNT) is a set of guidelines for outdoors ethics set in place by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. According to their website, 9 out of 10 people are…
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing in the Mountains of Colorado
Cross country skiing & snowshoeing are two of my favorite activities to do here in Colorado throughout the winter. There are SO MANY trails to check out! Great trails exist in the San Juan Mountains around Ouray & Telluride, in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Rocky Mountain National Park, White River…
Ouray Ice Festival & Ice Climbing in Ouray, Colorado
The Ouray Ice Festival is an annual event held each year in the little mountain town of Ouray, Colorado, located in western Colorado in the San Juan Mountains. Although I usually specialize in adventure weddings & elopements, I also love to occasionally photograph adventure sports. Sports like climbing, surfing, snowboarding,…
How to Elope in a National Park
Getting married in a national park allows you to enjoy some of the best & most unique views in the world in one of the many of the various national parks all around the world. Most national parks have some sort of permit that is required for elopements. But when…
Finding Inspiration in the Work of Alix Baptiste
Recently I made a trip down to Savannah & stumbled across the work & paintings of Alix Baptiste. His work was very inspiring for me. If you take a look at his work, it is very colorful, vibrant, upbeat, & happy. But his life wasn’t & isn’t always great. “Garden…
What is an Elopement? Defining the Changing Meaning of Elopements
What does elope mean? Picture this: standing atop a vista with the love of your life, exchanging vows as the sun rises, with no one around but the wind. That’s the magic of an elopement. But what first comes to your mind when you hear the word elope or elopement?…
All About My Albums
I absolutely love albums! I think they are one of the best ways to show off your photos. You can have a large amount of photos in a smaller amount of space & you can leave an album sitting out on a nightstand or coffee table. Or put it on…
About Me
A lot of you have read a little about me, or maybe have even met me in person. But I wanted to go a little more in-depth into some more personal stuff about me such as my hobbies of film photography & my love of birds, orchids, & travel with…
A Monthly & Weekly Wedding Planning Checklist
I know how much goes into a wedding (even a smaller, more intimate wedding) & it can be a lot of work. But it can be overwhelming to know where to start! This wedding planning checklist is long & it doesn’t cover absolutely everything but it will be helpful to…
Why You Need an Engagement Photography Session
“Are engagement sessions really that important? Why do I need one?” Are you engaged & making wedding or elopement plans? Ready to book your photographer? No matter who you book for your wedding photographer, read more about why I recommend that you get engagement pictures done before your wedding day!…