As a seasoned elopement and Yosemite wedding photographer, I have taken pictures at all kinds of weddings, from events with hundreds of guests to simple ceremonies for two. While any type of wedding can be an amazing and memorable event, there are several reasons why I typically suggest that people consider an elopement or a small, intimate wedding.
- Yosemite Elopements Are Affordable
I know this is an obvious point, but it’s always worth mentioning. Weddings aren’t cheap and the list of expenses seems almost never-ending. You have to pay the officiant, pay for the wedding license, pay for the ceremony venue, pay for the catering, the reception hall, the decorations, the flowers, the clothing, the cake, gifts for your bridal party, the rehearsal dinner and it just goes on and on.
The average wedding typically costs about $20,000 and I bet there are many other amazing things you could do with $20,000 than host a wedding. An elopement, on the other hand, is far more affordable. You will have to pay for your clothes, the license fee and the fee for the officiant, as well as paying for your elopement photographer, but the list of expenses is short, and the costs are very affordable. Instead of dropping 20K (or much more) on a wedding, why not save that cash for future adventures or perhaps a down payment for a home, etc.
Yosemite elopements, which is one of my main areas of specialization, are particularly affordable. You do need a permit for the ceremony, but these cost about $150, and the benefit of a Yosemite elopement is that the park abounds with idyllic spots for your ceremony and your wedding photography.
- Elopements Are Easy
If you’ve ever helped someone plan a wedding, you know how much work goes into it. Even if you hire a wedding planner, there are a ton of decisions that have to be made. Elopements are simple. You pick a spot for the ceremony, contact an elopement photographer, take care of the legal details, buy or rent some wedding clothes and that’s about it.
There’s no haggling over seating charts or struggling to create menus that accommodate all of your friends’ dietary restrictions. There are no endless sessions of stuffing envelopes and licking stamps. There are no worries about who to invite and who to exclude. Let’s face it, some of us have pretty complicated families and it honestly can just be easier to skip the drama and opt for an elopement.
- Elopements Are Fun
Weddings should be fun, but too often all the stress of planning gets in the way of the happiness and joy of the occasion. You are joining your life together, and this should be a moment of celebration. If the thought of planning a big wedding feels you with trepidation rather than joy, I have the perfect solution – elope!
Not only will you have an awesome, more intimate experience, but with a destination elopement, you can truly relax and be yourselves the entire time. You don’t have to worry about pleasing anyone or conforming to anyone else’s standards. You can wear what you want and look the way you want without any reserve.
During my years as a Yosemite elopement photographer, I have photographed couples wearing everything from formal wedding attire to hiking gear. With an adventure elopement, there just aren’t any rules, and that’s part of what makes the experience so special.
- Elopements Are More Intimate
If you truly want to celebrate the connection between you and your partner without all of the trappings of conventional matrimony, an elopement is a perfect option. Too often, we spend our wedding day chatting with guests and not focusing on the important commitment we are making. An elopement allows you the freedom to focus just on the two of you and the beginning of your new life together.
While I will be there serving as your elopement photographer, my goal is to give you space to enjoy the bond being forged between the two of you. I want to capture the joy of the occasion, but I also work hard to be unobtrusive, so that you can exchange your vows completely focused on one another.
- Elopements Are Convenient
When you elope, it’s just the two of you (and me, your adventure wedding photographer), and we can go anywhere in the world for your pictures. This makes it easy to combine your ceremony and your honeymoon into one fun event. Want to spend your honeymoon basking in the sun on a Greek island? Plan your elopement at that same location. If you’re dreaming of a Hawaiian honeymoon, why not plan a destination elopement on your favorite Hawaiian island? If you love trekking through Yosemite, hire a Yosemite elopement photographer, and make it happen!
- You Can Choose The Ideal Location
When you have a larger wedding or even a wedding with more than about 20 guests, there are some limitations about where and when you can have a ceremony. After all, your ideal spot might not be a place where it’s easy to accommodate guests. With an elopement, it’s just the two of you along with the officiant and the photographer and perhaps a few very close friends or family members.
With an adventure wedding, you can get hitched on the top of a mountain, in the middle of the woods or floating along in the ocean on a tandem kayak. You can get married on your favorite hiking trail, by a waterfall, on horseback or whatever else you dream up. For many of my couples, we hold the elopement ceremony at one location (to accommodate the officiant) and then trek out to a special place for wedding photography. Sometimes we ski to the location or bike or hike, but we end up in a special scenic spot perfect for the two of you.
If you opt for my services as a Yosemite elopement photographer, I have been exploring this national park for years, and I know tons of amazing, secret spots where we can capture your Yosemite wedding photography. Whether you want pictures in a quiet wood, next to a gentle waterfall or you want a breathtaking view of Half Dome in the background, I can make it happen.
- I Can Create An Unforgettable Elopement
I’m not just a wedding or elopement photographer, I curate experiences for my couples. We don’t simply step outside and snap pictures by the first tree or stream we find. If you love adventure, I’ll take you out to picturesque spots you have to see to believe. If you and your significant other love the great outdoors, I will find a spot that speaks to the heart of your soul.
Take a look at my portfolio and give me an idea of what you have in mind, and I will find that perfect spot. While I might have my focus as a Lake Tahoe and Yosemite adventure elopement photographer, I have shot weddings in locations around the world, including Hawaii, Telluride, Alaska, throughout the Pacific Northwest, in Mexico and even in the Italian Alps. I’m game for just about any adventure elopement you dream up, and I’ll provide you with elopement photography you will cherish for a lifetime.