Epic New Hampshire Elopement on Mt. Washington

Julia & Jeff’s Incredible Two-Day New Hampshire Mountain Wedding

Swell & Stone / Adventure Wedding Photographer / New Hampshire & Beyond

Julia and Jeff had an epic two-day New Hampshire elopement on Mt. Washington and in Jeff’s parents’ backyard. From endless mountain views to lush waterfalls, and private forests, their elopement day had everything. The two-day experience started in the beautiful and forested backyard of the groom’s parents’ place. Jeff, an engineer by trade, but also a very talented woodworker created an arbor for the backyard and it was beautifully decorated with floral arrangements. The setting was quiet and idyllic and absolutely the perfect place to hold a ceremony that both of their families and some close friends could attend. I couldn’t get over how tall the trees in the backyard were and how perfectly they created privacy barriers around the perimeter of the yard. It was also summer, so the flowers were in full bloom, making the perfect backdrop for formal photos.

After the ceremony toasts were in order and then dinner and the couple’s first dance soon followed. A tent was set up and it was a very warm but comfortable evening. Having the entire ceremony and celebration portion all in one place made it easy on everyone and grandparents did not have to walk far to enjoy every aspect of the celebration. Julia and Jeff’s vows were beautiful and heartfelt, tears were shed, and during the best man and maid of honor speeches many laughs were shared.

Julia said, “If I had to describe Jeff in one word, it's caring. No matter if I'm having a good day or a bad day, Jeff is always there to listen and ask if I need anything or if there's something he could do to help. The love he shows me in constantly trying to improve our relationship, be a better person for our family, and in raising our dog is really indescribable.

Jeff followed with, “How do I pick one (word)? I love how she's always looking out for me, how she's a five star chef, how good of a mother she is to our four-legged child, and the way she giggles to herself when she makes herself laugh.”

For day two of their celebration Julia and Jeff choose adventure. Originally, Julia wanted to just elope in the mountains with just the two of them in a very private way as neither like being the center of attention. But eventually they decided they wanted family to be there for the actual ceremony and they opted to say different private vows in the mountains the next day. It was the best of both worlds, and the weather made for an enjoyable experience, well… as enjoyable as can be expected on top of the tallest mountain in New Hampshire and the a peak with some of the most extreme weather conditions in the world. You see, it is ALWAYS windy on top of Mt. Washington, and their day was no exception. But temps on the summit were unusually warm for June, reaching almost 70 degrees.

We drove to the summit and began the hike down to Lake of the Clouds in order to get away from some of the crowds. If you’ve ever hiked any of the trails in this area you know how rocky they are. Julia did an amazing job of navigating the wind and the rocks all in her beautiful gown. There’s one thing I’ve learned about most wedding dresses- the bustle is never strong enough to handle what we put them through! Julia’s loops started ripping out one by one and one the hike back up she was just holding her train in her hands. We were sweating getting back to the top as the hike is only a couple miles but gains over 1200 feet in elevation in that time. Certainly not for the everyone, but these two are incredibly athletic and capable of anything.

After driving back down the mountain we headed to a nearby waterfall and then we did even more hiking up to a steep viewpoint where we caught the sunset over the mountains. At the end of the day, sitting and taking in the view, they were able to reminisce about the past two days and all the amazing time they spent with family and each other. After sunset we headed down and had one last stop at the very bottom of the hike for night sky photos before calling it a night. Julia mentioned that she would be sore the next day and couldn’t wait to find a swimming hole or waterfall to jump into! It was the perfect ending to a stunning and memorable two days.

From the Couple…

“Kat is AMAZING, period. From the beginning, she was so responsiveness and incredibly timely. For me and my husband, we wanted to make a point about making the wedding planning process and the wedding day itself not stressful and fun. So we opted for a small wedding with 13 guests on one day and an adventure day on Mount Washington to exchange personal vows the following Monday.

Kat helped us with every detail along the way and made it easy on us to make choices. She scouted locations based on what our idea of an ideal wedding day was, she gave us list of local vendors, and she finalized a schedule for us. She was basically like our wedding planner and we found that so valuable since we didn’t know what we were doing or exactly what we wanted! If we had a lot of questions, she was very willing to schedule a call to go over them with us. I’ve had friends tell me about their horror stories with photographers not responding to them or never getting their photos back, but I 100% never had to worry about that with Kat. She even got our photos back earlier than promised. She was truly so fun to be around that it made the days that much more enjoyable.

I also wanted to compliment the website our gallery was posted through. It’s super intuitive to use and I love that it’s categorized, that I can favorite photos, and that I can see which photos my husband has favorited on his own account. I can also send out links to our guests and they can send me back links of their favorites, it’s super cool and convenient.

Kat also gave us some polaroid photos and some GIFS she curated, which I did not expect and absolutely loved. I knew the photos were going to be great from looking at her portfolio but they were better than I could imagine. I was also super stoked about a starry night photo and she made that happen. So if you couldn’t tell from my review, Kat goes above and beyond and you will absolutely not regret working with her!”

— Julia & Jeff

Whimsical Vermont Fall Elopement

A.J. & David’s Autumn Mountain Elopement At Warren Falls & Stowe Vermont

Swell & Stone / New England Elopement Photographer

A.J. and David told me the story of their first date while they were enjoying a picnic in the colorful fall forest in Vermont during their elopement. They were munching on unicorn colored cupcakes and cut open a beautiful rainbow confetti cake. Suddenly everything came full circle- I realized that they were in the perfect place at the perfect time, and that some things were just meant to be. I’m beyond ecstatic that they chose me to be their Vermont elopement photographer. Want to see my list of the best places to elope in Vermont? Check it out here.

You see when David first reached out to A.J. he was drawn to how colorful she was- Her colorful hair, her colorful wardrobe, her colorful personality, and the zest she had for life. So he asked her out, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to go on a date yet. Not deterred at all, he told her to get ready for a colorful time, and took her to a graffiti park in Austin, TX where they proceeded to add their own graffiti using a custom created quote stencil David had made. As they spray-painted it together it was like coloring their bond in permanent ink.

Fast forward to where we were now, in Vermont at the peak of fall foliage colors, and A.J. donning her Hutton rainbow wedding gown by the Watters- her 2nd dress. Her first dress, which she wore for the ceremony, was a gorgeous Galatea, also by the Watters. It was certainly a colorful experience. When A.J. walked out in her 2nd gown, she exclaimed “I’m a rainbow!” and David, having no idea it was coming, smiled from ear to ear.

The day began at their idyllic cabin in the woods. A stream ran through the side yard, and fog lingered in the morning air. They got ready in the warm cabin with the fireplace providing the bulk of the light. I took David outside to position him for first look photos, and he was in awe of their surroundings. They had been running errands the whole day before and arrived at the cabin in the evening. He was just getting the chance to look around.

A.J. came out of the cabin and walked down the wooden staircase, pulling the fallen leaves down each stair with her gown. She reached David and they embraced and enjoyed the feeling of it all sinking in. They were eloping and this beautiful scene was just the beginning!

We headed to Warren Falls where we met the officiant. The trail to the falls is less than a quarter mile, but they soaked in the beauty the entire way, and carefully climbed down to the perfect ceremony location. By this time, A.J.’s gown had picked up some mud, leaves, twigs, and dirt. After words from the officiant, they read letters to each other and then read their vows. It was a special moment surrounded by moss, changing leaves, and some of the clearest water flowing right by.

Their ceremony was followed by a picnic at Texas Falls Recreation area and then we headed off to do something they hadn’t done before. We arrived in Stowe and drove up the Auto Toll Road to stand on top of Mt. Mansfield, the highest point in the state of Vermont. At the top of the mountain most of the trees were evergreen, but part of the way down we could see where the pine trees gave way to the colorful foliage. The weather was impeccable and the morning fog had burnt off so we could see forever. They danced in the wind and enjoyed the views. The temperatures were a little chilly, but the hiking combined with putting their coats on intermittently helped them stay warm.

Finally, we headed down the mountain and toward Lake Champlain where we caught the sunset. Light twinkled, the colors of the sunset were amazing as the reflected off of the calm lake in front of us. They were a little bit chilly and very tired, but A.J. smiled and asked sweetly if she thought there was a chance for star photos. I wasn’t very hopeful because we had a full moon rising behind us, and there were some clouds in the sky. But we waited until it got a little bit darker and I went down and tested the shot. I came back up to them, and said if we were going to go for it we needed to go now! They jumped into action, stood still for a while, and then headed back up the beach to pack up and head out. I said goodbye, hugged them, and sat on the beach letting my camera timelapse and thinking about what a day it had been. These are the days when everything comes together and I feel so lucky to be the person they trusted to capture their day.

This was their first trip to Vermont, neither of them had ever been before. I think that says something amazing about who these two are as people. They are up for anything, ready to new experiences, and make the best out of everything. They had the time of their lives, seeing the unique landscapes, dancing in the leaves, letting the wind blow through their hair, and I am so grateful to them for being up for anything. They trusted me to come to a place they had never been to do things they had never done, and then made the best out of every amazing moment.

As we drove down Mt. Mansfield A.J. shared a little with me. She said, “I used to not like if a hair was out of place or if I was the slightest bit cold.”

I replied, “I can’t imagine you like that- you just walked through the mud in 50 degree temps to get married. You stood on top of the highest peak in Vermont with the wind blowing in your hair.”

She responded that she knew she had changed. She had let go of a lot in her life, and the need for everything to be perfect was something she was letting slip away as well.

And in designing the elopement day she truly wanted- a muddy, ruffled, joy-filled day, A.J. and David had, dare I say- one of the most perfect elopement days I have yet to witness.

“I am still in awe of my wedding photos and I owe it all to Kat. Not only did she help me decide on a location, she gave recommendations on florists, bakeries, and lodging! There is no way I could have planned our out of state elopement without her. And Oh My God the photos! They are truly works of art, every last one, and believe me there are a ton. The words stunning & breathtaking have been used most by my friends and family. My wedding day was spectacular and my wedding photos show it. I’m already planning an anniversary vacation so I can have Kat capture that day too. If you need an adventure photographer then you absolutely need to check out Swell & Stone. I’m forever grateful that I did!”

— A.J. & David

How Your Favorite Color Palette Can Help Determine Your Elopement Location

Find Out How Your Favorite Color Palette Helps You Determine Where To Elope

Swell & Stone | Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographer | United States & Beyond

Ever wonder where the best elopement location is for you? Take this short quiz to find out, and then read below to learn more about the best places to elope based on your favorite landscape and color palette.

I have what some people might call a “strong aesthetic taste”. My favorite color is blue and various forms of blue-green and dark teals. If I were to get married again, I would elope in the desert because I love the way the orange rock looks against the bright blue sky, and how the tan of the sand and the soft green of white sage play in harmony together. My house has exposed brick, which I feel mimics the red rock desert, and I have a teal couch next to a light brown leather couch complete with a southwest style rug. I’m just drawn to that color scheme, and I think part of the reason I love the desert so much is because I get to walk through living art. I keep returning to walk amongst the towers and night skies like an art connoisseur would return to the MoMA.

If you’re considering getting married outside, you might want to think about the color scheme of the location you are interested in. The beauty of elopements is that you don’t have to spend hours weighing decor options, deciding which tablecloths to rent, and picking out how all the pieces of the puzzle will work together. When you choose a wildly different wedding experience like eloping outside, the wilderness is your decor! So, take some time and sit down with your partner, because everything from the location you decide on to the time of day you get married will affect your wedding color scheme. You may decide to go somewhere you’ve never been before, or you may decide that a place you return to over and over is the location for you. Whatever you decide, work with your photographer to make that vision a reality.

Read below to look through a few options, but keep in mind that you can find a huge variety of color schemes and palettes in the same location. This is simply a guide to get you and your partner thinking about what aesthetic you are drawn to. Just because you aren’t mulling over what color your tablecloths are going to be, doesn’t mean you can’t have your favorite colors be a part of your day!

Desert Color Palette

The desert is one of those places that has a huge variety of color palette options. There are minimalist options in places like White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, or bold contrasting colors in the red rock desert of southern Utah and Northern Arizona. In some locations you can get some really monotone, gorgeous looks. If you drive a few hours you will get bold colors, and vibrant shots. The thing is, sometimes you can get both in the same place depending on the time of day. Work with your photographer to get an idea of how the changing light will affect your images. Although every photographer is different, all the photographers I know LOVE shooting at sunrise and sunset. Some hate shooting in the middle of the day. I think it really depends on the location, and in some spots, I love shooting in the middle of the day just as much as at dawn and dusk. Also, the desert is a great place to wait until it gets dark and shoot the night sky. I love photographing when the stars come out, and in the desert that is almost every night.

Mountain Color Palette

The high alpine is one of the most enchanting places to be and photograph. Mountain blues and grays are some of the most lovely colors, but depending on the season you can see some orange, red, yellow, and green in the mix as well. Often there are water elements and chances for reflections, too. The season for eloping in the mountains is short…unless you’re willing to dress warmly and get some wildly different shots- winter wedding style!

Forest Color Palette

Foggy forests bring out some ridiculously rich colors and dreamlike landscapes. I always say, “don’t be afraid of rain on your wedding day, because interesting weather makes for the most interesting photos!” I had a client once say to me that she was going for a “woodland nymph vibe”, and I knew exactly what she meant and we scheduled her elopement for the fall in Vermont. The forest is a truly magical place to be, especially in the off seasons.

Ocean Color Palette

If you’re a water person, one of the most beautiful places to elope is to a coastal location. But keep in mind, not all coastal locations are tropical. There are gorgeous spots on the coast of Maine, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Of course, Baja California, and the entire California Coast are unreal for clear, blue waters. Then there are places where the forest meets the ocean, like the Northern California coast, Oregon, and the San Juan Islands in Washington. Keep all of these things in mind, and maybe one of those locations has everything you love all in one place!

Sunrise & Sunset Color Palette

I’ve talked a little bit about shooting at dawn and dusk because those times are what photographers call the “golden hour” and with that comes a different, gorgeous color scheme. If you go to a place that has a primarily blue, green, or neutral color scheme, the golden hour can be the perfect time to add warm colors to those landscapes.

I hope I’ve given you some ideas and things to think about visually as you choose your wedding or elopement location. Not only should it be a place you love or a place you’ve longed to go to, but it’s also important to think about the color scheme of the place because that will affect your photos! If you are searching for an adventure wedding or elopement photographer who can help you work through those things I would love to help. Contact me here or use the button below and let’s start planning your wildly different wedding experience!