Adirondack Mountain Elopement with Awe-Inspiring Fall Views

Esti & Derek’s 2-Day Canoe Adventure Elopement in the Adirondacks

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / NEW YORK & BEYOND

I had to spilt up Esti & Derek’s EPIC two-day elopement in the Adirondacks of Upstate New York into two posts because, to be honest, there are too many amazing moments and photos over the two days to share in just one post. So this is day one- you can FIND DAY TWO HERE. Not only do Esti and Derek have impeccable style, but our timing for the fall colors was spot on, and the location they ended up choosing was perfect and secluded. I’m beyond ecstatic that they chose me to be their Upstate NY elopement photographer.

When Esti and Derek reached out they had a general idea of what they were looking for in terms of location, but they really began to narrow it down after I sent them their custom location guide. We knew they wanted an incredible mountain summit and it wouldn’t hurt if canoeing on a lake was involved, so I suggested a super unique option- canoeing to the trailhead of an epic mountain summit.

The day started with a very early morning wake up. Esti’s hair and makeup artist was wrapping up when I arrived at 6 am. We had their first look on the grounds, and then we headed out for a sunrise canoe ride. The color on the leaves was spectacular, and it was going to be a beautiful day, but the sunrise canoe was chilly, and frost lingered on the grass as we pulled the canoe into the water. After the sun hit their faces and things thawed out a bit we packed up our gear and headed across the lake to the trailhead. We had 6.5 miles of hiking ahead of us, and the last section of the hike is straight up, and really more of a scramble than a hike. Esti wore her wedding dress for the first, flat-ish part of the hike, and then took it off before the steep section. She had white leggings under her dress, so all she had to do was slip on a warm shirt and jacket and she was ready for the hard part.

After reaching the summit and checking out the views we scoped out a spot for their private vow exchange. I was able to stay a little higher on the summit to give them some space, but still capture all the emotion during their beautiful and heartfelt vow exchange. There were tears and laughter and joy, and after it was all said and done they celebrated with champagne!

“I love Esti's passion for learning and teaching others, love of adventure (traveling, hiking, and camping), professional drive and determination in the field of Pathology, creative side (painting, singing, and dancing), and ability to motivate everyone around her to pursue their dreams,” said Derek.

“I love Derek's caring and warm nature, his goofiness (always cracking jokes, making up songs about our cats, sending me memes to make me laugh), and his willingness to try new things (trekking in high altitude, trying caviar or snails (ew! haha), skiing). As someone who loves to try new things, it's really fun to have Derek there with me willing to look like a fool as we try new things together! I also love his practical side - cooking great meals, fixing things that are broken, and just getting things done in general. I always have a million ideas in my mind and it's awesome to have a partner who can help me follow through with these ideas,” said Esti.

They shared stories of their amazing travels, and it was so much fun to learn all the things they had done together. When two people are in a canoe together, you really learn about their ability to be a team, and Esti and Derek worked seamlessly as a team, and if they ever veered in the wrong direction they took a second to recalibrate and begin again.

On the hike down we relaxed and made miles. It was a long and joyful day and we still needed to canoe across the lake. We reached our canoe with about an hour until sunset and made the nice, easy paddle back across the lake. After hauling up the canoe Derek and Esti stood, arms wrapped around each other, and watched the sun sink below the mountain. I mentioned that we could go up the hill to where I was staying to watch a better view of the sunset, so we headed up that way. They danced in the field as the sun sank low, and then eventually settled onto a blanket, finding the perfect, comfy spots to lean on, and watched the sun go behind the mountains again. The perfect ending to the epically adventurous and wonderful day.

Golden Shoulder Season Wedding in Grand Teton National Park

Haley & John’s Small Outdoor Wedding in the Tetons

Swell & Stone / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Wyoming & Beyond

Haley and John’s small outdoor wedding in Grand Teton National Park ended up being everything the two love birds from Illinois envisioned for their day. When they first reached out to me they were set on Yosemite. But after the pandemic remained serious for longer than expected, and wildfires threatened the area they were ultimately super happy they ended up choosing beautiful, mountainous, Grand Teton National Park. And they happened to choose the absolute best time of year to be there. They got married on October 20, so after the fall color leaf-peeping tourists had cleared out, though there were still some leaves to be peeped, and before ski season and heavy snowfall, so all the roads were still open. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

We started the day early. They had two beautiful condos next to each other and Haley was getting ready in one with her friends and family, and John was getting ready in the other with his friends and family. John’s friends were getting rowdy already and the sun had just risen :P. They shared their first look on the patio and then we rounded everyone up to head to the ceremony site. Haley’s dad had kindly scouted out a gorgeous spot that was totally secluded. Their good friend served as the officiant, and everyone was laughing and having fun through the ceremony. They exchanged rings and were pronounced married. We took advantage of the gorgeous site for formal photos, and then we hiked out. By this time everyone was getting chilly, so most of the friends and family went and changed for the hike we planned for around noon. Haley, John, and I stayed and took a few more photos and saw a beaver hard at work on his dam!

Then we headed over to the Taggert Lake trailhead where everyone geared up for the hike. We were still waiting on one set of the crew, but they were running late, so other members of the group decided to leave a note in the dirt for them at the trail split. We made it to the lake, which was surrounded by an epic cirque of mountains. We explored, the other group caught up to us, and Haley and John snuck off alone to share their vows privately. This is one of those times that I feel so freaking honored to get to be the person to photograph these moments. Haley read her vows first, and John only moderately held it together. Their love for each other is seriously the cutest. Haley managed to hold it together while saying her vows, but when John read his vows, it was all over. In the end, they were both wiping their tears, hugging, and they seemed deeply and truly happy. It was such a great moment, and again I’m so honored that couples let me into these moments in their lives. We were in the most beautiful location, and I know it’s a memory and a place they will be able to go back to and feel all those same feels years down the road.

We started the hike out, and to our surprise and amazement, we saw TWO MOOSE on the way out! It was the perfect way to end this incredible day. They were deep in the thick woods, but it was so cool to see them on the side of the trail.

“We used Kat for our elopement in Wyoming, she was the absolute best! From the moment I reached out to her she was responsive to all of my questions (I had a lot) and she helped me plan our perfect day! She thought of things that I didn’t and she made the perfect timeline for our day. On the actual day, she made us feel so comfortable with her and she captured every picture that I wanted to get with friends and family! She got the best pictures (I still look at them everyday and almost cry 😅) and at no point did I feel that I was overly posed or uncomfortable. I am so happy that I found Kat and Swell and Stone! I would recommend her to anyone!!”

— Haley & John

Jaw-Dropping Cliff Elopement in New Hampshire

Gwen & Dan’s Daring Elopement in the White Mountains

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / NEW HAMPSHIRE & BEYOND

Gwen and Dan truly had a unique, one-of-a-kind, and jaw-dropping elopement in Northern New Hampshire. When I first chatted with them about their elopement I knew right away that I would suggest a specific location in New Hampshire. They are rock climbers who love heights, and I’m also a height loving rock climber, so I knew if anyone could handle this location it would be them! To my utter joy, they chose it for their spot. We started with the first look at Lake Gloriette, where Gwen had to duck under a fallen tree to get to Dan. It was worth it, and the looks on both of their faces were absolutely priceless.

We double-checked our gear and Gwen realized that a few things were missing before heading up Three Brothers Trail. So she called a friend to bring back a couple of items and we played in the leaves in the meantime. They wanted a super secluded location for their vows, and I have to say it doesn’t get more secluded than seeing zero other humans until the summit. There are several trails up to the cliff spot, but not too many people take Three Brother’s Trail because it’s longer. But what they don’t know is that it has an awesome waterfall on the way. We stopped there and they read their emotional vows. The range of emotions on both of their faces was so sweet, and it is so evident how much they love one another.

Here’s what Dan had to say about why he fell in love with Gwen, “I can't pinpoint a specific moment, but there's so much I love about Gwen, but I think her deep passion for caring for humans, animals, the outdoors is why I fell in love with her. Gwen's passion for making the world, our lives, and our relationship better are what I love most about her. Gwen challenges me to make improvements to not only our lives and the world around us but also myself.”

And Gwen said, “There really isn't a specific reason or moment. Dan has always been patient and kind and sees me in a way that I would like to be able to see myself. I think our love grew as our lives intertwined-- enjoying laughing and being weird together, seeing live music all over the city, and learning to climb together. Our love for being in nature has colored most of our relationship. We've climbed and hiked together in Northern CA, all over Wyoming, down in RRG, and abroad. As our little unit has expanded to include our dog Lyla, our time outside together is more central to our lives and more joyful. I can only explain how I fell in love with Dan, and how I continue to love him, by stringing together all of these moments.”

After enjoying the ceremony and waterfall, we began the tough part of the hike. Okay, so this hike isn’t exactly straight up, but it’s pretty close. We were sweating it out, and because we knew it was going to be tough, they luckily had changed out of their wedding clothes after the ceremony and before the bulk of the hike. When we reached the top we breathed a collective sigh of relief and also awe of the view. There were others on the very small and narrow summit area so we decided to eat some food and wait for the area to clear out, hopefully before sunset. People didn’t clear out very well, but once they had changed back into wedding clothes the other summit revelers were happy to give Gwen and Dan some alone time there. We watched the sun go down and began the hike back down in the dark. It was the perfect adventure for this amazing couple, and I’m beyond grateful I was the person they chose to capture the day. When we arrived back at the cars Gwen summed it up perfectly while hugging Dan, “I feel very satisfied.”

On why they decided to elope, “We feel that this elopement ceremony is a way for us to have a wedding that is just for us. Specifically, in an outdoor setting where we can feel most connected to each other. By stripping away some of the extraneous rites and social requirements, we feel this would be a more genuine expression of our love and commitment to each other.”

Their Review

“We happened to stumble on Kat’s page while searching for an ‘adventure elopement’ photographer. We can’t believe how lucky we were to find such a talented photographer, specializing in exactly the type of wedding we wanted, who also happened to be a laid-back, supportive adventure buddy for our elopement day.

Kat walked us through many of the pre-planning logistics— everything from suggesting online sources to look for wedding dresses during quarantine to sending us a full list of location options hand-picked for us. We never would have discovered our unique and epic elopement location without her research, and we’re so grateful to have discovered another beautiful hike that we can revisit each year for our anniversary!

On our elopement day, we had a number of hiccups (including forgetting a full pack of hiking clothes at the AirBNB and a clasp breaking off my wife’s dress at the eleventh hour—whoops!), and Kat totally rolled with it. She not only MacGyvered the dress closure but also offered extra hiking clothes in case we couldn’t get the pack driven out by a friend in time— not quite the shirt off her back but pretty close! Since we were eloping without anyone but Kat with us, we feel so grateful to have clicked so easily with her and spent ‘downtime’ on the hike comparing stories about rock climbing and retro-fitting SUVs for car-camping.

Kat helped facilitate an elopement day full of humorous and sweet memories that we’ll always remember even before we saw the pictures. And then there are the pictures! Kat’s photos of our day completely blew us away— epic, honest, beautiful, and creative. We’ve had so many loved ones tell us that her shots of us should be featured in wedding magazines. A few family members even commented that they didn’t understand why we wanted to get married the way we did until they saw the pictures.

Seriously, Kat is amazing at what she does and was excellent company for our elopement. We still can’t believe that we struck such gold in finding her. Now, if only we could choose which pictures are our favorites... Never mind— it’s impossible!”

— Gwen & Dan

Picture Perfect Fall Elopement in New Hampshire

Alexis & Christian’s Blissful Wedding in the White Mountains

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / NEW HAMPSHIRE & BEYOND

There was a 100% chance of rain on Alexis and Christian’s White Mountain, New Hampshire wedding day, but that didn’t stop us from having the best day ever. It managed to not rain in the morning, so after their sunrise first look at their Airbnb, we headed out to the ceremony site.

This was a special year at Cathedral Ledge, and because of the pandemic, the road up was closed to cars. There were several hikers on their way up when the ranger opened the road up to our cars, but luckily we were the only ones who could drive up during our hour. Cathedral Ledge has hands down the best views for the easiest access in the area, so with family attending this is a great option for location. I do highly recommend holding your ceremony on a weekday morning in order to avoid crowds. During the ceremony, Alexis’ mom read a beautiful passage, the couple exchanged vows and rings, and they sealed it with a kiss. Bubbles were brought out for the recessional, and then they popped cans of champagne because glass is not allowed on top! Such a cute idea and we had a beautiful morning for it. We finished up with some family portraits and more celebrating.

While their families packed up, Alexis, Christian, and I explored the summit a little bit more. The great thing about this summit is that it is fairly large, so even with others up top enjoying the view after their hike, there was plenty of room for us to find some spots with views alone.

After Cathedral Ledge we headed back to the Airbnb for cake cutting and a cocktail hour. However, Alexis, Christian, and I only stuck around for the cake because we had other plans for the afternoon. Of course, they would re-join their family later for dinner and more celebrations, but they really wanted to go for a hike and explore nearby Franconia Notch State Park.

Our first stop was the misty and ethereal Basin area. It was October, so basically, the perfect time of year to be in a misty forest. And misty it was- it started raining on us here, but we had some great umbrellas, so we continued exploring all the same. The forest was basically deserted. That’s was I LOVE about rainy days. There is no one around, and it’s honestly magical. Add that to the fact that the light is perfect when it’s overcast and rainy and you have a recipe for a magical experience and great elopement photos. The key is to have a positive attitude and take things as they come, which Alexis and Christian excelled at. They were not the slightest bit bothered by the rain. Toward the end of our exploration in the area, it truly started to downpour, but we were off to our next spot!

Right as we pulled up to Echo Lake the rain eased and we were able to enjoy the dock and the beach. And actually, as we walked through the entry area and had the view open up to us we all stopped with jaws dropped and said “WOW!” The scene before us was crazy beautiful- the mountains in the background with low hanging clouds caught up in the peaks, and the mountainside dotted with yellow, orange, red, and pink trees. It was the peak of fall colors and when it rains outside the colors seem to shine even brighter! A couple more stops after that wrapped up our night, and though we didn’t get a sunset, the sun did peek out one more time just in time to light up the mountainside in the most beautiful way.

Here’s why Alexis and Christian decided to have a small outdoor wedding, “We didn’t really start planning our wedding until recently. After we got engaged, the holidays came and went and we didn’t feel pressure or desire to plan a large/traditional wedding. We were tossing around the idea of eloping somewhere in Europe (think Swiss alps) and then honeymooning for a couple of weeks there. Alexis always envisioned snowy mountains as the backdrop for the ceremony. Then Covid hit… Traveling internationally didn’t seem like a good idea and neither did having a large wedding. For us, it’s kind of the perfect time and excuse to not invite a bunch of people and have a small wedding like we always wanted.”

Misty Morning Mountaintop Elopement in Vermont

Lucie & Michael’s Enchanting Wedding at Mt. Mansfield and Warren Falls

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / VERMONT & BEYOND

We went into Lucie and Michael’s Vermont elopement knowing there would be a chance of rain in the afternoon and we would be racing it to the top of Mt. Mansfield. But Mt. Mansfield is one of my all time favorite Vermont wedding venues, so we hoped for the best. They had an amazing sunrise ceremony at Warren Falls. Their vows were emotional and sweet, and it was amazing to watch them commit their lives to one another in such a beautiful setting.

“The way he looks at me and sees me make me fall in love with Michael all over again, every day. The moment when I realized I am in love with him was when I realized I can be 100% me silly, loud and weird and he still looks at me the same way,” said Lucie about Michael.

And Michael said, “I fell in love with Lucie because whenever I am with her we live in the moment. Any stress related to work, family, or friends seems to fade away and my thoughts are about her and her weird sense of humor that makes her so unique! There was a specific moment early in our relationship when we were looking into each other’s eyes and I told myself ‘I am going to marry this girl one day’. I felt almost guilty thinking that at the time, but now I realize it was meant to be.”

After exploring the falls for a while, we headed up north to race the rainclouds to the summit of Mt. Mansfield. And race them we did! The start of our hike was beautiful and sunny, but partway up clouds started to blow over the saddle. It was August, but the temperature was in the mid 50’s on the summit ridge and at the summit. It was cold, but we made it, and those who saw Lucie in her dress exclaimed with congrats. We decided not to stay on the summit for too long, it was socked in, but as we descended a little we came out of the clouds again.

They decided to do the champagne toast and pie a little lower and out of the wind, so we found a nice spot on the mountainside for relaxation and celebration.

On why they decided to elope, “We both love the outdoors and really enjoy hiking, snowboarding/skiing, and adventure. On our wedding day, we want to focus on one another as opposed to worrying about guests and event planning that comes with a larger wedding!”

Ethereal Small Wedding in Vermont

Brittany & Wayne’s Dreamy Wedding at Warren Falls

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / VERMONT & BEYOND

Brittany and Wayne got engaged at Warren Falls in Vermont, so naturally, they wanted to elope there as well! They chose a quiet weekday evening for their magical elopement, and honestly, it could not have been more perfect.

“We usually visit Vermont every summer, and when we do we always go swimming at the waterfalls. Last year my dad and stepmom came up at the same time that we did so we decided to show them our favorite spot at Warren Falls. My dad and I were looking over the side of the waterfall when my stepmom gasped and I thought my dad was falling off the side. Thankfully he wasn’t and they told me to turn around, when I did there was Wayne on his knee. My immediate reaction was disbelief so I started saying ‘no no no’ lol. He was like... ‘umm that’s not the response I was hoping for!’ Of course, my real answer was.. yes!”

They enjoyed their first look at Texas Falls Recreation Area, an exceptional gorge outside of Warren, VT. They spent some time alone and we hiked around taking in the sights of this breathtaking area before heading over to Warren Falls for the ceremony.

Here’s the thing about Warren Falls, in the summer it is absolutely overrun with swimmers and sometimes party people on summer evenings. For that reason, I tell couples that I will only recommend sunrise ceremonies there, especially in the summer months. That has worked out great for me so far. Check out other Warren Falls galleries here, here, and here. But Brittany and Wayne were eloping on a mid-September Monday afternoon/evening. So I hoped for the best, and the best it was. We waited long enough for the harsh sun to go behind the canyon walls and we were treated with some of the nicest views of the falls yet. There weren’t a ton of people around, but there were a few, so they chose a less traveled and quieter location for their actual ceremony.

After the ceremony, we gathered the family for formals. A super sweet touch was that Brittany’s family brought along a photo of Wayne’s mom, who he lost several years ago. She was there in spirit and he was happy to see her face.

The newlywed couple and I headed over to the falls for some more portraits while the rest of the family went back to Brittany’s mom’s house to set up the celebration. Our last stop of the evening was to Blueberry Lake for sunset. This is one of my favorite spots in Vermont, and I still want to get a couple to stand up paddle, or canoe to the island on the lake. It’s so picturesque!

Brittany and Wayne’s enthusiasm for the day and each other never waned. It was amazing to see how in love they are, and their vows reflected the love that is obvious when they look at one another.

From Brittany, “What made me fall in love with Wayne was his kindness and thoughtfulness. He is always thinking about others and wanting to help anyone in any way that he can. From day one he has always made me feel like I was important.. he never made me wait for a text message or a callback. He has always wanted to spend all of his time with me, we very rarely do anything without each other. Since the day we met, he always made sure we saw each other every day even though we lived an hour apart. I don’t remember a specific moment where I fell in love with him.. it just happened very quickly after we met.”

And from Wayne, “I never believed in love at first sight until I met her I knew she was the one. I tried online dating for the first time and I thought people were crazy or weird that did it. I'm glad I became one of those crazy and weird people. From the moment we spoke and the moment we met I knew she was the one. We bonded right away, we can talk about anything she's truly caring the most amazing woman I have ever met I could never live my life without her. She truly is my best friend I love spending every moment of my life with her.”

“Kat was amazing to work with! Not only were the photos stunning but she was so helpful with recommendations in the area where we were getting married and always answered any questions we had in a timely manner! The photos she took were absolutely everything we had dreamed they would be and we couldn’t be happier with them!”

— Brittany & Wayne

Unbelievable Block Island Elopement

Maddie & Michael’s Sublime Rhode Island Elopement with Seal Guests

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / RHODE ISLAND & BEYOND

It’s hard to think of a day more spontaneous, adventurous, and full of joy than Maddie & Michael’s Block Island elopement. They started the day at a spot super near and dear to their hearts, Black Point in Narragansett on mainland Rhode Island. As we hiked out for a cloudy sunrise they recalled different memories of points in their lives that they spent together on Black Point. It was so awesome to do their ceremony in a place with so many amazing memories, and add another epic memory to the pile.

But we had a 9 am ferry to Block Island to catch, so we wrapped things up and headed to the nearby ferry terminal. The short ferry journey was beautiful, and in a moment of serendipity I heard someone call my name on the roof top overlook. It was Katie & Adam whose Maine elopement I shot the previous month!

We arrived on Block Island, dropped the cake off at the hotel and headed to our first location, South Light. The views were beautiful and endless, and it is right next door to Mohegan Bluffs, which is one of the most scenic spots on the island. We waited for most people to go to lunch people we started down the steps! I’m not sure how many steps there are total, but it’s enough to feel like a workout. The views are unreal and honestly reminiscent of the La Jolla coastline in San Diego (fun fact: I lived in San Diego for many years before moving to Rhode Island).

Next we headed over to the Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve where the blooming flowers made for shots of endless fields of orange and yellow! Finally, a couple hours before sunset we started our hike out to North Light. It’s about a mile or so to the sand spit at the end, but we found a nice spot in the sand where Maddie and Michael could spread out a blanket and cut their cake. It started to drizzle on us a bit, so we took the umbrellas out and walked down to the shoreline where we had a surprise waiting for us- a sea lion popping it’s head up to see who was walking along the beach. We went down a little further and their were about 30 sea lions resting on the sand spit, swimming around, and honking at us! It’s was an unbelievable sight to beyond and Maddie and Michael were jumping up and down with joy. They couldn’t believe the experience of their day, so unexpected, adventurous, and everything they hoped for plus more. It was one of my most memorable days as well, and I’m so happy we all have the photos of their day to look back on year after year and remember how truly epic it was!

I feel like they can summarize their love better themselves, when I asked them when they knew they were first in love Maddie said, “There was a specific moment for me, we had only been dating about a month when Mike came home from work on the 4th of July after hanging with his coworkers for a little while. He got home and curled up on the couch and put his head on my lap and started to sleep and said I love you (I didn’t tell him for months that he did it 😂) but it was such a calm moment and that’s when I knew he was the one.”

And Michael said, “I fell in love with Maddie because of her amazing personality. She accepted me for exactly who I was. She makes me feel like the only person in a room when she looks at me. My fiancé is the most incredible person I have ever met. I do not know how I got so lucky.”

“My husband and I could not be happier after working with Kat! She made the whole planning process easy and very straightforward, if we had a question about anything we could reach out and she was always happy to help. Our whole day was perfect, she was very relaxed and easy going and made us both feel comfortable in front of the camera and our pictures definitely show that. We didn’t have to worry about anything, she had back up plans for any weather we could get (including a quick rain shower) but because she was prepared for it we were still able to get awesome pictures during it! We received our full gallery in three weeks as well, about three weeks than earlier than expected. We honestly only have good things to say about our experience and if any couples are considering an adventure elopement to definitely reach out to her!”

— Maddie & Michael

Breathtaking Vermont Mountain Elopement

Anna & Sean’s Picturesque Vermont Elopement at Warren Falls, Mt. Mansfield, and Lake Champlain

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / VERMONT & BEYOND

Anna and Sean’s gorgeous Vermont elopement came about after they had originally planned a much larger wedding, but when COVID hit they were excited for an opportunity to downsize and simplify. They wanted to spend their day doing fun things in beautiful places, and after a couple chats on the phone and a custom location guide I created for them, they knew exactly where that was.

We met at sunrise near where they live, a gorgeous place called Causeway Park. It’s a small strip with a hike/bike path across the water. It’s the perfect spot to watch sunrise or sunset, and it used to be a train track to Grand Isle. After exploring the area and experiencing sunrise we headed back to their place to freshen up and snag a few pics on their newly built back deck. Their entire house was gorgeously styled and their back deck was no different. Sean spent several weeks planning and building it out, and Anna styled it perfectly. It was their private oasis and it was incredible to get to see them enjoying it together as part of their day.

After a little relaxation we headed to Warren Falls for their ceremony. I’ve photographed many ceremonies at this spot, but I NEVER tire of seeing couple’s faces when they see the falls for the first time. The water is crystal clear and a deep blue/green color that looks out of this world. Most people who see the photos for the first time assume it’s from a spot out west. But it’s tucked away in beautiful Vermont in the heart of New England. I do love to recommend early morning ceremonies here, and in the summer it’s an absolute must because around 10 am the entire place is filled with swimmers taking a dip in the pristine waters.

Mid-morning we headed north up to the tallest peak in Vermont, Mt. Mansfield. Their are many trails up this famous peak, but we chose to take the Auto Toll road most of the way, and then hike a bit further to get those stunning views. It was at this point that I became a bit nervous because I was an integral part of a surprise for them. I had been scheming with Anna’s sister for some time now. Their families were going to meet us at the end of the hike on Mt. Manfield. I snuck away to text her and say that we were running behind, but on our way up the mountain. However, spotty phone service means I didn’t know for sure if that text went through, and it is imperative to not ruin the surprise by crossing paths on the way up. Apparently, Anna and Sean are notoriously hard to surprise, and other attempts had be messed up before. I couldn’t be the reason this surprise got messed up! Anna’s sister did get the text, but since it’s rude to be on your phone during your clients wedding day I didn’t get a chance to check her response. I needed to make sure I took enough time on the peak to give the families time to get into position.

Anna and Sean were starting to get hungry and were ready to head back. I made them do a couple more poses, and then we started on the trail back. As we neared the end Sean spotted someone else hiking the path in nice clothes. He said they must be doing the same thing they were doing, but little did he know those people in nice clothes were there for them! As we approached they started to recognize people, and their family burst into cheers upon seeing the couple! They were genuinely surprised and we were so happy to have pulled it off!

After some celebrations we all headed back to Burlington, and then Anna, Sean, and I headed out to a secluded spot on Grand Isle for sunset. With all the formalities done and surprised pulled out we all relaxed and skipped rocks, and enjoyed the beach and the weather. It was the perfect ending to Anna and Sean’s beyond perfect wedding day.

“When our original wedding plans had to be cancelled due to Covid, we began searching for an alternative. As soon as we saw Kat’s page and spoke with her on the phone we knew it was exactly what we were after. Now that all’s said and done, we couldn’t be any happier with the outcome - her photos are beyond incredible, worth every penny. Memories for a lifetime. She was so easy to communicate with, helped us plan our day down to every little detail, and even went out of her way to support a surprise celebration that our family had planned on top of VT’s tallest mountain. Beyond all of that, she is just super fun to hang with. Our day was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. Can’t recommend her enough!”

— Anna & Sean

Gorgeous Maine and Acadia National Park Elopement with Family

KATIE & ADAM’S ACADIA NATIONAL PARK HIKING ELOPEMENT

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / MAINE & BEYOND

Katie and Adam originally planned an epic two day wedding in Yosemite National Park, but COVID and wildfires had other plans and they changed course to an equally epic two day elopement in Maine, including Acadia National Park. These two changed course with such grace, and while they were disappointed that their original plans were foiled, they quickly became just as excited about an Acadia National Park wedding.

We were lucky, as I was scheduled to be the original photographer anyway and they live in Connecticut and I live in Rhode Island. Also most of their family lives in New England, so it was a no brainer to pick an alternate spot within driving distance of the area. After talking over a few new location options they decided- Why not choose where the mountains meet the ocean? We found Grace on the Lake, a COVID friendly spot on a lake where each of their family households could stay in their own cabin, plus they had access to the beautiful lake-front with boats and other great perks. The actual ceremony took place right down by the lake, and the reception celebration was held just up the hill at a lovely spot overlooking the lake.

Katie & Adam shared beautiful vows, Adam was adorably and unsuccessfully trying to hold back tears through the entire ceremony. It was incredible to see how much they love each other and how perfectly their day fell together in the end. It was laid back, relaxed, gorgeous, fun, and full of surprise. The happy couple surprised their families after dinner with the news that they are expecting!

The next day we met in Acadia National Park where we planned to do the “Beehive” trail, one of the “Iron Rung” trails in Acadia. So not only did Katie have to do a somewhat intense technical hike in a form-fitting wedding dress, she did it pregnant and in a wedding dress. She was so impressive through the whole thing, never missing a step and laughing and having so much fun the entire way. It was hot outside, so managing to climb the iron rungs without sweating off all of her makeup was a feat in itself.

As we topped out on the summit we noticed the marine layer was moving in over the ocean below. Clouds came and shallowed some of the landscape, but it was still sunny were we were. We planned to hike down to watch the sunset, and now I knew we might be socked in for the sunset. When we made it down we found a spot on the coast, but found ourselves in gorgeous misty fog. It was like we traveled through five different locations and seasons through their two day wedding. As the sun started to sink lower it burst through the fog and sent incredible color all across the atmosphere. A spectacular view that was perfectly fitting for their spectacular wedding days.

It is obvious that no matter what these two do together it will always be an adventure. I love the story of how they met. Here it is in Katie’s words “Adam and I both found ourselves on Bumble as many 30 somethings do. Adam down in Norwalk (the NY side of Connecticut) had set a 15-mile radius on his phone meaning we were never really in each other's "sphere". Adam's brother is really into ghost hunting and Adam finally agreed to go to one of his events - dinner and an overnight stay in a haunted building, now a restaurant. Ghost hunting was in Derby, Connecticut outside New Haven and in a radius of me in Guilford, Connecticut. We both swiped right and planned to meet. I write a travel blog and wanted to do some "research" on the best New Haven pizza joint so I suggested we meet at Modern Pizza for our first date. We hit it off over meatball and clam pizza and the rest - well it's history.”

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