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.”

Idyllic Vermont Elopement in A-Frame

Morgan & Ryan’s Backcountry Wedding in Southern Vermont

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / VERMONT & BEYOND

Morgan and Ryan had a clear vision for their absolutely stunning elopement in southern Vermont. They had the A-frame picked out, but they didn’t know the area super well, so I suggested some nearby locations, and they ultimately choose Jamaica State Park and a secluded little waterfall to say their vows.

We started the day at the A-frame, and when I rolled into town it was rainy and overcast, but the sky opened up and the sun came out right before we left for the ceremony location. As they were getting ready for the first look Morgan was pretty much ready to go, and Ryan called family to figure out how to tie is bow-tie. He never fully got it, and me and the videographers were no help, so he decided to abandon it altogether in favor of a more casual look. It was funny, and cute, and a fun way to start the day.

After the first look on the beautiful grounds of the A-Frame Airbnb we headed out to the waterfall location of their ceremony. They recited emotional vows and did a hand-fasting ceremony followed by a ring exchange, and then on to popping the champagne. We had fun exploring the area, and had plans to go hike to a view point for the sunset, but on the drive in Morgan spotted this gorgeous lake that looked so peaceful and serene and was reflecting the fall colors surrounding it.

That’s something I LOVE about eloping couples, they are open to go with the flow of the day, and if we see something that inspires us, we stop and take in the view, and truly, fully, enjoy the day without rushing from one place to another.

Here is why they decided to elope- “For us to truly enjoy our day, we wanted to remove a lot of the stressors that cause anxiety when planning a wedding. We want to make this day intimate, fit for us, and spend the entire day together celebrating together.”

After enjoying cake, which Morgan was beyond excited about, and enjoying a charcuterie board we headed back to the A-frame for a bonfire. The gathered s’mores materials, plus they cooked what looked like mini-pizza’s over the fire. They danced, kicked around in the leaves, and generally played like little kids. At the end of the night we all watched the stars come out. It was an incredible end to an unbelievably fun and beautiful day.

“My husband and I hired Kat as our photographer for our fall elopement in Southern Vermont. During the planning process, Kat was absolutely key since we were traveling from out of state. She sent a list of potential locations, researched state marriage laws, and helped us plan a schedule that met all of our elopement goals. On wedding day, she arrived hours ahead of time to scout sites while we got ready. Kat stayed flexible and was willing to do whatever it took to get the perfect shot. Though it was just my husband and I at our elopement, Kat still found ways to make the day special. We especially appreciated the added bonus of her being able to legally sign our marriage license since we didn’t have an officiant! In the end, our elopement photos (there’s A LOT of them) turned out stunning and we have Kat to thank for that.”

— Morgan & Ryan

Last Minute Elopement in Moab

Lauren & Redmond’s Epic Utah Elopement

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / UTAH & BEYOND

We planned Lauren and Redmond’s Moab elopement in just a few days, but it wasn’t because they decided last minute to get married, it was because the universe just kept deciding their other plans just couldn’t work out. They originally planned a larger wedding, but then Lauren gave me a call when it looked like 2020 would be a no-go for big weddings. So we planned an epic elopement…in Yosemite. However, the wildfire season had other plans for that, and after going over all the options they decided to meet me in Moab, which is where I was at the time. And it just so happened that it was a way shorter drive for them than to Yosemite anyway.

They had never been to Moab, so I knew we needed to see some of the most iconic locales, but with such late notice getting a permit for Arches would be an issue. I already have a permit to operate on BLM land around Moab, and we are so thankful for the wonderful woman who handles weddings in Moab, who turned around a permit for them in just a couple of days. Also big thanks to the wonderful people at Dead Horse Point for that as well.

So with all the paperwork done, they were able to focus on the sights, the day, and most importantly each other. We started with watching the sunrise over the incredible desert towers that make up iconic Castle Valley. When people think about the wild west, this is the view they are thinking about. Sunrise here is hard to beat, we had it all to ourselves, and it was a little chilly, but once the sun hit our faces we warmed up fast. They said their vows to each other and exchanged rings, and then stood for a while taking in the beauty.

After the sunrise session, we had a small break for relaxing and lunch, and then we headed out to Corona Arch for a little hike. It was warm out at that point so they packed their wedding gear to change at the Arch. Both of them mentioned how fitting it was to be visiting Corona Arch during the Coronavirus pandemic, and how they never would have seen this sight if not for the pandemic! As we rounded the corner and saw the arch, I exclaimed, “There it is!” to which there was no reaction from either of them. I just thought, wow- they must not be impressed- but it’s a huge arch so I was confused. We walked a little further, and then they both yelled out at the same time, “OOOH, there it is!” From the angle we were at it was hard to tell it was a giant arch, and they both just thought they were looking at a rock wall. We laughed because they thought the arch was awesome, but they just couldn’t see it before.

After the arch, we headed to Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset. It’s so fun to see both sides of the park, and such a great spot to watch the sun go down, the moon comes up, and the stars come out. Every time I’m there I’m in awe of how magical the area is. Personally, I think it’s one of the coolest views in the southwest.

After taking in all the sights and feeling thoroughly satisfied, all Lauren could talk about was getting a hamburger, so we headed back into town. On the drive back we went over everything we did that day and we were so amazed. We had seen so much, and although none of it was the stuff they had originally planned to see these two pivoted like absolute pros and never ceased to amaze me with how laid back and positive they took each new obstacle. To them, the most important part was committing their lives to each other, and building memories together that they will look back on for the rest of their lives.

Desert Tower Wedding in Moab, Utah

Sari & Luke’s Stunning Castle Valley Wedding

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / UTAH & BEYOND

Sari, Luke, and I planned their stunning desert wedding in Moab, Utah from afar. I used to live in my truck for many years and the desert southwest is, and always will be, one of my favorite places on earth. They were coming from Washington and just knew the desert was the perfect place for them.

Several friends and family members were able to join them and what resulted was an incredibly beautiful, memorable, and joyful wedding day full of love and amazing views. We began the day at their Airbnb which was also their amazing reception location. There were so many perfect little details that told the story of who these two are together.

Let’s start at the beginning. “What made Luke fall in love with Sari, “She’s the complete package. She has a heart of gold—that encompasses everything. She makes me laugh, she is incredibly caring, the way she treats my son, Everett, how physically attracted I am to her, she sees me, she understands me, the way she loves me. I’m still falling in love with her every single day. “

What made Sari fall in love with Luke, “His thoughtfulness and small, sweet, daily gestures and little surprises meant the world to me as we were falling in love (and still do). His tender heart and strong exterior. His drive, passion, and ambition made me know we’d never become stagnant as a couple or individuals. The way he has always been my biggest supporter and never judges me, for anything. Him in daddy mode. He makes me laugh and feel like the most special and beautiful woman alive.”

After getting ready, everyone headed out to a remote location in the desert. We decided to do family formals there, so we could spend more time at a beautiful location. It was on the Colorado River with views of desert towers in the background, everything they hoped for in the backdrop to their big day. After portraits, we began the ceremony, which was officiated by a good friend. It was an emotional ceremony and there were more than a few tears shed. After wrapping up the ceremony, we headed to a different spot for sunset couple’s portraits while the rest of the crew headed back to set up for the reception.

You know it’s good when the videographer, who also happened to be Luke’s brother was exclaiming out loud the entire time. He was so blown away by the views, which was awesome to witness, and if Luke and Sari weren’t always stoked enough, which they were, it fully ignited the fire. After an incredible sunset, moonrise, and blue hour we headed back to the Airbnb for their reception. They had the backyard set up so beautifully, and it made for the perfect atmosphere of celebration. Toasts were made, games played, first dances danced, and we all watched the stars come out in complete awe. It was the perfect ending to a totally perfect day.

Luke and Sari on why they decided to have a small outdoor wedding, “A small wedding is more personal and our style—it’s intimate, sacred, and spiritual. We both have a deep appreciation and love for the outdoors and try to be outside as often as possible. Our lifestyle is very outdoor-oriented. We chose Moab because we both feel at peace in the desert and love to climb.”

“Kat did such an incredible job helping us plan, coordinate, and capture our small wedding in Moab!! She was so helpful, quick to respond, professional, and friendly! We are in love with our wedding photos and couldn’t be more impressed with how they turned out—PERFECTION. Kat went above and beyond to help us plan our special day (we live in Washington) and did a fantastic job capturing every big and small detail that we hoped she would. The editing and finishing touches on the photos are spectacular and we highly recommend her!”

— Sari & Luke

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!”

Why You NEED to Stay Out After Sunset on Your Elopement Day

Stunning Night Sky Elopement & Wedding Photos

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE WEDDING & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / UNITED STATES AND BEYOND

When the sun goes down and blue hour sets in, a lot of couples think it’s time to pack up and call it a night or head indoors for their celebration, but others opt to stay out under the night sky and see what kind of show the evening will put on for them. From catching the full moon rising, to dancing your first dance around a campfire under the milky way- I promise, it’s worth it to stay out after dark if you have a photographer who knows how to capture those low light situations. This happens to be one of my specialties, so here are some of my favorite ways to capture couples in love after the sun goes down.

Full Moon Rise

If it’s a full moon night, the full moon rises as the sun sets, and you don’t have to stick around long to catch the moon rising. Along with casting a lot of light on a night sky scene, a full moon rising often looks giant and yellow when it’s lower in the sky. It’s an amazing thing to see, and a lot of couples find that it’s a moment they love to soak in and enjoy.

Milky Way

The core of the Milky Way is only visible in the Northern Hemisphere from March to October. But if you don’t want to stay up very late or get up very early the best time to include the Milky Way in your elopement photos is from mid-June to early October. This is because in mid-June the core of the Milky Way rises just after sunset, and over the course of the summer and into the fall that time gets earlier. So by the time October rolls around the Milky Way can be seen in the night sky for only a brief time before it sets in the dark.

Star Trails

The Milky Way, while spectacular, is not the only way to enjoy the night sky and capture great photos during your elopement. Even on a night when the Milky Way is not visible, it is still possible to capture otherworldly night sky landscapes, like star trails. Star trails are the images above with the stars streaking in a circle across the sky. This type of image is created by taking a series of long exposure images and stitching them together in post-production. For this to work, you just need a (mostly) cloudless night, and a location that has a clear view of the sky to the north. I compose the shot with my camera pointed toward Polaris, the north star, and then I position the couple. The couple only needs to stand still for a few long exposure shots, normally 10 to 30 seconds per shot, and then my camera keeps running, and time-lapses the scene for the next hour or two. While that’s happening sometimes the couple heads out for the night, and sometimes we eat s’mores over the campfire. Either way, I’m happy to continue sitting under the stars while the camera continues capturing the scene.

Campfire

While you’re out either waiting for the Milky Way to rise or just hanging out beneath the stars, another amazing way to capture love under the night sky with limited light is by having a campfire. Along with keeping you warm, it provides a beautiful, natural light that beckons you to snuggle up. Please practice Leave No Trace principles and use an existing fire ring. There are so many amazing options for capturing love around a fire, not to mention the flame symbolism!

Starry Night Sky

Sometimes you end up in a location with a lovely cloudless night, but you can’t see the view facing north, there is no full moon rising, and the Milk Way isn’t rising until later. That’s ok, and taking photos under the stars still looks cool! Even if it’s just for the experience of staying out late and watching the night sky with your loved one, I’ve never had a couple say they regretted staying out under the stars on their wedding night!

More common questions about staying out under the night sky during your elopement

When is the best time of year to capture the night sky?

The best time of year to capture the night sky, in general, is when there are no clouds. As mentioned above, the core of the Milky Way can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere from March to October, and it’s generally nicer to hang out at night when it’s not too cold outside. That said, winter is still a great time to see the stars in places like the desert southwest. Although it’s still cold and you won’t see the core of the Milky Way, star trail potential is great. In addition to taking the above into consideration, a full moon makes it’s hard to capture the stars, so it’s best to plan around the moon if you’re set on getting star photos.

Where are the best locations to elope with a chance to see a starry night sky?

In general, the desert is one of the best places to see the night sky. There are a few reasons for this. First, it is impossible to take good night sky photos with a lot of light pollution, so you need to be far enough away from metro areas to not have the light leak into your photo. It’s easy to get to the middle of nowhere in the desert. And second, the desert sky is often cloudless, which removes another big obstacle to astrophotography. Lastly, you will find unobstructed views in all directions in the desert. It’s harder to take great night sky photos deep in a forest, just because it’s more difficult to find a somewhat open view of the sky.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t take night sky photos if your elopement is in a different location. It’s best to chat with your photographer to find out what is possible for your elopement day and location.

How long do we have to stand still?

Generally only 10 to 30 seconds at a time for a total of about a minute or two. I always like to take a few frames with the couple in the shot so I can pick the best, most crisp one.

If it’s partly cloudy outside is it still possible? What about if it’s windy?

If it’s partly cloudy it is still possible to take night sky photos, but it is likely not possible to do star trails. This is because you need an hour stretch of cloudless sky to keep the final image consistent. If clouds move through the frame they can ruin the entire image. Although, as you can see with one of my star trail images above, there are clouds running through the frame. High, thin, and wispy clouds don’t ruin the image as much as other types, because they look as though they flow through the frames better than puffy clouds. If it is completely cloudy, but not raining, your only option is to do campfire photos, and no night sky will be possible unless the clouds open up. If it’s raining, it’s probably best to get out of the rain.

If it’s windy, it may be harder to hold still, and your clothes might move even if you don’t. I think that’s okay and I still like many of the images that were taken on windy nights!

What’s the best way to plan for night sky photos during our elopement?

The best way to plan for it is to have a photographer who can keep you updated on what phase the moon will be in, what the weather looks like, and which location would give you the best chance for success. I can’t stress enough that if a night sky photo is important to your elopement that you hire someone with the proven ability to handle a variety of night sky conditions and someone who is knowledgable about astrophotography. It is a style of photography that can’t be faked and takes years to master.

If you’d love an expert to help make this dream come true, get in touch, and let’s start planning your incredible adventure wedding today!

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