Emotional, Unique Micro Wedding on Cape Cod

Ally & Michael’s Small Outdoor Wedding in Brewster, MA

Swell & Stone / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Massachusetts & Beyond

Ally and Michael’s Cape Cod micro wedding was unique, emotional, and fully and truly them. They had originally planned the ceremony to take place on the Brewster Flats, a phenomenon created by the ebb and flow of the daily tides when the waters recede out of Cape Cod Bay over 1 mile to reveal sandbars, clam beds, and tidal pools teeming with sea life. It’s a place that’s super special to them, but on the day of their wedding the winds exceeded 50 mph, and the low tide was unusually high. We walked down to check out the area and were nearly blown away. Add that to the mid-30’s temps of the day, and it was a recipe to be windblown and freezing.

But alas, outdoor weddings do not always go as planned, especially in November. But the most important thing to both of them, at the end of the day, was that they were married, and they had their closest family around with them when they said their vows. So they pivoted to a beautiful little patch of forest nearby called the Brewster Conservation Trust. The winds were completely subdued in the forest, and the sun shone through the trees, making it significantly warmer.

Ally’s sister Sarah, who also served as the officiant for the ceremony, was wheeled out on a beach wheelchair, which made going over all the roots and rocks easier. And the rest of the family followed soon after. Everyone had a comfortable seat in solidarity with Sarah would is undergoing chemo.

Michael loves Crocs, and Ally has fully embraced them, so they both wore white Crocs, Ally’s were bedazzled with a variety of meaningful emblems. Ally wore a super chic, non-white dress white a nice warm layer over the top. Everything about their day was uniquely them, and they prioritized the things that meant something to them, and let go of the things that weren’t important.

During the ceremony, family members read pieces that were important to them, and Sarah led a beautiful ceremony that included personalized stones. After the ceremony, the group packed up and hiked out. Back at home they were picked up by a gorgeous white trolley and brought to The Pheasant, where the staff there had prepared an incredible gastronomical tour! Kate from Flora Chella Design had turned the already beautiful space into a stunning display. Ally, Michael, and their families were ready to begin the celebrations, and they were treated to wine tasting and a wide array of delectable food. As the sun sank low on the horizon, we went outside one more time to enjoy the final moments of daylight. The speeches of the evening were as heartfelt and emotional as the ceremony itself, and at the end of the night, the newly married couple seemed very content.

“Extremely grateful to have had Kat photograph our elopement! She’s an expert in her niche, exudes warmness, and made everything about the day easy and lovely. Just received the photographs and they perfectly capture the feelings of the day. If you’re considering working with her, do it! She’s your gal :)”

— Ally & Michael

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.

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!”

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.”