Bryce Resort Wedding | Shenandoah Valley Wedding Photographer | Blue Ridge Mountain Wedding Photographer | Adventure Wedding Elopement
As best said in the words of @revjessieanne that my brain might scramble up now “When you love each other so much you get married on a Friday, and again on a Saturday. Then you hop on a plane and do it all over again”
On a Friday in June in the front yard of the house Marianna grew up in, surrounded by a chunk of this bi-costal duo’s friends and family, and some families on zoom, they tied the knot for the second time. The first time on the land where they are building their forever home together. This first week of June was the ode to their Virginian love story. This first evening of everyone coming together to stay together as if it was summer camp. All us eating, laughing, playing, and staying in cabins next door together soaking up the beauty of @bryce_resort and the mountains of Virginia. Hearing stories of their love, sharing in some lovely beverages (shout out to @athleticbrewing for the slew of NA goodies fueling this adventure). As Marianna and Cody, aka Wildpack and Trail dad, have carefully crafted out two weeks across two states worth of events and fun to celebrate their love and their love story. Which began with a trip to Washington, a spark on a camping trip, and a lot of plane rides back and forth to finally end up in Marianna’s home base of Virginia together. Now becoming one unit of wholeness with all of their collective humans and all the fuzzy pups too.
On Saturday some of us woke up early, headed out to nearby Lake Laura and paddled with the sunrise. Then we rested up to meet again at Lake Laura where we all hiked together around the lake so this duo could get married again in the sunshine on top of the dam overlooking Lake Laura. After our afternoon hike and vow time we all ended up at Swover Creek Farms and Brewery in nearby Edinburg, VA where we respectfully ate all the food and drank all the beers and had ourselves a wonderful time. As the evening wound down and some departed back to their homes, the rest of us headed back to Bayse, VA to have another bonfire and continue to hang out until brunch and goodbyes on Sunday.
Dolly Sods Elopement Photographer | West Virginia Elopement Photographer | Davis, WV Wedding Photographer
Peyton and Samuel met in a parking lot on their college campus in 2019 and the rest was history. They got engaged at one of their favorite places, Dolly Sods. Dolly Sods was where they first went on vacation together with Peyton’s parents and sister. In a similar fashion, their elopement consisted of Peyton, Samuel, her parents and sister joining us as we wandered all over the sods together hiking and having a blast. They took me to the spot where Samuel proposed to her and that was where they read their vows to each other.
Swallow Falls Elopement | Deep Creek Lake Elopement | Swallow Falls State Park | McHenry, MD | Deep Creek Elopement Photographer
Miranda and Mohamed met 14 years ago through a friend in college. Mohamed is from Morocco and Miranda’s father grew up in Morocco so they instantly hit it off. Their Deep Creek Lake elopement was a wonderful mellow spring day. Miranda wore a traditional Moroccan wedding dress as a surprise. They had their ceremony at a lake house and afterwards we swung over to Swallow Falls State Park and captured some photos around the park.
Berkeley Springs, WV Elopement Microwedding Wedding| Berkeley Springs, WV
Glen and Mary decided to have an intimate fall Microwedding at a lovely backwoods Airbnb in Berkeley Springs, WV. Their kids and families all came together to make a gorgeous small late fall wedding day for them. Once the sun went down we broke out the lanterns and played outside under the moon and stars.
What’s the difference between a Microwedding and a Elopement and what’s best for you?
Wanting to get married somewhere cool? Wanting to just have an intimate affair? Maybe you are looking to find an awesome location that is affordable for a small wedding. This guide is the place for you to start the ball rolling in your mind.
Mountaintop Engagement | Virginia Shenandoah Valley Photographer| George Washington National Forest | Wolf Gap, VA
The wind was whipping, yet Marianna and Cody blazed the way up the mountain top for their mountain top engagement session in George Washington National Forest in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. We made some cool art and some cold puppies. Their love story takes them through multiple meetings, huge life changes and hardships, moving to separate coasts, coming together over their love of the outdoors and a trip to the PNW and a proceeding long distance relationship where they both racked up all the airline miles. I am so happy my first dual coast wedding is with this duo. They are divine and we just clicked, I can’t wait to travel with you both we are going to make some stunning things you can enjoy for life that tell your story.
Colorful Fall Deep Creek Elopement Microwedding | Deep Creek Lake | Swallow Falls State Park | Deep Creek Elopement Photographer
Mariah and Jen’s fall microwedding style elopement at Swallow Falls State Park in Deep Creek, Maryland was a wonderful and colorful affair. Mariah chose a pink wedding dress to match her pink hair and it was fabulous. The ceremony was done in a Native way to nod towards Jen’s heritage. It was beautiful to watch each element being represented and the traditional use of cornmeal and feathers in action was fabulous (I would post more of those, but the officiant didn’t wish to be published publicly). So hopefully the tidbits give you some of the vibe. Their friends and family surrounded them in so much love and were troopers as we popped through the park and hit each waterfall along the way. Thank you so much to Mariah and Jen for hiring me to capture your day. I had such a blast capturing your love.
Spooky Fall Elopement | Oldtown, MD | Paw Paw Tunnel | Western Maryland Elopement
Rebekah and Nova landed on the idea of a Friday the 13th Elopement at the Paw Paw Tunnel on the C&O Canal in Oldtown, Maryland and they proceeded to go all out. This Victorian Era and spooky inspired elopement featured lanterns, top hats, spooky tunes, the late hours of golden hour into sunset, a freshly renovated overlook ontop of the over 3,000 ft long tunnel, and more. The ceremony was inspired by the day and featured the duo breaking their own mirror in order to make their own bad luck together and have a sense of control over that. They decided to end the evening by taking a walk into the stagnant Canal water together in order to fully cement their union.
Swallow Falls Elopement | Deep Creek Lake | Swallow Falls State Park | McHenry, MD | Deep Creek Elopement Photographer
So this fall in Garrett County absolutely provided per usual. For example this adorable globetrotting duo and newest residents to Western Maryland got to enjoy a fabulous fall day at Swallow Falls State Park. Considering Alex first moved from Boston to Turkey and then met his lovely wife, Katie. I’m beyond happy they decided Mountain Maryland was the place to settle down and call home. We wandered around enjoying the lovely fall day in their wedding attire and did an elopement style shoot to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Green Ridge State Forest Microwedding Elopement | Flintstone, MD | Cumberland, MD Wedding Elopement Photographer | Western Maryland Wedding
Jenna and Blake decided to have their elopement style microwedding at Zumbrun Overlook at Green Ridge State Forest in beautiful Mountain Maryland. This duo decided to do the thing under the afternoon sun on a clear sky early September day. In attendance were all of their family, and a surprise audience of roughly +200 Hispanic hikers doing a team hike of the Great Eastern Trail . Thank you guys for being awesome and cheering Blake and Jenna on, and for hiding out and holding the team split while we did the thing. You all are fabulous❤️Congratulations to Blake and Jenna, May life always gift you good surprises ❤️**Nerd note for my hiking couples: Green Ridge State Forest is the largest continuous block of public land in Maryland. The park is 46,000 acres and spans two counties. On the side closest to 68 you are right against the PA state line as some trails continue into Buchanan State Forest. On the other side you are right near Paw Paw, WV and the Paw Paw Tunnel. During Covid lockdowns this is where you could find me every day. Finding different little gems throughout the park, or camping close to the best swimming holes. The park itself is definitely designed for serious outdoors people, with rough roads, and long steep hiking trails. It’s also a research first sort of space, some trails are nicely marked and easy to follow. Other ones… not so much.
Rocky Gap State Park Wedding|Flintstone, MD|Cumberland, MD Wedding Photographer| Western Maryland LGBTQIA Microwedding
Angela and LaDonna decided to have a Viking themed microwedding at Rocky Gap State Park where they met in Western Maryland with their lesbian camping group. They were surrounded by all of their friends and their children, They decided to do an elemental themed ceremony around a giant fire pit once the sun had set. So we worked in reverse, starting with couples photos, then dinner, then once the sun set the ceremony began.
Winchester, VA Elopement | Virginia Elopement | VA Wedding | Shenandoah Valley Elopement |
Winchester, Virginia holds a sweet spot in my heart. Because of this wonderful space and it’s surrounding areas I have been blessed with some of the most amazing clients. But also, it’s gorgeous. But also also 😉 it’s where my great grandparents eloped. So when Aspen and Taylor got ahold of me and told me of their plan to elope there, I was stoked to say the least.
Harpers Ferry, WV Elopement| Harpers Ferry, WV
Kelly and Alan started their love story in a bar in Baltimore, MD and it brought them to me and Harper’s Ferry, WV. They decided to elope in Baltimore, so the weekend before they came to Harpers Ferry to get away and we met up the day before to capture their energy and their bliss as we wandered through town.
Dolly Sods Elopement Photographer| West Virginia Elopement Photographer| Davis, WV Wedding Photographer
Anna and Cory eloped at Bear Rocks in Dolly Sods near Davis, WV on a foggy May day in 2021.
Hocking Hills Engagement Photos|Hocking Hills State Park| Logan, Ohio |Ohio Elopement Photographer
Rinda and Daniel eloped in Hocking Hills Ohio in the spring of 2021. We spent a day at their rental home with their friends and family having a ceremony. Then we woke up early the next morning to wander the park early before anyone else got there and had a total blast. We hiked through upper falls, Old Man’s Cave, and then the Old Man’s Cave Waterfall. Hocking Hills is one of my personal all time favorite spots, so it was wonderful to actually capture it with such an amazing couple.
Blackwater Falls Elopement | Davis, WV Photographer | Canaan Valley Elopement | WV Elopement Wedding Photographer
Megan and Derrick came to Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, WV for the weekend to elope and enjoy the beauty of Tucker County. Although it rained the day of we still had a total blast popping over to Tip Top in Thomas, WV afterwards to cut their custom cakes my close friend made for the day. Then we wandered through the stores of Thomas and Davis and even briefly popped over to Canaan Valley to get some moody misty shots of the valley.
Major thank you to their awesome officiant Mathew aka The Vow Guy for traveling and toughing it out in the rain with us.
Harpers Ferry, WV Wedding Photographer|Harpers Ferry Elopement Photographer | Harpers Ferry, WV
Joesph and Nicole had a lovely microwedding at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. They had a handfasting ceremony in front of all their friends and family. Afterwards they did a beautiful dance to Hoizer’s Work Song. Then after their dance the best potluck dinner occurred with Cuban, Filipino, and American dishes. Joseph works at Lost Ark, so the drinks we also fantastic and featured some of their liquors. Their intimate affair was wonderful and I am so glad I got to meet them and their people and capture their day.
Shepherdstown, WV Elopement|Shepherdstown, WV Wedding Photographer
Claire and James tied the knot on a lovely fall day in their brand new home in Shepherdstown, WV. With their family and puppies all close by it was a wonderful intimate microwedding. With their mutual love of World War II history their home displayed historical photos all throughout it. Claire’s dress being perfectly on brand with the time period. We stepped outside their house to walk downtown and soak up some of their favorite parts of downtown Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Swallow Falls Elopement | Deep Creek Lake|Swallow Falls State Park| McHenry, Maryland |Deep Creek Elopement Photographer
Stephanie and Kyle decided to elope in Swallow Falls State Park on a lovely August day. Kyle’s mom was there for assistance and emotional support. We met up with Heidi of Mountain Spirit and took the easy trail to our pre chosen location within the park. We got Stephanie into her dress as Kyle got dressed and then her and Kyle had the sweetest first look The whole day was intimate and wonderful. We frolicked in the beauty of nature and chatted and had a wonderful day. Major thank you to Heidi of Mountain Spirit for being an amazing officiant and meeting up with us. Thank you to Steph and Kyle for trusting me to help craft such a wonderful and intimate day for you both. Also shout out to Kyle’s mom for being amazing.
Oren + Folk Elopement| West Virginia Elopement Photographer| Buckhannon, WV Wedding Photographer | Buckhannon, WV Elopement Photographer
The summer of 2020 was a wild time. Oren + Folk just opened in Buckhannon, WV and with that Wanderlust Shootouts created one heck of a content day. Emily and Cortney absolutely crushed this wedding set up with this gorgeous vintage Ford Mustang. We all had a blast singing along, dancing, and goofing off on this hill top on a sunny beautiful August day.