Southern
Utah
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The Mighty
Five

Utah and its national parks are some of the nations best and for good reason. My boyfriend Arie and I took at trip to the southwest and visited Utahs mighty five national parks in May of 2022. We flew into Arizona and out of Denver and roadtripped over 2800 miles in a rented RV. We managed to visit Grand Canyon National Park (NP), Zion NP, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Rocky Mountains NP. 

We had an absolutely incredible trip. Visiting in May was awesome due to the fact that busy season hadn't quite started yet. What that meant was less crowds, making it a perfect time to elope. The sun wasn't scorching yet and we had amazing weather the whole trip, trees were starting to become full again, and as mentioned, the crowds were very minimal, even on some of the more popular trails.

Southern Utah is perfect for couples that love the outdoors and the desert. You'll find breathtaking red rocks and hoodoos, some waterfalls and streams, beautiful state parks, and some fascinating animals and plants. So many parts of the parks and surrounding beauty are accessible, making it a great spot for most guests and there's an abundance of unique Airbnbs and VRBOs. Here's a couple that I've researched and would love to explore with you:  

Getting married in Utah is pretty straight forward and of course, I'm here to be your guide. All you need is an officiant and two witnesses. Fun fact, Arie travels to almost every place I go to so he can sign as your witness since he sometimes will second shoot! There's plenty of other information that we can talk about more in detail after your initial inquiry and booking. For now, gather some inspiration from these locations and start your Pinterest board!

Alaska: The Last Frontier

The best trip of my life thus far was, without a doubt, traveling to Alaska in 2021 with Arie. We planned this trip on a whim because it was at the top of our dream locations and we figured, money will always find its way back to us. The flights were long but well worth the flight into Anchorage. We rented this four door white jeep and the coolest cabin ever on Airbnb which overlooked Bold Peak. This was our view from the front deck in the early morning. We went to Alaska in May of 2021 so we had plenty of light even at two in the morning!

Alaska is incredible for a multitude of reasons. One being the remote access to the wilderness you get the chance experience. We hiked to a glacier in Kenai Fjords NP, walked to a beautiful waterfall right off the road in a state park, strolled along Savage River and took in the views in Denali NP, and hung our hammocks up at Eklutna Lake. One of the best parts was that because it was off season, we once again had most of our adventures all to ourselves. The weather was honestly incredible, it only snowed and rained on the drive up to Denali from where we were staying however; we were rewarded with a triple rainbow heading back into town.

If you like the mountains, alpine lakes, and beautiful rugged coastline, Alaska is calling your name. We had the chance to explore so many incredible potential ceremony spots all throughout this trip and can't even begin to describe how truly unique part of the state was in person. It's even better than you can imagine. Everything from the snow capped mountain peaks to the black sand beaches of Seward made it feel like we were walking around a painting.

Another great aspect that Alaska has to offer is the variety of activities you can enjoy on your elopement day. Think helicopter glacier tour, sled dogs, hiking, snowmobiling, off road excursions via ATV or UTV, kayaking an alpine lake, viewing the northern lights for the first time, or strolling the beach and downtown areas to name a few. Alaska also has a spectacular selection of off grid cabins, hotels, and of course, Airbnbs to stay at during your trip. Here's some awesome Airbnbs:

I'd be absolutely thrilled to travel back to Alaska with you for your elopement day. It's my favorite vacation/place I have ever been to and would would love nothing more than to plan and photograph your dream day there. I'm already familiar with the marriage laws, some local vendors, and have so many more secret, non-touristy spots that would make for a great ceremony spot or portrait location. If Alaska is calling your name, let's chat more.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire

It goes without saying, there's arguably nothing more beautiful than New England in the fall. I'm biased towards New Hampshire due to growing up and living here most of my life. The little state holds a really special place in my heart, I even have it tattooed upon my wrist!

New Hampshire is such an underrated place to elope. We have everything here from the mountains, lakes, rivers, and the coast, all within a three hour drive from Boston Logan International Airport. The state experiences all the seasons so you can really customize every aspect of your day.

For example, in the spring time, we get a lot of rain which means overcast lighting (great for photos) rushing waterfalls and rivers, and really rich, greens from all of the blooming flora and fauna. It's generally considered off-season and the crowds are very minimal. In the summer time, tourism is booming! The temperatures are warm, seasonal restaurants and outdoor adventure centers in small mountain towns start to open up (think family dinner after eloping, zip-lining, and tubing down the Saco River). It can definitely get crowded in the summertime, but I have plenty of hidden gems. In the fall time, the air is crisp and the colors bring out the leaf peepers. Rich reds, oranges, and yellows come to life in the forest and people all over the country and parts of the world come to New England to take in the sights up the Kancamangus Highway. Because of the heavy crowds, sunrise and sunset elopements are recommended and insanely beautiful. Last but not least we have winter. Depending on which month of the season you choose to elope, we have snow covered pines, frozen lakes, and the Ice Castles. Snowmobile trails are open, sled dogs are training, and plenty of Airbnbs have their own private fire pit to warm up next to after adventuring all day.

New Hampshire is known for being a good place to live, it's outdoorsy charm, and being next to it's maple syrup cousin, Vermont. There are some quaint, beautiful homes in the countryside, cabins nestled in the mountains, and modern houses with all the extras along Lake Winnipesaukee. I know the area very well and recommend the following places to stay:

The following photos, just like the rest of them on this page, were taken by me. These and the one above are particularly special because it's one of my favorite places. My boyfriend Arie and his family have a beautiful plot of land up in the mountains with a few cabins (one of which they built themselves). Our neighbor has a spectacular hay field that runs alongside the Israel River and overlooks the Waumbek mountain range. On a clear day, you can see some of the presidentials, including Mount Washington. 

If you're looking for a one of a kind New Hampshire elopement, I'm your girl. I'll show you all the incredible hidden gems I've discovered, my favorite restaurants, diners, and breweries (trust me when I say you need a whoopie pie and pancakes with pure maple syrup), the best local activities, and hopefully we can spot some local wildlife like moose and white tailed deer. New Hampshire is my home and I would love nothing more than to welcome you with open arms and plan your best day ever in my favorite place.

Coastal Maine
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Acadia National Park

The coast of Maine and Acadia National Park are quintessential New England. Lobster rolls, clam chowder, the smell of the sea, crashing waves, camping, hiking, and so much more. Arie and I vacationed at an awesome campground, Mount Desert Campground, in September of 2019 and highly recommend it. It was quiet, secluded, a short driving distance to Acadia NP and Bar Harbor, and to top it off, we had an amazing view of the Somes Sound to watch the tides come and go.

Sounds like the perfect spot for a camping elopement, doesn't it? It's totally doable and we have all the equipment to camp alongside you. Your day could look a little something like this:
 

Your elopement day is supposed to be true to you both and your love together. If you're not morning people, I recommend a timeline like this instead:

Maine is perfect for those who want adventure by the sea and mountains. You're within driving distance to so many beautiful landmarks and it's relatively easy to acquire a permit to get married in Acadia NP. For me, this park is close to home and I'm very familiar with the weather, popular spots, and other attractions nearby to enjoy after or include in your day. Consider coastal Maine if you've never been, you won't be dissapointed!

Colorado + Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado, home to one of the most well-known national parks in the United States, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The park was one of my most favorite I've ever visited due to the fact that it's pretty large and there are plenty of hiking options for beginners and advanced hikers. RMNP is a popular destination for tourists and lovers alike. You have to apply for a permit on your desired date to get married ($300), select one of the twelve ceremony spots within the park, and then select a two hour time slot. Depending on the season and whether you choose to get married on a weekday or not, the crowd density will vary. For example, get married in the winter time on a Wednesday, and you won't see nearly as many tourists as if you were to get married in the summer time on a Saturday. There are ways to beat the crowd and have an intimate ceremony within RMNP and I'd love to show you how!

If you value the outdoors, adventure, and awesome people, Colorado is a place to consider. You have everything from RMNP, Pikes Peak, Estes Park, Garden of the Gods, lakes, rivers, and beautiful towns such as Boulder, Aspen, and Vail, There's a little, rather a lot, for just about everyone here, including amazing places to stay while you visit the state. When Arie and I visited together, we were roadtripping so we were in an RV, however; I saw so many neat looking homes and even unique hotels. Another thing I noticed was the amount of adventure tours the mountain based towns offered. Imagine doing something like this on your elopement day:

Just imagine for a minute, eloping at sunrise in RMNP with your dog, taking the most beautiful portraits that will adorn your walls at home, heading into town for lunch and a momento, kayaking a teal blue lake, and then heading back to your airbnb to share a first dance, champagne, and cut your cake. All while surrounded by the beautiful yellow larch trees that change color in the fall. Sounds like an absolute dream to me! I'd love to start dreaming up your day together.