Grand Tetons Winter Elopement Inspiration

As a lover of mountain ranges of all shapes and sizes the Grand Tetons have always been a place I have dreamed of photographing an elopement. I would flip through instagram and pinterest just imagining what a sunrise elopement would look like underneath the golden glow of the mountains. Apart from their beauty the Grand Tetons are only minutes away from Jackson Hole, WY. This town have some of the most beautiful accommodations as well as world class skiing and snowboarding that you can practically walk to. It is a perfect place to escape for an elopement as you can enjoy the local town with all it’s charm and even drive up to Yellowstone which is a quick 2 hour drive north.

After sitting home for so many months because of COVID my husband and I devised a plan to do a massive 1 week road trip with our final destination being the Grand Tetons. I started styling and contacting vendors to try to create the elopement style I always dreamed would look amazing amongst the towering mountain-cape. I was very lucky to find and work alongside some really talented vendors from all over the country. Our florist and cake were both from Boise, ID and the hat, calligraphy, and rentals were all from California. With a huge collaboration like this I was so happy we were able to make this vision come to life.

Our models Renae and Daniel are already married but you can tell they keep the love alive! We all braced for the cold as we knew that a sunrise shoot in the end of October would be chilly. Equipped with a heated blanket, hand warmers, and many warm up breaks we were able to take some of the most spectacular photos right as the sun rays hit the mountains behind them. We had so much fun working with these two as we captured every smile and intimate moment.

Early in the planning process we decided to break up this elopement into two separate session. The first was a sunrise exchanging of vows and the second part included cake and sweet heart table overlooking the valley at sunset. I think this is a really awesome schedule for real couples looking to Elope to the Grand Tetons. It gives you a nice afternoon break to check out the park or take a rest and then enjoy the last bits of light the day has to offer in style. This styled shoot was also a good test run for us as we gained so much experience through the planning and styling process. I am glad to say both Allen and I became super familiar with local vendors, the permitting process as well as the many amazing locations around the park.

Overall I hope this photoshoot gives you all the mountain elopement inspiration you need! If you are looking to elope in the beautiful mountains of the Grand Tetons let us know! We would love to help you with the entire experience from styling to timeline assistance!

Featured in Wandering Weddings

Photography / Styling - Sam Rae MUA Photo

Planning: Rayanne Rose Weddings

Florist - Petal Works Design Studio

Cake - Amaru Confections

Table Rental - AKT Made

Rentals (Cushions, Rug, Accessories) - Archive

Tabletop Rentals - Rustic Peony Co.

Calligraphy - Chalk N Ink

Ribbons - Emma Linh Co

Suit - Stitch and Tie

Dress - Rue De Seine

Dress Rental - JJP Dress Rentals

Hat - Friends of Friends Hat Co.

Bride Shoes - Dolce Vita

Models - Renae Johnson + Daniel Spreier

Utah Salt Flats Inspired Elopement

Utah is home to some of the most incredible landscapes as well as 5 stunning national parks. It’s hard not to want to travel and see everything the state has to offer. One of my absolute favorite spots are the natural Salt Flats just a few hours outside of Salt Lake City. This location has been used for racing and countless photoshoots because of its unique features. The expanse of white salt that stretches as far as the eye can see also creates some beautiful lighting similar to a perfectly lit studio. When the light bounces off the white ground it can create some really stunning images.

My husband and I made it a goal to travel to the Utah Salt Flats and put together a fun styled elopement. After finding and getting in touch with some really special vendors to help create the vision I had in mind we packed up our truck and traveled a few hundred miles. During the styling process I created a mood board and decided to create two different looks for our bride. While the sun was still a bit high in the sky Natasha wore a bright blue and white dress that I thought would accentuate the natural environment at that time of day. Once the sun got closer to the horizon Natasha changed into a beautiful gold sparkling dress to really accentuate the golden hour and natural sunlight. I did some work prior to the photoshoot handpicking her hair piece and earrings to make sure they would work well with both looks. I love including those extra special details, they can really help complete a look. I have to shout out Petal Works Design Studio for providing a beautiful dried bouquet and boutonniere which added a nice boho flair of the entire photoshoot.

Over all we did our best to create images that can help inspire couples who are interested in eloping. Our models Natasha and Moy were so sweet and we had a blast taking their photos! Even though they are already married they are still so love that each moment felt just as special as a real elopement would. I hope this blog can help you with planning or styling your future mini-mony, elopement, engagement session or any fun photoshoot you are planning in your future!

Vendors

Planning: Rayanne Rose Weddings https://www.rayannerose.com/

Styling + Photography: Sam Rae MUA Photo www.samraemuaphoto.com

Florist: Petal Works Design Studio https://www.petalworksidaho.com/

Rentals: Archive Rentals https://archiverentals.com/

Models: Natasha + Moy Campos

Dresses: OKBridal https://okbridal.co.uk/

Banff Anniversary Session - Louise + Robin

Louise and Robin are Banff locals and adventure seekers worldwide! They have been married for a few years but decided to celebrate their anniversary in style. We headed to some of their favorite spots and despite the rain misting around us we got some beautiful photos. Theses two special souls are some of the most kind people I have ever had the pleasure of capturing. Please see below for a super scenic and touching anniversary session in Gods country.

Vendors:

Planning/ Styling- Martin Ngo Photography

Makeup / Photo- Sam Rae Makeup & Photography

Florist- Flowers by Jerry

Dress #2 - Rue De Seine Bridal


Beautiful Switzerland Elopement

Is there a place on this earth more beautiful than Switzerland? I honestly don’t think there is. When a couple elopes it becomes such an adventure because without all the strings of a big wedding they can choose anywhere they’d like to tie the knot. The possibilities for elopements are endless. Lauterbrunnen is a gorgeous valley with powerful waterfalls on either side. As you walk down the valley you can see snowcapped mountains and little houses dotting the hillsides. I feel so lucky that I got to capture this amazing couple in a location that is just do die for.

List of vendors:

Photography / Makeup & Hair / Design: Samantha Genido (IG: @samraegenido)

Models: Isha Sulmon & Filip Sulmon (IG: @isha_sulmon @filip_sulmon)

Florist: Evelyn Krebs - Stil Und Stiele (IG: @stilundstiele)

Invitation Suit: Veraly & Company (IG: @veralyco)

Jewelry: Desert Daisy Jewelry (IG: @desertdaisyjewelry)

Dress Owner / Designer: Inge Stalyte - Wardrobe by Dulcinea (IG: @allthingsdulcinea)