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There are a lot of big misconceptions about adventure eloping out there. Sometimes, people are under the impression that in order for your wedding to qualify as an “adventure elopement,” you have to check boxes that include factors like an epic adventure, challenging hike, no one on the guest list, and all things untraditional.
But here’s the beautiful thing about adventure eloping–there are no qualifications. There are no rules, there are no restrictions, and there are no boxes to check for your elopement to “count.” All you need is the love you have for your partner, the desire to have the wedding day of your dreams (and no one else’s), and the courage to go for it.
How that looks, well, that’s totally up to you. For some couples, that does mean going on a 10-mile hike totally alone and celebrating in “just us” style. For some, it means including a few of your closest people and riding in 4x4s up to an amazing ceremony location. And still, for others, it’s a quiet picnic on a river bank they just rafted to.
For Alexandria and Kurtis, it meant inviting the people they loved the most to a stunning place to celebrate the biggest moment of their lives. And that’s exactly what happened at their Moab, Utah elopement.
Alex and Kurtis are, in every sense of the word, very cool people. They’re intense athletes, they adore national parks and adventuring, and they’re deeply in love in a way that even strangers can notice and inevitably smile about.
When we first started talking about their adventure elopement, they were clear on one thing–this wedding wasn’t going to be just the two of them. They wanted to celebrate their love around their family and their chosen family–and that meant a list of their loved ones would be joining them.
What makes elopements special, at least in my eyes, are the special details that every unique couple wants to blend into their day. Some couples want to go totally non-traditional–their ceremonies are filled with sage smudging, sound baths, and meditation. Other couples want something that’s a little more aligned with what people expect at a wedding ceremony, but they want to do it in an incredible outdoor space. And sometimes, like with couples like Alex and Kurtis, they want an amazing blend of traditional elements, jaw-dropping locations, and special flair that’s totally unique to them.
Alex and Kurtis wanted to make sure that their list of guests felt as connected with the elopement experience as they were going to, so they included them in some really fun and unique ways.
On the day of the wedding, Alex and Kurtis arranged for a big group breakfast on the patio outside of their Airbnb. This was such an intimate, amazing moment–a time for their loved ones to sit with them and soak everything in before the hustle and bustle of the day ever began. In a way, this was the perfect time to set an intention for their elopement day. Alex and Kurtis had an underlying theme to their wedding–one of community and love and support–and beginning the day this way, surrounded by their people, was the perfect way to cement that.
As the food on the plates gradually disappeared, everyone started to gradually shift toward the next part of the wedding day–getting ready. It was here when Alex and Kurtis parted ways.
In some ways, Alex and Kurtis wanted a non-traditional wedding. Think about it; they chose to get married in the Utah desert among stunning rock formations surrounded by a small guest list of loved ones. That idea in itself is anything but traditional. And yet, there were traditional aspects that neither of them wanted to skip out on.
For starters, they wanted to get ready separately so they could have a true first-look moment. Alex went to her Airbnb (a super cute, southwest-themed space, which aligned perfectly with her Rue de Seine wedding dress), and Kurtis left for his Airbnb, too.
Alex and her wedding party–a group of girls she loves–all got ready together. They popped champagne, opened gifts, and leaned into the fun of the day as hair, and makeup artists got Alex ready for her wedding day. Before Alex had her first look with Kurtis, she had one with her closest friends.
Being in that room, watching the bonds all bubble over during this once-in-a-lifetime moment, reminded me of how dynamic humans really are. Alex is this formidable athlete, an impressive woman who’s strong, fit, and not to be trifled with. But here she was, soaking in all of the fun, silly moments among the women she loved most. The ability to embrace both things on your wedding day–to be exactly who you are and do exactly what you want–is what I think makes elopements so unique.
Before we really kicked off the wedding day, I needed to take a few photos of Kurtis while he got ready. Before I left Alex’s Airbnb, she handed me a note she’d written and asked me to deliver it to Kurtis.
When I got there, Kurtis sat down to read it, and a truly special and intimate moment unfolded. He told me later that he intentionally left his sunglasses on while he read–he didn’t want me to capture the tears that came streaming down his face. Even though they couldn’t see each other just yet, Alex wanted to support him and love him in the best way she could.
When Kurtis was ready, he drove over to their ceremony site with some of his family to set up a few chairs and get everything prepped. Alex and her friends drove over just before the ceremony was set to begin.
Alex and Kurtis have this running inside joke that everything is about building up and creating beautiful moments. The day before their elopement, I was itching to meet them both in person. We met up for coffee and lunch, to talk about their wedding day, and just bask in the excitement of it all. When I told them that after lunch, I was heading out to their ceremony spot to do a few last-minute scouting details, they both agreed they wanted to tag along.
When we were exploring the area, we noticed an even spot with a beautiful and expansive view; behind it, some natural rock formations towered above it.
“That could be a moment,” they decided.
They both wanted that thrill of a traditional, walk-down-the-aisle, see-your-partner-for-the-first-time moment–and this landscape was the perfect way to create and experience that.
And, of course, the next day, when Alex’s dad walked her over those rocks and down the aisle, they created that perfect moment.
The rest of their day was marked with traditional and non-traditional elements–a cocktail reception back at their gorgeous Airbnb, an Arches exploration session just for the two of them at dusk, and a delicious dinner with everyone punctuated by catered and homemade goodies.
By a bonfire, they had their first dance, shared their wedding cake (that Alex had made), and soaked in the first few hours of being husband and wife.
Everything about their day was intentional and thoughtful, but most importantly, it was true to them. Alex and Kurtis wanted tradition blended with their untraditional path. They wanted the people they loved the most standing by their side in a beautiful place. And most importantly, they wanted to get married their way–so they did.
