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I often find it’s the things in life that don’t go according to plan that ends up being the most memorable–especially when it comes to elopements.
A bride who forgets the veil in the car only to have a funny story they can share with their partner forever. A change in the weather that creates the most magical and unexpected cloud inversion during a ceremony. A stranger on the trail who becomes the most perfect witness possible for the couple getting married that day.
It could be almost anything, but it’s the unexpected and unplanned moments that end up feeling like they were the right move all along.
And often, those moments and memories come in the form of something that throws us all for a loop, forcing us to look at the experience with new eyes and fresh perspectives.
So when Beth and Drew’s intentionally chosen location at a stunning slot canyon for their Southern Utah elopement was overrun with water thanks to a remarkably wet season in the desert, I knew a few things right away.
First, I knew this day wasn’t going to go according to plan.
Second, I knew it was going to be immensely memorable in the best ways.
But to be honest, that’s something I probably could have predicted before the slot canyon turned into a rushing river. In fact, the day being beautiful and perfectly imperfect and unique in all its wonderful ways was something I easily could have told you would unfold in just a few moments after meeting Beth and Drew.
Kind, loving, and welcoming from the start, Beth and Drew wanted to know everything about me. And to me, that matters–as both a person and a professional. Because to capture the best elopement images possible–the ones that showed who they really are–I needed (and wanted) to know them, too.
I’m forever grateful to them for this–that human connection that allowed me to bond with them and know them. And as a result, I’m not just a better person for it; I was able to see them in their most authentic ways, capturing the moments that meant the most to them through the most genuine lens possible.
Both Beth and Drew were drawn to the intentionality of a small, intimate elopement tucked away in the red rocks and desert landscape of Southern Utah. They both invited a handful of loved ones with them on their elopement day. Like many couples who choose to elope, they wanted the best of both worlds–time spent with the people who love them and plenty of moments alone to cherish the day together. (That’s the beauty of an elopement day like this, you can have both and never compromise a thing).
They started their day slowly at their Airbnb, spending a little alone time with each other. When it came time to get ready, their loved ones joined in. Side by side, they all shared these moments–moments that are often looked at as small or insignificant. But seeing it all happen was so sentimental. A button-up, a tie straighten, a makeup touchup–each of them lovingly holding space for each other in the smallest gestures.
When Drew was putting the final touches on their Indochino suit, they pulled Beth in to show them something–a special message sewn into the inside of the fabric.
“Will always find each other,” it read.
Beth and Drew had thought of all the little details that would make this time–and their wedding–uniquely special. They had special gifts for each other. Their friends brought gifts for each of them. Intentionally chosen jewelry and hidden messages inside suit jackets. It was a powerfully sentimental morning–and a part of an elopement day that many people sometimes overlook.
As they finished up getting ready, we took off to find their private elopement ceremony spot.
Their slot canyon wasn’t possible. But in a way, it felt like that was always meant to be. The place they said their vows was a stunning little spot nestled away from a pull-off. It was quiet and beautiful, intimate and breathtaking–but most importantly, it was all theirs.
Something about seeing these two in this space caught my breath. It felt like it was meant for them, somehow, to be here sharing their heartfelt vows with each other, despite the fact that they had every intention of doing that somewhere else.
It was important to both Beth and Drew to share these moments together without distraction or worry, so they choose to experience their ceremony just the two of them. After they’d spent time exploring and absorbing their spot–an area that truly felt like it belonged to them–we found ourselves heading toward a second location for a sunset view.
Their loved ones met us at an overlook to soak everything in. Here, we took an opportunity to capture what it all felt like with everyone there to love and support them. The reds and greens of Southern Utah faded into pastel shades as the sun began sinking slowly.
As blue hour fell in around us, Beth and Drew grabbed a few lanterns and peered together over the edge of the overlook, drawing each other in for a few more captures of their elopement day.
When Beth and Drew inquired with me months before this day, they said they wanted guidance–a day that was free of stress and anxiousness. They wanted a day that wasn’t just focused on them but one that felt like them, too.
This deserving and beautiful couple got exactly what they were looking for–even if it didn’t unravel how they thought it might.
As an elopement photographer, I can’t promise that everything outside of our control will always unfold seamlessly. I can’t promise the weather will cooperate or that the view you were seeking will always work out. I can’t promise that the plan we create will always pan out precisely the way we thought.
But I can promise that if you elope with love and intention and wonder the way Beth and Drew did, that’s exactly what will happen for you, too.
