be confident in front of the camera and forget it's there
not be stressed out or rushed, or look back feeling like your day was a total blur
know what locations and activities to include on your day (because how the hell do you choose??)
- Menaka & Akeem
It’s a chance to slow down and be more present with each other, and not rush through the experience by trying to cram a bunch of photos into a short window
It allows for the entire day to be documented and celebrated. Weddings are like birthdays: why limit the fun to only a couple hours? Hiring a photographer for longer coverage often makes the day feel more "real"
Start-to-finish coverage allows you to share the full day with your extended friends and family and make them feel like they were there with you (especially if you don’t plan on having guests)
Know that it’s not an all-day photoshoot – all of my couples include lots of activities throughout the day; they aren’t focusing on me and the camera, they’re focusing on each other and what they’re doing (wine tasting, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, tub soaking, etc)
In addition to an elopement photographer, I'm also a newly-minted wife. I know exactly what it's like to be planning a wedding not only around a global pandemic, but around family expectations.
I'm here to offer all of my experience as support to you if you're struggling internally with staying true to what you want for your wedding day, and not relenting to the pressure of your family's differing opinions.
I've also been the unfortunate recipient of a lackluster client experience from my wedding photo team. I was on the other end wondering if they had just dropped off into the ether, going almost a year without hearing from them. I didn't feel valued at all. As a fellow wedding vendor, I was incredibly disappointed, but it created the fuel to design an epic-ly comprehensive experience for my couples so that they never have to feel the way I did.
In our work together, not only will you receive a jam-packed 100-page guide with everything you could ever need to know about how to elope, but I'll also get to know you and your vision through questionnaires, as well as plan your timeline and give you plenty of customized suggestions for whatever you're struggling to figure out (locations, activities, logistics -- I've got you covered!).
Having been through the wedding planning and wedding day experience myself, I know first hand what you're going through. Whether you're struggling to get your closest people on board with your vision, deciding how to curate your wedding day traditions for a specialized experience, or simply figuring out the activities you want to include, I've been there.
You are allowed to want a wedding experience that is completely different from what everyone else in your family has had.
You are allowed to choose anything for your wedding day, and not be pigeonholed into traditions that don't feel right to you.
You are allowed to have a wedding planning and wedding day experience that is fun and stress-free.
The best part about eloping is that you can celebrate having the freedom to do whatever you and your partner want on your wedding day. Want to say your vows at the top of a 50 foot balcony in the redwoods? I know a place. Dreaming of dipping your toes (or more!) in the ocean in your wedding outfits? You got it. Thinking about bringing along your ten closest people, or no one at all? Either way and anything in between is perfect.
This is your wedding day, and you get to call all of the shots.
This is your opportunity to prioritize the wedding experience of your wildest dreams.
I've also been the unfortunate recipient of a lackluster client experience from my wedding photo team. I was on the other end wondering if they had just dropped off into the ether, going almost a year without hearing from them. I didn't feel valued at all. As a fellow wedding vendor, I was incredibly disappointed, but it created the fuel to design an epic-ly comprehensive experience for my couples so that they never have to feel the way I did.
In our work together, not only will you receive a jam-packed 90-page guide with everything you could ever need to know about how to elope, but I'll also get to know you and your vision through questionnaires, as well as plan your timeline and give you plenty of customized suggestions for whatever you're struggling to figure out (locations, activities, logistics -- I've got you covered!).
Having been through the wedding planning and wedding day experience myself, I know first hand what you're going through. Whether you're struggling to get your closest people on board with your vision, deciding how to curate your wedding day traditions for a specialized experience, or simply figuring out the activities you want to include, I've been there.
You are allowed to want a wedding experience that is completely different from what everyone else in your family has had.
You are allowed to choose anything for your wedding day, and not be pigeonholed into traditions that don't feel right to you.
You are allowed to have a wedding planning and wedding day experience that is fun and stress-free.
The best part about eloping is that you can celebrate having the freedom to do whatever you and your partner want on your wedding day. Want to say your vows at the top of a 50 foot balcony in the redwoods? I know a place. Dreaming of dipping your toes (or more!) in the ocean in your wedding outfits? You got it. Thinking about bringing along your ten closest people, or no one at all? Either way and anything in between is perfect.
This is your wedding day, and you get to call all of the shots.
This is your opportunity to prioritize the wedding experience of your wildest dreams.
Want to experience another dimension of Sonoma wine tasting? Then you'll want to hop into one of Bohemian Highway's Range Rovers for the ultimate private tasting and tour experience. During your tour you'll have access to wineries that aren't open to the general public, and be hosted by a local wine expert. The tour will also include a chef-prepared gourmet meal to round out the palate experience!
This isn't your mother's picnic! Luxury picnics are a great way to elevate your elopement in a low-cost way. There are many companies in the Bay Area who offer this service; they usually offer a choice of themes/colors, and add-ons such as board games, extra charcuterie boards, balloon installations (you know the snazzy ones!), etc. Many companies have pre-determined locations they service, but will often also service a different location if you request it (like the backyard of your Airbnb/VRBO rental, for instance!).
One of the best ways to experience Sonoma County is on the water, and there's no better place to do that than the region's only river. This is a great way to see such an incredible landscape from a new perspective! Kayakers can go at their own pace, which makes it a perfect activity for beginners and experts alike. Kayaks and canoes can be rented from nearby Burke's Canoe Trips and Johnson's Beach for day use (or ask me about borrowing mine!).
If you're an adventure seeker, you'll definitely want to consider ziplining at Sonoma Canopy Tours. Think of the story you'll be able to tell! Really, how many people do you know that went ziplining on their wedding day? Talk about epic. You'll be able to choose from a couple different zip tours, depending on your comfort level with heights and speeds (some ziplines are higher, longer, and faster than others). If you want to take it up a notch, you can also rent a treetop yurt to stay overnight in -- talk about seeing the redwoods in a completely new way!
Nothing beats a classic hike. Alltrails is my favorite resource to scout new hiking adventures! If you'll be hiking in your wedding outfits, I recommend budgeting an hour per mile -- even if you're an experienced hiker. This will allow you to walk without breaking (too much of) a sweat, and also allows plenty of time to stop for photos along the way. Hikes are a great way to see the epic views Sonoma County has to offer, and if you opt for a weekday elopement, odds are you'll have most of the trail to yourself!
Viewing wine country from a hot air balloon is definitely an incredible way to spend your wedding day. Sonoma Ballooning offers a couple tour options: for $275 per person, you'll ride with a couple of other participants. For $1,650, you'll be able to have an exclusive experience with just the two of you (and any guests you want to bring along). The in-air ride is about an hour, but the entire start to finish experience is around 3-4 hours -- enough time to witness the beauty of the balloon inflating and use it as a backdrop for photos!
- Ksenyia & Nathan
less than 20 guests
You'll receive 400+ high resolution images documenting your entire day, an online gallery for easy downloading & in-house printing access, and personal printing rights.
If your first reaction is, "Wow, that seems really fast!" you would be correct! My delivery times are 2-3x faster than the industry average.
All couples receive my exclusive 90-page VIP planning guide that's stuffed to the gills with my best tips and advice about planning your dream elopement.
I'll be with you every step of the way getting to know your vision through comprehensive questionnaires and helping you dream up your day. I offer customized location scouting if you just can't decide where to get married, and I'll also create your unique wedding day timeline that incorporates everything we've designed together.
The price you'll see on your custom package options is the amount you'll pay for your photography. There will never be hidden fees, taxes, or "shipping and handling" tacked on.
If you're eloping just the two of you and wondering what to do about the legal side -- I'm ordained and can legally marry you!
- ashley & Alex
"Getting married was less about the ceremony and more about this time in our lives, this one day where we decided to commit to spending all of our days together.
Of course we wanted the ceremony photographed, but it was more important to us to have the entire day documented so that we could remember every part of that day and everything about our feelings.
When we look at our pictures, we remember every point in the day and how we felt.
Plus, we were able to design photo books for our families that walked them through the whole day, and helped them feel like they were there."
"People have asked us 'What did you do the whole day if it was just you two?' We always say:
"Getting married was less about the ceremony and more about this time in our lives, this one day where we decided to commit to spending all of our days together.
Of course we wanted the ceremony photographed, but it was more important to us to have the entire day documented so that we could remember every part of that day and everything about our feelings.
When we look at our pictures, we remember every point in the day and how we felt.
Plus, we were able to design photo books for our families that walked them through the whole day, and helped them feel like they were there."
* if it's really not for you, this is why I offer a shorter 5 hour package!
- Khali & Andrew
Are you staring at the blinking cursor of a blank page and feeling stuck of what you would even spend the day doing? I've got just the thing to help relieve that anxiety.
Get access to my free PDF guide walking you through real-world elopement timelines. 7, 10, and 12 hour days are included to give you all the inspiration you need!
I believe Black, LGBTQ+, and Trans lives matter. No matter who you love or what you look like, all love is welcome here.