Search Results

TIPS + LOCATIONS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR COLORADO ELOPEMENT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Below is your ultimate guide to panning your Colorado elopement packed with locations, adventurous elopement activities and example schedules to help you plan your elopement. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! There are so many locations in Colorado and so many great trails to go on so here are some of my favs! You can find more info here. Berthoud Pass Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest - Steamboat Springs/Kremmling Fish Creak Falls Rabbits Ear Pass - Pearl Lake State Park - Steamboat Lake State Park Mount Zirkle Wilderness - Gilpin Lake - Gold Creek Lake Flat Tops Wilderness Area National Parks in Northern Colorado - Rocky Mountain National Park ADVENTUROUS IDEAS TO DO DURING YOUR COLORADO ELOPEMENT Go backpacking Rent a jeep and take it off-roading Canoe or Kayaking Stargaze Car camp Have a backcountry meal Go hiking Rock climbing Mountain biking Ride in a helicopter Horseback riding Skiing/Snowboarding in the Winter/Spring Fishing White river rafting HOW DO WE ELOPE Head to your local county clerk’s office where you’re looking to elope in. Make sure to bring your ID and $30 license cost. Sign and complete the marriage license. You must file your license and bring it to your county clerks office or mail within 63 days of signing and 35 days of purchasing. Colorado is a self solemnizing state so the only thing needed is yourselves. No officiant or witnesses needed. You can even have your dog sign your marriage certificate. If you decide to elope in a National park you may need a permit. My elopement packages cover national park fees and I will take care of the application process for you! NATIONAL PARKS IN COLORADO Rocky Mountain Great Sand Dunes Gunnison Mesa Verde WHEN SHOULD WE ELOPE? Summer - While this season is some of the best weather it's often the busiest season with tourists coming from all over. Summer is also when wildflowers like Columbines start to peak between June and August. Fall - You will see the changing in color of the aspen trees and summer crowds will start to wind down. This will lead to more spots being less populated. Winter - Some may consider this to be the off-season but most if not everyone who lives in Colorado will be hitting the slopes and taking in the gorgeous winter landscape. If you're a Winter lover you will love Colorado in Winter and will be the ideal time to elope if you love winter activities. Spring - You will start to see all the flowers blooming and closed trails becoming more available for hikers. WHAT IF THE WEATHER ISN'T GREAT? I've photographed weddings and elopements in all types of weather so it really doesn't matter to me. My best advice would be to prepare for anything. Depending on the month rainfall happens between March to October with the highest rainfall month being May. I would avoid wearing long trains if you don't want a dirty dress. But I always tell my eloping couples that your dress will get dirty regardless and that's ok! 8+ Hours of Coverage Example: Adventure Hiking Elopement *Coverage hours are based on a Summer sunset elopement * Times will vary depending one season, month and day 9:00 am Wakeup at Airbnb pack for hiking elopement 9:30 am Breakfast at a local restaurant or cafe 10 am Meet at trailhead - 2-4 hours hiking to summit *depending on location 2:50 pm Summit mountain - Rest time 25 minutes before photos - Take time to change into wedding attire 3:15 pm First look 3:30 pm Ceremony/vows 4-5:00 pm - Sunset photos at the summit *dependent on sunset time 6+ Hours of Coverage Example: 9:00 am Breakfast + coffee at a local cafe 10:00 am Back to Airbnb to get ready for ceremony 3:00 pm Ceremony at summit 3:30 pm Photos at summit 4:00pm Champagne toast on the trail 6:00pm Sunset photos 8:00pm Back to Airbnb for dessert and after-party 9:00pm Head back out again for starry night photos 4 Hours of Coverage Example *short hike: 3:00pm Meet at an Airbnb for a few getting ready photos and a first look outside 4:00pm Ceremony at lake 5:00pm Toast & sunset photos 7:00pm Done Recommended Vendors: Flowers: Yarrow and Spruce, Lady Southwest, Fairytale floral Bakery: Alire Modern Bakehouse Jeep rentals: Turo Jeep Rentals, Rocky Mountain Jeep Rental Helpful links: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/colorado/flat-tops-wilderness https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbr/recarea/?recid=80838 https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recarea/?recid=81112 HOW DO WE BOOK YOU AS OUR COLORADO ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER? Just head to my contact page and fill out a form or you can email me at raeannphoto056@gmail.com when you're ready to start planning. If you're planning for a weekday there's no rush but if you would like a weekend date, let me know ASAP!

HOW TO ELOPE IN SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND (Photos from Saguaro Park West) If you're looking for a beautiful and unique location to elope, Saguaro National Park may be the perfect choice for you. With its stunning desert landscapes and iconic saguaro cactus forests, this park offers a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. However, before you start planning your elopement, it's important to know what permits and restrictions are required in order to ensure that your day goes smoothly. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! There are so many hiking trails around the park with beautiful backdrops of mountains and of course the iconic Saguaro cacti which only grow in parts of Mexico and southern Arizona! The park is set right outside of Tucson, Arizona and is accessible year round. Let's get into the nitty gritty about where/how and when to elope in Saguaro National Park. There are two parts of the park, a west side and an east side. Saguaro Park West aka Tucson Mountain District is on the west side of Tucson and Saguaro Park East aka Rincon Mountain District is on the east side. Both districts are an hour apart from one another. HOW TO ELOPE IN SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK You will need a special use permit to elope in the park. The cost of the SUP is $100 and you can apply up to one year in advance for it but the park requires a minimum of 4 weeks. The park only allows ceremonies, no receptions. There may also be a monitoring fee of roughly $35/hr. Saguaro National Park Restrictions: - No flowers - in order to keep the flora and fauna safe and healthy in their environment, the park does not allow outside flora. But you can still use fake or dried flowers which are available on Etsy. - No arches, tables, chairs, decorations, speakers, signs or generators are allowed in the park. - Exclusive use of any area of the park isn't permitted which means other visitors may also be in attendance. But not to worry, I have specific spots in mind and do offer location scouting in my elopement packages so can find the best spot that works for you both. It's also important to note that park entrance fees are required for all wedding guests in attendance as well as the couple. The fee is $25/vehicle and is good for up to 7 days. Another important piece of information that applies to restrictions is LNT (leave no trace). You can find the 7 principles of LNT here. It's essential when hiking around wilderness areas to leave things as you found them. This means stay on trail, don't leave any food/trash behind (pack in, pack out) and don't leave food scraps. I know what you're thinking, well Rae, my apple is compostable. It actually takes awhile for an apple to fully compost which leaves it as food for the animals. Locations, locations, locations!! Saguaro Park West Bajada Loop Drive Valley View Overlook Trail Signal Hill Petroglyphs Desert Discovery Nature Trail Wassen Peak - only hike during colder temperatures to minimize risk of heat stroke Saguaro Park East Cactus Forest Drive Mica View Trail Riparian Overlook Sonoran Desert Overlook Things you can do during your elopement Go hiking - start early to avoid hot temperatures Share drinks Stargaze Have a picnic Walk around the garden at the Red Hills Visitor Center Watch the sunset together at Saguaro Park West How do we elope in Saguaro? If it's just the two of you you will need a marriage license and two witnesses. I'm an officiant so I can officiate + sign your marriage license. In order to get married/elope in Saguaro National Park you will need a special use permit of ($100). This permit allows any wedding that is on a trail or uses a trail for access to be limited to 18 people. When should we elope? Soooo, I have been to Arizona during 2/4 seasons, Summer (July) and Fall (November) so here are my thoughts! Fall - Probably one of my favorite times to visit Arizona, it's similar to Winter even into November it gets up to 75 during the day and is generally dry like Winter. There isn't much foliage in the desert but it's still a beautiful time. Winter - Usually warmer places are better to visit during Winter. There are milder temperatures as well as dryer weather. While this is a great time to visit, just know that it's peak time so many other visitors will be around. Summer - With temperatures getting up well past 100 degrees it's not an ideal time to visit. If you're set on Summer we can plan activities focused around sunset or sunrise! Spring - The desert is a beautiful time to visit in the Spring. All the beautiful desert wildflowers will be blooming! One thing to be aware of is the hibernating animals/bugs that have been dormant over the Winter coming out for the sun! The cactus bloom is in May! What if the weather is not great? The only thing I would be worried about is temperature. Hiking in Saguaro National Park can be very dangerous especially in Summer when temperatures can get above 100 degrees. I wouldn't worry about rain, it does rain in the desert with the highest rainfall month being August but other than that it's usually too dry! Full Coverage Example Timeline: 9am Breakfast + coffee at a local cafe in Tucson 10am Back to Airbnb to get ready for ceremony 11am Meet at Red Hills Visitor Center (make sure to bring a picnic lunch) 12pm Picnic Lunch at Visitor Center - explore garden and take photos 3:00pm Head out for photos along Bajada Loop Drive 6:00pm Head back to airbnb for a break, change of clothes, dinner/drinks, etc. 7:00pm Head back out to Saguaro Park West for sunset (adjust for sunset time) 8:00pm Back to Airbnb for dessert and after-party 9:00pm Head back out again for starry night photos Camping sites: Manning Camp Spud Rock Spring Happy Valley Saddle Juniper Basin Grass Shack Douglas Spring List of Airbnbs: Historic 1920 Farmhouse Condo in Tucson Historic House in Tucson The Warren Casita Tiny Home in Tucson Venues/Vendors to consider Flowers: 1. Rustic Bridal Florals 2. Dried Floral Bouquet Venues: 1. Joshua Tree Posada Tucson 2. Tanque Verde Ranch Planning + Catering: Cloth and Flame Videographers: Cineprose Films Helpful links: https://quirkytravelguy.com/saguaro-national-park-east-things-to-do/ https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/camping.htm How do we book you for photography? Just head to my contact page and fill out a form or you can email me at raeannphoto056@gmail.com when you're ready to start planning. If you're planning for a weekday there's no rush but if you would like a weekend date, let me know ASAP!

ADVENTURE SESSION IN NORTHERN VERMONT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Tom + Emily had a beautiful late summer Vermont couples session behind their property in East Central Vermont. They booked their wedding with me back in 2022 and are set to get married in 2023 at the Tourterelle in New Haven, VT. We adventured up on a path that leads to a lean-to behind Emily + Tom's log cabin house where they live with their puppy, Maple.

RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Chris + Amber eloped at a cute treehouse airbnb for their Vermont snowboarding elopement. Their day was filled with love + raw moments. They started the day inside with hair and makeup by Brittney Eileen Beauty + Nomads Hair Craft and then went outside to get ready to gear up for snowboarding down the hill to the right of the airbnb. They then went down a couple runs and finished the day with private vows and hung out near a bonfire to keep warm. Vendor list: Content/Planning: @lexifosterphotography Photography: @raeannphoto.jpeg Florals: @kingsleyfloralco_ Makeup: @brittneyeileenbeauty Hair: @nomadshaircraft Models: @amberdlovett + @lovettorhateit

RIVER ELOPEMENT IN VERMONT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Keegan and Danielle held their Vermont river elopement in Waitsfield VT. Their elopement day was relaxed and wonderful. They started the day off getting ready at Mad River Farm and had their first look at Mad River. Afterwards they started their ceremony on the river as the afternoon light started to set in. As Danielle + Keegan entered their cocktail hour they were showered with birdseed by their family + friends.

INTIMATE WEDDING IN BETHEL, VERMONT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Taylor + Dan held their gorgeous Vermont airbnb intimate wedding at a cute house in Bethel, Vermont with close family + friends. They got ready together in the house and then had their first look under a beautiful old tree in the backyard. Taylor had asked me to paint Vermont landscapes as thank you gifts for their guests which were displayed on tables behind the airbnb. It was so fun to paint the for all the guests.

INTIMATE WEDDING IN JERICHO VERMONT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND It was a beautiful day for Jamie and Nick's Vermont intimate wedding among all the beautiful sunflowers in Jericho Vermont. The day began gearing up for a first look in the couple's backyard. Then we went to the ceremony location in a carefully landscaped garden overlooking Camel's Hump State Park.

MICRO-WEDDING IN CENTRAL VERMONT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Kymberly and Allon had a beautiful backyard intimate wedding at their home in Central Vermont surrounded by their close family and friends on a mid August day. To start the day Kymberly shared a special moment with family as she got ready for her first look with Allon. Hung up on the back porch were cute tiny onesies for her unborn child due in December. We made our way to Allon who was waiting patiently for her by the river behind their house. After an intimate first look the rest of her family + friends started to arrive and they greeted them with love. The ceremony was magical and included tears, moments of laughter, powerful vows and of course the Jewish tradition of stomping on a cloth covered glass and shouting "Mazal Tov!" All in all it was a wonderful day of special moments, laughter and good times! This wedding was featured in: Boho Weddings UK https://www.boho-weddings.com/239510/laid-back-and-natural-backyard-wedding/

RAINY VERMONT ELOPEMENT IN MONKTON, VERMONT RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Niko + Kenny held their intimate Vermont elopement in the woods at their house in Monkton Vermont. Niko wore an heirloom wedding dress special to her family. Their family was present as they had a small wedding inside while it was raining. Eventually they braved the rain and took some misty photos in the backwoods of their house. Their elopement day was stress free, laid back, magical and genuine. After their living room ceremony they had an intimate dinner in their dining room and then cut the cake! Later they put on some music and started a dance party! It was an unforgettable day! NIKO + KENNY'S STORY: They both met in California working in Hollywood. They eventually moved to Vermont and bought a beautiful house together in the woods with their dogs. It has been their home ever since.

ADVENTURE SESSION IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE RAE ANN PHOTO | ELOPEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND Allie + Nick had a romantic, White Mountain couples session on top of Sugar hill in Northern New Hampshire. Surrounded by lupines and rainy mist they powered through the rain together. The two had booked me in 2022 for their wedding and I had the pleasure of photographing their engagement session this past Summer. It was raining but we still made the best of it and had some fun! They're getting married in 2023 at Samuel O'Reilly House in Conway, NH. I'm so excited to document their day.