morgan + jason

desert elopement in moab, utah

There’s so much magic that happens when you elope or in our case have an intimate destination wedding. I don’t know what it’s like to have a traditional wedding, but I imagine it’s hard to connect with your spouse because there are so many people you have to greet. With an elopement or an intimate destination wedding we were able to deeply connect, enjoy where we were and connect with our closest friends and family. I wouldn’t want it any other way and would do it all the exact same!

I had to start with how these two described a bit of advice they wanted to give to couples who are considering eloping, because I think it is spot on. These two set up their entire weekend around getting to spend time with their people, in a place that they both love. Their ceremony was absolutely stunning, remote, and intimate. They were able to share this place with their people, some who were seeing it for the very first time.

Sometimes when I FaceTime with couples who are planning weddings or elopements, I can tell that they’re struggling to decide on a few different things. I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is so easy to get overwhelmed with all of the decisions you have to make. I’ll sometimes suggest that couples write down the 3 most important things to them as individuals, basically their non-negotiables for their wedding day. I’m not sure if this is what M & J did, but they stayed true to what was most important to them as a couple and I think it shows in their photos.

We wanted to focus on the things that mattered the most to us. That would be: -the commitment we’re entering together. -honoring the love and support of our close friends/family that helped us become who we are today. -to experience growth with each-other, as a couple, and with our close friends/family through new experiences. (i.e. canyoneering the day before the wedding, staying in safari tents, campfires, hiking, etc). -Wanted the bride and groom to feel/look their best (DUH)! -And of course, it was important to capture the special moments so we could share the memories forever! We ultimately realized all the other “stuff” was distracting us from what mattered to us.. It’s really easy to get caught up in the commercialized wedding and wanting to “compete” with what’s on Instagram. Best advice is to find out what your purpose is then make sure everything else you plan aligns within. All that to say, our day was the best day because we remained true to our values.

I love this so, so much. Also, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long into this post to get to this very important point, I have a mega couple crush on these two. They immediately made me feel welcome, not as a vendor but as a friend and a guest on their day. Their love and admiration for each other made them an absolute dream to photograph, not to mention the fact that I’m fairly certain Morgan’s Rue de Seine gown was made for her. Jason looked so sharp and dapper in his dark green suit, I snapped photos like a crazy woman and they didn’t mind a bit.

Thank you, M & J, for trusting me to be your photographer. I’ll love these photos always, and I hope you will, too. xo

Getting ready venue: Moab Under Canvas

Gown: Rue de Seine

Florals: Lilly and Iris

bridals at dead horse point & a dive bar in moab