Elopements & Intimate Weddings in Western Colorado and Moab
LET ME GUESS…
You started planning a traditional wedding, but everything felt all wrong.
You knew that as much as they’d be trying to help, your family and friends would ultimately change your ideas and plans for the big day.
The idea of being the center of 100s of people’s attention all day sounds like a nightmare.
You knew that throwing a big party actually meant you wouldn’t have time to see everyone, or spend time with your new spouse.
You believe your wedding day should be an intimate celebration focused on your love for each other and who you are as a couple!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, FRIEND
If this is all sounding just like you, choosing to have an intimate wedding or elopement may be the ultimate path for you!
IMAGINE YOUR elopement DAY…
Imagine your wedding day that’s completely about your love for one another.
Imagine feeling fully comfortable in front of the camera, knowing you vibe with your photographer and I will gently guide you to look your best.
Imagine spending your entire wedding day with your partner, exploring an incredible area and doing what you love.
Imagine having a pro with over 12 years of experience on your side the help you with every step of the way so you feel completely prepared.
Imagine spending a fraction of the money on your celebration, so you can plan your dream day rather than a traditional wedding (that's really for everyone else, let's be real.)
Imagine having the flexibility to plan your perfect day, whether that includes a morning hike, a dip in a hot spring, bonfire and star gazing, or the most incredible alpine lake backdrop (with no hiking!) Your day is fully your own.
Imagine reliving the best day of your life every time you look through your photographs.
SOUND INCREDIBLE? YOUR WEDDING DAY CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT WHEN YOU ELOPE.
Am I reading your mind?
Location Scouting
So you can stop googling, posting to forums, and wasting your time trying to find the perfect spot. I've spent countless hours driving the back roads or with my nose in a map (you should see how many spots I've flagged) to help you narrow down and find the best spot for you to spend your day.
Timeline Planning
So we're in the best places at the best times - cuz this is probably your first elopement, right? Whether you’re planning activities for your elopement or just need help with timing the perfect sunset ceremony, I love to help my couples with creating the perfect timeline for the day. I’ll create an agenda, with as much specific or general timing as we want, and what spots and activities we’ll be doing there.
Permit Guidance
Eloping in the west means navigating permits and other legal requirements. OOF right? You can rest easy, though. I know alllll the requirements and what we need to do.
Activity Ideas
From helping you brainstorm ideas you’ve never considered, to helping you with the logistics of making those ideas happen, consider me your go-to person to bounce things off of so you can craft the most amazing day you can imagine!
Vendor Recommendations
Small mountain and desert towns can be hard to find vendors at all, let alone ones who show up in an online search. Having helped couples elope in these areas for over nine years now, I’ve gotten to know all the pros to recommend to help bring your visions to life.
Group Photo List Creation
If you’re having guests along for the day, I will help create a formals list so that we have a list of groups to make sure we’re not missing any combos on the day-of.
Elopement Guide
You’ll receive access to my 124 page elopement guide full of everything you could ever have questions about for how to elope! From marriage license navigation, to emergency kit checklists, to advice for what to wear, to choosing your lodging, and so much more – this guide is your new best friend
Location Scouting
So you can stop googling, posting to forums, and wasting your time trying to find the perfect spot. I've spent countless hours driving the back roads or with my nose in a map (you should see how many spots I've flagged) to help you narrow down and find the best spot for you to spend your day.
Timeline Planning
So we're in the best places at the best times - cuz this is probably your first elopement, right? Whether you’re planning activities for your elopement or just need help with timing the perfect sunset ceremony, I love to help my couples with creating the perfect timeline for the day. I’ll create an agenda, with as much specific or general timing as we want, and what spots and activities we’ll be doing there.
Permit Guidance
Eloping in the west means navigating permits and other legal requirements. OOF right? You can rest easy, though. I know alllll the requirements and what we need to do.
Activity Ideas
From helping you brainstorm ideas you’ve never considered, to helping you with the logistics of making those ideas happen, consider me your go-to person to bounce things off of so you can craft the most amazing day you can imagine!
Vendor Recommendations
Small mountain and desert towns can be hard to find vendors at all, let alone ones who show up in an online search. Having helped couples elope in these areas for over nine years now, I’ve gotten to know all the pros to recommend to help bring your visions to life.
Group Photo List Creation
If you’re having guests along for the day, I will help create a formals list so that we have a list of groups to make sure we’re not missing any combos on the day-of.
Elopement Guide
You’ll receive access to my 124 page elopement guide full of everything you could ever have questions about for how to elope! From marriage license navigation, to emergency kit checklists, to advice for what to wear, to choosing your lodging, and so much more – this guide is your new best friend
Elopement Planning Services
These elopement planning services are included in all my elopement photography packages, and are now ALSO a new service you can book a la carte! I will help you with:
Your wedding day should feel comfortable.
I help couples craft their dream wedding day that is private, comforting, and stress-free.
You don't have to be anxious about your wedding day!
All the fun, without the fuss
Part of why you wanted to elope was having fewer things to stress about than a traditional wedding, so why would you still want the hassle of planning your elopement day?
You’re not picky about the details, you just care about a great experience
grand junction
All-inclusive Elopements
Elopement Photo Gallery
It’s important to make sure you like my work before you get started on booking! Get lost in some of my work and see my vibrant, timeless style.
AND BEFORE YOU SAY IT, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME…
“WE ARE HORRIBLE AT TAKING PICTURES.”
But after the day together, couples always tell me how easy, fun, and laid back their time was!
“When we got the photos, my husband said, 'She made us look like models!' She really did.” -Rachel & Loren
So what’s the secret? Feeling comfortable with the people you’re with and genuinely having FUN makes all the difference!
While I’m debunking some myths, let me add:
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO CRAZY HIKES OR LOOK A CERTAIN WAY OR LOVE A CERTAIN WAY TO GET AMAZING IMAGES LIKE THESE. COME AS YOU ARE – YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
your first family heirloom
Want to add on an Heirloom Album, full of photos that tell the story of your day? You can flip through its pages and relive those moments you long for from the day. No more realizing years down the road you never did anything with your elopement photos!
"We have been passing around our photo album with family over the last couple days and everyone is loving it. We wanted to thank you again for your work!"
-Clinton & Ruth
You don't want an all-day Photoshoot?
Oh good, Me neither.
Elopement Timeline Example
2:30 - GETTING READY
Getting ready at your vacation rental or campsite. You help each other get ready, put on a pot of coffee, and take your time as you begin your wedding day. We'll break the ice and get used to hanging out.
3:30 - CEREMONY
We head out to your ceremony location where you'll exchange vows, rings, a unity ceremony and sign the papers to make things official. Share a toast or speeches to celebrate!
4:30 - GROUP PHOTOS
Spend some time taking photos with everyone in attendance in this beautiful place you've made this next step in your adventure together. Those images you'll look back at on their birthdays each year.
5:00 - DINNER
Whether you make dinner reservations at a nice restaurant in town, grab tacos from your favorite shop, hire a private chef to treat you to a fine meal in your vacation rental, or bring a picnic on our adventure in nature.
6:30 - ACTIVITIES
After dinner, you can spend the time until sunset exploring the area, hiking, fishing, taking photos with amazing views, seeing new sights, eating dessert, and spending time however you would like to most! We'll get those iconic photos and those stunning candids you love so much and will hang on the wall to relive these moments any time. Click here for activity ideas!
8:30 - SUNSET & STARS
Watch the sunset together. Eat a snack or some cake while the stars begin to come out. Stargaze and take some photos with the milky way as you end your new favorite day.
Location Database
Exclusive Access to My
Based on your vision and needs, I'll hand select the best options from my extensive Location Database for you to peruse. Get intel like elevation, distance & difficulty, trail videos, coordinates, things to do nearby, and photo examples from the space!
I specialize in drinking chai tea lattes, and watching Gilmore Girls reruns! I also specialize in capturing the story & scenery of your celebration.
As a full service wedding photographer in Grand Junction, my mission is to preserve your favorite moments in beautiful images for you to relive those best moments of life that fly by too fast.
A Little About Me...
I believe there’s no better sight than the night sky at 10,000 feet.
I also believe you should be able to be authentically you on your wedding day. Whether that’s an off-beat elopement or more traditional wedding celebration, I strive to capture each genuine moment.
I strive to capture the day as it unfolds, all those candid moment to perfectly preserve what it felt like to be there. Too many photographers use their couples' wedding days as a portfolio building time, but you won't find that around here. I'm there for you - not for me!
Hey there, I'm Amanda
she/her
states I've visited
27
couples i've worked with
350+
(and counting!) moose I've seen
8
episodes of gilmore girls binged
100%
featured on
-Allison & Ethan
Amanda is the perfect wedding photographer. The photos perfectly captured the whole day and I feel like I can easily relive it just by looking back at the photos. I highly recommend Amanda.
"The Perfect Wedding Photographer"
-Megan & Jordan
Amanda was the best decision we made for our wedding day! The photos are exceptional and perfectly capture the scenery and vibe we were going for, but that’s only a portion of what Amanda provided. She helped give us planning guidance, organization, and reassurance throughout, which alleviated all the worries we had about eloping in a place we’d never been before.
"the best decision we made"
-Beth & Dustin
We used Amanda for our wedding and she is the BEST! Our photos turned out amazing and she captured the feel of our night perfectly. She’s also really fun to hang with. We didn’t want her to leave at the end of the night!
"She captured the feel of our night perfectly."
- Kylie & Murat
Amanda did an amazing job on our elopement photos! She was incredibly organized during all the planning and sent incredibly helpful tips and ideas in the months leading up.
"Incredibly organized & helpful"
wondering where to explore?
My Favorite Elopement Locations Include:
Ouray
Moab
Crested Butte
Grand Junction
Grand Mesa
Gateway
INVESTMENT
Packages begin at $2k for local GJ elopements.
Wider CO and UT elopements range from $4-10k.
Elopement Pricing
No matter the package, you always get:
Access to my Locations Database - see the best spots I've accumulated over the years, in a personalized guide to fit your needs
Timeline & Group Photo List collaboration - you probably haven't made dozens of these per year like I have, so let me help you with that!
The final digital files in an online gallery, unlimited downloads, and online access for at least 1 year. Plus free websize downloads for loved ones!
My travel included - I work in the places I know best, and I'll meet you there!
Award-winning & Hand Retouched Photography - As a recognized artist in the industry, I strive to deliver beautiful artwork from your day, hand edited by me - not AI - for that human touch.
Elopement Resources
Want to learn more about eloping?
Check out these
travel schedule
I'm based in Grand Junction, CO which means I get the best of both the desert and mountains each year! As such, I work specific areas during different parts of the year to give you the best experience in these locations. Take a look at where I spend my time below to find out the best times to book:
If you don't see your location on here, please still reach out! There's always a chance the stars will align.
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
Grand Junction
Palisade (tree blossoms)
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
Grand Junction
Palisade
Western CO
Moab
Gateway
Western Co
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Western Co
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Twin Lakes
Western Co
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Twin Lakes
(Fall Colors!)
Ouray
Crested Butte
Aspen
San Juan Mtns
Grand Mesa
Twin Lakes
(Fall at lower elevation)
Grand Junction
Palisade
Western CO
Moab
Gateway
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
Limited Openings
Grand Junction
Moab
Green River
Eastern utah
Gateway
We're in... what now?
01
LET'S MEET
We'll hop on the phone or Zoom (or grab coffee!) to get to know each other and talk all about your dreams and ideas for the big day, and how I can help make your life easier.
PLANNING JOURNEY
From there I'll send you my 124 page Elopement Guide and help with location ideas, scouting, emergency kit info, permits, activity suggestions, vendor recommendations, timeline creation, group photo lists, and so so much more. I will help you craft the most incredible day, with backup plans because life is life. You'll feel like you've never been so excited or prepared for anything before.
02
03
THE BIG DAY & AFTER
The day is here and you're surprised you're nervous after all this time. I will capture your day in a way that tells the story for you to relive forever. You'll have sneak peaks within 24-48 hours and a full gallery of the whole day within a month or so.
Hold up!
We have a question...
How do we know if we need a permit?
I'll help you out! You're not in this alone. When I help you narrow down the perfect location(s) for your elopement, I'll let you know if there are any permit requirements. Some permits require the couple to fill them out and submit, while others are my responsibility, but even when they are yours to submit I'm here to help out. No need to worry!
How much time do we really need?
Unless you want to basically get married and take a couple photos together, most couples book at least 4-6 hours to really capture their elopement story. From breaking the ice at getting ready at your vacation rental to exploring just a couple of the freaking cool places in the area, the time flies by faster than you think!
What if we're having more than a few guests?
I feel like I practically specialize in micro weddings at this point, so you're not alone and you're definitely in the right place! I've helped couples with micro weddings at large vacation rentals, micro wedding venues, outdoor places that allow under 50 people, and so many other cool non-traditional celebrations. It's totally possible!
No offense but we don't love having our picture taken for that long...
Honestly? Same. When you decide to book me, you're getting more than a photographer and a photoshoot. I'm not going to have a camera shoved in your face the whole time. I'll be "along for the ride" to capture the way your day unfolds and feels like, so that when you look back on your images you feel like you're transported back there - reliving every memory. You don't get that by hiring someone to clock in and clock out, you get that by hiring a professional adventure buddy who captures days like this all the time!
But what if the weather sucks?
The secret? The greatest benefit of eloping is the freedom and flexibility. Sure we'll have back-up locations in case of bigger issues like road closures, wildfire, or flash floods. But if you're worried about the typical afternoon rains Colorado gets each summer or a freak storm breaking out, don't stress about it. First, I only book one event per day so that we have the ability to move up or move back our start times to move around the weather. They say if you don't like the weather just wait 20 minutes! Beyond that, a lot of the couples I work with are up for an adventure already, and are stoked to have their day captured whatever the weather. I'll have clear umbrellas on hand juuuuust in case too. We'll never shoot in actually dangerous weather, but I bet you'll secretly appreciate what the winds do to fly your veil around! Crazy weather makes for a great story to take back home, too. But if you're really super concerned, I do offer the option to add backup dates!
< See more FAQs
reach out >
How adventurous are you?
Straight talk: I am not the photographer who will hike 10 miles with you or climb a mountain for those peak top photos. I know some amazing photographers to recommend if that's your vision!
Ready to save your date?
Let's work together!
