I am so stoked that you decided to break out of the mold and plan a wedding day that is totally unique to you, full of all of your favorite things.
My goal? I help couples just like you dream up the most "perfectly them" elopement, from intimate game nights in cozy cabins, to a coffee shop date before a privately catered dinner, to a hiking adventure in the wilderness. No expectations. No rules. Just an amazing day you'll love to look back on.
So... a traditional wedding isn't really your thing?
I feel you.
With over 12 years of experience, I will be by your side through the planning process, offering my insight & expertise!
I'm your list-making, pro-tip sharing, happy-dancing, backup-planning, weirdness-affirming, adventure-loving, third-wheeling, elopement experience creator too.
I specialize in drinking chai tea lattes, and watching Gilmore Girls reruns! I also specialize in capturing the story & scenery of your celebration.
My mission is to preserve your favorite moments in beautiful images for you to relive and to be a calming presence to make your day easy and fun.
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. It's not just a day for everyone else, and that's what I love about elopements.
Speaking of authenticity and beliefs... Too many photographers use their couples' elopement days as a portfolio building time, but you won't find that around here. I'm there for you - not for me! I will never push you into ideas that don't feel like you - that's why you're eloping in the first place, right??
she/her
states I've visited
27
couples i've worked with
350+
years in business
12
episodes of gilmore girls binged
100%
year i planned my own micro wedding (before that was a "thing")
2016
Sure, I take those beautiful images too, but I'm so much more than that.
I will help you through the planning journey as much as I help you on the big day! You won't just hire a photographer and not hear from them until the month before your elopement day.
Get pro-tips to your email on a regular basis. Get a 124+ page Elopement Guide book delivered to your door with answers to everything you could wonder about eloping. Text me questions. Borrow my cooler. I'm right here with you in planning this day so you never have to wonder if you're forgetting anything!
I don't just take pretty pictures!
"Amanda was simply amazing! From our initial contact, eventual meeting, and day of our elopement, she made things much easier (we loved her little hints, tips and reminders). Professional without being pushy, pleasant without being a pushover, she added to the joy of our day."
-Ted & Kathy
I’ve been where you are—planning my own non-traditional wedding. That's why I’m passionate about helping couples like you create a day that feels like magic.
We planned a micro wedding on the Grand Mesa before anyone knew what a micro wedding even was... and it showed! From venues having no idea how to handle a small group, to trying to navigate explaining our plans to guests... it was TOUGH.
I remember wishing we could just do whatever we wanted - not knowing that was an option yet - and feeling pressured into decisions because that's "just how it's done."
Even with all that, it was a great day. People's judgements and opinions all faded away and we look back on our album with fondness. Those things I wished I knew when I was planning back then are the things I love passing on to couples like you, because I've been there.
Taking that experience and that of the 300+ couples I've helped elope since, I strive to help make your planning journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.
PICK A DATE AND GENERAL AREA
We'll talk about what sort of area you're interested in, and what our calendars look like to find a date and general location. Looking for wildflowers in Colorado? Want fall colors in the mountains? I'll share my expertise with these areas to help us narrow it down.
WE COLLAB ON PLANNING YOUR DAY
I'll be your right-hand man as we journey through the planning process, including:
- Location Guidance
I will help you with location suggestions, whether you already know what you’re looking for but need help finding the perfect match, or you have no idea what you want and need help narrowing it down with you. I'll narrow down your perfect spots from my extensive Locations Database so you only have to read through your best fits, and we'll hop on Zoom to go over the pros and cons of them together. I will also help guide you through applying for any required permits we may need for those spots so you'll never have to worry if we're missing something.
- Vendor Recommendations
Having helped couples elope in these areas for over nine years now, I’ve gotten to know tons of pros to recommend to help bring your visions to life.
- 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! You've never eloped before, but I've seen dozens per year and can help you imagine a wedding day you'll never forget.
- Exclusive Elopement Guide
You'll receive access to my 140+ page elopement guide so you will have answers for anything you could have questions about regarding 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.
WE PLAN YOUR PERFECT TIMELINE
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 so we can stay on track to spend the day exactly as you imagine.
I CREATE YOUR GROUP PHOTO LIST
If you’re having guests along for the day, I will help create a formals list so that we have a list of shots to make sure we’re not missing any combos on the day-of.
I'LL BE YOUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND
I'm not just your photographer. I'm also your boots on the ground so that if you're flying in to your wedding destination, or just don't have room in your car, you can still have access to things like a cooler, camping table, someone to pick up your charcuterie board in GJ, camp chairs, backpack, picnic blanket, etc.
YOU DO THE DAMN THING!
The day is here and I'll document allll the moments so you can relive these memories every time you flip open your album.
AWARD WINNING, HAND-RETOUCHED PHOTOGRAPHY
As a recognized photographer in my industry, I pride myself on delivery top-quality imagery that is hand edited by me - not AI. You'll have real human hands on every image of your final gallery.
YOU'LL RECEIVE YOUR PHOTOS
Within 24-48 hours after your elopement, your extensive sneak peek will drop into your inbox for you to share the news with all your loved ones. While most photographers deliver in 6-12 weeks, you'll receive your full gallery in just 4-6 weeks!
ORDERING PRINTS & PRODUCTS
Add on an heirloom album or purchase prints for your new gallery wall. You don't have to be one of the many people who realize after three years you never printed your wedding photos - order from your online gallery and your professional grade prints will arrive at your doorstep!
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After you've had the best day marrying your life partner, you're probably excited to share this new life stage with your loved ones...
That's why I provide an extensive sneak peek gallery within 24-48 hours of your elopement! You won't have to wait long for a selection of 20-40+ images telling the summarized story of your day to hit your inbox so you can share with everyone you know.
While industry standard turnaround is 6-12 weeks, you'll also have your full gallery within 4-6 weeks!
"Made us feel comfortable"
“Amanda is friendly, professional, and made us feel comfortable instantly. She collaborated with us to create the perfect vision for our elopement day. When we got the photos, my husband said, “She made us look like models!” She really did. We were able to buy printed photos from Amanda’s website for great prices, too. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer!”
-Rachel & Loren
"Incredibly helpful"
“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. Plus all her recommendations for other local vendors were fantastic. She was extremely punctual and super easy to work with day of - friendly and receptive to all the locations we wanted to get photos at and gave great suggestions for how to make the pictures look good. The photos came out absolutely amazing and way earlier than we expected. She was fantastic!”
-Kylie & Murat
"Put us at ease"
"Incredibly talented, down-to-earth, flexible, easygoing, timeline guru… she’s incredible! We loved working with Amanda. She sent so many helpful emails before to help with the planning process and truly put us at ease for the day of our wedding. We really appreciated her easygoing attitude combined with her hard work and flexibility. My husband and I felt at ease the whole day taking photos because she took them with such efficiency so we could spend time staying in the moment. It is so much fun to look back at all of the candid shots she took, she was truly able to capture what it felt like to be there. The incredible energy from our favorite day will now live on forever in her work!"
- Kelsey & Kevin
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!
4:30am - GETTING READY
Getting ready at your vacation rental, glampsite, or at the trailhead. You help each other get ready, put on a pot of coffee, pack up, and take your time as you begin to prepare for your elopement day.
6:00 - HIKE TO CEREMONY
You head out to the Monument before sunrise and take a short hike to where you'll exchange vows, rings, a unity ceremony and sign the papers to make things official as the sun comes up. Share a toast (or make some more coffee!) to celebrate.
6:30 - COUPLES PHOTOS
Spend some time taking photos with this beautiful place you've made this next step in your adventure together. Those images you'll hang on your walls and put on the holiday cards.
8:00 - BREAKFAST
Head back to town to grab breakfast at Pufferbelly or a brunch spot in Palisade. Or make coffee & breakfast at the trailhead on your camp stove! It's important to fuel yourself for the day.
9:30 - WALK WITH ALPACAS & PICK FRUIT
Before the heat of the day gets too hot, walk some alpacas around a peach orchard and get pictures with them. Go to a nearby U-Pick orchard to pick your own fruit to enjoy too.
10:30am - BREAK
7:00pm - SUNSET
Enjoy the day however you want, no camera pressure around (or take a nap, you got up early!) through the heat of the day. We'll meet back up for sunset pictures somewhere different from the morning to get the best of both views!
More Timeline Ideas
Grand Junction activities
You've got me all wrong if you think I'm trying to stick a camera in your face and pose you for 8 hours a day. That sounds like torture for both of us.
What I'm here for is to authentically capture your day so you can relive those moments for a lifetime. Getting ready as the nerves start to hit (I'll help you with those buttons!) The ride to your ceremony site. The coffee you make as the sun comes up (I'll lay out the pastries!) Riding your bikes or ATVs among the red rocks. Shoving your face in your cake. The way the sunset looks on your wedding day. The lake on the Mesa you jump in to cool off after the heat of the morning riding ATVs in the desert.
It's about planning your dream day - and I'm along for the ride to help with logistics and capture the joy you experience by living it.
Red Rock adventure in Gateway
A-Frame Elopement in Grand Junction
Half Day elopement in Grand Junction
Store your full collection of images from your favorite day for a full year after delivery (with the option to add on time!) so you never have to wonder where these precious memories are or if they're safe. Enjoy unlimited downloads while it's online, and let your guests download FREE web-sized images too!
You'll also get exclusive access to professional printing labs that only work with professional photographers, so you can order prints and products of the top quality, built to last for years and years!
ready to chat?
Need extra time? Add hours onto your existing day-of coverage.
$700/hr
50% off an extra session, for engagement photos or adventure sessions.
$350/hr
Top quality album that lets you relive every moment as you flip through. Click here to learn more!
8x8 Album: 20 Spreads, $600
10x10 Album: 30 Spreads, $900
Wooden keepsake box with 100 4x6 prints from your day, and a USB of your full gallery.
$300
Extra worried about the weather? Block off my day-before and day-after for even more flexibility on timing.
$2,000
Get double the angles and images of your day.
$100/hr
Top quality album that is a miniature of your own album, to gift to a loved one. Click here to learn more!
5x5 Companion Album (for 8x8 or 10x10 Heirloom Original Albums): $300
8x8 Companion Album (for 10x10 Heirloom Original Albums): $500
Pre-conceived elopement plans, for couples who want to take as much decision making out of the process as possible. I live and work here and have dreamed up some awesome elopement days that could be yours! These are best for no guests to just a small handful of guests who are okay not being part of every moment of the day and exploring on their own. You'll receive the same things in the packages above (digital files, timeline help, unlimited access to me etc!)
Start your morning with sunrise on the Colorado National Monument. Enjoy some coffee as you take in the splendor of the pillars and cliffsides constantly changing color each minute as the sun comes up. Share a picnic breakfast and take photos with the views.
Before the heat of the day really starts, head to Palisade for a walk with alpacas through the famous Palisade peach orchards. Take pictures with your alpacas.
As the heat of the day sets in, we'll separate so you can eat lunch, take a nap, and get dolled up for your evening ceremony and activities.
As we meet back up, we'll hit the orchards to pick your own peaches or apples (depending on what season!) so you have souvenirs to take home and beautiful images in these lush orchards.
Finally, as the sun is setting, we'll either head to a nearby Palisade overlook for your ceremony, celebration, and portraits with the golden hour - or we'll do the same at a desert overlook a short drive away.
Book a cabin on the Grand Mesa and we'll explore this high-elevation wonderland to escape the summer's heat in the valley below. Enjoy the morning together however you like and start getting ready after lunch.
Take your time that afternoon getting ready at the cabin together, while I document this as an ice breaker and so you can look back on this emotional part of the day.
We'll start with the ceremony at an overlook with mountains and lakes for miles, a wildflower field, or beside a lake - your pick! You'll want to get the jitters and formalities out of the way so you can enjoy the rest of the evening!
We'll then head to a nearby lake so you can paddleboard, kayak/canoe, do some fishing, or just dip your toes and take in the peaceful vibes from camp chairs along the shore. Spot a bald eagle if you're lucky!
As the evening approaches we'll head to your cabin for a quick bite, or a campfire dinner, before we head out to a stunning overlook at the edge of the Mesa (did I mention you can see all the way to Utah?) to watch the sunset and get epic pics with the views.
book the call
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?
Pick your location from 3 selected areas the Grand Valley has to offer, selected for you by a photographer with 10+ years of experience, make a few choices to customize your day, and with just those couple of easy decisions upfront you’re ready to show up and have fun!
book the call
Pick a date, choose from one of our pre-selected locations above, and get ready for an elopement experience that allows you to fully immerse yourself in all the beauty the Grand Junction area has to offer.
Answer a few questions to customize your plans, and leave the rest to us! Just book your travel, buy your attire and get ready for an awesome day.
You'll show up to an elopement day that you get to simply enjoy! Your officiant will guide you through a meaningful, personalized ceremony that you will treasure as much as the photos that help you relive it.
Available add-ons include picnic cheese board, officiant and more.
BASE COST: $2500
Additional Hours: $700/hr
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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. When you're ready to book you'll put $1k down as a retainer and I'll get to work!
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.
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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.
elope with amanda
Of course! However I personally do better work if it's under 3-4 miles of hiking, and I'm not the one to climb a mountain with you. If you want a photographer for a hike more than just a few miles, I know some fantastic folks to recommend! I love finding amazing spots that are fairly accessible.
Yup! You'll be able to download your images as much as you like, and make prints through any printer of your choice. While you can order prints and products through me, you're not obligated to.
I have a Locations Database full of all the amazing spots I've found on my adventures (or in my hours of perusing Google Maps) and I'll get feedback from you on what you need and want for your day. From there I'll personally select the places on my database to include in your Locations Guide. You can peruse all the deets about the spots before we hop on a call/Zoom to go over the pros/cons and lock in your location(s).
If you add an album on (which is the best way to relive your big day!) I'll create our first draft with my expertise and experience designing many dozens of albums that tell the story of your elopement day. After two rounds of unlimited edits from your feedback your album will be sent to print to arrive at your front door!
You'll have an extensive sneak peek within 48 hours of your celebration so you can relive the moments and share with loved ones. While industry standard is a 6-12 week turnaround time, your full online gallery will be available within 4-6 weeks after your big day!
Yep! You'll have exclusive access to professional print labs to order prints, albums, or products of your choice. Don't stress about designing your own album or realize on your second anniversary you never did print your photos. Order easily through the gallery -- these labs only work with the pros, so it's the best way to access professional quality prints and products!
Yes, images are edited to my style you see on my portfolio. However I don't alter your body aside from removing some blemishes. Your hair blowing in the wind, shadows, tears, and laughter are all part of telling the story of your day, and I respect your body too much to edit it.
If you've made it to the end of this guide, first of all I feel like you deserve an award, and second of all, you're probably my new favorite person.
It's people like you who let me call this amazing life my job and trust me to help them take the reigns on creating their favorite version of a wedding day.
I can't wait to meet you and would love the honor of documenting your celebration.
♥ Amanda
Thank you.
no really, you rock.
let's elope