The Elopement
Super-Adventure
As my signature elopement collection, I designed The Grand Tour for couples who can’t imagine their wedding day without being surrounded by the beauty of nature. Touring between trails, waysides, secret spots, views and much more, these fully-customized adventures match couples with landscapes they love.
Tour Adventurously
Lasting at least five hours and extending to full days, The Grand Tour can roam over multiple landscapes or fully explore a single spot. Vows, portraits, candid adventures, hiking, picnics, and whatever wedding traditions you decide to incorporate into your day come together for an unforgettable, custom adventure in Oregon, Washington, a National Park, or wherever you dream of.
As your personal guide and photographer, I will help you design an exciting elopement itinerary. With an award-winning background in both landscape and wedding photography, I will create a photographic time machine for you as we explore the wilds of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. See some ideas for adventures below, but let your imagination run wild–I’m here to enable all of it.
If you're fairytale-minded, grew up on "Lord of the Rings", or just feel most at home with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, this elopement wedding adventure is for you.
Adventurous Guided Elopements
Pacific Northwest & Worldwide
Grand Tour Collections
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Five Hours
Starting at $4,500
Tuesday – Thursday: $4,500
Friday – Monday: $5,000Additional hours available
Includes:
- Location, timeline and general planning assistance (see “Always Included” below on this page)
- High resolution, artistically-mastered photographs
- Password-protected online gallery
- Personal copyright to download, share and print
- Access to albums, print options and seasonal sales
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Sunrise & Sunset
Starting at $5,500
Five hours split between the finest lighting hours of the day (adjusted based on season, location and weather).
Tuesday – Thursday: $5,500
Friday – Monday: $6,250Additional hours available
Includes:
- Location, timeline and general planning assistance (see “Always Included” below on this page)
- High resolution, artistically-mastered photographs
- Password-protected online gallery
- Personal copyright to download, share and print
- Access to albums, print options and seasonal sales
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Full Days
Starting at $8,000
Perfect for elopement/honeymoon/travel adventures. Additional partial days can be added, and days do not need to be consecutive.
$8,000 – All Day (usually sunrise – sunset)
$14,000 – Two Days
$22,000 – Three DaysIncludes:
- Location, timeline and general planning assistance (see “Always Included” below on this page)
- High resolution, artistically-mastered photographs
- Password-protected online gallery
- Personal copyright to download, share and print
- Access to albums, print options and seasonal sales
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Destinations
Starting at $6,000
$6,500 – 5 Hours
$9,500 – All Day (usually sunrise – sunset)
$16,500 – Two Days
$23,500 – Three DaysTravel included for most locations & dates, with some exceptions made for more remote locations and busy times (we’ve all seen those plane fares)
Days do not need to be consecutive and can be matched to your travel schedule
Full weeks are available to include honeymoon adventure documentation
Includes:
- Location, timeline and general planning assistance (see “Always Included” below on this page)
- High resolution, artistically-mastered photographs
- Password-protected online gallery
- Personal copyright to download, share and print
- Access to albums, print options and seasonal sales
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Signature Handcrafted Albums
Starting at $1,250
With the strong belief that photos deserve to live outside of a screen, I offer beautiful, touchable albums handcrafted in Italy. With full grain leather or natural fiber covers, vibrant printing on heirloom paper brings your photos to life. Every book design is unique, representing your favorite moments woven into a storybook. Pages are thick and comfortable, begging for years of being spanned across laps and shared at the table.
Each album comes with a lifetime warranty.
Starting at $1,250
Always Included
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01
Location Guidance
Full assistance on choosing a place to elope and the best times to be there. We'll discuss landscapes, National Parks, scenic corridors, local trails, and anything magical that appeals to you.
I usually recommend Tuesdays and Wednesdays as the best days to avoid crowds. -
02
Timeline Guidance
I will help you create a thoughtful timeline for your day, removing as much stress as possible and focusing on excellent lighting/weather conditions. We will also discuss backup plans in case of inclement weather.
Early mornings or late-afternoons/evenings are typically best for beautiful light. -
03
Details
Would you like help finding an officiant? Choosing a dress? Ideas for flowers, cake, backpacks, shoes, and what kind of jacket you'll need? My Info page has many resources for you, and as your guide and photographer, I'm more than happy to help you with any questions you may have along the way.
Info -
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Local Advice
Any local advice you need on places to visit, where to eat, breweries, hikes, amazing drives through the forest, and even a place to mail things you might not want to take on the plane with you.
To make it legal, you’ll need:
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A marriage license from the state where you’re getting married (always check local laws for details)
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An officiant from the area you’re eloping (see my info page for recommendations), or an ordained friend or family member
**I am ordained and can sign paperwork as your officiant, but obviously can’t officiate and photograph at the same time. Plan to exchange vows during our adventure, and we’ll take care of the paperwork & legalities as a separate part of the day (no extra charge) -
Two witnesses
**If you’re eloping alone and if I’m not already signing paperwork as your officiant, I can be a witness. Most locations are also public enough to be able to flag down hikers or visitors to witness for you
If you’re getting married abroad, research will be needed to assure compliance. You can also sign paperwork at home and skip that step while traveling.
You also might need:
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A permit! Many national parks, backcountry areas and big-deal landmarks require permits, which we’ll discuss as needed
And:
It’s crucial that the entire party is well-prepared, equipped with the proper gear, physically ready for the chosen journey, and aligned with Leave No Trace principles.
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"Ara is not just an amazing photographer, her expertise lies in creating adventures tailored to individual couples. We shared our story on how we met (hiking), our engagement (hiking), our desire to explore and experience the outdoors, and she put together a package that was unique to our love story and journey. Ara will really take the time to get to know you, and she will deliver an experience like no other. We loved working with Ara and appreciate everything she did to make our wedding so memorable. When we show people our pictures, usually the first response is 'whoa!'"
Chris & Christa / Coast & Waterfall, 2025
