Lake Tahoe Destination Elopement Photographer

When you choose to start your wedding day with adventure and epic views, that’s my definition of eloping.

Kira + Dakota are just the sweetest, happiest couple. And if you’ve ever met Kira, you’ve heard her laugh. She is one seriously joyful, giggly gal, and her happiness is completely contagious.

So when these two told me they were planning their elopement in South Lake Tahoe, I was STOKED.

Lake Tahoe is one of those places that makes you stop and stare. Tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountains along the California-Nevada border, the lake is enormous, crystal clear, and surrounded by some seriously incredible scenery.

And the best part?

You can explore it.

A Lake Tahoe Elopement With a Little Adventure

Kira and Dakota started their wedding day with an intimate ceremony on the beach, tucked into a beautiful wooded area surrounded by towering trees.

Their ceremony was short, sweet, and completely focused on the two of them.

And then?

We hit the road.

We explored different areas around Lake Tahoe for their couples portraits, stopping along the way for different views and beautiful little spots. We photographed at beach level, found gorgeous overlooks high above the lake, and even discovered a waterfall along the way.

The views just kept getting better.

The water was that incredible Tahoe blue, the mountains surrounded us, and these two got to spend their wedding day soaking it all in together.

Why I Love Elopements

This is one of the reasons I absolutely LOVE photographing elopements.

There’s something really special about spending an entire wedding day with a couple when the focus isn’t on entertaining a room full of people.

Kira and Dakota were able to slow down and actually be together.

They explored.

They laughed.

They took in the views.

They spent a few nights in Lake Tahoe, ate delicious food, went shopping, and turned their wedding into a little adventure together.

And that’s what I love about eloping.

Your wedding day doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s.

You don’t have to follow the traditional timeline. You don’t have to invite hundreds of people. You don’t have to spend the entire day worrying about whether everyone else is having a good time.

You can choose something that feels like you.

For Kira and Dakota, that meant an intimate ceremony, beautiful mountain views, exploring Lake Tahoe, and a whole lot of laughter.

And I was pretty dang honored to be there to photograph it.

Elopements also have a funny way of making me feel like I’ve become friends with my couples. There’s something about spending an intimate, adventure-filled day together that creates a completely different experience than showing up for a few hours at a traditional wedding.

I had such a blast with these two, and I am so incredibly happy for them as they start this next chapter together.

Cheers to the newlyweds! 🥂❤️