K + A got married at the courthouse in Flagstaff, Arizona before heading north to Grand Canyon National Park to commemorate their day with elopement portraits, yurt camping under the stars, taco bell dinner, and Mario Kart racing on their Nintendo Switch. This was truly THEIR day and exactly how they wanted it.

They helped each other get ready in their Airbnb yurt outside of the National Park, and got their florals ready from Sedona Flowers. From there we drove together to the Grand Canyon and captured some lovely portraits for them.

Their beautiful florals curated by Sedona Flowers perfectly complimented the cotton candy post-sunset skies we got. I had them exchange rings again, and share some extra vows to commemorate their time here at the Grand Canyon.

As the sun went down, their minds ached for celebration and stomachs ready to feast. We headed back to their yurt, where we would soon learn of all the fun yet to be had for their special day. The first thing they were excited to dive into was their beautiful succulent cake made by Sedona Cake Couture.

And oh no, they did not stop there. Next up they pulled out a bag of their favorite goodies: Taco Bell and endless snacks from the convenience store. Now this is where they thought of themselves and what THEY wanted for THEIR day. When I asked during their early consult meeting, “What do you both love to do together?”, they both replied with exactly what you’re seeing here. They love playing games, munching on their favorite snacks while cozied up on their couch together. What’s better than comfort food and some Mario Kart competition after your elopement day?!

During their consult meeting, this is everything we went over and talked about: How do you want your day to look? What do you hope to feel and see in your final photo gallery? Timing wise, are you looking for an epic sunrise? sunset? starry night? All of my elopement packages come equipped with this in mind. They wanted something that felt them, not out of the ordinary—except for the Grand Canyon of course. They immediately mentioned sunset at the Grand Canyon and that they were beyond excited booking a yurt—so starry night photos were a “yes please!”

These kinds of questions I asked when designing their elopement, ultimately helped them to enjoy their day and it not feel like a timed and rigid photo shoot. It’s more about experiencing and being present. After-all, this is their elopement day they traveled thousand of miles for, it should be enjoyed! This allows their final gallery outcome to tell the full story, and again, not just be a timed photo shoot.

The next day we met back up in the morning at the Grand Canyon South Rim to take advantage of capturing more Grand Canyon view points, and they also FaceTimed their family and friends to share the news—they eloped!

If you’re looking to capture your Grand Canyon elopement, look no further than Earth Below Photo. As an experienced destination elopement and wedding photographer, I specialize in capturing the raw beauty and intimate moments of couples against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Grand Canyon, all while being able to help you plan out your perfect day. Inquire here. I can’t wait to join you on your next adventure!