All-Day Elopement in Joshua Tree National Park

I’ll probably sound like a broken record here if you’ve read other parts of my website but I believe that this absolutely bears repeating — Just because you’re having a smaller guest list on your wedding day, it doesn’t mean your day itself should be any smaller. Your day is still 24 hours long, so why not make the most of it and have an all-day elopement? (You know, just like you probably would if you were having a traditional wedding?) Because you’re having a much smaller guest list, you’ll now have so much more time to spend with the few people that actually matter, in a much more stress-free, intimate setting. Isn’t that a huge plus?!

P+L is a perfect example of not scaling back on what they wanted out of their wedding day. It was still an incredibly special day fully celebrated with their loved ones. It was originally supposed to be a two-person elopement, but they decided at (almost) the last minute that they really wanted their immediate family there. So family it was! They were all traveling from Texas, and it was everyone’s first time to Joshua Tree National Park. As a Joshua Tree elopement photographer, I helped them with locations, securing permits and vendor referrals — all within a span of 3 months!

Prior to me arriving, their day had had quite a few hiccups, as I very quickly learned. Minutes after my arrival, Peyton yells out the door, “Get inside the house! Lance just got bit by a snake!” Eeesh. Thankfully, it wasn’t a poisonous or bad bite, and Lance actually didn’t feel anything from it (phewww!).

So after the shock of that was over, I next learned that Lance’s mom had missed her flight from Texas earlier that morning due to standing in a very long Chick-fil-A line IN the airport! (Add that to the ever-growing list of crazy airport stories, am I right?!) She had thankfully managed to get on the next flight out to LA, but her next mission would be getting from LAX to Joshua Tree and fight Saturday LA traffic on Easter weekend. (Their original plans to fly into Palm Springs instead were also foiled due to the Coachella festival, oof.) She eventually made it right before we were due to leave for the park, with just enough time to get dressed too!

Despite all this, the family remained in good spirits, hopeful that the rest of the day would go smoothly with no further hiccups. And it did! My original fears of giant lines and extended wait times to enter the park on Easter weekend was unfounded when — much to my surprise — there was NO line at all! In fact, the park was probably the most empty I’ve ever seen it on a weekend, and a holiday weekend at that. My guess is we have Coachella to thank for that. ;)

I’m obsessed with how everything turned out. :’) It was such a special, intimate day where genuine conversations were had instead of passing congratulatory remarks. Congrats P+L, thank you for having me capture your day. I’m incredibly honored that you picked me to freeze this day in time :’)

Photography: Pam Jeanne Photo
Cake: We Take The Cake
Food: Pie for the People
Dress: Made with Love
Cake-topper: Rawkrft
Vow books: Cozy Comfy Home

DIYs by the talented bride & her mom: hair & makeup, bridal bouquet, reception table design :)

PS. Here’s a pro-tip! Self-officiating your own ceremony can make for an incredibly intimate experience! If you’re traveling from out of town, or thinking about “self-officiating” your elopement ceremony in California, consider doing all the legal stuff in your hometown first before your actual elopement day! Just because you’re not doing the “legal” stuff on your actual elopement day doesn’t make the day any less special… just like how having a smaller guest list doesn’t make your day any less special either! Paperwork (and guest lists) shouldn’t be a determining factor to how special your day can be ;)