Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographers and Guides

ht it would come true since I have a large Indian family who would traditionally have a large wedding. We had gotten engaged literally the day quarantine started, so we postponed any plans of getting married until things got better. Unfortunately, circumstances did not change even a year later, so we thought it was the perfect opportunity to have an adventure elopement with Adventure Instead, especially since we did not want to put anyone at risk with a larger wedding. And we decided just to message them through their website, and we received a prompt email back. **I definitely recommend messaging them even if you are not sure about when/what location, they do an amazing job at working through what the perfect elopement looks like for you! Also don't be intimidated and think that you have to be super adventurous couple or avid hikers to do an adventure elopement, they do a fantastic job at finding beautiful locations that are within your comfort level (which was great for us especially since we had acquired quarantine bodies). Both Tori and Amber were super helpful in decided which location and dates, since we were considering either Joshua Tree NP in CA or Colorado. My partner and I decided to go with Colorado, and with the help of Amber, we were able to plan the elopement in under 3 months! The whole process was so streamlined and so easy (since Amber did most of the work), all we had to do was pick out outfits, a cake, AirBnB, and drive to CO! It was truly a magical experience, even though we had never had our pictures taken professionally. What Amber does with her camera is insane, we never thought our awkward selves would look like art! All in all, if you choose Adventure Instead, you will have an unforgettable wedding day, all about you and your loved one, with absolutely no regrets!

es when we are freaking out with joy that give us the greatest clues about who we are and where we genuinely belong." Want to freak out with joy and have the most amazing special wedding day?! Then look not further than Adventure Instead. I can not say enough wonderful things, but here are a few highlights for you: 1) Thoughtfulness and care- We first spoke to Tori about eloping in the Pac NW (where we are from) and she so wisely reminded us that perhaps winter would be better to spend in the snow than the rain - and connected us with Amber. Even though Tori wasn't going to be our day of photographer she sent me the most detailed & thoughtful responses- answering all my questions, sharing so much great information, and connecting us with Amber. To be so thoughtful about our day that she was willing to give up our business to make sure we had the best day - well that just speaks volumes. 2) The Planning - Even though we were eloping, there's still some planning to do! We weren't sure exactly what we wanted, and Adventure Instead put together the most detailed 30+ page packet of location ideas, complete with photographs, packages, and several itineraries to choose from. Simply amazing. 3) Encouragement - We were a bit nervous about eloping v having a traditional wedding, but wanting to be careful and not have people travel in COVID, we decided to take a leap - Amber and Adventure Instead were nothing but encouraging and helpful throughout the entire process. 4) The day of - Everything was taken care of by Amber - locations, timing, travel..she thought of everything! We started our day at Loveland Pass with the sweetest first look she coordinated, then had our ceremony at a gorgeous looking at Sapphire Point, hiked around, and then had an afternoon snowshoe at Clinton Gulch. I literally did not worry for even a second and Amber put us so at ease! I have never had so much fun - I didn't even realize we had photos taken!! Not just that..but she took some on her phone so she could share some immediate snaps with us so we had those until our actual photos! 5) The PHOTOS. They look like they came from a magazine. They capture all of our authentic moments perfectly and I didn't even realize Amber was taking photos most of the time!! At one point I turned around (I was twirling in the sun and snow in my dress!) and she was laying in the snow to capture the perfect shot. DEDICATION!! We had an absolute blast and could not have asked for a more perfect day. PLUS - Adventure Instead is woman owned , carbon neutral (hello earth!), LGBTQIA+ friendly - all things that were super important to us. Also - bonus? We got our sneak peeks in a handful of days and 500 photos (!!!) in just a few weeks!! And they're GORGEOUS. Thank you Amber and Adventure Instead!!!

n it came to deciding on details (I’m an indecisive person) and gave us amazing advice along the way. She made us feel comfortable, loved, and brought out our inner adventurers! I always looked at the beautiful photos of other couples, and never imagined we could look that good in our own photos. We rock climbed, hiked, laughed, and cried, and it couldn’t have been more worth it. One thing that truly sets Amber apart from other photographers (other than talent) is that you can tell she loves what she does. She took the time to get to know us and encouraged us to make this day about us. Her passion for her work shows in her photos, and we were all in awe at how beautiful the photos came out. Looking at the pictures makes me tear up every time, and I am so thankful we followed through with booking. I could not imagine our wedding day any different. If you’re considering booking, do it. If you’re considering eloping/having a small intimate wedding, do it. It is so so SO worth it. I’ve had so many people tell me “your wedding photos have me reconsidering my traditional wedding plans.” We have every intention of booking Amber again down the road for a vow renewal. Until then, I will absolutely cherish the beautiful photos we have been blessed with. Thank you Amber !

ide and an officiant. Tori was very warm and patient, talking to her feels like she is one of your besties. She listened to our ideas and thoughts very carefully, and gave us a lot of inspirations for our wedding planing. Before our wedding day, Tori went to all of the spots to make sure the lights/locations/environments are perfect for our shooting. We really appreciated her for spending the time doing this ahead of time to make sure the spots chosen were private and beautiful, which were our top priority. During this process, she discovered another spot that was amazing for photo shooting but not on our original list. She suggested to add this spot, and it turns out to be an excellent decision. The photos we took there were better than we expected! In the beginning of the photo shoot, we were a little nervous and worried, but Tori gave us a small talk to help us relax and enjoy every second of our wonderful wedding day. We are grateful to have Tori be part of our big day and would strongly recommend Adventure Instead!!

ossible or safe, we needed a plan B. We were going to elope October 2020 in central Oregon, but when the wildfires hit... we needed a plan C! And ended up eloping still in October but on the Oregon coast. The day was still amazing, incredibly fun, the photos turned out beautiful and we could not be happier with all of it. If you're considering this route, I would encourage you to pursue it, and I wouldn't recommend anyone else but Adventure Instead! Tori was so flexible, empathetic, great at listening, supportive, communicative, and helpful. I think we all became best friends.

ds from the start. Tori was responsive to all our questions and the communication was open and flexible as we had just begun to plan in March 2020 (hello COVID-19). We got engaged in March and married in October, a quick turn around but we never felt like anything was rushed. Tori did a thorough job of presenting us with location and scheduling options for our two-day elopement. The resource guide for the area is something we will actually use for years to come! She also was very intentional in getting to know us in order to better prepare for our big day. As the wildfires raged in Oregon the month before our wedding, Tori was already presenting us with back up options that we luckily did not end up needing, but what a relief to know that someone was looking after us so that we didn't have to worry. Meeting Tori for the first time was like being reunited with an old friend. She did a great job of maintaining professionalism while at the same time making us feel comfortable in front of the camera throughout the weekend. Your wedding day should be spent surrounded by people who truly care about you and this is incredibly true of Tori and the Adventure Instead team. It's easy to see that all their photography work is incredible but it's also important to note that the people behind the cameras truly care more about your experience than any sort of photograph they might add to their portfolio. I cannot recommend Tori enough--you'd be lucky to have someone like her as a part of your wedding!

tate) and got married in a beautiful alpine lake setting. The whole process with Amber was easy, exciting, and stress free. We found a great hike in Aspen and Amber was great to communicate with the whole time. Our experience with her on the wedding day was also amazing as she was pleasantly interactive but also made us feel like there wasn't even a third person there and we were able to share intimate moments together. Our photographs came out beautifully and we were ecstatic about our whole experience. Amber went above and beyond that day too as we accidentally dropped our ring into the lake and she helped to get it out! We also went over our allotted time but Amber said nothing of it and we were never rushed. I would highly recommend eloping in an adventurous location and definitely recommend hiring Amber to capture the beautiful moments of that day.

iately put us both at ease. She helped us to have an amazing day and captured the photos that will allow us to relive it again and again. It felt like we were in our very own Colorado fairy tale and Amber played a huge role in making that happen. Honestly, we can’t say enough good things. We were in love with our day and we love our photos. We are beyond grateful for our experience!

ted to be easily accessible for loved ones, but also wanted a nearby hike with big views for just us + Tori to go on and she did not disappoint! Even when we found out three weeks before our wedding that our original location couldn't accommodate us, she quickly found us just-as-amazing plan B and C options that also met our specifications and even recommended nearby lodging/restaurants. During the day of, Tori made us feel comfortable and completely ourselves and it came through authentically and beautifully in the photos. Cannot recommended them enough!

ur heads (which was no small task). ...And all of this was before COVID hit and wildfires squashed our intimate wedding dreams... it is here that I think sets Tori apart from other photographers. We went from a small intimate ceremony with 24 family members to just eloping the two of us. She became our one woman hype team. Her willingness to research and switch up plans in some rough times made us significantly less stressed even an extremely stressful time. As for the day of, she put us at complete ease. Told us to be ourselves, take in the day, and she would capture it along the way. There was no need to pose or “fake smile” at any point because she let us be us (which is saying something because I am an awkward photo taker). Her images she captured are beyond breathtaking. She scouted our locations the day before so she already knew the best place for us to take photos and have our ceremony. The 4 hours went by quickly and we enjoyed every minute of it. Using Adventure instead was hands-down the best wedding decision we made. I could not recommend more and will over share with anyone who asks how positive our experience was. Tori was an absolute delight to work with. We left the day feeling like we made a new friend - that is literally how she makes you feel.

ble working with her. She helped making the whole process stress free. I just received my photos today, and I am IN LOVE. I highly recommend to anyone who loves adventure to choose adventure instead to help with your big day!

phenomenal photographer. There are no words to describe how beautiful the photos came out and how helpful Amber was every step of the way. Amber listened to our vision and ideas and built the most amazing day for us. Amber made us feel that our wedding day would be awesome and perfect every step of the way, including during the pandemic. We constantly look at the photos and want to relive these moments because they were truly INCREDIBLE. I already want to book a vow renewal adventure with adventure instead because of how much fun it was. We are so happy we decided to elope from the beginning. It was truly a day all about us, doing what we love together, hiking in the mountains.

appy to offer multiple solutions whenever we hit a roadblock in our planning. It was wonderful having Tori as the only other person present during our wedding. She reminded us to take it all in and be fully present throughout the day. She cheered us on and seemed just as excited as we were to be getting married. She was also prepared with bug repellent and sunscreen when we needed it! Our pictures are absolutely beautiful and fully capture the feeling of the day. We never felt posed or not ourselves. I'm so glad to have the photos from Adventure Instead to relive our magical wedding day on the mountain! I know we'll enjoy them for years to come!

hat you want from your day. Not only were they fun to complete together, but it meant a lot knowing the effort that Amber put in to getting to know us before photographing one of the biggest days of our lives! Amber is so discreet and skilled at what she does that we actually wondered if she took enough photos when the hike was over, because we hardly noticed her taking them! Of course once our sneak peek photos came in...WITHIN 24 HOURS...we realized how many awesome shots she had gotten. Then....there's COVID. Amber and the rest of the team worked with us to adjust our package when we realized our family couldn't travel and it was just going to be the 2 of us. From waking up in the middle of the night to meet us for a sunrise hike...to running back UP the mountain on our way down when we realized we lost my husband's boutonniere(!)...to turning over our sneak peek photos in 24 HOURS and the rest of them within a month...Amber is the best and we would recommend her to any couple looking for an intimate, unique, unforgettable elopement experience!

values, and this company delivered on those values and our hopes tenfold. We highly recommend Adventure Instead! Not only are we absolutely thrilled with the final product of our photos, but Adventure Instead really helped us long before our actual elopement day. They assisted us in homing in on what our perfect location would be (since we were coming into Colorado from out of state). Their knowledge of locations, hikes, and alpine lakes was incredibly helpful, and of course made the planning easier. Before our big day, we video chatted with Maddie Mae so she could show us how the sun would look at specific times in our exact location, helping us pick our ceremony time and plan our hike. She even shared the links to the same pack raft and paddle she had so that all three of us could get to an island for the ceremony. On the day of our elopement, we met up with Maddie Mae and we both felt very comfortable with her as we hiked up to our location. Her willingness to paddle all of her photography equipment to an island to allow us to have an incredibly unique and intimate ceremony was really amazing and we so greatly appreciated it. Although she was on the island with us while we exchanged our vows, she was able to keep some distance to allow us to have that moment, just the two of us. And she was still able to capture each and every beautiful moment! We paddled back to the shore and had a lovely little picnic and read letters from our families, all while Maddie Mae took the most gorgeous photos. Even for our portraits, she instructed us to pretend she wasn't there, and in so many ways, the photographs capture the small glances, intimate reaches, and happy, knowing smiles as if it really was just the two of us there all evening long. The photos speak for themselves, but this team is also incredibly professional and responsive to questions. If you have had your heart set on a romantic getaway in the beautiful outdoors, trust Adventure Instead with your elopement or intimate wedding - you will not be disappointed!

get the perfect exposure…my partner and I went through a lot of photographers’ portfolios, but Adventure Instead’s photos jumped out with their punchy yet natural editing style. Their images were vivid, warm, natural, clean, and composed to feature the couple without losing sight of the stunning scenery. We submitted a request on their website, and very quickly, Tori reached out. From our initial consultation, Tori was friendly - and a trove of information. She explained the concept of an elopement and how it fit into our wedding vision. She also walked us through her packages and helped break down which worked best for the locations/timeline we had in mind (We knew exactly where we wanted to elope to, but if you don’t - Adventure Instead can 100% help recommend). We booked with Tori in February 2020 for a July elopement. Shortly after, COVID hit, which put a cloud of uncertainty over our plans. Tori was immensely encouraging and accommodating throughout the process. Because we weren’t planning to bring any family or friends, and our elopement date was rather far away, Tori suggested that we continue preparing what we could for it, and that she’d help evaluate the go/no go situation as the date neared. From sending us guides on where to shop for dresses/suits, giving suggestions on props to bring, keeping track of COVID situations, applying for a national park permit…Tori played the roles of our elopement mentor, photography professional, friend, and confidant (with whom I gossiped about dresses, styles, planning...). Two weeks from the elopement date, Tori reached out to know that while she had everything booked and was ready for our big day, she’d only do it if we felt 100% comfortable. Otherwise, we could reschedule for a later date on her calendar without hassle/cancelation fees. We were bullish about the situation, so we greenlit the trip on our end, but we were grateful that she put our health/comfort level/best interests in mind. Because of the multitude of exchanges we had with Tori, we felt like we were catching up with an old friend when we met her on morning of our elopement day. She was literally the nicest person - during the shoot, she gave simple instructions, and nudged us to only do things that we usually do/interact normally as if we were spending time together. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m one of the most awkward posers, but Tori did not explicitly ask us to “pose”. Her style is “you do you, and let me worry about the photos.” In hindsight, looking at the photos which Tori delivered way ahead of what the contract required, I was truly surprised by how candid, pretty, happy, and cute my partner and I look when we…show each other affection and interact in our normal way (hey, confidence boost!) So, if you are looking for someone who is more than just a photographer, knowledgable about elopement, able to uncover your inner model that you didn’t know existed, makes you comfortable, creates a magical day, is accommodating, and delivers rad photographs you can keep for a lifetime, Tori is your girl! And going with Adventure Instead is one of the best choices I had made in life, second only to choosing my partner with whom I got to spend this wonderful elopement with.

When we decided to go with them, we were assigned Tori and she instantly made us feel so comfortable and helped us out every step along the way. She gave us a whole list of different places we could go, vendors for pretty much anything you’d need. Since she is very familiar with the area, she was able to answer any questions we had. Our wedding day was absolutely perfect. We were able to go to 3 different waterfalls and got tons of incredible photos. We actually just got our photo album back yesterday and were blown away at how good they came out. We were so comfortable all day and she was a joy to be around. Thank you so much Tori and the entire Adventure Instead team for the best experience we’ve ever had and will never forget. 🥂100/10

isted with all the simple yet important details like how to hike with your bouquet in your backpack and where to find the best cake. Amber made our day SO incredibly special by paying close detail to everything that we wanted to capture and made our day feel so real and candid unlike a typical wedding day, which is what we really wanted. The images that we received from her were delivered well under the expected time frame provided and they were unreal. She is more than just a wedding photographer she is a life-capturing artist. All in all, we are more than pleased with the services we received from Amber and the Adventure Instead team. Additionally, the vendors list provided by Amber offered top notch hair and make-up artists, florists, and bakeries located in your area in which you will elope and is much recommended as it made the details of our day come together with ease. I will recommend Amber and Adventure Instead to anyone and everyone I know that plans to get married. Go elope!

ement from out of state, but Amber set our minds at ease right away. From the minute we spoke with her, we felt like we hired one of our best friends. She helped us plan everything, from our dream location, to suggestions on how to hike with flowers in my backpack. She sent endless breathtaking location options based on our vision and helped create a timeline for our perfect day. My husband and I were a little concerned about being camera shy and introverted, but she truly made us feel comfortable every step of the way. She captured the raw emotion we felt on that day in the most beautiful way and our pictures turned out better than we could have ever imagined. Amber was incredibly thoughtful about letting us have our intimacy but was still able to capture the magic we felt every single moment of that special day. I honestly don't think we could have pulled this together without Amber and we are forever grateful to have found Adventure Instead to help make our day extra special and one we will never forget.

. Tori helped us decide on our bucket list location of New Zealand from our first phone call. Once we had a location set we had no idea how much research she would provide us to narrow down where we wanted to spend our hours with her together and get married. I think we had over 40 pages of potential locations, and all of them were on point with what we were looking for! Tori helped us to plan a day that would be fun and allow us to see so many beautiful spots. The day before we met up, she even went out and scouted multiple locations so we would have back ups and options. Even though it rained on our wedding day (good luck!!) we had such a blast and made the most of our elopement day. Then we had two more days where we spread out our hours and those days were so fun filled and relaxed too!! I think my favorite moment was after our first look (lots of tears were shed), we were all emotional and Tori put away the camera after she got the shots and talked to us as my husband and I held each other. She talked about how today was about us and she wanted us to focus on each other and to not worry about getting good pictures because she would get those. She reminded us to think of all the good times we have had in the 8 years of our relationship. It was so calming and heartfelt and just made us feel so comfortable from the get-go. We never felt posed or awkward, she really made us feel comfortable and would encourage us to be snuggly and cute like we would if no one was around. I honestly was worried we’d come off awkward because my husband is super shy and we don’t like PDA, but our photos could not be more beautiful!! I still cry when I look at them!! Our families and friends were able to understand why we wanted to elope as soon as they saw those pictures. When my husband and I went through them we were so shocked we were captured so beautifully as us being ourselves, you can see the happiness in all of the pictures. If you are on the fence about eloping, or on the fence about hiring Adventure Instead versus another elopement photographer, search no further and book them. You will not regret it, they are so much more than photographers. They truly love what they do and have this down to a science so that your day can be a true reflection of you two as a couple and you’ll have the best experience possible.

r our elopement was infectious and her expertise on how to plan, prepare, research, etc. was absolutely incredible. My wife and I like to plan things out to a T but Maddie was so willing and excited to help and in some cases, completely take over so that we could relax and enjoy everything going on around us. If you're unsure of whether or not you want to pull the trigger on eloping with Adventure Instead, do it!

d Adventure Instead. We drove to the Sand Dunes and Amber was a perfect guide throughout the entire day. We had a lot of ups and downs to deal with (food poisoning, unexpected freezing weather, hail on our motorcycle ride, etc) and she handled it all like a champ, I’m not sure what we would have done without her. She clearly has a huge passion for her work and it truly shows in her stunning photos. We finally created a photo album and can’t wait to have that as our first wedding heirloom! Thanks for everything Amber. If you’re on the fence about eloping, do it! : )

of our questions/worries going through the process which is a huge deal when you're doing something like this. We weren't looking for a production, we were looking for an adventure. Which is exactly how we aim for our marriage to be and it's exactly what we got. Thanks so much for making our day the one to remember. I can not recommend their service and team enough. Do what you want! And make sure it's what YOU want, not what others want. We did that and it could not have been more rewarding.

al and a story of our lives I will treasure and hold so close , it would not have been the same without Maddie, she is honestly the guru of elopements. She isnt just a photographer but an epic planner , it was honestly a breeze working with her, we never once doubted her capabilities in the whole planning process. obvioulsy having an outdoor day you never know whats in store but Maddie is so adaptive and has a solution and plan for every possible situation that may come along. All her future couples are so lucky to have her help plan and capture their day. Maddie is a phenomenal photographer and has a true gift in bringing the best out of her couples. Maddies energy, enthusiasim and care for her couples knows no bounds. I cannot stop looking through all the photos with the biggest grin on my face and tears in my eyes, my heart is overflowing with happiness reliving our magical dream wedding. The photos are just so so beautiful Maddie captured everything perfectly with so much attention and emotion, we couldnt have asked for more, we LOVE them so so much and will treasure them so dearly. everyone that sees them are just blown away

n location scouting, prepping for the weather, knowing which time of day (sunrise vs sunset) your photos will look best and has the best vendor recommendations! Our sunrise hike with her was better than we could have ever imagined. Maddie ensured we were comfortable and even gave us time to ourselves to soak in the sunrise - Matt and I felt like the only 2 people in the world on our wedding day. Maddie also had a quick turn around for a sneak peek so that we could show our friends and family at our separate reception back in PA and I am SO grateful for that! Her photos brought tears to so many people's eyes. Our photos are works of art and she captured our emotions in the most beautiful way. THANK YOU times a million to Adventure Instead for giving us the most unforgettable experience of our lives. Also, props to Bessie for letting me send my dried bouquet to their office 4 days before our wedding so that I could stop freaking out about how it was going to get there from Pittsburgh, PA :)