If you’ve been scrolling Pinterest boards and wondering what a real elopement day actually feels like (not just looks like ) this post is for you.
As an Arizona elopement photographer (and ordained officiant), I’ve had the honor of being part of some of the most intimate, emotional, and joyful days of people’s lives. And I want you to know exactly what it looks like when you book a full-day elopement with me. No surprises. No stress. Just your love story, beautifully documented.
Here’s how your day unfolds.
The Night Before: You Already Feel Taken Care Of
Your elopement experience starts before I even arrive.
The evening before your big day, you’ll get a message from me (not an automated one, a real one). I’m telling you how genuinely excited I am, reminding you to stay hydrated, and confirming what time I’ll see you. It’s a small thing, but it sets the tone: you are cared for, and tomorrow is going to be incredible.
The Morning Of: The Biggest Hug You Didn’t Know You Needed
When I show up on your wedding day, the first thing you’re getting is a hug.
I check in with you both logistically and emotionally. How are you feeling? Where are you mentally? Are you nervous, excited, both? I want to know where you are so I can meet you there. This isn’t a job to me. It’s your day, and I take that seriously.
While you’re finishing getting ready, I’m not hovering with a camera in your face. I’m moving around quietly, capturing the details: your dress, your rings, the little things you’ll want to remember. You just exist in your moment. I handle the rest.
The First Look: More Than Just a Photo Moment
If you’ve chosen to do a first look, I scout the location while you’re getting ready. When the moment comes, I give you something to hold onto while you wait for each other:
Think about your relationship. Walk through your memories together. And when you see your person standing there, dressed up and waiting for you, that’s the physical embodiment of everything you’ve built.
Then I step back and let you have your moment. What happens next is always real, always emotional, and always beautiful.
We take portraits at the first look location, and then one of my favorite parts of the day we all pile into the car. Your playlist goes on. We laugh. We decompress. We just breathe together as we drive to our first location.
The Adventure: This Is What Elopements Are Made For
Let’s say your day includes a picnic and kayaking because yes, we do that.
We spread out a blanket, you eat, you laugh, you just be together. I’m there, but I’m not in your way. I’m capturing the stolen glances, the genuine laughter, the moments you don’t even know are happening.
Then we get in the kayaks. We’re out on the water, surrounded by nature, and you’re just living your life while I document it. This is the part that makes elopements so different from traditional weddings you actually get to enjoy your day.
The Ceremony: I Can Officiate Too
Here’s something that surprises a lot of couples: I’m an ordained officiant. Which means if you want, I can be your photographer and marry you.
I set up a camera to record the ceremony while I photograph it simultaneously so you have both video and photos of your vows. Before your day, I’ve already asked you questions about your relationship so I can weave personal details into the ceremony. It’s never generic. It’s always yours.
You exchange vows. I pronounce you married. You sign your license. We hug. And then (obviously) we pop champagne.
Golden Hour: The Magic Hour
We drive to our final location and we chase the light until the sun falls.
This is where some of the most cinematic images of your entire day happen. The warm glow, the long shadows, the way Arizona light hits red rock, there’s nothing like it. I’m directing you gently, always asking permission before adjusting anything, always inviting you to collaborate: if you see a shot you want, tell me. This is your day.
The Send-Off: You’ll Feel It
As the day wraps up, I give you the biggest hug. I remind you what happens next, when to expect your sneak peeks, your gallery timeline. I want you to feel completely held, not left wondering.
And somewhere in there, you’ll find a little gift from me. Just a small something to say: I see you. I’m so glad I got to be part of this.
This Is the Krissy Mae Difference
Throughout your entire day, I’m checking in emotionally, physically. Are you hydrated? How are you feeling? Do you need a moment? I’m your calm anchor, your hype woman, your guide, and your photographer all wrapped into one.
Your day is a collaboration. Not a photoshoot. Not a checklist. A real, lived, felt experience that happens to be beautifully documented.
If this sounds like the elopement experience you’ve been looking for, I’d love to hear your story.
Krissy Mae Photography specializes in elopements, intimate weddings, and adventure sessions across Arizona including Sedona, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, and Moab. Available for destination elopements nationwide.
