Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer

Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer Hey! I'm Maddie Mae and I'm an elopement photographers + experience designer for unreal wedding days

06/23/2025

⛹🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️Sorry, not quite!

(Though I’ve seen some *epic* Vegas elopements, too 😉)

This is what eloping is now. It’s not about sneaking off to get married.

It’s about focusing on you and your partner and all of the love between you, about trading a $50k ballroom wedding for a mountaintop adventure, about feeling like *you* on your wedding day.

It’s about ditching tradition to get married on the best day of your honeymoon.

That’s what marriage should feel like. A grand adventure with the love of your life. No more, no less.

So… I guess you could say the “new” definition of eloping is doing whatever makes you feel fulfilled and excited in a way that isn’t considered “traditional”.

There’s definitely more to it though.

Here’s more info all about what an elopement actually is today.

Elopement definition:
https://adventureinstead.com/elope-definition/

06/20/2025

If I don’t leave the trip feeling like I grabbed life with both hands, what’s the point?!

Just kidding… kind of. Historically, I’m bad at being a vacationer. I want to see everything, do everything, and feel like I really LIVED while I was there.

But at the same time, I’m trying hard to slow down more. Last year, I took a trip to Maldives and FORCED myself to be in vacation mode, and it was so rejuvenating. (I’ve heard there’s this thing called “taking a break”...? I’ll investigate and let ya’ll know 😉)

What’s your preferred travel ideology? 👀

If there’s one thing I know how to do (besides photography), it’s planning an epic experience… even when I need to just chill 😅

I have a whole masterclass that’s FREE where I coach you through all the planning and logistics involved for an elopement photographer!

If that or any of my other 15+ business, marketing, or photography masterclasses interest you

Get them FREE here!
https://checkout.adventureinsteadacademy.com/weddings-wanderlust-videos/?_ga=2.120110158.795651398.1749594097-1490749635.1706819132&_gl=1*16vbqht*_gcl_au*MTQwNzIyNjkyNC4xNzQ0MzExODM0*_ga*MTQ5MDc0OTYzNS4xNzA2ODE5MTMy*_ga_J9CR916EC8*czE3NDk1OTkwOTMkbzEwNCRnMSR0MTc0OTU5OTEyMSRqMzIkbDAkaDA.

06/18/2025

Enjoying the trip for a full week >>> enjoying a venue for a few hours.

Amanda & Dennis RADIATED cool. From their black a-frame cabin, to their coordinating suit and dress, to their handfasting ceremony… everything was super personalized and unique to them.

Their elopement day included a helicopter tour over glaciers complete with wildlife spotting, a picnic on a custom cutting board full of charcuterie, cake, and champagne, and a paddle through a meltwater pool.

They had their first dance back at their cabin on the rain-soaked deck while a fire crackled nearby, and then went inside for a private dinner made by a chef.

Their whole day had this totally ethereal fairy tale vibe that’s only possible in places like Alaska, and I loved every second of it.

They also had SO many personal touches, which made every photo stand out as totally theirs!

I’m getting so excited to head back to Alaska this summer… if this is your dream elopement day, let me know! 👀 We can still talk about 2026!

Elopements can be whatever you want them to. Stop limiting your experience because it’s what’s “normal”.

And step one to that insane experience?

Get a helicopter.

Here’s how.
https://adventureinstead.com/helicopter-elopement-guide/

I just landed back in Greenland, and I could not be happier about it. This place BLOWS my mind every time. This is the p...
06/17/2025

I just landed back in Greenland, and I could not be happier about it. This place BLOWS my mind every time.

This is the place that solidified my personal obsession with glacial ice that I don't think I'll ever recover from.

It's genuinely impossible to comprehend or wrap your head around Ilulissat. This icefjord is the most productive in the entire world, meaning it spits out more icebergs than any other glacier.

(In fact, they're pretty sure one of these sank the Titanic!)

Right now I'm in a remote backcountry cabin and I got to spend most of today staring at the same foot of a glacier, watching it calve and drop apartment sized blocks of ice that sound like thunder when they slide down.

I don't know what's so mesmerizing for me about ice, but I'm really lucky to have shared this obsession with a few eloping couples!

I'm super excited to photograph here again in the coming days, and I'm thinking a lot about Kayce & Nick's elopement from the last time I was here.

During their elopement, the boat captain actually landed us ON an iceberg. Which was completely crazy and totally unexpected!

While this usually isn't possible, our boat captain was a seasoned expert and knew that conditions were just right to be able to do this safely. So Kayce & Nick got to get out onto a massive, completely flat iceberg for a while!

It was a once in a lifetime experience for sure, and something no one thought was going to happen. I live for moments like these in elopements. Pure joy and being in the moment while a day no one else will ever have again unfolds before your eyes.

Kayce & Nick were also game to lay down on a freezing cold boat deck for the experience, so safe to say, they were my kind of people!

This has become one of my happy places here on Earth (and I actually like it better than I liked Antarctica 🤫), so I'm *thrilled* that I can keep bringing couples back here to share this slice of beauty on their wedding day.

Can't wait for ya'll to see this next one... it's gonna be epic.

xx Maddie Mae

Kayce & Nick’s day was FILLED with moments that felt so surreal, I would’ve believed a fairy followed them around sprinkling them with elopement day dust.

I feel forever lucky to have been the one to help plan and capture a day as uniquely fun as this one.

Read about their day here!
https://adventureinstead.com/gallery/kayce-nicks-2-day-greenland-and-faroe-islands-elopement/

I just landed back in Greenland, and I could not be happier about it. This place BLOWS my mind every time. This is the p...
06/17/2025

I just landed back in Greenland, and I could not be happier about it. This place BLOWS my mind every time.

This is the place that solidified my personal obsession with glacial ice that I don’t think I’ll ever recover from.

It’s genuinely impossible to comprehend or wrap your head around Ilulissat. This icefjord is the most productive in the entire world, meaning it spits out more icebergs than any other glacier.

(In fact, they’re pretty sure one of these sank the Titanic!)

Right now I’m in a remote backcountry cabin and I got to spend most of today staring at the same foot of a glacier, watching it calve and drop apartment sized blocks of ice that sound like thunder when they slide down.

I don’t know what’s so mesmerizing for me about ice, but I’m really lucky to have shared this obsession with a few eloping couples!

I’m super excited to photograph here again in the coming days, and I’m thinking a lot about Kayce & Nick’s elopement from the last time I was here.

During their elopement, the boat captain actually landed us ON an iceberg. Which was completely crazy and totally unexpected!

While this usually isn’t possible, our boat captain was a seasoned expert and knew that conditions were just right to be able to do this safely. So Kayce & Nick got to get out onto a massive, completely flat iceberg for a while!

It was a once in a lifetime experience for sure, and something no one thought was going to happen. I live for moments like these in elopements. Pure joy and being in the moment while a day no one else will ever have again unfolds before your eyes.

Kayce & Nick were also game to lay down on a freezing cold boat deck for the experience, so safe to say, they were my kind of people!

This has become one of my happy places here on Earth (and I actually like it better than I liked Antarctica 🤫), so I’m *thrilled* that I can keep bringing couples back here to share this slice of beauty on their wedding day.

Can’t wait for ya’ll to see this next one... it’s gonna be epic.

xx Maddie Mae

06/16/2025

100/10 would recommend.

I can’t wait to get back to Alaska. This state in the summer is home to some of the most unreal moments I have ever witnessed.

There are so many things that are possible ONLY in Alaska and only in the summer—like paddling around meltwater glacial pools, landing on glaciated peaks, and basking in hills of wildflowers teeming with animals.

If you’re looking for a sign to elope there… this is me telling you that you won’t regret it!

As a photographer who has captured more than a few elopements here in Alaska (and will never NOT recommend it after seeing what it has to offer), I absolutely have my favorite places that are totally awe-insipring in any light, at any angle, with any experience.

See my list here!
https://adventureinstead.com/best-places-to-elope-in-alaska/

06/12/2025

You’re not imagining it—your love really is that special. ✨

There’s getting married in the way that everybody does, and then there’s what *you* deserve. That cinematic, once-in-a-lifetime, can’t-believe-we’re-doing-this feeling that makes sure that your wedding day is 100% YOURS and no one else’s.

Everybody deserves happiness. But your love deserves the *best*. That’s what I’m here for! 🥂

I’m not kidding. Stop letting your idea of a wedding interfere with an experience that can be MORE than you’ve ever wanted.

Here’s some inspiration to get you started

Find inspo here:
https://adventureinstead.com/elopement-ideas/

Dogs make *everything* THE BEST 🙌 I’m SO HONORED to have this photo from Stephanie & Kyle’s Alaska elopement win the to...
06/12/2025

Dogs make *everything* THE BEST 🙌 I’m SO HONORED to have this photo from Stephanie & Kyle’s Alaska elopement win the top 50 destination wedding images in the world by Best of the Best Destination Photography contest for 2025!

Stephanie & Kyle are huge dog lovers (they literally told me “they live and breathe for their dogs” so it was on their bucket list to make sure some adorable floofs were a part of their day, even though they had to leave their own fur babies at home.

This was truly a once in a lifetime experience for all 3 of us—landing on a glacier via helicopter, snuggling sled dog puppies and then take a super cool ride through the snow was definitely a core memory for me. (As was hanging off the back of the sled to get the shots I wanted and watching Stephanie crack up every time she looked back at me 😆)

This was one of those elopements that no one wanted to leave, I actually think the heli pilot had to force us to go 😂 and it’s so special to have this amazing experience recognized.

Thank you so much to the entire team and all of the judges. I’ve been a judge in previous years, so I know how much work goes into this contest! Thank you so much. 🫶 Be sure to check out the other amazing winning images too!

I’m back in the Mediterranean this week and it is SO good to be back. This is hands down my favorite place to photograph...
06/11/2025

I’m back in the Mediterranean this week and it is SO good to be back. This is hands down my favorite place to photograph elopements (and I’m always dreaming of moving here someday).

Everything about this region is so dreamy when it comes to a wedding day. The diversity of scenery, the quality of the light, the romantic activities, the food, the wine, all of it.

I’m getting nostalgic about Kaitlynn & Chance’s New Years’ Day elopement on Kefalonia, because I feel like it embodies all of those qualities and more.

And my FAVORITE part of their elopement was that it felt like there was absolutely no one around!

They knew they wanted Greece but didn’t want to be in any tourist hotspots, so I was overjoyed to lead them to some off-the-beaten-path picks where they could get all the beauty and none of the people.

They woke up before sunrise and got ready in their rental villa with their reflection nearby in the infinity pool outside. They didn’t do a first look—they helped each other get ready, which I always think is super sweet.

They hiked up to a ridge that overlooked the sea at sunrise and had their ceremony there, complete with a handfasting ceremony.

Then they wandered across the ridge, taking portraits in the golden hour light with the chalky white cliffs and dark blue sea.

I LOVE the color palettes of the Mediterranean, and I think you can see them perfectly on display here!

They headed back to their villa, lined with palms and blooming kumquat trees, and shared lunch together before taking some time to bask in the warm sun. Because this was in January, the high only got up to about 55 degrees, but it was so gorgeous.

After lunch they spent some time wading in the shallow water by the beach, watching goats (!) parade by, and exploring little caves.

Then for sunset, I led them to another beautiful cliffside, where they could watch the sun sink down over the other islands before breaking out the lanterns to explore some during blue hour.

Okay, that’s enough memory lane. I’m going to go take a dip in the sea before dinner. Talk soon.

xx Maddie Mae

P.S…if this is your dream elopement day, you can still talk to me about 2026! 🌞

If you dream of chalky white cliffs, crisp blue waters, golden sunsets, sailboat rides, and some of the most relaxing and beautiful scenery you’ve ever seen, I’m booking for 2026!

Inquire here!
https://adventureinstead.com/contact/

06/10/2025

Thanks, I taught it everything it knows 💁🏻‍♀️

This is one of my pet peeves as a photographer—especially coming from people outside of the field.

I promise, a good lens doesn’t replace a decade of experience behind it!

(Although we do certainly love our photography toys, too 😍)

Anyway, if you want to get just as good as your camera at taking photos, I have tons of free resources and blogs about everything from client interaction and timeline planning to actually photographing and editing!

Blogs are here!
https://adventureinstead.com/academy/blog/

06/09/2025

Happy Pride to all LGBTQIA+ folks around the world! I see you, I affirm you, and I support you.

These statistics don’t capture the whole picture. It’s hard for our measurements via surveys like the census to encapsulate other identities, like trans, nonbinary, pan, bi, and ace folks into their numbers.

But this tells part of the story. This starts to show, to the whole world, that LGBT love is beautiful, strong, and built to last.

It is genuinely an honor to get to photograph so many LGBT+ love stories every year as part of my job. I will never take it or your trust for granted.

Cassandra & Haleigh’s wedding day was spent 100% about them–without any distractions or opinions from others. You’d be surprised how frequently couples choose to elope for this reason.

Eloping without anyone’s comments or eyes fixed on you is truly freeing and Cassandra & Haleigh absolutely felt that on their elopement day.

Read all about this beautiful experience these brides got to have below ⬇️

Tap here to read:
https://adventureinstead.com/gallery/cassandra-and-haleighs-eclectic-glam-capitol-reef-desert-elopement/

06/05/2025

Once a photographer, always a photographer.

How am I supposed to put my camera down when everything is so cool and I’m feeling so relaxed and inspired?!

This is also how my editor winds up with thousands of photos from a given elopement day… 🫣

I’ll take less photos when travel gets less exciting. 🤷🏻‍♀️

These photos would actually be perfect to test some new editing on! Such a low-risk way to see if there’s anything you’d like to tweak when it comes to your style.

I have some templates to get you started!

Access the templates:
https://adventureinstead.com/academy/adventure-instead-presets/

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