Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer

12/29/2025

If I had to sum up 2025 in one word, it’d be: surprising.

I don’t need to tell you that there was a lot going on this year—both in the news and, for me, personally. And I leaned HARD into creativity & love to get through it.

And you know what? As a result, every time I got behind my camera… I was surprised.

Surprised at Mother Nature showing me new sights, surprised by super fun couples that it felt like I’d known forever, surprised by new activities and new inspirations.

And surprised by how much *joy* I still get from this job, even 10 years of elopements later.

I photographed more in Colorado this year as part of an active effort to spend more time closer to home, and I got to fall in love with this gorgeous home state of mine all over again and rediscover all the places that made me want to start doing this in the first place.

To everyone who stepped in front of my camera this year, thank you. 🫶You made this year so memorable.

And if you’re thinking of eloping with me in the future (or already have one booked), I’ll see you next year!

I already know after over a decade of capturing moments like these, 2026 will have so many more.

So if you haven’t already,

Contact me here!
https://adventureinstead.com/contact/

12/26/2025

So honored this photo from Robin & Dillon placed SECOND in a huge international photography competition with 2500+ photos submitted from 560+ photographers from over 60 countries.

It’s such a crazy honor to be the overall runner-up for this year’s IWPOTY awards. I’m also so grateful to have 4 images placed as finalists (meaning top 15 in their category)—plus Robin & Dillon’s image also *won* the “Engagement / Non-Wedding” category!

This job is truly the privilege of a lifetime and getting to travel the world creating experiences like these and getting to document them—it’s the dream job I never knew existed and it still doesn’t feel real most days.

Having Robin & Dillon’s epic 3-day road trip through Utah highlighted feels like the perfect example of what this is all about. It’s about 2 people who love each other adventuring out into the incredible landscapes of the world and exploring together.

(Dare I say it might be about adventuring instead? 😂)

And Robin & Dillon are SUCH a fun couple—we truly laughed our away across the entire state of Utah together . I loved getting to hang out with these two and document all of their engagement celebrations. It was such a fun few days and an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat.

Thank you so much to all the folks over at . I am so grateful for you all and all of your hard work running this competition every year.

I can’t wait to see what 2026 will hold. Cheers! 🥂

Creating and capturing elopements is more than what I could ever dream of as a career.

If you’re interested in working with me or just want to know more about my journey and why I’m here doing what I do, I’d love to share it all with you ♥️

Learn more here!
https://adventureinstead.com/about/

12/22/2025

Charlie & Erica’s epic 2-day Hawai’i elopement is one I always find myself thinking about during the brutal Colorado winter months.

Even though it was March when they eloped—a relatively cooler month for the islands—that still meant gorgeous 80 degree days and warm seas (AKA, exactly what I start craving this time of year!)

If there’s one piece of advice I could stress to folks looking to elope in warm or tropical climates, it’s that you should definitely consider the shoulder seasons.

Shoulder seasons usually mean mild temps, cheaper rates on hotels and flights, and, best of all, less tourists! You can sometimes have usually packed spots all to yourself.

Erica & Charlie took advantage of the reduced crowds to spend 2 days exploring ALL of Kauai. First from the ground, then from the air.

The first day was their ceremony day, which started with a first look on a pier. They ate lunch at a local market and then headed out to one of my favorite ridge trails on the island.

But their sunset beach ceremony was definitely the biggest moment of the day. They exchanged vows & rings, soaked in the sunset, and had their first dance.

After the sunset had mostly faded they headed off to their dinner reservations! They’d been wanting to try this restaurant and brought letters & cards from loved ones to read while they were there.

Day 2 was all about adventure. They took off in a helicopter to get a full tour of Kauai, including Waimea Canyon, the Nā Pali Coast, and tons of insane waterfalls.

They stopped for a fresh sushi lunch from a food truck they were excited about (these two were huge foodies) and then set out to explore Waimea on foot!

Erica & Charlie ended their day with yet *another* epic beach sunset and some time to relax and take it all in.

I truly think part of what made their elopement so successful was their sense of adventure. The entire time they were just down for the ride and happy to be doing it together.

xx Maddie Mae

I LOVE getting away to a sunny place in the winter months and have found that many eloping couples do too.

Take a peek at where I’m headed next year and let me know if you see a location/month combination that speaks to you!

Travel schedule:
https://adventureinstead.com/travel-schedule/

12/22/2025

Charlie & Erica’s epic 2-day Hawai’i elopement is one I always find myself thinking about during the brutal Colorado winter months.

Even though it was March when they eloped—a relatively cooler month for the islands—that still meant gorgeous 80 degree days and warm seas (AKA, exactly what I start craving this time of year!)

If there’s one piece of advice I could stress to folks looking to elope in warm or tropical climates, it’s that you should definitely consider the shoulder seasons.

Shoulder seasons usually mean mild temps, cheaper rates on hotels and flights, and, best of all, less tourists! You can sometimes have usually packed spots all to yourself.

Erica & Charlie took advantage of the reduced crowds to spend 2 days exploring ALL of Kauai. First from the ground, then from the air.

The first day was their ceremony day, which started with a first look on a pier. They ate lunch at a local market and then headed out to one of my favorite ridge trails on the island.

But their sunset beach ceremony was definitely the biggest moment of the day. They exchanged vows & rings, soaked in the sunset, and had their first dance.

After the sunset had mostly faded they headed off to their dinner reservations! They’d been wanting to try this restaurant and brought letters & cards from loved ones to read while they were there.

Day 2 was all about adventure. They took off in a helicopter to get a full tour of Kauai, including Waimea Canyon, the Nā Pali Coast, and tons of insane waterfalls.

They stopped for a fresh sushi lunch from a food truck they were excited about (these two were huge foodies) and then set out to explore Waimea on foot!

Erica & Charlie ended their day with yet *another* epic beach sunset and some time to relax and take it all in.

I truly think part of what made their elopement so successful was their sense of adventure. The entire time they were just down for the ride and happy to be doing it together.

xx Maddie Mae

I LOVE getting away to a sunny place in the winter months and have found that many eloping couples do too.

Take a peek at where I’m headed next year and let me know if you see a location/month combination that speaks to you!

Travel schedule:

Hey fellow traveler, my name is Maddie Mae and I'm a destination elopement photographer who's been all 7 continents and over 40 countries so far to make couples elopement dreams happen.

12/18/2025

I’m still so stoked about these images from Rhonda & Daniel’s elopement.

Honestly, any time I’m in Southwestern Colorado, I feel like I get some of my best work. It feels like the San Juan Mountains are maybe my ultimate muse 😉

There’s something about this area that really calls to me both personally & professionally. I’ve been traveling to this corner of the state for well over a decade, and every time, it never fails to impress me.

Where else can you get Alp-like peaks, 4X4 roads onto high mountain passes, INSANE fall foliage, and naturally fed hot springs all in one place?

If you’re looking for an elopement place that’s as gorgeous as it is fun, reach out to me! I have just a few Colorado spots left for 2026!

I only have a few spots left for the San Juan Mountains in 2026, so if it’s a location you’re interested in,

Tell me here!
https://adventureinstead.com/contact/

12/17/2025

I am so excited & honored to have had this photo selected as one of the world’s best 50 wedding photos in 2025 by Best of the Best Weddings contest!

This elopement with this incredibly badass couple, Louisa & Kim, was one of the most unique, challenging, and thrilling experiences of my career so far, and it means so much to see it highlighted this way.

I’ve said this about these photos before, but this is still one of the most daring things I’ve *ever* seen a couple do on their wedding day, and it required a perfect combination of detailed pre-planning, safety precautions, perfect weather, and expert guides on hand to make it happen.

Greenland stole my heart the first time I visited and quickly became one of my personal favorite spots on the planet—there’s no words for the feeling of being in the most productive icefjord in the world. It’s a place that’s inspired me deeply creatively and getting to work with a couple who wanted it to be such an integral part of their wedding day was a dream come true.

Louisa & Kim’s images have lived a full life since I first posted them. People have loved them, people have thought they were fake/AI, people have had a thousand questions. They even made it to the

But this is definitely these images’ biggest achievement yet, and it’s something I am so grateful for.

Thank you to the judges and team. I know first-hand how much time and effort goes into facilitating & judging this competition as a prior judge, and I’m thankful for all of you.

So ecstatic to close the year on this note. Thank you so much. 🫶

Go check out their other winning images, too! There is some seriously stunning work this year (as always!)

xx Maddie Mae

12/17/2025

Read this caption until the end for details on one of my FAVORITE moments in any elopement. Ever.

Rebecca & Arri are one of those couples that you just LOVE from the second you meet them. There was so much tenderness & joy in their day, and it was honestly impossible *not* to capture it.

Their story started way back in 2017 and has involved several adventures, a rescue pup named Bagel, and a proposal in a national park.

So when it came time to get married, they knew eloping was going to be the only solution that let them feel the sense of adventure they love & honor that they wanted to spend the whole day focused on each other.

From the start, they were super interested & excited about the idea of glaciers. They loved the idea of big blue ice and a super colorful background to say their vows on. (And oh MAN was that the right choice, but keep reading for that.)

They headed up into the mountains to do some exploring and have a picnic with an awesome view. After they spent time taking it all in and feeding each other grapes, they headed out to their helicopter tour.

After getting to see a rainbow and take in the sights, they started their time on the glacier by reading letters from family and friends, putting them in this awesome frame of mind for having their ceremony.

They read their vows and exchanged rings and popped champagne. They both cried but I didn’t. I swear. It was just the wind in my eyes.

Back on the ground, they went to a lake dotted with icebergs to watch the sun set and take in the last of their elopement day…

Except. It. Wasn’t.

Pretty much the second that we all got back to our respective hotel rooms, the northern lights popped out!

I FREAKED out and called them immediately, and they ran out to meet us. They had already changed into comfier clothing, but what a way to end the day!

This was all of our first time seeing the northern lights, so this was an INCREDIBLY special thing to get to share with these two.

I’ll remember this one forever.

xx Maddie Mae

I’ve seen so many couples live out so many bucket list adventures, but this is one that’ll stick with me because not only did they get to experience the Northern Lights on the best day of their lives, I got to capture that moment so they can see and remember it too.

If you need ideas to create an unforgettable experience for your day, I have SO MANY!

I have a massive list put together for you. Tap below!

Elopement Ideas:
https://adventureinstead.com/elopement-ideas/

12/16/2025

You + me + no one else

If you ask me, all you need on your wedding day is you and your spouse. Anyone else is optional.

I’ve seen people have meaningful elopements with no guests, just friends, a handful of family…

But the beauty of eloping is that *you* get to choose.

And if that means it’s just you two on a glacier or a mountaintop, then so be it.

And I’ll be here to capture it all (it’ll be like I’m not even there)

Be careful to ensure this number remains small so you don’t end up planning for “the group” instead of yourselves!

And if including loved ones in a way that may not be on-site feels better, do that!

Even if they aren’t physically there, here are some ways you can still

Include loved ones:
https://adventureinstead.com/how-to-include-your-family-when-eloping-just-the-two-of-you/

12/11/2025

Macy & Gavin hit the perfect blend of including people you love in your day AND having it be totally unique and all about you two.

A huge part of how they pulled it off was through their activities! I’m always talking about how key thoughtful activities are to a great elopement, but they really nailed the spirit of making it their own.

Macy & Gavin really wanted to do unity activities (plural!) that felt like it came from each of them. She counts birds for a living and he works for the forest service, so they planted a tree (in a pot, to take home) and built a birdhouse.

They actually met doing outdoor conservation work, so being outside and doing projects for the environment together was the *perfect* fit for them.

Because they’re such well-traveled and extensively adventured people, they knew that eloping with just the two of them out in nature was the only wedding day that would suit.

But they still found a way to include their loved ones!

During a canoe trip out on a lake that was surrounded by evergreens and wildflowers, they took a private moment together to read through letters that their loved ones had sent along with them.

I *love* when couples do this. It’s one of the most touching and simple ways to incorporate your loved ones into your elopement without breaking the bubble that you and your spouse are sharing.

(Also, I haven’t seen a single couple make it through these without crying.)

Macy & Gavin also managed to fit in a ton of other activities, like hot spring soaking, 4X4 driving, a picnic, and ANOTHER lake.

But what I loved most about their entire elopement was just how much fun they were having. They made this for THEM, through & through, and you could tell in their joy.

If you’re a couple who’s considering eloping but worried about making it feel special or like *you*—look to Macy & Gavin for inspiration.

And don’t worry. I’ll be right beside you the whole way to make sure everything fits you perfectly.

xx Maddie Mae

Elopements create an experience unlike any other. It’s a day to celebrate the two of you. To feel like you don’t have anyone to cater to or any palace you need to be.

It’s a moment to simply be and do literally ANYTHING you could dream up.

I've got sooo many reasons you should elope, but here are the

Top 12 Reasons:
https://adventureinstead.com/top-reasons-to-elope/

12/10/2025

Why take standard portraits when you can get images of you & your spouse that feel like they’re straight out of a magazine?

It’s true that your elopement day is *so much more* than just photos. First and foremost, it’s about your marriage, your connection, you two as people.

But there’s also something celebratory about getting photos from the day that you’ll want to look back on forever. That in every frame and every album make you say, “HECK yeah, we DID that.”

Forget everything you’ve ever been told about what your wedding images should look like. All that matters is that you feel like yourself in them. That you love this moment with your partner.

That’s the feeling that’s going to last forever.

Moments are fleeting, so capturing each one on a day as special as your wedding day is crucial.

Start planning your unforgettable day with this elopement planning checklist
⬇️

Planning checklist:
https://adventureinstead.com/elopement-planning-guide-checklist-downloadable-pdf-free/

And if you’re ready to find the photographer to capture it, I’m there 😉 Let me know when your day is!

12/09/2025

This is, hands down, the most underrated national park I’ve ever been to.

(And let me tell you, I’ve been to A LOT)

Capitol Reef in Utah is genuinely out of this world. If you want to feel like you’re on Mars or the Moon (like Cassandra & Haleigh did), this is THE place to be.

The rock here is so varied and each bend feels so different than the next. You get insane topographical features like spires in Cathedral Valley or rolling Bentonite Hills all in one spot.

Everything you see here is all that we managed to fit into one day. But there’s somehow *so much more.* And this is all no more than 15 mins from the car on super easy dirt roads.

You could see hoodoos, canyons, clay cliffs, and massive bluffs and still only explore a fraction of what’s out here.

And the best part is, crowds are low out here, so you frequently have vistas totally to yourself.

Utah in general is literally a giant adult playground for outdoor enthusiasts. And if you’re looking for somewhere deeply cool to explore and adventure on your elopement day, I can’t recommend it enough.

This state has everything from great 4X4 roads, to opportunities for hot air balloons, to national parks, to luxury resorts, to ski hills, to wide open salt flats.

The variety is half the fun, and truly, you can do pretty much anything in this state! If there’s an outdoor hobby that you love or have always wanted to try, there’s a decent chance you can here.

Utah even has *FIVE* national parks all of its own, so variety is in no short supply!

My 2026 availability is running very low, but I do still have some room for elopements in Utah! It’s particularly beautiful here in the spring or the fall (March—May or Septemer—November).

Get in touch with me soon! I’d love to help you bring your Utah adventure to life on your wedding day. I’ve been traveling in this state for over a decade and have *all* the best spots to show you.

xx Maddie Mae

This kind of experience isn’t abnormal in Utah either. You can do nearly anything an outdoorsy adventurer could ever want in this state.

4X4? Hot air ballooning? National parks? Luxury resorts? Ski hills? Salt flats?

You got it.

All you need to do?

Pick a location:
https://adventureinstead.com/best-places-to-elope-in-utah/

12/08/2025

I saw do this earlier in the year, and I *immediately* knew I had to recreate it with Rhonda & Daniel.

Their day in the San Juans was so perfect. Rhonda & Daniel had so much fun together and their chemistry shows in every single shot.

They really took full advantage of everything SW Colorado has to offer with all of their activities—like 4X4 driving, canoeing around this lake, and having a sunset picnic overlooking the peaks around them.

I feel like they had a perfect blend of a little bit of everything. Some down time, some time to take in the sights, and some pure fun that they could do together.

And I can’t thank them enough for trusting my vision… even when I asked them to lay down in a canoe for me while I got drone shots. 😂

I’m so passionate about capturing authentic elopements and moments, but chances are not everyone in your life will have the mindset I do.

Here is what you may be met with when you announce your elopement and how to navigate the naysayers (because you DO deserve to have a day that is 100% for you!)

Tap here!
https://adventureinstead.com/top-10-most-common-objections-to-you-eloping/