What happens when you travel hundreds of miles to a state you’ve never been to for your elopement? Well, in the case of Alex and Taylor, it was a day full of adventure, celebration, and pure joy!
These two came all the way from Nebraska to elope in North Idaho, all because of me (cue the tears), after finding me online and falling in love with my photography. When we first chatted on the phone and I asked why they were interested in eloping in Idaho, despite never having been to the state before, they told me it was because it’s where I was, and they knew they wanted me to be their photographer.
Needless to say, working with these two was such a joy!
After getting to know them and their vision for their day more, I helped them scout out the perfect location for their elopement in Sandpoint, Idaho. They decided on this charming area because of its easily accessible mountain views and pine tree forests, exactly the kind of scenery they wanted to surround themselves with on their wedding day.
I helped them narrow down a hike to start their day with, find the perfect spot for their wedding ceremony, and create a timeline for their special day, in addition to photographing their elopement day in photos that they LOVED.
Come along and see what a full-day elopement in North Idaho can look like!
Sandpoint, Idaho Elopement Vendors:
- Elopement Photography & Planning: Tiana Olivia Photography
- Hair & Makeup Artist: Terri Reece Studios
- Airbnb: Cabin in Sandpoint
- Flowers: Floral Designs by Kay
- Cookies: White Velvet Bakery
Morning Hike in Farragut State Park
We started the day with a hike in Farragut State Park, which is where Alex and Taylor would be sharing the vows later on. Being from Nebraska, they were excited to hike through the Ponderosa Pine Trees and the views of Lake Pend Oreille. Along the way, they found plenty of mushrooms and enjoyed the solitude.
Beginning the day with a hike was great because it gave them time to get to know the area and have a relaxed start to their day. Plus it gave us all time to get to know each other since this was our first time meeting in person, and warm up to having a photographer follow them through the woods 😉
Getting Ready at their Airbnb Cabin in Sandpoint
After our hike, we drove to their Airbnb. It was the cutest little cabin, just a few minutes away from downtown Sandpoint! They told me about their morning coffee earlier that day and how a deer walked right in front of their cabin, creating the perfect start to their wedding day.
While Alex had her hair and makeup done, I took some photos of their wedding day details around the cabin.
The First Look at the Cabin
As soon as Alex put the finishing touches on, she stepped outside for her first look with Taylor. The pure excitement and joy were such a sweet thing to witness! They took turns admiring each other’s clothes and accessories before we took a few portraits in front of the cabin.
Dinner at a Local Brewery in Sandpoint
After bustling up Alex’s dress, we all moved downtown for dinner at McDuff’s in Sandpoint. Breweries have played a special role in their relationship, including being the spot where Taylor proposed, so they loved it when I suggested this one for their day!
Not only does this brewery have some great beers and tasty food, but it’s in a historic building with some really cool architecture.
Intimate Wedding Ceremony at Farragut State Park
After dinner, we made our way back to Farragut State Park for the main event: the vows and ring exchange.
Alex and Taylor chose a picturesque viewpoint in the park overlooking the mountains and Lake Pend Oreille for their wedding ceremony. When they arrived, they spent a few minutes exploring to find the perfect backdrop. While wandering around, they found more mushrooms, some pretty views, and they had another wildlife encounter with a deer!
Sunset Picnic Dessert by the Water
The big finale of the day was guiding Alex and Taylor to a secret beach I knew about on the shores of the lake. One of the best parts about a local is that I know the best hidden gem locations.
The look on their faces as they saw the view will forever be one of my favorite memories from an elopement day! They were blown away by the epic mountains and the peaceful water, that they had entirely to themselves.
They set up their custom-made picnic blanket, beautiful hand-painted cookies, and relaxed together. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we had the most incredible alpen glow I’ve ever seen in North Idaho that turned the entire mountain pink, then gave us a gorgeous purple-pastel hue after the sunset.
It was the most perfect ending to such an incredible day.
Witnessing so much joy and happiness on a wedding day like this reminds me just why I decided to become an elopement photographer.
