Planning an intimate outdoor wedding ceremony for Alycea & Dakota was beginning to seem a little overwhelming. When they first reached out, they were still in the beginning planning stages of it all. They were newly engaged simply looking for an engagement photographer first. If we connected well together, I would be lucky enough to become their dream photographer for their wedding.
When we first spoke, we discussed plans to take photos at a cute plant nursery in the area. During the discussions, they stressed the importance of not having overly posed photos. They wanted everything to feel completely natural with their entire personality as a couple on display. Goofy mixed with intimate moments was the name of the game.
When the day arrived, it could not have gone better….
After receiving their gallery, they said it was everything they envisioned and more. From there we immediately began planning their dream wedding day.
Scaling Down, Embracing More
When full preparations were underway, Alycea & Dakota wanted to make sure nothing about their intimate outdoor wedding ceremony was over-the-top. They wanted to scale everything down to a more reasonable size. It was important to truly enjoy their day with those closest to them. At the same time they didn’t want to make the wedding super simple either. They decided on a bohemian, desert style for their details. The setup included a few decorative rugs for the ceremony aisle and a Hexagon archway overseeing a beautiful canyon landscape.
On the day of their wedding, the bride and groom got ready at a nearby hotel where their reception would be held. From there, they chose to have all the guests take a bus to the ceremony site. First looks were to be done back at the plant nursery where their engagement photos were done. This time the bride only wanted the first looks with a couple close personal family members. The groom would be seeing her for the first time as she walked down the aisle.
Formal Portraits Among A Lush Landscape
When the intimate outdoor wedding ceremony was over, we finished up with bridal party and family photos at the ceremony site. Afterwards, the bride and groom wanted some private formal portraits in a place a bit more lush. We drove about 5 minutes down the road to a more secluded location. After about half a mile, we found the perfect spot filled with a bit more greenery and the same epic views from their ceremony. Alycea & Dakota completely took in the day from that moment. Their love and connection thrived in this secluded area. As we went along, the bride was totally on board with the bottom of her dress getting messy as we explored the area. In her words, “you only get this moment and day once!!” And to top it off, the weather could not have been more perfect especially in the middle of April.
Their intimate outdoor wedding was more than just a ceremony. It truly was a reflection of their love surrounded by the people who mattered most. No matter how or where you choose to celebrate, what matters most is that it feels authentic to you as a couple.
If you’re dreaming of an intimate, meaningful ceremony, I’d love to help capture every moment of your story. Let’s plan together.
