Joshua Tree Elopement

October 24, 2021

Lauren + Mark’s Joshua Tree elopement!

Joshua Tree National Park in SoCal is one of my favorite areas to shoot in. This park is full of fantastic photo opportunities, from the incredible, craggy rock formations to the bristly desert plant life. Lauren and Mark’s elopement was all about the location, and it turned out so beautifully!

When working on elopements and weddings, I love getting the chance to coordinate with other Seattle / SoCal area small business owners. For this shoot, I worked closely with Jamie, the owner of West Coast Gather Co., to put together the perfect day for Lauren and Mark’s celebration. West Coast Gather Co. launched back in 2020. Since then, Jamie has been helping families, friends, and couples celebrate life’s big and small moments in beautiful ways. I enjoyed getting the chance to work alongside her for this Joshua Tree elopement and SoCal bridal shoot!

On the day of the shoot, Lauren and Mark stayed at a cute, desert-styled Airbnb just outside the national park. Lauren had her hair and makeup done there at the Airbnb, and we were able to do all the getting-ready photos there, too. This bride and groom make a truly stunning couple. All the desert florals and light neutrals worked so well for them! After the getting-ready photos, I also got some shots of all the paper goods.

We did Lauren and Mark’s first look outside the Airbnb and got some pre-ceremony couple photos. It was a super windy day, so we decided to take photos with the reception table set up before the ceremony. West Coast Gather Co. did a fantastic job with the elegant, desert-inspired table décor. Thankfully, we got some great shots of Lauren and Mark with everything in its proper place before the wind started knocking things over!

For the ceremony, we headed into Joshua Tree National Park. The wind blew the floral arch around a lot, so we had to put rocks all around it to keep it from falling. Lauren and Mark read their vows to each other as the sun began setting, then we walked around and took their bridal photos during the rest of the sunset into early twilight.

I am so in love with the simplicity and creaminess of the landscape in Joshua Tree. The twilight made the sky glow in soft blues and pinks. The rocks were a stunning backdrop for every photo I captured of Lauren and Mark’s Joshua Tree elopement. All in all, this was one beautiful SoCal couple session!