Dune Inspired Death Valley Elopement

Listen. I know the name isn’t necessarily the most romantic name in the world. But friends? Let J + S’s Death Valley elopement show you why eloping in Death Valley is the best idea… well, ever.

I think 2025 will go down as the year I decided to make it my mission to get Death Valley on people’s radar for an elopement. It is a *severely* underrated elopement location that is often overlooked. I’d visited briefly prior and thought it was such a striking and incredible place, then got to photograph a couple there during a workshop I help put in. This is when I realized it really is a place more people should consider eloping. I love working in the desert and understand why places like Sedona or Zion or Moab get lots of attention. But I really believe Death Valley is worthy of just as much (in some ways… more?) attention. So J + S wanted to explore several desert options for their elopement, I made a point to really drive home the idea that Death Valley is an equally stellar choice as those more classic elopement locations.

So imagine my delight when they picked Death Valley for their elopement! I was STOKED. J + S did it totally right- picked a date after Nov 1st (the ideal elopement season runs from November-March) and chose to stay in the park at one of very aesthetic and convenient hotels- honestly some of my favorite national park hotels around. And make your daily drive to your elopement location SO much shorter than driving outside of the park (location depending).

I was sooo excited the morning of their elopement in Death Valley- I’d been chatting with J + S over a two year planning process, so I was honestly as excited to meet them in person as I was to document their elopement. We started pre-dawn in the dunes and had a BLAST. Sand dunes just bring out everyone’s inner kid. J shed her shoes right away and ran around barefoot, kicking and throwing sand as the pretty blue predawn light turned golden. We made many Dune references. Because how could we not.

Then we took a break (nap time!) before meeting up again at their hotel for detail photos (sci-fi/Dune fans, please look for the ring detail photo) a champagne toast and cake… that was flown in from *Alabama*. It was *delicious* (and I also enjoyed the “slice” J offered me to take home- a slice that was an entire *third* of that cake. It was… amazing). 

After cake we wandered into the ice cream parlor that’s in the middle of Death Valley (yes really) for a shake, hotdog, and some fries. Perfect midday food combo, imo. 

After, we drove to their ceremony location, where they requested a pretty spot but a backdrop that wouldn’t detract from the beauty and importance of their vows. I led the couple over to a little canyon I know about that’s away from crowds where they said the sweetest private vows ever. I don’t often cry at ceremonies, but not gonna lie. This one 100% got me. Why? Cause S literally wrote is own MYTH about his and J’s love story. How could I *not* cry! After some exploring, we set out for some blue hour photos at a spot I had scouted the day before. I had some fun reflection ideas that… well. Turned out pretty cool 🙂 See for yourself.

It was an *incredible* day- full of fun, personal details, emotion, adventure… it was amazing. Thank you J + S. So glad to have been a part of it all.