Amy + Justin eloped in the Desert at Nelson Ghost Town which is about a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas. I documented a wedding there last month so knew my way around and absolutely adore shooting here. There’s an eclectic mix of landscapes and the juxtaposition of the sweeping desert and rusty cars is simply perfect for an elopement.
They said their vows underneath a beautiful rustic arch with the sun setting on their left and not another soul around. What more could you ask for in an elopement?!
The couple was nothing but smiles and just so excited to be officially married. The only people who knew they were eloping was their parents. They told me right before the ceremony started that everyone else just thought they were having they flew from Seattle to have their baby-moon in Las Vegas. They’re in for a surprise! Amy told me she was going to just post my photos on her social media once I send them to announce that they’re married. No pressure for me, right?!
The thing I’ve found all my couples love who choose to have elopements is the simplicity and romanticism of them. There is no wedding party, no one to please, just going at your own pace and being in the moment with your partner. It takes off a significant amount of stress and allows you to just be authentic to the day that YOU want. Once the short and sweet ceremony was over they exclaimed “That was easy!”. Yep!
After the ceremony we took a few pictures underneath the arch and then trekked around the desert and town looking for the perfect photo opportunities.
Amy wore a stretchy beautiful black dress adorned with gold patterned sequins. She made a point to emphasize the stretchiness because “the baby keeps getting bigger and bigger and this dress still fits”
It was a bit different than other weddings I’ve done lately but it was so much fun. I did a maternity session last week so had poses fresh in my mind to capture both the wedding aspect of the day as well as some maternity photos.
In addition to her beautiful offbeat wedding dress she had a black jacket that went with the flow of the day perfectly. It had gold cursive writing (Notice the dot above the “i” is a heart) how cute is that?! It was a great customization to their otherwise minimalist elopement.
Flowers by Michelle is always a joy to work with and I know whenever she’s the florist that the bride is going to show up with an epic bouquet. This was absolutely NO exception. White roses complemented by gold painted leaves, fresh greenery and hints of maroon it was the absolute perfect winter wedding bouquet. It was tied together with a maroon velvet sash that suited the winter vibes so so so so so perfectly.
Justin wore a classic black tuxedo and white boutonnière. I kind of loved how simple his outfit was – it really allowed his new wife to shine. And sparkle. Literally.
He did have one discreet part of his outfit to include their dogs in their wedding day. The puppies were left at home in Seattle and the petsitter is giving them a special treat today in honor of their parents getting married. Super cute idea to incorporate your pets into your wedding day if they can’t be physically present.
We spent the better part of an hour just walking around and finding all the cool spots for photos – of which there are many, many locations. They wanted to focus more on the desert aesthetic but we did manage to hit the rustic and industrial spots of the Ghost Town as well.
Wishing these cuties a happy life together and the addition of their newest family member in three months!
Wedding Vendors:
Photos: Fig + Willow Studios
Event Planner: Simply Eloped
Ceremony Location: Nelson’s Ghost Town
Officiant: Timeless Connection
Florals: Flowers by Michelle
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What a great location and her dress is fiiiiiiiiire. Well done!
Ive been to nelsons its such a cool place. What a great spot for a little wedding
This venue is amazing! I love the cars and the arch is amazing. What a fun elopement!
How cool, I love these! What a unique location
omg that cuff with his dog on it is so cute!
Her dress was amazing! And what a place!!
Oh man this is so unique! I love ghost towns
What an awesome place! Ghost towns are so intriguing. My favorite shot was the one with the white caravan on a background.