Backcountry Elopement in Grand Teton National Park | Tanner & Virginia
When Tanner & Virginia first found me, we had plans to hike to Delta Lake for their backcountry elopement in Grand Teton National Park. This spring decided not to show up until well, we’re not sure it has, and made Delta Lake less than ideal for what we had in mind. Wildness runs through the blood of these two. Tanner skis professionally, they race dirtbikes (celebratory honeymoon race this weekend… & Virginia’s last until little one arrives!), they mountain bike, camp, climb, run, hike, swim, and just about anything else you can imagine. We felt like a perfect match. Capturing who you really are is a huge priority for me– a lot of couples feel boxed in by expectations of what they think an engagement shoot, wedding, etc is traditionally expected to be and I 100% believe the best images come from capturing who you are in your everyday life. I live off-grid, spend my evenings cooking on camp stoves, love an adrenaline junkie who can’t sit still for more than an hour, and grew up in the National Parks. Working with these two was as natural as could be. There is nothing I love more than capturing love in wild places, places that require hikes, dirty dresses, and adventurous spirits.
It seems that adapting and making the absolute best of every situation is a staple for these two. When they were surprised this year to find out they have a new bean coming soon ( CONGRATS YOU TWO!) they decided there was no better time than now to celebrate their love with vows in one of their favorite places & our home, Grand Teton National Park.
So, we rerouted our plans and hiked between String and Leigh Lakes, all wedding gear in tow via packs we carried in & some intricate packaging to keep all the important parts pristine. They changed in the woods and we hiked a bit further until finding a place just right. In an intimate ceremony, Tanner and Virginia promised to love one another the best they can for the rest of their lives through all of life’s highs and lows. We celebrated with a bottle pop and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the park and playing with Tate (their furry companion) before leaving them to spend the remainder of the evening in their newly renovated airstream.
Special thanks to my gals Tanya & Chloe for incredible H&MU that lasted all day, and as always, the most incredibly beautiful florals- perfect for wild souls. To Rue de Seine, for intricate and incredible gowns (one of my all-time favorite designers!) and to Stillwhite for helping repurpose gowns that have much more life in them.
