As an adventure elopement photographer, a Barbara Falls elopement was a plan that I’d be crazy to pass up on. So when these two asked if I’d be willing to make the trek to Barbara Falls eagle river, I said uhhhhh absolutely.

And we sure did the dang thing and I loved every millisecond. 

I had the honor of capturing Nicki and Curtis’s adventure elopement and can I just say that these two are one of the dreamiest couples I’ve ever envisioned myself working with! You know when you can just tell that someone is your kind of person based on the energy they give off? 

Nicki and Curtis were those people for me. 

Curtis used to work in the restaurant industry dealing with wedding receptions, so he gets it. And Nikki has this bubbly, laidback energy about her that is so infectious – you just can’t get enough! 

Prior to their stunning waterfall elopement, we chatted a few times before the wedding day to work out a timeline, but more than anything, they just trusted everyone around them to make their vision happen. And it happened beautifully. 

Their ceremony was intimately personal and full of their kind of adventure. Sounds like a dream? Oh it was!! 

Water-falling in Love with this Barbara Falls Elopement

On the day of their elopement, we went on a small hike with their closest friends and family to the most stunning waterfall where they got to say their vows amidst some breathtaking scenery. 

We had a whole hour to ourselves and you bet we were squeezing the most out of this waterfall elopement! We spent our time playing in the woods while I captured their just-married smiles while surrounded by nature and sunshine. 

As an Alaska wedding photographer, there is nothing I love more than seeing my couples make a day unique and personal. And even when you ditch tradition and head out on an adventure, you can absolutely still incorporate small details throughout your day! Take Nicki and Curtis as a prime example during their Barbara Falls elopement. 

Details can make all the difference!

For starters, they had handmade and painted wooden flowers for their bouquets and the coolest little bird skulls as tie pins – how cool is that?! Saying see ya later to the standard way of getting ready for a wedding, Curtis also took his sweet time getting ready outside of his car while using the window as a mirror while Nicki rocked biker shorts to tackle the hike. Being such a smart and resourceful lady, she also brought along a popup tent to change in! (Will be forever recommending this to my elopement couples!) And to keep it sweet and simple, they scrapped the cake and brought along some delicious pastries instead. 

If there’s one thing I knew to expect from these two love birds, it’s that I knew they would absolutely not disappoint! I so admired Nicki’s tenacity. Beautiful and fearless, Nicki was ready to jump or climb any rock in her way, even with her dress on! And thoughtful ol’ Curtis made sure to get his lovely bride-to-be a rock to stand on so that her dress wouldn’t get wet. That being the case, the bridal party also had no issue getting their feet a little wet while these two said their I Dos. 
Gaaah everything about their waterfall elopement reminded me why I love my job so much!

The celebration never ends when eloping in Alaska!

It’s safe to say that the fun didn’t stop at Barbara Falls Eagle River. Nicki and Curtis put together such a vibrant reception with the BEST food and staff. Seriously though, Bridge Seafood in Anchorage has nothing but positive reviews from me! I also got to do my little happy dance because Curtis even made sure to pack my family and I some leftovers! How sweet is that?? Cooking isn’t my favorite thing to do, so leftovers are definitely my jam – especially when the food is *chef kiss* fantastic! 

I absolutely adored this time because it was everything you could expect from a sweet couple that was surrounded by their favorite people. Happy tears, toasts out of Lord of the Rings cups with the choice of whiskey or wine, tummy cramps from laughing so hard, and a whole lot of love and hugs to go around. You really can’t beat something as uniquely sentimental as this and you could tell that they had the best time doing it all.

Your adventure elopement is waiting for you!

Every ounce of this Barbara Falls elopement had Nicki and Curtis written all over it. They did everything their way! The two approached their adventure elopement planning feeling relaxed knowing what their priorities were, while letting the rest simply fall into place. This is the kind of energy I adore and I love these people even more! I had such a blast. 

Your special day should be filled with love and celebration and as stress free as can be. The reason it turned out so wonderfully for these two is because they didn’t over plan or stress over every little detail. 

Nicki and Curtis are prime examples of why I love elopements so much! Choosing your own adventure without the stress of planning a huge wedding can be as fun as you make it out to be! They’re unique to your love story, custom to what you envision, and you’ll be surrounded by loved ones and the ever changing beauty that nature has to offer. 

Did hearing about this dreamy Barbara Falls elopement get your imagination running wild? Well, your simple, stress free adventure elopement is waiting for you and so am I! I’d love to be a part of commemorating your love! Send me an inquiry and let’s get to planning. I’m so excited to hear all about your big day!