Washington Elopement Photography
for true adventure
+ true love
(this could
be you)
The no-bullshit elopement
experience that
allows you to be yourselves, plan an unforgettable adventure, and marry your favorite person.
Not vibing with the idea of a big wedding?
Eloping is probably
more your speed if…
…you’re ready to completely ditch the stress, time, and effort of planning a big wedding that just isn’t YOU
…you want to add a lil adventure to your lives and say “I do!!!” in an absolutely stunning location
…it feels performative or inauthentic to put together a wedding day that’s not centered around you
…you totally aren’t into the idea of standing in front of a bunch of people to read your vows
…you’d rather spend money on an incredible trip and create a day you love rather than pay for dinner for 100+ people
Ditch the tradish’.
Get married with intention.
Elopement Tips You’ll Love
I’m Van, and I think we’re about to be BFFs.
(It’s pronounced like minivan or the shoes)I’m a Washington adventure elopement photographer based in Seattle. I’m here to help you reclaim what it means to get married to your person and give you an elopement experience that’s 1,000,000% you. Whether you’re looking for reassurance that eloping is right for you, or you’re set on eloping but need help with the details, I’m your adventure buddy 👋🏻
My goals with every single couple are to 1. Make sure you are in love with every part of your wedding day, 2. Create an adventure with you that you’ll be thinking about for years and years, and 3. Leave you with photos that feel like YOU and show off how stinkin’ fun and intentional your elopement day was.
When I’m not in photographer mode, you’ll find me on a hike with my dog Fern, planning a backpacking trip with friends, or trying to squeeze in one more paddleboarding sesh even if it’s already getting dark out.
*16+ years’ experience photographing people in love
*Woman and queer-owned business 🏳️🌈
*Leave No Trace Aware and steward of Mother Natch’
Things I give a shit about:
The outdoors are for everyone. You don’t have to be an expert and you definitely don’t have to meet some bullshit standard of ‘outdoorsperson’ or ‘hiker’ to roll with me. If you want to get married outdoors, then you deserve to get married outdoors. Let’s fucking go.
Taking care of the planet when and where I can. This means following Leave No Trace ethics and educating clients about what that looks and feels like! Mother Natch’ is a real treasure, so let’s take care of her together. Deal?
You should feel empowered to be 1,000% YOU on your wedding day. Throw societal norms and traditions out the window because this whole thing is about you and your boo. I’m here to support your love, your ideas, and who you are as people. Bring your authentic selves to your elopement day - nothing more, nothing less.
What if you hired someone to be your
Elopement
Tour Guide?
Someone who….
Takes the planning burden off of you so you can be fully present for your entire elopement day rather than worry about a timeline
or where your guests should be
Helps you find the most PERFECT location to say your vows, whether that’s on top of a mountain, standing next to the ocean, or deep in a PNW rainforest (or all three!)
Hooks you up with totally badass vendors that are affirming, supportive, creative, and all-around just great small businesses
Provides you with a portal where all your elopement day information can be found - documents, questionnaires, checklists, important dates, and tons of other tips to keep you organized
Is well-versed in the PNW seasons, terrain, high-elevation areas, trails, hiking safety, views, and is generally comfortable and knowledgeable outdoors and away from the city!
Brings snacks (the good ones) and things like a lint roller, bug spray, extra tissues, hand warmers, dry shampoo, and tons of other emergency items to make sure you’re comfortable and feeling your absolute best
Is your personal hype woman who oozes excitement and encouragement the entire day (lil bit of golden retriever energy here!!)
(Pssst. I do all of those things up there.)
Essentially, you’re hiring someone who gives a shit about you and your wedding day.
Real-ass couples
Past Client Lovin’
“Van is amazing!!
We had to pivot hard due to weather changes. Van listened to us and remained flexible. She helped us lean into the weather and find alternatives. Our photos turned out better than we were hoping for. She was great with our shy dog too. Her work is so thoughtful and beautiful. She is incredibly talented, communicative, and full of helpful insights. We are so grateful for her and she made our elopement extra special.”
— R&C
“Where can we even begin with Van? From our first email exchange with Van our minds were put at ease about our decision to elope and we knew we found someone who would help us through the process. As soon as we spoke to Van over Zoom we knew she was the one for us! She was so easy to talk to, like a lifelong friend we’d never met! Our wedding day with Van is something we will treasure forever. It was like adventuring around with a friend who just so happens to be a magician with a camera. Our pictures are more beautiful than we could have ever asked for. She captured the magic of our day and the love we felt in the most authentic, natural and effortlessly comfortable way, which is exactly what we wanted. Working with Van was a dream - our only complaint is that we couldn’t make our day with her last forever!”
— N&V
“Van was the perfect elopement photographer for my husband and I! Not only is she very talented when it comes to photography, Van brings a calming, fun, and relatable presence. We got along with her so well and everything felt very natural. The images are amazing and capture the day perfectly! We also loved how helpful Van was throughout the planning process. Would definitely recommend Van to anyone looking for an elopement photographer. :)”
— R&B
Are you ready to do this with me?!
I am seriously SO stoked to hear all about what you’re dreaming up.
