Shaver Lake Elopement

Caralynn + Sam’s Shaver Lake Elopement

Caralynn and Sam reached out to me on Instagram a few days before their Shaver Lake elopement to see if I was available.

As fate had it – I was available for their Shaver Lake elopement! They quickly gave me the details, I charged up my gear, and drove up the mountain. Okay – there was also a contract and a little bit of prep involved – but everything happened so fast. It felt like a dream!

Elopement are a perfect option for you and your fiancé if you want your wedding experience to be a little more intimate, laid-back, and unique.

This elopement took place at Camp Edison, a campground along the shores of Shaver Lake. It ended up being one of my favorite sessions of the year! The beautiful shoreline, privacy, and scent of pine was the perfect backdrop for their elopement.

We began with a First Look along the shoreline that their sweet pup very efficiently photo-bombed. He was just as excited as we were to get things moving along!

One reason I love First Looks is because it takes some of the pressure off the walk down the aisle and allows the couple to have a few moments together before the ceremony.

Caralynn mentioned to me beforehand that she didn’t have too much experience with weddings. I quickly assured her that everything looked perfect for them!

A common misconception with weddings is that they need to be a super elegant, grand affair full of traditions. I’m here to tell you: this is no longer true.

For example, I recently saw an Instagram post of a couple who were married in minutes! They drove to the officiant’s house, and the officiant came out with some papers to meet them. The papers were signed in less than 5 minutes, and the couple didn’t even need to leave their car!

Your wedding can be whatever you want it to be!

I know countless people will tell you the “right” way to have your wedding. However, it’s your wedding! The only right way to marry your favorite person in the world is to do it in a way that makes both of you happy.

Towards beginning of this post, I mentioned how this elopement forever changed how I see weddings. I was not exaggerating.

It is so easy to lose sight of why we want to be married in the first place because you get wrapped up in planning the “perfect” day. Pinterest and Instagram can be super helpful tools in planning your wedding! I know I had my fair share of inspiration boards. However, social media can also make it much easier to get lost in the game of comparisons.

“I wish we could afford X like this, but we can only do Y. It’s not going to be as nice as X.”

“I wish I could do an intimate wedding, but my parents want to invite dozens of their closest friends.”

“I want to look just like that bride on Instagram, but my hair will never grow out that much in time.”

Sound a little too familiar?

Caralynn may not have been to many wedding before, but she knew exactly what should be at the center of most weddings: love, hope, and celebration.

Caralynn and Sam added a unique-spin to their elopement day by going for a little swim in their wedding attire. They took off their shoes and ran right into Shaver Lake together!

After their swim, they found some towels and snuck in a few cuddles with their sweet pups.

Ready to chat more about your Shaver Lake elopement? (It doesn’t have to be in Shaver Lake)

Let’s connect here!