“We wanted to showcase a desert elopement styled shoot that had a travel theme to show couples who were eloping, it could still be exquisite and special. We chose Usary Mountain Park for its vast and lovely desert scenery. Usery is part of the Sonoran Desert and was the perfect backdrop for our elopement shoot. It is quiet, calm and beautiful in its own way.

Our vision was to keep things playful and light with a 1950’s flavor. The gorgeous bouquet was made of peach and cream roses, dusty miller, blue thistle and pink astibile. The announcements say “You’ll be in our hearts as we say ‘I do’ at our wedding just for two” with the couples name, location and date and an invitation to “come with us on Instagram” with the couples hashtag. In lieu of RSVP cards, we added a request for family and friends to send a song to add to their road trip playlist. This shoot was so much fun to style and we really wanted to give inspiration to couples who were planning on a simple wedding or an elopement that their wedding can be small and still be magazine worthy and that elopements can still include their family and friends in a non-traditional way.

For brides that are planning their wedding, our best advice is to hire people who love what they do. Write a small paragraph on what your vision is for your wedding and pull a few inspiration images from your Pinterest board and then hand it over to your wedding team. If you’re working with people who are passionate about their work, they will take your ideas and make come to life in the most impossibly gorgeous way.” – Denise Karis Photography

Event Credits

Photographer: Denise Karis Photography // Transportation: Roscoe and Louie // Florist: Two Lemons in Love // Invitations: Freed Hands // Attire: Suzanne's Bridal Boutique // Dress Designer: Moonlight Bridal // Shoes: Ivanka Trump // Make-up: Kristina Ashton Patterson