Sunrise Adventure Elopement in the Alabama Hills

An adventurous couple, a sunrise vow exchange, and a rock climbing adventure? Say less—I’m in, my bags are already packed, my camera gear is ready to go. This styled Alabama Hills elopement with Tess and Ciaran was the perfect southern California elopement, and what a gift it was to work with such a badass couple and to have the opportunity to get so creative!

Tess & Ciaran’s Alabama Hills Adventure Elopement

A styled mountain elopement like no other

When I say “mountain elopement,” I’m typically talking about a mountain elopement that you’d fine in the PNW: one with vegetation and bright green ferns galore, a snow-capped mountain peak, and wildflower meadows abounding. This one looked a little bit different—I traded the lush green mountains of Washington for the golden-brown tones of California, exploring eroded hills and towering boulders instead of forested backcountry trails. And whew did it give me a whole new appreciation for the natural beauty that California has to offer! The Alabama Hills are SUCH a unique place to visit, boasting these crazy wild and rugged landscapes + views of the Sierra Nevada, rounded hills, and jagged rock formations. I knew that this styled adventure elopement would be one of a kind the moment I knew that Tess and Ciaran were down for it, and this epic landscape only added to the magic of it all.

I wanted this elopement to embody the spirit of adventure elopements in a way that was simple, low-effort, and unique; one that prioritized experiences, memories, and feelings over material things. For this reason, all we pulled together for the shoot was a bridal gown, a flower crown, a couple of cute backpack elopement signs, and vow books—and that was it! I adore how this shoot shows that you really don’t need an intricate setup, or a complex design in order to have a really incredible, unforgettable elopement (unless you want to, of course); all you need is each other and a day full of things that you love.

P.S. Shoutout to Miss Fleurs (@_missfleurs) for the gorgeous white crown of dried flowers that Tess wore—the perfect accessory to elevate her bridal attire!

A private, magical vow exchange at sunrise

The Alabama Hills are picturesque at any time of day, but they’re really something else at sunrise; Tess and Ciaran exchanged vows beneath the soft glow of the sun as it rose over the Sierra Nevada, casting pale pinks down onto them as they stood among the rocks and promised their lives to each other. I’m obsessed with the spot we used for their vow exchange in the middle of the massive boulders—it was a little reminiscent of Joshua Tree, only much less crowded!

The coolest rock climbing elopement portraits

And possibly my favorite part of the day: the rock climbing portraits! If you know me, then you know that I love a good bouldering sesh, and these two absolutely killed it with their climbing adventure. Don’t ask me how they managed to climb up in their elopement attire and look absolutely amazing doing it, such a pair of badasses!

Love the idea of incorporating rock climbing into your elopement? Pop on over to my Complete Guide to Planning a Rock Climbing Elopement for all my best tips!

3 Tips for Eloping in the Alabama Hills

I’m a sucker for a good mountain elopement location in California that isn’t as insanely busy as popular places like Yosemite or Joshua Tree, so of course I want to encourage you to elope in the Alabama Hills! If you do decide that this is the right place for your special day, I’ve got a few quick tips for you to keep in mind as you begin planning.

1. Elope at sunrise for the most privacy

The best thing about this shoot with Tess and Ciaran (besides the fact that they literally climbed up rocks in their elopement attire) was that we had pretty much complete & total privacy due to the time of day we chose! The Alabama Hills are a popular place to visit, especially in the summertime, but luckily, this shoot took place in the later fall months. Folks tend to visit in the afternoon and evening to experience sunset and golden hour in the hills, and I don’t blame them—it’s absolutely gorgeous! If you’re looking for the most privacy and seclusion for your elopement, though, you may want to opt for a sunrise elopement to avoid the bigger crowds.

You can also find more privacy by eloping on a weekday instead of a weekend, and/or eloping during the spring or fall instead of the summer! It can get fairly hot during the day in the summer, so spring and fall are great seasons to go with if you’d like to walk around/hike more without getting too warm. The Alabama Hills are even beautiful in the winter, with glimpses of snow on the mountain tops that feel really magical, and that’s definitely the least crowded time of year 🙂 Just make sure you’re okay with the brisk temperatures!

2. Check with the BLM about elopement permits ahead of time

Because the Alabama Hills are part of the Bureau of Land Management (the BLM), you’ll want to make sure to reach out to them well in advance to find out whether or not you’ll need a permit for your elopement. Permits are typically issued on a case-by-case basis and will depend on certain factors, such as how big your group is, where you’d like to hold your ceremony, and more—so it’s best to contact the office directly at BLM_CA_Web_BI@blm.gov, and chat with somebody who can point you in the right direction, permit or not! As your Alabama Hills elopement photographer, this is something that I’ll be more than happy to provide guidance for & help you out with.

3. Find a cozy Airbnb to stay at in Lone Pine

Lone Pine is the closest town to the Alabama Hills (just a 15 minute drive), and makes for the perfect place to stay during your elopement. It’s such a quaint little area to spend time exploring, and there is SO much natural beauty everywhere you look!

Here are a few of the top-rated Airbnbs in the Lone Pine area that I think would be fabulous for your adventure elopement, whether it’s just the two of you or you and a few close friends/fam:

—Home In Lone Pine: A stunning home on 6 wildly beautiful, totally secluded acres with massive boulders, epic views of the Inyo Mountains & the Sierra Nevada, and so much space to explore. There’s even an expansive outdoor deck that would be perfect for a cup of coffee the morning of your elopement, or even for your first look with all the rock spires towering over you in the background 🙂

—East Wind on Lone Starr: A custom-built home nestled at the base of Mount Whitney with picturesque views of the Eastern Sierra’s, easy access to multiple meadows & trails, and a big wrap-around deck.

—West Wind on Lone Starr: Another thoughtfully-designed home hosted by the same person as the above Airbnb (could you tell by the names?), with very similar amenities, views, and outdoor activities nearby.

—The Lone West: A home at the Lone Hunter Ranch with panoramic views of the ranch and surrounding mountains, endless property to check out, and a really beautifully-designed space. There’s even an outdoor soaking tub that you can relax in while looking out at the dreamy mountain scenery!

And if you want to find some sort of cool activity to incorporate into your day, just like Tess and Ciaran did with their climb, I def recommend checking out my blog post with Unique Elopement Ideas for Couples Who Want Something Different.

Alabama Hills Elopement Photographer

This was such an awesome day from start to finish, and it made me absolutely fall in love with the Alabama Hills as an elopement location! Whether you want to replicate Tess and Ciaran’s adventure and climb the beautiful rocks in the Alabama Hills, or you’d rather keep it a little more chill and explore the area with both feet on the ground, I’d love to tag along; let’s connect and start chatting about what your Alabama Hills elopement could look like!

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