Every year I end up at the annual WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference in Las Vegas. Since moving back to Texas, I still make the pilgrimage in February to Las Vegas to see the expo and learn as much as I can during the 3 days. This year I will only be attending the expo since I am taking a trip into Utah with my bestie and shooting an engagement session in the Utah sand dunes... soooo exciting!
Texas is so large that, yes, even within the state it’s a destination wedding. Especially when you’re talking west Texas and driving 8 hours to the Alpine/Marfa area. What I loved about shooting out there was it reminded me of being back in Vegas with the desert landscape. Back to dry weather, dodging cacti, and hoping the snakes were too cold to come out. Sara and Jake love the Marfa area and visiting out west on their own so it made sense to have an Alpine Texas wedding. Family and friends traveled from all over the world, not just from their home base of Houston, to the little town and booked up the entire Holland Hotel on Main Street Alpine. They did a first look including Jake’s jaw dropping reaction on the balcony overlooking the town, the murals, and I found an awesome spot over the hills to get a different look for some portraits. Jake’s blue suit and Sara’s cream dress fit right in.
This Houston couple and I lucked out! While I was transitioning between Texas and Las Vegas, I was able to shoot their wedding when I happened to be going back to finish off my remaining sessions for 2015. Torey told me all about their Houston destination wedding to Vegas they had planned at the Wedgewood Wedding and Events Center at Stallion Mountain. I couldn't believe Laura was super busy juggling law school all while planning a wedding, but it all came together beautifully for their day! We met in Houston to go over all of the details and get to know them a bit better before their trip.
So how do you get married in Las Vegas? Destination elopement weddings are SO much fun. Over the 10 years I lived in Las Vegas, I photographed many weddings where it was just myself, the couple and the officiant. Read my how-to guide below on how to elope and have me come travel to photograph it of course! I offer complete packages and can help you plan it all.
I love how every destination elopement to Las Vegas is different from the next. Ameera and Michael decided to run off to Vegas to elope and have a shoot in their amazing attire the next day around the Strip for a few hours. They want to have a very large wedding and saving up for it in a couple of years, but decided they couldn't wait to officially tie the knot and have some time together. Ameeras blush bridal gown was amazing and made of Faille fabric. I truly had never seen anything like it before.