Smokey Sunrise Artist Point Elopement
Grace + Matthew
Grace and Matthew’s Smokey Sunrise Artist Point Elopement was beyond anything I could have imagined. They had their hearts set on getting married at sunrise, so we made it happen, and it turned into one of the coolest mornings I’ve ever experienced at Artist Point.
This was actually my first time photographing sunrise up there. Smoke from the Spokane and Canada fires moved in throughout the morning, creating this really hazy orange light over the mountains. It almost looked like golden hour, but with this soft, smoky filter over everything. The lighting was definitely funky at times, but it made the entire morning feel moody and completely different from anything I had photographed there before.
We hiked up to Huntoon Point early in the morning so Grace and Matthew could get ready at the top. Of course, that meant bringing my infamous green pickle condom (tent) along for the adventure. Grace specifically wanted a photo of it as part of the documentary side of their gallery, so the pickle condom officially earned its place in their wedding story. They also told me how important warmth, romance, and documentary-style photographs were to both of them.
Once they were ready, Grace and Matthew had their first look as the sun was rising. We explored around Huntoon Point for portraits, and while we were near the pond, I had the idea to bring out the lanterns and play with their reflections in the water. We also used a video light for a few of the darker photographs before everything brightened up. It was such a fun opportunity to play with the light and create something a little different.
Their private vows were absolutely beautiful. Matthew is a huge Sylvia Plath fan and a writer himself, and he has kept so many pieces of their relationship over the years. Love letters, poems, tickets, reservations, and other little memories became part of their detail photographs. When it came time for the vows, everybody was crying. I was crying at the ceremony. It was beautiful.
I also had the honor of officiating their wedding.
Zac, their videographer, served as one witness, and we found a random stranger on the mountain to be their second. Grace immediately wanted her contact information afterward so she could send her the photograph we took together. It was such a sweet and funny little part of the morning.
After the ceremony, we continued with portraits around Huntoon Point and Picture Lake. Grace and Matthew had even brewed coffee to bring along for us and packed gluten-free vanilla cake to celebrate with on the mountain.
Artist Point made so much sense for these two because hiking has become such an important part of their relationship. Matthew wasn’t originally a hiker, but he started doing it because it was something Grace loved. He eventually fell in love with it himself, and the mountains became important enough to both of them that they wanted to get engaged and married on one.
Their engagement was its own mountain adventure. Matthew planned to propose at Panorama Ridge in Canada and even pre-hiked the trail ahead of time. They started the hike in the dark around 3 a.m. with headlamps, only to end up dealing with sleet, fog, almost no visibility, and very little food. Eventually, they decided they simply wanted to be engaged and Matthew proposed along the trail on their way back down.
Grace has also become such a lovely friend to me since she first reached out to book their elopement. We’ve gone on picnics, wandered Barnes & Noble, had lunch, and spent plenty of time having girl talk. Being able to photograph their wedding and officiate it was such an honor.
And watching Grace react to her sneak peeks afterward made the whole morning even better. She kept texting me about one photograph after another and told me this was what her heart had always desired. Getting to help make that vision come to life was really, really special.
Grace and Matthew’s Smokey Sunrise Artist Point Elopement was moody, emotional, beautiful, and such a magical way to begin their marriage.
Vendors:
Photography + officiant: Works by Sarah Jane Photography / Videography: Zac at Flint & Stone Co. / Wedding rings: Adiamor //
Your Narrative blog will appear here, click preview to see it live.
For any issues click here
save + Share
back to all posts