Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer, Denver, CO (2026)

06/02/2026

Pride is still important. Because…

Because I still have couples leaving the country to get married in peace.
Because I still see couples eloping because their families don’t approve.
Because I still watch couples' faces light up when they realize they can dress how they want.

Pride is still important.

Because 2025 was the biggest year to date for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the states.
Because pride events are getting cancelled due to safety concerns.
Because gay marriage was back under fire this year.
Because hate crimes against trans folks have quadrupled in the last 4 years.

Pride is still important.

Because love is the most beautiful, enduring force in the universe.
Because *community* will always be stronger & more vibrant than hate.
Because pride is a gorgeous, shining, unstoppable power to witness.
Because you deserve to know how beautiful you are & feel cheered on every day.
Because pride brings art, and love, and friendship, and joy, and connection.
Because freedom can look like showing who you are inside as vibrantly as you want on the outside.

Pride is still important.

Because even in 2026, we still have to have this conversation.

So hear me when I say: happy pride.

To each and EVERY one of you.

Whether you’re out and proud or in the closet for safety. Partnered, or single, or ace, or in a “straight passing” relationship.

You deserve safety, and peace, and respect. You are seen & wildly loved.

And I will always be in your corner.

Your wedding day deserves to celebrate all that you are. And if you ever want a safe person to go into the mountains with who will weep through your vows with you, I’m your gal.

You’re always welcome here. As your fullest, truest self.

I hope this June is good to you. From the bottom of my heart.

xx Maddie Mae

And for any photographers out there who need help understanding how to support ALL couples in this climate, here is how you can learn to be a LGBTQIA+ inclusive photographer. 🌈

Tap here!
https://adventureinstead.com/academy/blog/how-to-be-an-lgbtqia-inclusive-photographer/

06/01/2026

Louisa & Kim are such beautiful people… and also the first couple I have *ever* had featured on the Weather Channel!

I’ve talked a lot on here about how crazy cool this was for them to do (including all of the safety precautions we took to keep them safe in Greenlandic ocean waters with a bunch of insane currents).

And about how insane it is to me that they went BACK OUT the next day after pulling it off once.

This is exactly what I mean when I talk about elopements being so unique from person to person. Their story, their activities, will never be exactly replicated by anyone else.

It’s uniquely theirs, and I still feel totally honored to have captured it for them.

I LOVE capturing elopements in an environment unlike anything you’ve ever seen!

One that I’ve been recommending and other couples have been super excited about recently are glaciers.

Here are my favorite places in the world to find glaciers for an elopement day (In case you need to know where to look 😉)

Glacier locations
https://adventureinstead.com/glacier-elopement-guide/

05/28/2026

I just did 5 weddings in 5 weeks in 5 different countries… and I’m still guilty of this.

That’s the danger of working in the wedding space. I feel like I talk to so many insanely cool couples who want to do super cool things on their wedding days… I can’t help it, I always want to say yes.

And that’s the double edged sword to being your own boss. Because no one is stopping you from saying yes… but also, no one is stopping you from saying yes. 😂

There aren’t enough days in the season to photograph all of the incredible people & places that I want to. If anyone finds a solution to pause time, let me know.

I guess now is a great time to say that although this is a busy career, loving what I do is something I wouldn’t trade for the world.

So if you want to sneak on my schedule anytime soon, may I interest you in some of my elopement bucket list experiences to capture?

Yep, I have a few experiences I’ve always dreamed of capturing and would take on at the drop of a hat (any interest in a sunrise hot air balloon in Cappadocia?)

Read them here!
https://adventureinstead.com/about/

05/27/2026

Sarah & Blake live in and got engaged in Colorado, so there was only one place they wanted to elope. ⛰️

They really wanted to have the ultimate Colorado summer day, which I adored. They told me they really wanted to just enjoy the scenery, because they love being outside, and feel totally relaxed.

Luckily, that’s an easy ask for summer in CO.

And the perfect summer day in Colorado for them included…
Rushing waterfalls
Wide fields of wildflowers
A scenic picnic
Driving a 4X4 up a mountain trail
Canoeing in an alpine lake
Getting to explore a mountain pass with a view
And an evening soak in a hot spring

Maybe it’s just because I was born & raised here, but honestly, I can’t fathom a better early August day.

Sarah & Blake have such incredible chemistry with each other and it was such a treat to just get to capture them enjoying their home state’s natural landscape together.

They originally told me they wanted to elope because they wanted something, “beautiful and memorable, but private and personal as well.”

Here’s how Sarah described the results her own words ⬇️
“Working with Maddie was the most incredible experience. We had known for a long time that a traditional wedding was not what we imagined for ourselves but had no idea where to start.

Maddie was so knowledgeable of not only the local area of where we wanted to elope but of the step-by-step of the entire elopement process. She listened to us describe our dream wedding and made it a reality for us.

Our wedding day was perfect - intimate, unhurried and completely immersed with each other. And, of course, the photography is out of this world. We are in total awe of how beautifully and intimately our love was captured.

Maddie fostered a welcoming, comfortable environment that allowed us to just be ourselves and completely embrace every minute of our day. We are so grateful to Maddie, not only for her exceptional photography, but for her support and kindness as well.”

There is nothing like summer in the mountains. And if this sounds like your ideal day, get in touch with me!

xx Maddie Mae

Spending a beautiful summer day in the Colorado mountains has to be one of my absolute favorite ways to spend a slower-paced elopement and it seems after their day Sarah & Blake agree!

“Our wedding day was perfect - intimate, unhurried and completely immersed with each other.”
-Sarah & Blake

If you want a similar experience, you NEED to put Colorado at the top of your list! If you want any help starting the process, here is access to my Colorado elopement guide!

CO Elopement Guide
https://adventureinstead.com/colorado-elopement-guide/

05/26/2026

Send this to someone who you want to introduce to the world of adventure elopements 💬

There’s no wrong way to elope, but there’s definitely different vibes for different people.

From civil courthouse ceremonies followed by city exploration, to over-the-top kitschy Vegas elopements, to intimate backyard weddings and more, there’s no one way!

But if this is your vibe and you want to get married on a mountaintop or out in nature with an epic backdrop…

I’m your gal! Reach out to me and let’s get to planning the adventure elopement of your dreams.

If you want a day filled with intention, adventure, and intimacy in every way possible, then this page is the place for you and I’m here to help you create the elopement experience of a lifetime!

Ready to reach out and start planning your elopement?

Tap here to tell me!
https://adventureinstead.com/contact/

05/21/2026

If not friend, why friend shaped?

(Just kidding—definitely always keep a safe and respectful distance between you and any wildlife anywhere!)

Alaska has handed me some of the most surreal and beautiful experiences of my life, and this was absolutely one of them.

There are so many things that you can ONLY get in your elopement if you elope in Alaska in the summer. Picture all of the beauty & wilderness of the PNW dialed up to 11.

Do you want to paddle in glacial meltwater pools, spot incredible wildlife from helicopters, have a picnic surrounded by the thickest fields of wildflowers, or watch the Northern Lights dance overhead at 2am when it’s briefly dark out?

Then Alaska in July is the place to be!

If that sounds like your perfect day, reach out to me! I’ve photographed dozens of Alaskan elopements and I’d be happy to help you craft the day you’ve been dreaming of.

If you want to experience everything Alaska has to offer via elopement, first of all I’m SO stoked for you.

Second of all, I want to help!

I want to give you all of my favorite Alaskan locations to make your big day everything you could dream of (and knowing Alaska, more.)

Places to elope AK:
https://adventureinstead.com/best-places-to-elope-in-alaska/

05/19/2026

We just passed Cassandra & Evan’s 7th wedding anniversary, and I can’t believe how fast time has flown. 🥹

I first visited Iceland in 2013, and I’ve been fully obsessed with it ever since. I’ve been back countless times (for both personal & professional trips) and every time, I’m left with the same impression:

“Dang, this place really is worth the hype.”

Cassandra & Evan got to see all of that hype first-hand. They chased waterfalls, explored the beaches and huge bright blue glacier chunks together, and climbed basalt columns.

They met when they were teenagers, so they’d been conquering new challenges and adventures in life together for well over a decade when they got married. And they decided that the best way to celebrate was to go on their biggest one yet.

Cassandra & Evan had actually never left the country before, so this was a super special way to celebrate their bond and how far they’d come as a couple.

I really feel like their day did such a good job of capturing so many different kinds of Icelandic scenery, from the highest peaks to the lowest valleys with the mountains rising above them.

When they say it’s the land of fire & ice, they aren’t joking. That dynamic is *everywhere* on this island.

You can see perfectly clear glacial ice sparkling like diamonds on volcanically formed black sand beaches. Visit literal glacial capped volcanos. Soak in natural hot springs turned bright blue with glacial silt.

It’s a place unlike any other in the world. It’s so wild & spectacular & totally otherworldly. It rises just as rapidly as it falls and everything here is a practice in contrast.

You’ve probably heard that some of the touristy spots can get a bit crowded. And that’s true.

But that’s why you hire me, so I can take you to all the best off-the-beaten-path locations and show you exactly how to get stunning landscapes here all to yourself. 😉

I actually only have ONE spot left here for 2027 in June!

So if you’ve always wanted to get married somewhere totally jaw-dropping and unlike anywhere else, don’t hesitate to message me & snag it!

xx Maddie Mae

I have ONE spot left for an Iceland elopement in June 2027.

If you want to snag that final spot, tell me below!

Grab your spot!
https://adventureinstead.com/contact/

05/18/2026

If you can take professional quality photos on your iPhone, friend, we gotta get you set up with a website 😉

I heard this a lot when I was just starting out, especially. I had people talk down to me and try to convince me that it was just the locations I was photographing in that were pretty, not my art itself.

And yeah, the places I shoot *are* gorgeous. But an iPhone can’t…
- Capture the full dynamic range of light
- Do real telephoto photography
- Capture true depth of field
- Shoot well in low-light
- Give you FULL manual control for precision shooting
- Let you work with different type of flash
- Print at a high resolution

Trust me, there’s a reason photographers have the gear they have (and it’s not just because we have fun with lenses!)

And, as always, it comes down to so much more than just the camera. Pairing a great artist with a great tool is always going to be the way to get the best photos. Not just one or the other!

A camera doesn’t take good photos—a photographer does.

But the capability of the tool can directly impact what’s possible for the photographer to do!

So if you would rather set up a phone to capture the greatest, arguably most memorable day of your life, do it! But remember that there aren’t any do-overs and you have a plethora of insanely talented professionals here on social media showcasing their work–like me!

And while gorgeous views and great tools definitely help, if anyone could take a magazine-worthy photo on an iPhone, it could only be a photographer.

Take a look at some more of my work here! ⬇️

My Portfolio
https://adventureinstead.com/portfolio/

05/15/2026

Lauren & Kelly’s super romantic sailboat elopement came in UNDER HALF the cost of a traditional wedding in 2026 👀

According to Zola, the average cost of a wedding in 2026 hit $36,000.

(And that frequently doesn’t factor in hotel stays, other meals, etc….)

Lauren & Kelly’s wedding day? $16k all inclusive.

They saved *$20k* by eloping AND still got to feel super special and totally celebrated.

And as a huge bonus, they didn’t have to pay $80 a plate for guests to eat. 😉

Weddings are expensive. Wouldn’t you rather only factor in what you *actually* want to have?

Wouldn’t you rather be on a sailboat in the Colorado mountains than in a ballroom?

Wouldn’t you rather elope?

Let’s get to planning!

I don’t know about you, but having a better experience with a much lower price tag feels like a no-brainer to me.

I want to give you the coolest, most memorable experience for YOUR elopement. So if you’re ready to get planning,

Tap here to begin!
https://adventureinstead.com/contact/

05/13/2026

Kaitlynn & Chance stayed at a villa tucked in the hills with trees heavy with citrus, a terracotta tile roof, and beautiful 360 views of the entire countryside.

They eloped in Greece on New Year’s Day because they loved the symbolism of it. Starting a new year and a new marriage at the same time. They woke up early and said their vows with the first sunrise of the year.

Midday, they went back to the villa they’d rented to relax until lunch time. They made a meal together and enjoyed their insane views with a glass of wine. It was so romantic and so RELAXED. I loved how at ease and happy they were.

The crazy part was, the natural landscape was so unlike other islands in Greece I’ve experienced. Between the cacti, bougainvillea, palms, and citrus trees, it almost felt like California.

Kaitlynn & Chance went to wander the shoreline for a while at golden hour and, because it was a holiday and off-peak travel season, they had literally the ENTIRE beach to themselves.

It felt like they were the only ones on the entire island. And it was perfect.

While the sun was setting they walked up onto the caldera of the island (everything in this island chain was volcanically formed so the views are INSANE) and took in the first sunset of their marriage from a cliff over the sea.

And then, because they wanted a little more time up there, they took out lanterns and did some more exploring.

I feel like so much of the magic of marriage happens in moments just like that.

That “5 more minutes” feeling with your favorite person in the world.

First thing in the morning when you don’t want to get out of bed, when you’re running late but you don’t want to leave because the conversation is too good, and yeah, when the sunset is over but you’re not ready to leave the view just yet.

Kaitlynn & Chance loved each other’s company so much, and it made their whole elopement so special. It was super clear to me that they could have been doing anything, anywhere, and they’d still be having the best time.

xx Maddie Mae

Greece has some truly epic locations, so if you’re considering it as your elopement location, I want to give you my favorite 14 places to elope (with the best months to visit!)

So… what do you say? Are we going to Greece? 👀

Greece locations:
https://adventureinstead.com/best-places-to-elope-in-greece/

Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer

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