Sol & Sand - Kevin & Nora - Texas Elopement Photo & Video

07/18/2024

We wanted to give y'all a window into our process on all the things we think about while compiling a list of our top recommendations for elopements. We love playing location matchmaker and crafting a whole experience for our couples.✨

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9iyRPSMYBi/?igsh=czhmN2V2Ym80MXZ6

06/22/2024

We have new dates up for couple sessions for the summer. We are also still booking for 2024-2025 micro weddings, intimate weddings, or elopements 🙂✨

The first step to crafting this wholehearted experience is to Contact Us with your ideas on where and when your dream wedding is happening. This process is a collaboration, we will work together to bring that vision to life, so you don’t need to have all of the details figured out yet. You deserve...

06/19/2024

Want to celebrate outdoors but avoid the Texas heat? 🔥🌵

This is a common fear and even limiting idea for a lot of the couples we talk to. No one likes being hot and Texas definitely brings the heat even outside of the summer. That midday heat is brutal in every part of Texas. So how do you have an outdoor wedding in the Texas landscape and not overheat?

Split Coverage

Meaning you can split your coverage hours with your photographer (i.e. from 8 consecutive hours into two 4 consecutive hour blocks in your day.)

Give yourself the freedom to take a break in the midafternoon when the heat is at its worst. You can take a nap, take a bath together, take a swim, or break for a nice lunch and well-deserved break. Your wedding day doesn’t need to be a rushed sprint through your timeline of what you want to do together. You’re allowed to take your time to soak in the day and soak it all in together all while ensuring the most impactful and meaningful parts of your day are documented.

Splitting coverage allows you to take advantage of the best lighting and temperatures for the day, making your experience all the better. To us your experience matters over anything, if you’re hot and uncomfortable that’s going to reflect in your photos not to mention your memories of this day. Choosing these really early and late timelines can also help you to avoid most of the visitors in the area you’re celebrating in, and can even make your celebration more accessible to your invited loved ones who may not be as excited to wake up before daybreak.

The summer is one of our favorite months when all the South Texas flora is blooming and thriving, but also when we find splitting coverage being the most crucial to your experience. We’ll always offer a break in coverage if we believe it will benefit your experience of your day.

Of course, you should always be prepared when adventuring outside with plenty of water and sun protection — but beyond those essential items, we think it’s often overlooked or unknown that you have the option to plan out your day around what’s going to make you most feel the most comfortable and alive.

Would you have a summer wedding in Texas?

05/04/2024

We documented our first wedding back in 2017 for the sweetest pair having a small backyard wedding that reached out to us via our college community board. From then we began documenting larger weddings and other sessions, ultimately coming back to specialize in documenting these smaller intimate ‘just us’ elopements. The connection and fulfillment we feel documenting days like these is just unmatched.

Enter Joyce V***a of .studio, an artisan soul and amazing designer, who has helped us find our direction and new branding. Our time with Joyce went beyond simply creating visuals, we dove deep to find our purpose and the deeper meaning behind the work we were creating. This gave us the space to communicate our individual goals and reflect on what we can do together for the couples and people we serve. Through many 5 & 6 AM Zoom calls we created a brand we are so excited, fulfilled, and proud to be finally launching.

Launch Giveaway ✸
To celebrate we’re hosting a giveaway, but the rules of this aren’t your usual game but rather a little scavenger hunt inspired by a fellow creative — who did this last year and we found it so fun!

How to Enter the Giveaway
In order to win a FREE photoshoot, SHARE this post and EMAIL us with your username and the answers to the 5 questions below at [email protected]

All answers can be found on our website within blog posts or on text throughout the pages on the site.

The Prizes
The first person to answer all of the questions correctly will receive a FREE Portrait Session here in South Texas.
The second person to answer them all correctly gets 50% off a portrait session.
The third person to answer all of them correctly gets 25% off a portrait session.

And everyone and anyone who answers at least 3/5 questions gets 30% off everything in our new Print Shop!

The Questions
1. What is the name of Sawyer & Nikki’s pet cat?
2. What two Texas cities were we born in?
3. What does our heritage celebrate?
4, What did Dan & Carolyn say was the most important thing to them when planning their wedding?
5. What is the first step to get started working with us?

Best of luck! We’ll be closing the giveaway at midnight!

04/17/2024

Choosing to elope doesn’t mean you have to opt out of celebrating with loved ones. Many couples opt to celebrate with their loved ones at a separate time to their elopement weekend—often revealing their elopement plans or celebrating in the excitement of it all.

A common celebration after you elope would be to have a celebratory dinner with your loved ones. This is a perfect time to sit back, relax, and reminisce on your adventure together surrounded by the ones you love with great food and drinks. You can also use this time to share a first dance or have loved ones make a toast to this new chapter in your lives, similar to how you would at a traditional reception. Or maybe you see yourselves celebrating in a more laid-back fashion with a simple cookout and some yard games. Either way choosing to elope doesn’t restrict you from celebrating your marriage with your loved ones in whatever way feels genuine to you — whether that’s before, during, or after your elopement.

When Lesli & Estevan got married at Treviño-Uribe Rancho in San Ygnacio, a small town south of Laredo where Estevan grew up. So right after their lovely ceremony, we all cheered and followed the couple into the street for a few quick portraits with their family and then headed back into the Fort for dinner. As everyone settled in with their hearty meal and the cozy lighting, toasts on behalf of the family began. Lesli’s mom shared heartfelt the story of when she first met Estevan. After that they both took to the front of the dinner table to have their first dance, and soon after their family accompanied them to “el baile de dolar.”

Perhaps you are enjoying your favorite homemade dish or sharing your favorite beer with your closest friends. Can you see yourself next to your partner, just married, sitting across from your loved ones and having a few laughs, reminiscing on this exciting adventure you’ve just begun?

04/10/2024

It’s been a while since we’ve introduced ourselves so if you’re new (or have been following for a while) Howdy, y’all!
 
We’re Kevin and Nora, passionate storytellers who consciously craft & document love stories inspired by connection, courage, life’s in-between moments, and the natural terrain of our home, Texas.
 
After documenting big weddings over the years, we realized that our couples often found themselves rushing through their wedding day, leaving little room for the intimate connection that truly mattered to them. And that truly struck a chord with us, echoing a sentiment we shared in our own experiences growing up.  We understood the significance of those authentic, meaningful moments, and it fuels our passion for creating a grounded wedding experience where you can be present in every moment to savor your day while we document it in a way that allows you to step back into that moment for years to come.
 
Despite being born in two different cities (El Paso & Laredo), growing up as first generations on the border of Mexico and the U.S. gave us the same adversities and experiences that would shape us into the people we are today.  The expression, “ni de aquí, ni de allá” (not from here, nor there) will forever ring true to us because we aren’t fully from either side, we are our own individual blend. The Fronterizo culture that we were raised in is truly a culture of its caliber.
 
Our Fronterizo background is a testament to our commitment to exploration and pushing of boundaries. It pushes us to our mission to empower you and your partner to craft a wedding that authentically reflects your unique love story while setting the scene for a wholehearted connection. We want you to savor your wedding day as if nobody is watching, and preserve these precious memories for years to come.

We understand first-hand how nerve-wracking it can be to go against tradition, but your wedding is yours and yours only, and it’s a day you only live through once.

So let us ask you…
How do you want to remember it?

xx Kevin & Nora

In the Images:
• Kevin’s family in their home’s garden
• Nora at a Family Posada
• Kevin’s family at Six Flags
• Nora & her Dad in New Mexico

03/27/2024

We understand traditions can bring a feeling of obligation or even guilt when we don’t participate in them. Planning any kind of wedding is often met with a wall of opinions on what you “should do from those around you. So, we’re here to ask and support you to make choices to create a wedding experience that feels genuine and meaningful to you.

Eloping allows the space to slow down and create intentional moments in your day and wedding ceremony that create memories you’ll look back on for years to come. There are several creative ways to incorporate heartfelt traditions into your ceremony. You can always create space for traditions that are meaningful to your story and experience from blending cultural customs to exchanging personalized vows or symbolic ceremonies.

Dan & Carolyn infused their ceremony and reception with meaningful traditions that celebrated their shared history and commitment to each other. During the ceremony, they incorporated the pinning of the Tartan, a heartfelt ritual where loved ones adorned them with a tartan cloth, symbolizing unity, love, and an invitation to one’s family. Following this, Dan & Carolyn performed a Quaich ceremony during their reception where they sipped from a two-handled cup demonstrating the unwavering commitment and trust they have for each other and their shared journey ahead. These simple customs not only added depth to their wedding but also crafted unforgettable memories, paid homage to their heritage, and built a stronger bond between them as they set off on a new chapter of life together.

And that’s why the beauty of eloping lies in the freedom to create a day that authentically reflects your love story and values — a day free of expectations, judgment, or conformity. Whether you are honoring your cultural heritage, paying tribute to loved ones who can’t be there, or simply adding a personal touch that speaks volumes about who you are as a couple, incorporating traditions into your elopement can make the day even more special and unique to your love story.

03/20/2024

Wondering where to elope in Texas?

The possibilities for your elopement are as vast as the Lone Star State itself from its winding rivers and verdant forests to the rolling hills of the countryside, sun-kissed beaches, and expansive deserts. So it’s understandable when we hear our couples feel overwhelmed yet excited with the amazing areas Texas offers. Because when it comes to choosing the right elopement location, it surely shapes a big part of your wedding experience together. A location influences the timing of your ceremony, your choice of vendors, and the activities you take part in together on your special day.

A fond example we love to think back to is Olesya & George who chose a beach along the Gulf Coast for their elopement. They originally got married in New York but came to Texas to settle down in Corpus Christi. They mentioned how much they love to spend time walking on the beach to clear their minds and have had amazing memories on the beach. So it was not a surprise that they would spend their elopement day sharing their vows and having an amazing time in the sand and running along the seaside. Olesya & George gravitated towards the beach because it felt like home, resonating deeply with their journey together. It was where they found solace, shared laughter, and ultimately, where their love story unfolded into this breathtaking day they’d always dreamed of.

So how do you choose your elopement location? Like Olesya & George, one way to start is by envisioning the kind of environment that resonates with your love story. Reflect on the kind of places that hold significance for both of you. Perhaps it’s where you shared your first hike together or where you & your partner feel most grounded and connected. Consider what places makes you feel most present and alive with your partner? What about your love story do you want to emphasize? What landscape would deepen the meaning of this intentional experience you’ve created? Take time to dream this up and stay open to unexpected discoveries along the way because sometimes the most breathtaking locations are found off the beaten path waiting to be uncovered by adventurous souls like yours.

x Kevin

02/21/2024

Writing your vows shouldn’t be an overwhelming experience. As an elopement photo & video duo, we’ve heard hundreds of vows. The best ones are always the ones that make it personal. These are the key ingredients to genuine, fun, and meaningful vows.⁠ Your vows are the soul to your wedding experience, tell the story of your relationship, and create the intention for your relationship moving past this milestone. That being said, they don’t have to be hard to write.

Be Yourself
Try to resist getting inspiration from other’s vows and let it flow how you’d naturally talk to your person. Authenticity is the most important ingredient for great vows.

Start with Gratitude
Express your gratitude for all the little and big things you’ll get to or have been able to share in your lives together.

Past, Present, Future
Reflect on all the moments in your relationship that’s brought you to this point together. Consider all of the challenges you’ve been able to overcome together, joys you’ve been able to share, and memories that deepen the meaning of everything you’ve chosen to do on your wedding day.

Include Anecdotes
Now that you’ve reflected on your journey as a couple, consider ways you can remind the other of those moments and what it meant to you. Think of how you in the future, aged with time will listen back to these vows and remember these moments just as fondly.

Have fun with it
Don’t be afraid to add some humor, or even reflect on the silly moments. Your vows should reflect your personally, story, and intentions.

Create genuine promises
Don’t limit your vows to lines like “I will always love you.” You can also pick specific things you know will support your partner the way they love to be supported: “I vow to always rewatch episodes of our favorite TV shows after you fall asleep the night before” or “I promise to be your constant when things may feel unknown.” Make specific promises to your partner centered around your support and love for them in the future - think about communication, partnership, and the life you’ll build together.

Take your time reading
When the moment comes where you’ll read these little words, remember to connect with them take your time.

02/14/2024

Hey there, lovebirds! Valentine’s Day is here & it’s a perfect time to do something special with your partner. With that said, we hope y’all have an amazing day together, but also we just wanted to get on here to remind y’all to celebrate your relationship every day not just on Valentine’s Day. We understand first-hand how easy it is to forget to do these things in the rush of everyday life. But remember relationships are built on consistent acts of love, appreciation, & shared experiences.

Communicate openly & honestly. Be transparent with your partner about your thoughts, feelings, & concerns. Don’t be afraid to express yourself & have difficult conversations when necessary. Communication is key in any relationship, setting aside dedicated time to talk and connect with your partner can help deepen the strength of your bond.

Surprise your partner with random acts of kindness. Remember, many small thoughtful actions are also meaningful, not just the grand gestures are noticed. Leave little notes for them to find, take over their chores for the day so they can relax, or cook their favorite meal. By consistently surprising your partner with gestures like this, you create an atmosphere of love & appreciation every day.

Date nights! When it comes to celebrating your relationship, you don’t have to break the bank or go out all the time. Sometimes, staying in & having an at-home date night can be just as special. Whether you are cooking a romantic dinner, having a movie marathon, or even pulling out some board games for a game night, it’s not about where you are but who you’re with that truly matters!

Booking an adventure session can also be a meaningful & true-to-you way to express your love for each other. It’s not just about capturing honest moments; it’s about investing in memories that will last a lifetime. Plus, it’s an opportunity to celebrate your unique bond in a fun & creative way that celebrates who you both are as a couple.

Last but not least, never forget to say “I love you”. Never underestimate the power that phrase holds. Don’t let the routine of everyday life overshadow these simple but meaningful expressions.

Happy Valentine’s Day y’all!

01/31/2024

Did you know 54% of people barely remember their wedding? During the adventure your wedding brings, it’s easy to rush through each moment, missing the opportunity to truly savor it. So taking a moment to ground yourself not only adds meaning and depth to your special day but also creates powerful memories to look back on. That’s why we always love to talk about the importance of staying present, cherishing the journey of your relationship, and embracing authenticity to enhance your wedding experience.
 
Stay Grounded & Connected
As you stand in this extraordinary moment, take a deep breath. Feel the crispness of the air, the warmth of each inhale, and the promise that each exhale brings. This breath is not just air; it’s a shared heartbeat, a synchronized rhythm that connects you and your partner in this unique space and time. Inhale the anticipation of the moment, and exhale any lingering nerves or distractions. As you hold hands and exchange glances, let the depth of your breaths ground you. This simple act creates a shared space where you can fully immerse yourselves in the present, free from the distractions of the world.
 
Reflect on Your Journey
Take a few minutes to reminisce on your relationship, you are grounding yourselves in what this day is for. Think about all those late-night conversations under the stars, when dreams were shared and fears were conquered together. Remember those stolen kisses and goofy inside jokes that only the two of you understand. Reflecting on these cherished moments will remind you why you chose each other in this wild adventure called life. Let these reflections serve as a reminder of the unwavering support and love between you both.
 
Be Yourself
Release the pressure of expectations and simply be yourselves on your wedding day. Authenticity shines brightest when you allow your true selves to fully emerge in your feelings. Whether it’s laughter, tears, or moments of quiet contemplation, embracing the natural flow of your emotions will make your wedding uniquely yours. There’s beauty in imperfection, and by letting go of rigid expectations, you open yourselves up to a celebration that authentically reflects your love story.