Joy and Caleb are an adventurous couple who met while studying abroad together, in not one but fourteen countries! Caleb was drawn to Joy’s laugh and how easily she found delight in small moments. Joy was attracted to Caleb's kindness and zest life. Studying abroad provided an exhilarating backdrop and their crushes quickly escalated.
Though they had talked about getting married from the get-go, when the time felt right to tie the knot they discovered that traditional wedding planning was not––it turned out––their cup of tea. Overwhelmed by the prospect of planning logistics and being in the spotlight on their big day, they scoured the internet for alternatives. They found Outdoor Chronicles Photography’s Instagram page and decided to outsource nearly all the arrangements to Molly.
“We had a gut feeling that it was a perfect fit. We couldn't have been more right! They totally understood what we wanted for our elopement day!”
Creating a bespoke elopement experience encapsulating the couple’s past, present and future, Molly incorporated Joy and Caleb’s personalities into each moment of their elopement itinerary. From vendors and locations to activities and surprise gifts, each detail was carefully crafted to be meaningful and poignant.
“Molly knows the area and knows the best places to go and in which order to do activities, which truly made the day amazing. They did such an amazing job of scouting out different locations, figuring out vendors and recommending the perfect itinerary. The itinerary gave us plenty of time to enjoy our day up until the last minute! The hikes were all planned perfectly, and gave us a good amount of exercise without tiring us out.”
The first location, a historic lighthouse Joy and Caleb visited on a favorite date, represented the past.
A trip to a picturesque sheep farm symbolized their dreams of someday owning a farm in the New York countryside. Caleb and Molly conspired to plan an extra surprise for Joy––who is an avid knitter––and revealed it at the farm: skeins of yarn, sheared, spun and dyed onsite!
A waterfall picnic and exchanging vows on a craggy cliff above Lake Minnewaska tied past and future together in a breathtaking present. Here, in a moving culmination of the day’s adventures, Caleb serenaded Joy, accompanying himself on a travel guitar. The two closed out the day in a local tavern, toasting their nuptials.
“The day itself was such an awesome adventure! The environment was beautiful, the location for our vows was epic, and playing a song to Joy was something I will remember forever.”
As their photos attest, these two aren’t the type to let a little mud keep them from dressing to the nines––Joy sported a denim jacket over her gauzy wedding dress––or to let a fancy occasion hinder a chance to feed sheep!
“An elopement allowed us to plan our perfect day to celebrate our relationship. We loved that we got to do something that felt like us (hiking), and also have new experiences: a charcuterie picnic by a waterfall, and running around a sheep farm in nice clothes”
Joy & Caleb’s Advice for Couples Planning a Wedding or Elopement
Trust your gut and communicate with one another! It's really important to do something that feels comfortable for you both as individuals, and as a couple. Also added bonuses are that your elopement is less waste and much less money spent than if you had a wedding. An elopement gives you the freedom to be creative and have one of the most amazing and personal celebrations of your love for one another. Highly recommend!
Vendors Salon: KMR beauty Flowers: FlowerKraut Dress: Lulu’s Rings: Mejuri & Blue Nile Charcuterie board: Saratoga Grazing Co Accommodation: Scribner's Catskill Lodge
Sheep Farm & Wool: White Barn Farm
Meet Your New York Elopement Photographer
Your New York elopement isn't complete without finding the right photographer to capture your wedding day. You will want to find someone who is an experienced adventure wedding photographer who is a local expert -- and that's me! I'm an award-winning photographer who has been featured in several publications and was recently named one of the top 9 elopement photographers in New York! And when I'm not photographing elopements, I'm usually out hiking, skiing, or biking to find new, amazing locations for couples to explore. As a local expert, I'm here to guide you through planning your elopement in Upstate New York. And then I'll be there to photograph every moment.
My New York wedding packages range from $4,500 to $8,900. Packages range from 5 hours of coverage to 2-days of coverage. Are you planning a longer adventure, such as a multi-day hike during which you will exchange vows on a secluded peak? I offer custom packages for your multi-day elopement. Packages include overall planning assistance, helping you find the perfect location to get married, vendor recommendations, and establishing the perfect timeline for adventuring without feeling rushed. I'm here as your New York and New England expert and I want you to have the best wedding day!
Caleb & Joy's All Day Elopement in the Catskills in Pictures
