A Fun-Filled Elopement Day With A Pizza-Party ‘Reception’

“If I’d known a wedding day could be this fun I’d have done it a whole lot sooner!” – Derek at the end of his and Kelsie’s epic elopement day.

Kelsie and Derek had been together for ten whole years before they finally decided to tie the knot in Moab. And, truthfully? A huge reason for that was because they just couldn’t see themselves fitting into the traditional wedding mold and nothing about the planning process EXCITED them. It’s hard to plan something that just feels like a chore.

So, when they finally decided to elope, they knew they needed to create a day that honored them as a couple and truly spoke to their personal relationship. And they did just that!

We began their day with a sunrise hike and enjoyed a super peaceful morning with a breakfast of cinnamon rolls and a quiet game a cribbage. They love to play together back home, and Kelsey managed to surprise Derek with a customized board! We love it when couples inject their personality into their elopement days like this, it really helps it to feel more personal, more like ‘you’.

In true Moab fashion, a paraglider came floating straight under Corona Arch while Kelsie and Derek were hanging out just soaking it all in! See if you can peep them in the photos!

Later in the day, we picked up their guests – their absolute closest family and friends – and loaded up in our off-road vehicles to venture out to a remote overlook with not another soul around. For anyone that maybe worries that Moab is too busy for a private elopement, don’t be! We’re local to the area and know alllllllll the good spots for escaping the crowds.

After finally doing the deed, and getting MARRIED after a decade of shared life, Kelsey and Derek had one of the most real and relaxing ‘receptions’ we’ve seen: they rolled out the Jeep awnings, got out the camping chairs, popped on some killer tunes and tucked into a feast of pizza and homemade brownies… All whilst soaking in the epic views with their favorite people.

Does it get better?!

Let this be your reminder that there’s NOTHING your wedding day HAS to be. If you’re married at the end of it, it’s a wedding, it really is as simple as that! Don’t let anyone try to persuade you your wedding day has to be X, Y and Z. It’s 100% up to YOU what you want it to look like.