Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer

Name: Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer
Address: Denver, CO, US
Telephone: +17192876005

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Adventure Instead - Elopement Photographer & Experience Designer

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Hey! I'm Maddie Mae and I'm an elopement photographers + experience designer for unreal wedding days

10/13/2026

When you elope somewhere widely known for their sunsets, it only makes sense to make sure you can have 2 of them. And I’m so glad that Erica & Charlie did.

You may have heard me recommend 2-day elopements before, which I love for so many reasons. Mainly because you either get a day before to get into the right headspace pre-wedding or a day after to soak everything in and jumpstart your honeymoon.

But there are a ton of practical benefits, too. Like having more options weather-wise if it comes down to it, and the chance to let your body acclimate if you’ll be at altitude, and time for longer activities like sailboats or helicopters that you may feel pressed for time with on your main wedding day.

Erica & Charlie used their 2 days to explore all of Kauai—one day from the ground, and one day from the sky. They were STOKED about the helicopter tour the entire time we were planning, so they really wanted to make sure they had plenty of time to enjoy it!

Their entire second day was comprised of eating local food from food trucks, seeing the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon from above, and heading back to the beach they’d gotten married on the day before to watch another insane sunset before their experience wrapped up.

As we were planning, it was clear that these two were just super excited about everything! They really wanted to see it all, do it all, feel it all. So 2 days of coverage just made sense for them to have the kind of really epic adventure they wanted.

They left this review after ⬇️

“Incredible. Fantastic. Amazing. Unbelievable.

Maddie was tremendous in not only capturing our special day but supporting us in designing our dream elopement. I cannot emphasize how much fun it was to work with her and how thankful we were to have her capture every moment of our time together.

Photos have been phenomenal!”

I still look back at Erica & Charlie’s elopement as a great example of balancing views, connection, and fun activities. They had so much fun together and it really showed the entire time.

xx Maddie Mae

10/12/2026

I’m trying to be encouraging about your $200/a person wedding, I promise 🫣

But if you wanna ditch the whoooole thing and get married with just the two of you in a mountain basin at sunset while alpenglow lights up the whole ridge and the only witnesses are the wildflowers…

You know where to find me!

10/07/2026

Doing great, thanks for asking! 😵‍💫

Wedding & elopement photographers just trying to survive October, I feel you and I see you

This season of life has been a lot—in the news, for me personally, and for pretty much every single person I know or have spoken to lately. I touched base with a lot of you this month after my last newsletter, but all this to say…

If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. This season of life won’t last forever. I’m proud of you for still going. You’ve got this.

10/06/2026

Remember these two? They just booked me for one of my DREAM shoots as part of what they call their “Wedding Olympics”.

What are Wedding Olympics? It’s a term that Louisa & Kim made up to describe their wide variety of events around the beginning of their marriage.

So far that’s included events like the Greenland ice elopement pictured here, a reception with their family & friends, and the latest to be added…

A super cool renewal out on the largest salt flat in the world in Bolivia! When this salt flat floods with some water, it turns into a perfect mirror, and oh MAN do I have ideas (it involves the full moon)

Pair this dream idea I’ve had forever with two incredible people that I cannot *wait* to photograph again and I’m more than a little stoked about this

I just got the chance to catch up with Louisa & Kim on a super cool backpacking trip recently in AZ. Their campsite was close to ours, so we got to visit with them quite a bit, and we had the best time.

They told me more about how they met while we were catching up. I knew that they’d met because Kim was a dance instructor and Louisa took a class, but what I didn’t know was that apparently Kim’s clientele trends towards older folks, and she knew that Louisa probably wouldn’t come back, so he made a point of getting her number before she never saw her again😂

I honestly love the connection these two have, and it’s so apparent every time I talk to them.

They’re so tuned into each other and so connected. And, in case the STANDING ON PADDLEBOARDS IN WEDDING ATTIRE IN AN ICEFJORD didn’t prove it, complete badasses.

I’m sharing their photos again today partially because, well, I’m pumped lol

But ALSO because I want people to know that they don’t have to be done celebrating after one day!

There is quite literally NO rule saying you can’t keep exploring, keep having celebrations, keep renewing and gathering and dressing up.

Part of throwing the traditional wedding rules out of the window when you elope means it doesn’t matter if it’s your first wedding day or a vow renewal.

You get to do it whenever you want, whatever that looks like.

xx Maddie Mae

09/25/2026

It’s intimidating to pick a spot when you can go anywhere in the world, I get it 😉

I’ll do all the pre-research on where to elope and put together a banger list of elopement locations for you—all you have to do is say yes or no.

I’m here to guide through any & all moments of decision paralysis. ✨

09/23/2026

Hot take: Colorado is one of THE most romantic places in the world.

Yes. The *entire* world.

I know everyone has their own taste and their own definition of what’s romantic.

But it’s really freaking rare that I meet a couple who I *don’t* think I could make happy with an elopement day in Colorado.

Are you an adrenaline seeker or a sporty type who wants to be on a mountaintop in the morning and go skiing in the afternoon?

Do you want to move slowly and spend part of your day soaking in a natural hot spring followed up by a local b**r tasting?

Are you into mountain views but not into hiking (a problem that can be solved by us having some of the best 4X4 roads anywhere)?

Through gold changing aspen leaves, and bursts of colorful summer wildflowers, and snow at many elevations most of the year…

I really think Colorado has it all.

Take a historic train, eat at Michelin star restaurants, go white water rafting, chase waterfalls (sorry TLC), horseback ride, go up in a hot air balloon, sail or paddle around a lake, stargaze, climb, mountain bike, wander through forests, hike, explore cool town after cool town…

No matter what you’re looking for, chances are high that there’s an option for it here.

Sam & Stephen’s day is such a golden example of this.

Running through wildflower fields by an alpine lake while alpenglow lights up the peaks behind you?

Is there a way to NOT make that a super romantic moment?

They managed to fit a hot spring soak, a waterfall, a 4X4 road, a field of wildflowers, a picnic, a ceremony, a sunset, and a lantern-lit canoe around an alpine lake all into their day.

And every single moment along the way felt like they were *so* tuned into each other, so in the moment, and so happy together. It transformed every space they walked into, genuinely.

So consider this my shameless plug for my home state. You should come elope in Colorado. It’s really, really cool here.

And if you need help deciding where, come tell me all your wants and I’ll show you exactly how to make it happen.

xx Maddie Mae

Address

Denver, CO

Telephone

+17192876005

Website

http://adventureinstead.com/

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