WOW! What a WILD ride 2023 has been! We are so grateful and so exhilarated by our AMAZING couples, they really are the best. Our couples truly made this the best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography. Every time we look at these images, we get a profound sense of purpose. These couples are going against the stream of society and doing what THEY dream of and we think that’s fucking awesome.

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement.

We couldn’t do it alone and we are STOKED for each member of The Hive, our super talented photographer team! Erin, Landon and Tabby, from the bottom of our hearts- thank you. Thank you for taking care of our couples just as we would and showing them a DAMN good time while doing it.

Looking forward to 2024 we have some EPIC elopements. Join us for any of the destinations below within the dates and we’ll put $1000 discount in your stocking.

January 28-30th: Amsterdam, Netherlands

February 3-5: Barcelona, Spain⁣

April 5th-8th: Moab, UT (Arches & Canyonlands NP)⁣

April 14th-15th: London, England⁣

Apr 19th-23rd: Greece 

July 8th-17th: Iceland⁣

It’s time to write a new chapter in your adventurous love story!!  Pack your bags and bring your soulmate! We’ll take you on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! NOTE THIS IS APPLICABLE TO ALL HONEYBEE PACKAGES – engagements, elopements, vow renewals, proposals, a bestie getaway, whatever your vision is, we’re here to make it happen.

Alright this is getting longer than Santa’s good list, let’s give you what you came for- our best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography.

Best of 2023 Elopement & Wedding photography: Hiking Elopements

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement featuring lanterns.

Hiking elopements are our JAM, strawberry preferably. And with bear claws from the  Polebridge Mercantile when we hike Bowman Lake. What came first – incredible hikes or snacky snacks? I digress. 

Hiking elopements are a catalyst for an epic adventure! We also love that logistically our couples get to turn up on a week day to avoid the crowds! You hear that – if you are wondering what day of the week is best to elope, you should plan on a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. Get some privacy on your hiking elopement!

Elopements are meant to be an experience for you and maybe a handful of guests. We love to help our couples plan super fun things to do before, after, or even during their elopement! We have been part of group sunrise hikes with headlamps, biking, horseback riding, boat rides both in the beautiful sun and torrential rain! THESE ARE THE MEMORIES YOU CAN BE MAKING! What an epic experience to have with your closest crew.

Marissa and Carlos

Glacier National Park Adventure Elopement – fall, moody romance: Marissa and Carlos came all the way from Florida for their wedding. They could’ve chosen anywhere between Montana and Florida (literally anywhere), but they chose a Glacier National Park adventure elopement. These two love national parks more than anybody, so we host them in Glacier for their big day. And Glacier provided. She spoils them with an epic sunrise hike to Avalanche Lake, a drive up Going to the Sun Road, and a sunny ceremony at Logan Pass. Damn it really was an extraordinary day! 

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement.

Madison and Josh

Many Glacier Hotel Micro Wedding, It’s getting hot in here! And simultaneously raining. Expect the unexpected at Madison and Josh’s Many Glacier Hotel micro wedding! We’ve photographed a loooot of Glacier National Park elopements through the years, but to tell you that this one got steamier than average is an understatement. These two are so madly in love! They crave adventure too, so when they could’ve given up and had a warm, cozy, slow day inside, they decide on embracing the mountains of Glacier. It was definitely worth it! We’re laughing all damn day with these two!

mom and bride for their wedding day photography.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a steamy hiking elopement.

Kerry and Brad

Adventure Elopement in Lake Tahoe – Sunset Boat Cruise & Hike! Lake Tahoe is magical because you getttt all of nature’s treasures – trees, water, mountains. You also get allll of nature’s seasons! Spoiler alert – their magical day had both glorious sunshine and refreshing rain! We start at the trailhead for our adventure elopement in Lake Tahoe at Monkey Rock. It is a beautiful mountain hike, it’s short but a little steep. There are beautiful trees on either side of the gravel trail.

The view from the top is EPIC! Like, out of your wildest dreams epic. It’s called Monkey Rock after the rock that looks like a monkey a little off to the side. This rock is bananas! Then you look down and see the blueness of Lake Tahoe and it’s just like POW! Just like the cartoon animation, pinky promise. If you’re looking at these photos thinking, no way it’s that blue, I am here to say ACTUALLY, IT IS!

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement in Lake Tahoe.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement in Lake Tahoe.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement in Lake Tahoe.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement in Lake Tahoe.

Jaimie and Jeremiah

Glacier Wedding with Hidden Lake Hike – EPIC Adventure Wedding. Jaimie and Jeremiah exchange sweet vows during their ceremony then we embark on a scenic drive up to Logan Pass, the gateway to the Hidden Lake Overlook. The views were nothing short of spectacular, and the adventure that awaited was epic. I took on the role of their personal Glacier National Park tour guide, all while capturing those precious wedding moments. Hidden Lake Overlook quickly became a favorite among all of us at Honeybee Weddings. The steep stairs, mountain sheep sightings, marmots that resembled the corgis of the mountain trail (just fluffier), and the abundance of caterpillars makes this hike unforgettable.

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement in Glacier National Park.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a hiking elopement in Glacier National Park.

Betsy and Andy

Lake Tahoe Elopement at Sand Harbor – with their dog. We capture TWO Lake Tahoe weddings in one summer! We are definitely BIIIIGGGGG Lake Tahoe fans over here! It’s gorgeous. The California side, the Nevada side, you can’t go wrong anywhere around the lake.  Lake Tahoe is a truly unique wedding destination where the fresh mountainous air meets a sandy beach (or rocky if that’s your vibe!), and the sunrises and sunsets are unparalleled. There’s no bad time for a Lake Tahoe elopement at Sand Harbor. We love this area, especially for the hikes and adventure opportunities – almost everything is easy to access! 

After Betsy and Andy say ‘I do’, we choose a beautiful little lookout for them to have a gender reveal together. They sit in the lookout, really soaking in and they open the card….. and it’s a baby girl! It is so sweet and we are beyond thrilled for them! We wander around, we adventure, we take some beautiful pictures with the mounds in the back. I put up the drone because your girl likes the drone! With the drone we capture some really beautiful views of the Vista itself and we got the view of the entire lake behind them. Betsy and Andy have a sweet first dance! Then we head back to the snowy Sand Harbor sands and obviously pop champagne for the new baby girl!

Best of 2023 Elopement & Wedding Photography: WEDDINGS

As much as we try, we just can’t quit having a handful of weddings. Most of our big weddings have Wild Montana Wedding, our sister company, as the planning arm. Wild Montana is all about a beautifully handcrafted unique to them day. Whether we are planning an elopement or wedding, we make sure it’s very experience based.

Emma and Matt

Firelight Farm Wedding in Bozeman. When it came to wedding planning, Emma and Matt had a shorter list of who they wanted to be there. Sending out Little Page invites with a kiss to 65 friends and family, they expected closer to 50 to make the trek to Firelight Farm wedding in Bozeman, Montana. They envisioned an intimate, romantic wedding followed by a fun and lighthearted reception. 

For Emma and Matt’s Firelight Farm wedding, Wild Montana found an adorable mobile bar out of a horse trailer for the lawn of the firelight farm, shoutout to 406 Mobile! The AMAZING Gather catering utilized sustainably sourced Montana grown ingredients. The wedding design included beautiful wooden accents and babies’ breath by Bittersweet Gardens. The couple eyed warm neutrals for their color palette. On the planning side, I want it to feel memorable and intentional. The fire pit was lit at night, creating a warm and soft environment for guests to mingle, reminisce, and laugh. 

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Bozeman wedding.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Bozeman wedding.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Bozeman wedding.
Fun bridal party photography for a Bozeman wedding.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Bozeman wedding.

Maggie and Arlyn

Rainy Montana Destination Wedding at Feathered Pipe Ranch. When we say Maggie and Arlyn’s wedding at Feathered Pipe Ranch was not a traditional wedding, we mean it. As one of the sweetest Montana destination weddings we’ve seen, we would relive this day over and over again! It POURED rain their entire ceremony, creating a really beautiful, intimate, magical moment. I mean, would The Notebook scene be as epic had it not been for the rain?? THE PASSION! There was also a swing in the bridal suite, that was dope.

Wedding party celebrates with a champagne POP!
Rainy day wedding vibes.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Feathered Pipe Ranch Wedding.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Feathered Pipe Ranch Wedding.

Katya and Sam

We’re diving headfirst into Katya & Sam’s unforgettable Bighorn National Forest WeddingBighorn National Forest is located in Wyoming with sprawling hills and steep mountain peaks. Picture this: a gloomy mid-September day in the stunning Bighorn National Forest, rain clouds playing peekaboo with the sun, and a moody af wedding day with even a hint of lightening! Dinner took place at the Cowboy Carousel Center, complete with first dances that included laughter, happy tears, and some dance moves that would make John Travolta proud. And because this day wasn’t magical enough, we wrapped it up with nighttime photos around downtown Buffalo. The Occidental Hotel marquee lights lit up the night, and it was just as romantic as it was during the day.

Meredith and John

Summit Mountain Lodge Wedding. Imagine waking up to the crisp mountain air, surrounded by the beauty of nature. That’s how it felt to be Meredith and John on wedding day at the Summit Mountain Lodge. 45 of their closest friends and family gathered to celebrate their love and stayed with them using the onsite accommodations. This comfortable and convenient stay for wedding guests was perfect for a giant wedding SLEEPOVER! Each space was designed to provide a relaxing retreat after a day filled with adventure. A short drive away, Meredith and John soaked up Glacier’s goodness. 

best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Summit Mountain Lodge wedding.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Summit Mountain Lodge wedding.
best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Summit Mountain Lodge wedding.

Heidi and Keegan

Sleeping Child Hot Springs Wedding. Originally, Heidi and Keegan planned to have their ceremony out on the lawn field, but the rain changes the plan. They move it to the glass atrium. And you know what? It turned out to be an intimate, beautiful wedding. With approximately 30 people in attendance, it was all about close family and friends. Oh, and speaking of the weather, it was one of those moody, overcast days that photographers absolutely adore. It added a certain drama to the whole affair. Before joining their guests, H&K treat themselves to a private first dance upstairs in the atrium. Insert all the happy tears here. The first dance is such a meaningful wedding tradition and they put their own flair on it.

Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Sleeping Child Hot Springs wedding.

Kristen and Mike

All-Inclusive Glacier National Park Wedding – 2 epic days in Montana. We’re there for photo and video for these two beautiful humans. We seriously can’t even begin with this day! I mean WOW! Two fun-filled days getting to know them and their families, capturing their priceless wedding memories is one of our best memories of 2023! Kirsten & Mike’s wedding weekend is an adventure all the way through! Something that makes this day extra special is that it’s an all-inclusive Glacier National Park wedding! This means that we plan, design, AND document their day! Helloooo our Montana wedding planning company, Wild Montana Wedding!

Hannah & Mitch

Modern Montana Wedding. Hannah and Mitch indulge in a modern wedding with a (champagne) shot of western. Our sister company, Wild Montana, orchestrated the big picture vibes while also making sure the intricate details were noticed for this modern Montana wedding. One of Wild Montana’s proudest planning highlights is the carefully sourced wildflowers which were woven in several wedding elements. By several we mean – the bouquet, dozens of centerpieces, hanging down from the tent ceiling, topping the cake, strewn in petal form leading the aisle, and as Ellie (their four legged, show stealing pup)’s collar. Our girl Hannah said she wanted a wildflower wonderland and that’s what she got!

Best of 2023 Elopement & Wedding Photography: International Experiences 

Traveling is the ultimate gift. To be able to see the world, feel the cultures, embrace the diversity, and immerse yourself! We  believe travel is good for the soul, as well as good for the world and conscious tourism is a way of life. At Honeybee Weddings we tie together conscious tourism and elopements. Please, for the love of future you, don’t wonder how you photograph your own elopement. DO NOT DO IT! If you are going all the way to an amazing place, book an elopement photographer to capture all the memories you can’t burn to memory.

Sarah and Angelo

Lake Garda Elopement with Vespas, A Whimsical Italian Elopement. Oh, let us tell you about the most fantastic and amusing elopement we had the pleasure of witnessing at Lake Garda! This adorable couple chose to add a dash of Italian charm to their special day with a twist – vespas! And believe me, the moment we heard “vespas,” they had us hooked! After their Vespa escapades, they embarked on a hiking adventure to Punta Lairici. Now, the hike proved to be quite the challenge in the sweltering heat, with not much shade to provide respite. But, undeterred, this brave couple found a secluded spot and exchanged their heartfelt vows. And let us tell you, they managed to avoid prying eyes and pulled off the ceremony in true clandestine style!

Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Lake Garda, Italy elopement.
Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Lake Garda, Italy elopement.
Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Lake Garda, Italy elopement.

Cali and Efren

Mexico Wedding in Puerto Penasco // Party-All-Night Wedding! This over the top, incredible wedding in Mexico HAS to be discussed when we talk about 2023. After YEARS of patience during… well he who must not be named pandemic… Cali and Efern made it worth their sweet time. To be honest, this epic Puerto Penasco Mexico wedding is really tough to sum up. How can we even put into words this amazing couple, the gorgeous beach wedding, and the party animals that partied all night long?! We can’t, we will drop all the amazing photos to tell the story for us. We are so honored to be there to capture the 2 day wedding of Cali & Efren in Mexico!

Wedding trends - a flowerman is a HIT!
Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with a Puerto Penasco wedding.
A Puerto Penasco wedding.

YOUR TURN in 2024!

Thank you for being on this journey for the best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography with us. Past couples, current couples, future couples, or just someone who loves to see a DAMN good time, we are grateful that you took the time to enjoy our year in review.

If you are considering an adventure elopement we are offering you $500.00 off when you book within our travel schedule:

  • January 28-30th: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • February 3-5: Barcelona, Spain⁣
  • April 5th-8th: Moab, UT (Arches & Canyonlands NP)⁣
  • April 14th-15th: London, England⁣
  • Apr 19th-23rd: Greece 
  • July 8th-17th: Iceland⁣

Mention this blog post and we’ll hook you up with the discount! See you in 2024, adventurers! 

Some places on our elopement bucket list – Sedona, Colorado, and New Hampshire. WBU?

Now if you are a photographer and we have INSPIRED you, let’s chat! We have a whole coaching program if you are wondering “how do I market myself as an elopement photographer” and our next group coaching takes place in 2024.

Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography!
Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography!
Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography!
Best of 2023 elopement & wedding photography!

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