N & N’s McCall Elopement Details
We met the afternoon of their elopement in the parking lot for my Father’s Place in McCall. Nicole jumped out of her truck and met me with a smile and a hug. Nick and Nicole had been hiking the trails around McCall looking for the perfect spot for their elopement. They found it a few weeks before their wedding day. I hadn’t done this particular hike, so I followed them up the mountain to the trailhead. It seems like the best hikes start at the end of a 4×4 road and I got more excited the bumper the road got!
The Hike
N & N’s elopement adventure began with the hot afternoon sun chasing them up the trail. By the time we got to the top, we were all sweating and in need of a break. We dropped our packs and I started wandering around looking for a spot for their ‘first look’. After finding the perfect hidden spot for their first look we hiked back down the mountain a little way to their ceremony location.
McCall Elopement Pro Tip: If you are doing a strenuous hike it’s better to hike in your regular cloths and then do a ‘first look’ at the top.
On the hike down we found the tiniest little patch of snow!
Their McCall Elopement Ceremony
N & N had picked a location with an expansive view of McCall and Long Valley for their elopement. We hiked out a spur ridge and found a place where you could see both lakes in the background and then they exchanged their vows, rings and a first kiss. I am also a licensed officiant, so I played both photographer and legal signature for their ceremony.
Gâteau Basque
One of my favorite things about photographing elopements is seeing the personal touches each couple brings to their wedding day. Nicole is Basque and their favorite dessert to share together is Gateau Basque – a traditional dessert from the Northern region of France. They drove 6 hours round trip to pick up a Gateau from a baker in Boise for their elopement. On elopement day we hiked 3 miles with it nestled in a cake Tupperware, so they could cut it together after their ceremony – bring just a single slice up the mountain wouldn’t do!
Sunset Photos
N & N finished their elopement evening with photos at sunset and then we hiked down the trail in the dark with headlamps. The night sky was sparking, so we took a few starry photos after reaching the trailhead.
Creative team for this McCall elopement – His Attire: Men’s Wearhouse, Her Attire: Skirt – 1000love & Bodysuit: Sweetcarolinestyles, Flowers: Farm to Market Floral , Hair: Dahlias McCall