Aubrey and Tim are outdoor loving adventure seekers, once they were engaged they knew right away they wanted a nontraditional ceremony with beautiful scenery. They had the most important elements, with their closest friends and family including her son Roman, who walked her down the aisle. There was not a dry eye in sight.

WHAT WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING?

Dreamlike. Delicate. Filled with Love. Awe-Inspiring. Breathtaking. Us.

THE PROPOSAL

There is this charming little town in the Black Hills of South Dakota about 2 1/2 hours from where we live in Nebraska.  We refer to it as “our town” and visit frequently.  We had a perfect, first, out-of-town date here, Timothy planned one of the best birthday weekend trips. We went hiking and boating and biking.  It is simple and scenic and peaceful.  There is a historic, steam operated train that runs tours out of this town.  The year we started dating (2014), we began a tradition of riding their Holiday Express Train every holiday/Christmas season.  We get hot cocoa, sugar cookies and end up at the North Pole to see Santa.  It is magical, even as adults.  On November 24, 2017, we were in line waiting for the train (Timothy, his parents and brother/best man Franklin, my son Roman and I). I remember this brief, chaotic moment between Timothy and his brother Franklin, and next thing I knew, when I turned around, Timothy was down on one knee and asking me to be his wife.  **Tears and applause all around** None of us had a clue Timothy had planned on proposing till seconds before, he sprung it on his brother and his brother was scrambling to get his phone ready to capture the proposal. Chaotic moment explained. Our town became that much more special to us. 

THE VISION

We originally thought we wanted a “traditional” wedding.  After the planning started in April, almost immediately, it became overwhelming.  The guest list kept growing and growing as well as the budget.  Honestly, it stressed me out and was no longer bringing me joy.  After talking with Timothy, and the more we thought about it, a traditional wedding was not who we really were.  Because of our love of travel and the outdoors, we decided a destination wedding best suited us, shared with our closest of family and friends.  Something that represented us-outdoorsy, and in God’s country.  Timothy said he wanted to marry me somewhere as beautiful as I am. Brownie points!!

We researched and googled and read lots of reviews, first looking at Montana and Idaho and Utah. The packages we found were extremely expensive and limited and did not include a lot of what you would expect to be in a wedding elopement package. 

Last year, Timothy had taken me to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park for the first time.  Their beauty literally took my breath away.  When we came across Emily’s website, we just knew.  Our decisions was easily solidified after the exchanging of a few emails and speaking with her.  The Red Rock Canyons, Dry Lake Beds and Valley of Fire immediately caught our eye.  After communicating with Emily a little more and seeing additional pictures of the Valley of Fire, it was a no-brainer for us. 

THE PLANNING PROCESS

Everything about the planning process was comfortable, easy, and worry-free.  The process felt effortless.  Communication was unbelievable.  Every email sent was replied to in an efficient manner.  Every question answered.  The checklist and vendor lists were a big help with staying on track and arranging the final details/extras for our wedding day.  There were brief moments I got a little anxious about the planning and living so far away, but those quickly faded.  A last minute dress crisis and flower change did not phase Emily and her team at all.  We had every ounce of confidence that they would create everything we could imagine for our day but we were wrong…all of our expectations were exceeded.  Beyond measure.  

YOUR OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIES

Timothy knew he wanted to go for classic, timeless and unfussy.  He chose navy blue and white with brown shoes and belt – Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein and Joseph Aboud.  

Unfortunately, it was not as easy for me.  Let’s just say a handful of disasters, two weeks before our wedding date and 9 different dresses delivered to our home, I found THE dress.  

ASOS Bridal.  Simply elegant and can we talk about those flutter sleeves!!! Badgley Mischka jeweled shoes. Amazon for hairpiece. Simple diamond stud earrings.  Not too much as I wanted the dress to have its moment.  I never felt more beautiful. 

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

For me, it was our son walking me down the aisle and giving me away and Timothy’s tearful, raw emotion as he read his written vows.

For Timothy, it was the backdrop of the Valley of Fire, a little lizard that wiggled around us during our ceremony and the pink sand in our shoes!!

 ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES

We do not know what else we could say except GO FOR IT. Cherish your final months/weeks/days as being fiancés!!! Take the stress out of the planning and contact Elopement Las Vegas.  They are brilliant! Pure magic. 

Photography by The Emerics The Emerics