A Wild Florida Backcountry Elopement for Cory and Ryleigh

There is a quieter side to Florida that often gets overlooked. Away from the beaches and theme parks, the landscape shifts into open preserves, cypress swamps, fern covered trails, and still water lined with wildlife. That was the version of Florida Cory and Ryleigh wanted to experience on their elopement day.

Their day unfolded slowly and intentionally. It started before sunrise at a ranch Airbnb before leading them into the backcountry for vows at an overlook surrounded by wildflowers and morning light. The rest of the day was spent hiking through the preserve, spotting wildlife along the trail, and later returning to their Airbnb for a relaxed evening together.

Photographer Anna Holden helped shape the day around the couple’s shared love for the outdoors. From planning the hiking route to creating a timeline that balanced adventure with downtime, the experience reflected exactly how Cory and Ryleigh wanted to spend their wedding day together.

Elopement Photography by Anna Holden Photo

Cory and Ryleigh wanted an elopement that felt natural to who they are as a couple. As outdoorsmen and women, they spend much of their free time in the woods or on the water, so planning an outdoor centered experience felt like the obvious fit.

While planning their day, they explored several location ideas ranging from southern Georgia to the Colorado Rockies. Everything changed after Anna shared behind the scenes footage from a turkey scouting trip in Central Florida. Once Cory and Ryleigh saw the landscape, they immediately connected with it and decided it was exactly where they wanted to elope.

This elopement also carried personal meaning for Anna. Cory is her husband’s cousin, and the relationship between their families made the experience feel especially close and familiar. Because of that connection, planning the day together felt easy and collaborative from the beginning.

Instead of building their day around tradition or expectations, Cory and Ryleigh focused on the things they genuinely enjoy doing together. Hiking through the preserve, spending time outdoors, and ending the evening with a quiet dinner back at their Airbnb allowed the entire experience to feel relaxed and personal.

Their Vision & Planning Process

Anna approached Cory and Ryleigh’s elopement by first focusing on the things they genuinely loved doing together. Instead of fitting them into a preset wedding structure, she helped build the experience around outdoor adventure, hiking, and quiet moments in nature.

After the couple chose Central Florida for their elopement, Anna helped map out locations they wanted to explore and created a timeline that allowed them to experience both sunrise and sunset within the same day. The schedule balanced adventure with downtime so the day never felt rushed.

The day itself was intentionally split into two slower paced sections. After spending the morning hiking through the preserve and exchanging vows, Cory and Ryleigh returned to their Airbnb to relax, have breakfast, and spend time together before heading back out later that evening for sunset portraits and dinner.

Even with careful planning, the day still came with unexpected challenges. The night before the elopement, a lightning storm caused the couple’s original Airbnb to lose power and become overwhelmed with bugs. Rather than trying to force the original plan, everyone adjusted quickly and Cory and Ryleigh stayed with Anna and her husband instead so they could rest comfortably before the early morning start.

Anna later reflected that moments like this are often part of the elopement experience. Being willing to pivot and go with the flow helped the entire day remain relaxed despite the unexpected storm.

Cory and Ryleigh were drawn to the wild and lesser seen side of Florida. While many couples picture beaches when they think about eloping in the state, they connected more with the remote backcountry landscapes filled with cypress trees, wildlife, and wetlands.

The preserve also aligned naturally with the way they already spend time together. Hiking through the swamp, spotting wildlife, and exploring remote trails reflected the activities that already shape much of their relationship. Rather than choosing a place simply for dramatic scenery, they chose a location that felt familiar to their lives outdoors.

Anna also shared that one of the things that made this elopement stand out was the hiking element itself. Florida may not have mountain peaks or waterfalls, but the state’s old Florida landscapes carry their own kind of beauty that deserves to be explored.

One of the unique aspects of this Florida backcountry elopement location is that permits are not required for elopements or weddings in this particular area. However, because the preserve is also open for seasonal public hunting and remains largely unregulated, couples should work with someone familiar with navigating Florida public lands and understanding how to safely explore the area.

Leave No Trace principles are especially important in remote landscapes like this one. Anna shared that locations can quickly become damaged when visitors do not respect the environment, particularly after places gain attention online. Throughout Cory and Ryleigh’s elopement day, care was taken to preserve the landscape by staying mindful of the environment and packing out everything brought into the preserve.

For couples considering a Florida backcountry elopement, preparation makes a huge difference. Waterproof boots are highly recommended since the trails often include mud, creeks, and cypress stumps. During warmer seasons, mosquito repellent or a Thermocell can make long hikes far more comfortable. Wildlife sightings are also common throughout the preserve, including deer, turkeys, otters, bobcats, alligators, and venomous snakes, so staying aware of the surroundings is essential while exploring these remote areas.

Before Sunrise at the Airbnb

The morning began well before sunrise at a ranch Airbnb tucked into a quiet part of Central Florida. The atmosphere was calm as Anna documented the smaller details of the morning while Cory and Ryleigh helped each other get ready.

Among the details were their rings, handwritten vows, and a custom turkey feather bowtie Ryleigh had made for Cory using feathers from one of their previous hunting seasons together. The personal details throughout the morning reflected how closely connected the couple’s relationship is to the outdoors and the experiences they share there.

The drive to the ceremony location was peaceful as the sky slowly began to brighten. By the time they arrived at the preserve, the landscape was still quiet and nearly empty.

Sunrise Vows Overlooking the Preserve

The walk to the overlook included trails lined with ferns and Florida wildflowers, adding even more texture to the morning landscape. When the couple reached the overlook, they spotted wild turkeys in the distance before the ceremony began. For two people who spend much of their lives outdoors, it felt like a fitting way to start the morning.

The ceremony itself was quiet and private. One of the things Anna loves most about sunrise elopements is how empty these spaces feel early in the day, and throughout the entire morning they did not encounter another person in the preserve.

As the sun continued rising over the preserve, Cory and Ryleigh exchanged vows surrounded by the landscape that had drawn them to Florida in the first place.

Hiking Through the Cypress Swamp

After the ceremony, the day shifted into exploration. Cory and Ryleigh spent the morning hiking deeper into the swamp where towering cypress trees shaped the landscape around them.

Anna stopped throughout the hike to photograph the couple against different backdrops within the preserve. The changing scenery added variety to the experience while still maintaining the quiet atmosphere of the morning.

Wildlife sightings continued throughout the hike. Along with the turkeys seen earlier in the morning, the group spotted deer moving through the preserve as they made their way through the swamp. Surprisingly, they did not see any alligators that day despite the remote setting.

The morning eventually ended with a champagne pop near the bank before everyone headed back to the Airbnb to rest.

Slow Hours Back at the Airbnb

After several hours outdoors, Cory and Ryleigh returned to the Airbnb for coffee, breakfast, and time to unwind together. Instead of filling every hour with activity, they intentionally built space into the middle of the day to simply relax as newlyweds.

That slower pacing helped the entire elopement feel more balanced. Rather than moving immediately from one event to another, they were able to fully enjoy the experience without feeling rushed through it.

Sunset Portraits and Dinner Together

Later that evening, everyone met back up for the second half of the day. The softer sunset light created an entirely different atmosphere from the misty early morning hours spent in the preserve.

Back at the Airbnb, Cory and Ryleigh shared a home cooked steak dinner before cutting into a cake that Ryleigh had made herself. The evening felt relaxed and personal, centered more around spending time together than following tradition.

By the end of the day, the experience reflected exactly what the couple had hoped for from the beginning: time outdoors together, meaningful moments, and a pace that allowed them to actually enjoy it all.

Not sure if Florida is the right place for you? Browse our curated list of top elopement destinations, from iconic spots to hidden gems.

Many of the most meaningful details throughout the day were connected to Cory and Ryleigh’s shared love for the outdoors. One of the standout details was the turkey feather bowtie Ryleigh created for Cory using feathers from one of their previous hunting season harvests.

Ryleigh also made their wedding cake herself, which became part of the relaxed evening celebration back at the Airbnb. These personal details helped the entire elopement feel deeply connected to the life they already share together.

Even the structure of the day reflected their personalities. Hiking through the preserve, spotting wildlife, and ending the evening with a quiet dinner together created an experience centered on the things they naturally enjoy most.

Cory and Ryleigh’s elopement was rooted in familiarity from the very beginning. The landscapes they explored reflected the environments they already love spending time in together, and every part of the day centered around activities that already feel natural to their relationship.

From the quiet sunrise overlook to the long hike through the swamp, the experience never felt disconnected from who they are. Instead of creating a wedding day around expectation, they built one around shared experiences outdoors, slower pacing, and uninterrupted time together.

The preserve itself shaped much of the atmosphere throughout the day. The wildlife sightings, empty trails, cypress swamps, and stillness of the morning created an experience that felt peaceful and grounded from beginning to end.

By the time the evening ended with steak dinner, homemade cake, and sunset portraits back at the Airbnb, the entire day reflected exactly what they had envisioned together: a relaxed outdoor adventure in a place that genuinely felt like them.

Elopement Photography by Anna Holden Photo