Sarah and David’s “Just Us” Elopement at Canyon Falls

Sarah and David planned an intimate “just us” wedding ceremony at Canyon Falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. These two were able to unplug, relax, and truly enjoy every moment of their wedding day. Get all the details below.

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About This Elopement

Photography by Lume Photography

“Sarah and David wanted a truly memorable, intimate ceremony in nature, free from the distractions of everyday life, and I loved that. They were so excited to have this experience in the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and trusted me to help them plan everything from where to have their ceremony, where to stay, how to make the experience extra meaningful, their timeline, and more. It feels amazing to see our months of ideas, dreaming, and planning come to life and play out like magic.

I love that Sarah and David took the time to write their own personal vows to each other. They really put a lot of thought into it and it was a beautiful moment when they shared them with each other. When we arrived at Canyon Falls they didn’t have an exact ceremony spot picked out, so part of the adventure was deciding where to actually do the ceremony. They chose a spot next to the river where two forks of the river merge into one- to symbolize their two lives merging together- and I thought that was amazing.

I think this elopement experience is a great example of one-way couples can have a truly unforgettable, intimate wedding day that allows them to just relax and be themselves.”  [Andrea, the photographer]

Deciding to Elope

“When we first started dating, we knew we wanted to elope. We felt that eloping truly showed what was important to us, which was celebrating our union and the love we have for one another. We didn’t want to be stressed with planning an event for others and wanted to focus on ourselves and what we wanted.

We live in Michigan, but both my husband and I were born and raised in different states. We wanted to capture the beauty of Michigan and why we fell in love with Michigan and chose Michigan to be our home. When Andrea (Lume Photography) sent us location ideas for our elopement, we saw Canyon Falls and fell in love. We felt that the terrain and waterfalls reflected who we were and reflected us as a couple. I love the water and waterfalls and my husband loves mountains and cliffs. It was the perfect setting for our elopement ceremony.” [The couple]

Check out these reasons to elope.

Planning Process

“Andrea was a dream and the overall planning was so quick and easy. She was with us for every piece of the planning process and was so detail-orientated that it took a lot of the planning pressure from me. She sent us location ideas, places to stay, officiants, hair and makeup ideas, places to find a wedding dress, etc. It was easy to navigate and once we found the location it was smooth sailing from there.

The total cost for elopement (dress, suit, cabin rental, pictures, hair, makeup, flowers, etc) was around $7,500.” [The couple]

Learn how to elope here.

Permits and Top Tips for This Elopement

“At Canyon Falls in Michigan, there is no permit required for weddings under 15 people, but for weddings with 15+ people, or for weddings where there will be chairs and/or an arch set up you would need to contact the Michigan Department of Transportation at (906) 524-6124 for permit info.

People visiting the Upper Peninsula should always practice the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. At Canyon Falls the most important ones would be to stay on marked trails, do not approach or feed wildlife, and leave the location better than you found it.

My top tips for couples thinking of eloping at Canyon Falls, or anywhere in the Upper Peninsula, are to be sure to do your research- find out where the nearest amenities are, how to get there, where you can stay nearby, where you can eat, and if there are any seasonal closures or limited access. The Upper Peninsula can be remote and rugged, and you could run into things like no cell or internet service, limited amenities, etc. Of course, this is something I help with when couples book an experience with me.” [Andrea, the photographer]

Memorable Moments From This Elopement

From the photographer:

“They were up for playing outside in the rain, picking up frogs, and hiking in their wedding outfits, which made the day extra fun and relaxed!”

From the couple:

“Saying our vows to each other with the water falling from the canyon in the background is something I will never forget. To this day, when I look at our pictures, I feel that I am transported back to that day. I can still hear the sounds of the waterfall and I swear I can feel the drops of water on my face. The entire day was so magical, and the experience was amazing.”

Hair | Citrus Salon Houghton

Makeup | Giselle Ryan

Vow Books | WoodPresentStudio 

Final Words of Advice

“I can’t stress enough the importance of finding a photographer that you can connect with and who can capture your day just how you envisioned. Our goal was to get beautiful pictures that we could look back on for years to come so that when we look at them, we feel transported back to that day.

The elopement experience was everything we dreamed of. The entire day was relaxing. I didn’t feel an ounce of stress or pressure. I actually fell asleep in the car on the stop between locations. It was a day that was special for my husband and I. We didn’t have to worry about anyone else and we were truly able to celebrate us, our love, and how we wanted to celebrate our union. I would recommend an elopement a million times over to anyone who is planning on getting married.” [The couple]

Vendors 

Photography | Lume Photography

Dress | Intimate Bridal

Suit | Men’s Warehouse

Photos From This Elopement