This Imperial Sand Dunes elopement might look like it is from far and distant lands.  If you can believe it, these gorgeous sand dunes are located in Southern California, just a little over three hours away from Phoenix, Arizona.  The magical golden quality of the dunes and the sense of being in the middle of absolutely nowhere make this an ideal spot to elope.

H and G were completely on board with my vision for this day.  We had beautiful weather and planned this shoot for the winter, since it can get very hot at the dunes during the summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The floral colors were inspired by a desert sunset, with dusty rose, coral, earth tones, and dried as well as fresh elements.

 

It had rained the day before, and was then windy, so we had these beautiful sand patterns that were completely undisturbed by any other footprints.

 

    

I had this vision of the bride running into the great vast beyond, and H was completely into it.  She kicked off her shoes and made that photo moment happen for me.

    

We stayed until the sun went down, exploring the dunes without another soul in sight.

And of course, the night is not complete without a little sand throwing and twirling.

    

I was able to get a little creative with a prism.  Fun fact – prisms are incredibly unpredictable, and you never know quite what you are going to get, which makes for some truly unique photos.

    

 

All in all, the dunes provide an amazingly unique place that just requires a little bit of a drive and a sense of adventure to get to.  If you want a tranquil and awe-inspiring location to get married, this should be at the top of your list.