Belle & Matty’s adventure wedding day is a prime example of what happens when you have so many loving people in your life. What started as a small elopement transformed into a micro-wedding and reception in the great outdoors. What can I say, sometimes the number of guests just climbs higher and higher—evidence of an outpouring of support from the people who love you two.

Lakeside Ceremony, Mountain Majesty, and a Joyful Reception

Belle & Matty are self-described outdoor enthusiasts. But it’s not just a pastime. It’s something integral to their relationship. In fact, their first dates all involved hiking. So naturally, this couple wanted to get married in a place they adored traveling to: Bishop, California.

If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. Bishop is “a small town with a big backyard.” If you spend any time chatting with the locals, you’ll quickly fall into conversations about hiking, trail running, bouldering, and maybe even some of the hidden gems. All that is to say, that Bishop is where outdoorsy people flock.

I met up with Belle & Matty at the Eastside Guesthouse, known to locals as The Bivy. As the two got ready, their close friends and family members simply buzzed with exuberance.

Belle & Matty knew for certain they wanted their wedding ceremony by a lake—so, of course, I helped them with the planning process to turn that desire into a reality. And it actually worked out wonderfully. The town of Bishop was reaching temperatures in the high 90s that day, but heading into the mountains brought more gentle temps.

May teeters between feeling like either spring or summer, but it’s still wintery in the mountains. Patches of snow were still visible on the ground, and the air retained that crisp smell.

As we set up for the ceremony, the sky was clustered with the most amazing clouds. But, as providence would have it, the clouds parted just in time for the ceremony. How incredible!

The wedding ceremony was led by Belle’s father. He shared some Bible verses and kind words about their relationship before turning it over to the couple for their vows. Surrounded by friends, family, and the mountain air, Belle & Matty expressed their love for one another, voices cracking with emotion from time to time.

As the ceremony concluded, the clouds gathered again. And just 20 minutes later, the rain rolled in. Big, cold drops of water sent everyone scrambling for umbrellas—but this isn’t my first weather-y wedding. I know some tricks to make the most of it. So, I had the couple follow me on a short drive to a lower elevation, where the rain wouldn’t reach us.

Instead, we were greeted by the many adorable lupines, lush green grasses, and—of course—our now newlywed couple, beaming with joy.

We arrived again at The Bivy, now positively bombilating with even more guests. While not everyone was invited to the private ceremony, they were invited to the party.

As a quick aside, the lakes in the Sierra don’t have much room for a ton of guests, unless you book a venue by the water. So, it really depends on your vision and priorities. But for Belle & Matty, this was the best of both worlds—a small outdoor elopement ceremony and a full-on wedding reception!

Their decorations were appropriately camping-themed, with lanterns, campfire story books, photos of the couple hiking, lawn games, and more. There was even coffee from Belle & Matty’s coffee shop, Yonder Coffee. A wedding reception has got to have eats! So, our couple got everyone BBQ from Holy Smokes in Huntington Beach, CA.

Up next was a very creative take on the traditional cake cutting. Belle & Matty entered the reception wearing their hiking gear. Better yet, the cake topper was a claymation recreation of them, perfectly crafted down to Matty’s hiking shoes! Our couple cut the cake with a camping shovel—too cute!

After many beautiful moments with the guests and their friends, and several prayers from their community, the couple ended the night dancing with their amazing community of friends and family.

Booking Your Bishop Wedding Photographer

Thinking Bishop is the ideal location for your micro-wedding or elopement? I’d be more than happy to photograph your big day and help you plan in the lead up.

Here are a few things to know when planning your Bishop wedding day:

Work with your photographer regarding locations, permits, and venues. Looking for a lakeside wedding? Or maybe you prefer a spot in the mountains, a forested area, or a lovely venue? Ask your photographer to help you navigate the local restrictions and permitting.
Practice Leave No Trace when getting married outdoors. Keep the natural world happy and healthy by following LNT guidelines: like packing out what you pack in, staying on trails, and respecting the local flora and fauna.
Consider the timing. For example, weekdays are less busy than weekends. As for seasonality, summer can be hot, spring and early autumn are quite lovely, and winter is more gentle than in higher elevations.
Looking for adventure and activities? If so, Bishop is a hot spot for all sorts of outdoor fun! Talk with your photographer about including some

Ready to take the next step? Book a call with Love & Latitudes, your Bishop wedding photographer!