These days, being online can be exhausting. So I totally understand when couples prefer to keep their wedding photos offline. My mission as a professional elopement and wedding photographer is to give couples their perfect wedding day—and if that means sharing photos, not sharing photos, or only sharing some photos, that’s exactly what I’m here for.

Luckily, following a private elopement, I was given the go-ahead to share a few anonymous images, while still honoring this couple’s wishes.

A Private Wedding Elopement

Our loving couple drove to Morongo Valley, CA during the summer. This underrated location is nestled in the rolling hills between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. While the area offers some stunning visions of boulders, cacti, and desert wildlife—it is understandably very HOT during the summer.
We’re talking highs of 105ºF with full sun. If you aren’t prepared, it can be too much. Fortunately, this isn’t my first rodeo. And our soon-to-be-newlyweds are enamored with the desert. So, naturally, we opted for a sunrise elopement—when the air is clear, the world is just waking, and the sun hasn’t had a chance to spread its oppressive heat.
Even more glorious is the opportunity to read your vows before the rest of the world has even cracked their eyes open. So it may have been necessary for the temperature, but it’s also a beautiful way to start your lives together. Just you two, the sunrise, and the critters who call this place home.

My husband, Isiah, officiated the elopement ceremony. The only guest in attendance was the couple’s adorable pup, dressed in a custom-made outfit. Too cute! Keeping up the theme of DIY, the couple also brought their own floral arrangements.

Intimate weddings like this give couples all the freedom to focus on what matters most: each other. From the vows to the big kiss, the romantic embraces and popped champagne, it’s less of a performance and more of an authentic sharing of love and joy.

Tips for Your Sunrise Elopement in Morongo Valley

Here are a few things to know when planning your sunrise session in the desert:

Choose a beautiful location, but make it kosher. There are plenty of beautiful spots in Morongo Valley and the surrounding areas. Choose a great location, but make sure you’re totally covered by asking 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. What to Expect When Getting Married in a National Park >

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