I wanted to share an incredible intimate wedding that I photographed in Kachemak Bay with John and Lauren. Their plan was straightforward – water taxi over to Haystack Beach and tie the knot. They ditched the extravagance of a traditional wedding to do something that felt right for them, and it made for a pretty unforgettable day.

Setting Out on the Water Taxi

Their journey began on The Homer Spit. It was just John, Lauren, their closest family, and myself. Everyone was ready for their adventure across the bay. We all hopped on Mako’s Water Taxi for a quick and scenic trip to a secluded spot called Haystack Beach. The ride brought along a lot of laughs and shared excitement.

A Beach, A Cave and an Undeniable Promise

Once we landed, it was all hands on deck. Bags unloaded, boots on sand, a bit of laughter as everyone figured out the best ceremony spot. John, ever the adventurer, ducked into the cave to change into his suit — meanwhile, Lauren walked up to the nearby yurt with her mom and sister to slip into her dress. There’s something so grounding about getting ready surrounded by nature instead of hotel carpet and buzzing fluorescent lights.

When it came time for the vows, there were no chairs lined in rows. No altar dripping with florals. Just the Haystack rock formation to their left, the cave framing them, and the wide open bay as witness. Eagles flew overhead (Alaska likes to show off like that) while John and Lauren shared their vows.

After the ceremony, everyone gathered for a champagne toast and cheered on the new couple. The sun was bright and warmed the sand. Everyone took to exploring the beach while I snuck away with John & Lauren to do some exploring of our own and take some portraits. Eventually, we spotted our water taxi and began packing everything up. As everyone piled onto the water taxi for the boat ride back to Homer, you could see the joy all around. John and Lauren managed to craft a day that was authentically them, and it was so wonderful to be able to document it all.

Photographing John and Lauren’s elopement was a refreshing reminder of what’s truly important on a wedding day. They planned their day with meaning… full of opportunities to connect with their closest people. For anyone out there thinking about an elopement or just wanting to do things their way, take a page out of John and Lauren’s book—follow what feels true to you. Keep it simple and surround yourself with those who matter most to you!

If you’d like to see a glimpse into their gorgeous day at Kachemak Bay, keep on scrolling.

If you’d like to see more, click here and if you’re looking for a photographer to capture your special moments click here.

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Kind Words

“We recently had the pleasure of working with Flaurel Photography for a series of business photos and I couldn’t be more impressed! From start to finish, the experience was incredible. Laurel is not only a talented photographer but also extremely personable and easy to work with. She made the entire process comfortable and enjoyable, which really helped in capturing natural and professional images. Her organizational skills and attention to detail were outstanding. I highly recommend Flaurel Photography for anyone looking for the best photography experience. Thank you, Laurel, for an exceptional experience and for capturing our business in such a beautiful way!”

-Rand F.