You want space to breathe.
Room to explore.
Permission to dream.
Multiple epic spots.
A little mystery.
Maybe a tear or two during vows (which is allowed — highly encouraged, actually).
And you want a photographer who doesn’t just show up, click a few buttons, and peace out.
Let’s be honest: you’re not looking for the "standard” wedding experience.
These packages are built for couples like you, who care more about how the day feels than how it's "supposed" to look. You're the deep-feelers, the aesthetic enthusiasts, the fun weirdos, and the folks who’d rather put their time, energy, and money into an experience that actually means something.
Whether you live for travel or you’re planning *the* bucket-list trip you’ll remember forever, you want your wedding to feel like an adventure and not an obligation.
Let’s talk about what you'll get.
The Luke Payne Photo Experience
Come as you are — we’ll make something unreal together
– Sam + Tanner
– Chantal + Tim
"Luke's one of the most real, raw, and kind people we've ever met. His work is just breathtaking."
"He captured the very essence of our true love. He's such a wonderful person."
"He makes you feel like you've always known him, then turns around and creates magic! Worth every penny!"
– Allisia + Eric
Hey, I'm Luke.
I’m here for couples who want their wedding experience to feel as free as the open road.
I care about:
✦ gorgeous light
✦ emotional honesty
✦ sick locations
✦ road trips
✦ experience over tradition
✦ ideas worth chasing
✦ and creating photos that feel like art and like you
This works best when your elopement feels like a great trip first, and incredible photos come naturally from there.
If that vibe feels right, we’re already off to a great start.
I say this with 10000% honesty – Luke is worth every single penny.
If you want a truly magical, but also laid back experience with a photographer who will capture you and your partner's unique love, someone who is just truly kind and cool and will deliver stunning photos then look no further.
Rest assured your search is over. Hire Luke, you will laugh, you will cry, you will walk away with photos that are truly art.
– Ashley + Ben
"You will laugh, you will cry, you will walk away with photos that are truly art."
Every Elopement + Intimate Wedding Package Includes:
Instead of staying in one spot, you’ll explore a few incredible places, chase the best light, and let things unfold naturally as we drive from one beautiful scene to the next over one or more days.
And the best part? It can be as simple or as epic as you want. Take it more literally and visit multiple locations across state lines, or stick to a couple meaningful spots in one area.
If it feels like you, it belongs here — rules optional. This is an experience, not a checklist. If we’re all excited, curious, and present, that’s when the magic really happens.
Road-trip elopements give you space to breathe, room to play, permission to dream big and think outside the box, and time to truly take it all in.
However you picture it, I’ll help shape it into something that feels like you: a little spontaneous, a lot meaningful, and packed with moments you’ll want to relive forever.
What does a road-trip elopement look like?
- starting slow at your Airbnb → changing into your first look → exploring a ceremony spot → swapping into something fun for blue hour → ending the night back at your cabin in the hot tub
- exploring different corners of a national park without long hikes
- hopping between towns, forests, cliffs, beaches, or viewpoints
- or going full adventure mode with a multi-day loop across a region (think: the Olympic Peninsula, the Oregon Coast + Redwoods, Horseshoe Bend → Lake Powell → Monument Valley)
It might look like...
There's no one right way to do this.
elopement + micro-wedding packages
up to 15 people TOTAL
elopements + intimate weddings
international
For the dreamers wanting to go big — Icelandic waterfalls, Greek islands, Italian coastlines, wild Scottish cliffs, tropical jungles… wherever your heart’s been pulling you.
Includes highlights like:
✦ Photogenic locations + amazing stays
✦ Custom scouting across your region
✦ Editorial moments + honest candids
✦ Timeline built around the best light
✦ All my international travel included
✦ Backup weather day for flexibility
✦ Sneak peek gallery within a week
✦ Full gallery w/GIFs + hi-res downloads
From four hours to multiple days. Most couples find that the best stories happen with more time together.
elopements + intimate weddings
UNITED STATES
For the wanderers dreaming of foggy coastlines, red rock, mystical forests, epic overlooks — a mini road-trip adventure wrapped into your wedding day.
Includes highlights like:
✦ Multiple locations for max variety
✦ Location scouting in parks, coasts + deserts
✦ Gentle direction + natural moments
✦ Timeline crafted for flattering light
✦ Airbnb + vendor recs for your vibe
✦ All U.S. travel fully included (exc. AK + HI)
✦ Backup day always reserved just in case
✦ Sneaks in a week + full gallery in 12 weeks
From four hours to multiple days. Most couples find that the best stories happen with more time together.
Our biggest fear was our day being uncomfortable or awkward, but Luke made it so enjoyable and effortless.
We told Luke the vibe we were looking for and he exceeded our expectations. I thought our elopement was going to need more planning, scheduling, or attention.
He knew all the best places to go and gave us so many different options — from beach, woods, waterfalls to a cliffside where we said our vows.
This experience was unbelievable, I wouldn’t change a thing about it or do it any other way. He truly made our day so special and one of a kind.
I can’t even choose which photo is my favorite because they are all so beautiful!
– Kasondra + Brett
"Luke made it so easy and simple – it was literally no stress."
My books are currently open for 2026 and 2027. I've helped couples plan elopements in under a month, and I've also planned them over 12-18 months. Ideally, you'll want to reach out 4+ months in advance for domestic elopements (permits in some locations can take 3+ months to acquire), and 6+ months in advance for international.
Fall tends to be my busiest time of year and books out earlier, but it never hurts to check.
Eloping isn’t just a “cheap” alternative to a wedding — it’s an intentional choice to create a wedding day that’s fully about you. Most couples intentionally spend between $12–$20K+ on their destination elopement when factoring in photography, attire, travel, accommodations, florals, an officiant, and any unique experiences they want to include.
But unlike a traditional wedding, every dollar goes toward what *actually* matters to you — whether that’s a bucket list location, an unforgettable experience, or an intimate day focused on just the two of you. And at the end of the day, it’s still considerably less than the average $36,000 cost of a wedding in the U.S. (according to Zola).
Don't worry, almost everyone feels a little awkward at first! My approach is all about natural direction – no stiff posing, just prompts that bring out genuine emotion and interaction. We'll laugh, we'll move, and you'll forget the camera is even there. You just need to show up as yourselves, and I'll handle the rest.
This works best when you're open to movement, interaction, and letting things feel a little messy.
Not at all! I don't actually do long hiking elopements. My approach focuses on driving to different lookouts and shorter, easy to medium-difficulty hikes to get to the best scenery.
You'll receive sneak peeks within a week, and I'll surprise drop your gallery on you Folklore-style via your email.
Elopements & Intimate Weddings:
10-12 Weeks
Engagements & Couples Sessions:
4-6 Weeks
Your images are delivered to you in an online gallery with high-res downloads and access to an online store where you can purchase prints, design your own album, and more.
There are a couple different things you can do! It's becoming more popular for folks to have a two-day elopement, where one day is just the two of you and one day is spent with your closest family and friends. You can also ask them to write you letters and you can read them on your day! Alternatively, hold a separate reception (or "Happily Ever After Party!") later on.
While elopements and intimate weddings have my heart, I do take on one or two weddings each year based on fit and availability. Get in touch for consideration.
Looking forward to hearing from you :)
Let’s turn your wedding into something you’re actually excited about.
Snag your free 30-page guide to planning a next-level elopement.
Planning your elopement can feel like a lot — but it doesn’t have to be. This free guide is filled with inspiration, location ideas, tips and tricks, and gentle guidance to help you create a day that feels cinematic, personal, and deeply you.
Download it now and start dreaming up something real.
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Curious about what to expect & how this whole process works?
Good news! I wrote an article about just that. From the moment you submit your contact form to the day you receive your final gallery, here's *everything* you can expect from our journey together.
