Sam Starns Adventure Elopements
Sam Starns Adventure Elopements
$$$$$ (Upscale)
Alaska California Montana New York Oregon Utah Vermont Australia & New Zealand International Scotland UK & Ireland Available for travel
About Sam Starns Adventure Elopements
SO MANY PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS.
And that’s B.S. Especially on your wedding day.
I’m Sam, a former Oregon park ranger, and I regret my wedding.
I spent part of my wedding day in tears, and not the happy kind.
I’m a whole-asser, do-it-for-the-plot type of adventurer who never fit into a nice, neat box of societal norms. Someone who craves travel, novel experiences, connecting with the world around me, and experiencing all that life has to offer.
But I had a nice, traditional wedding where I aimed to please and impress everyone, inviting folks because they’d feel left out, or because my parents strongly requested they attend, because that’s just what you do right?
Well screw that.
I’m now a former park ranger-turned-professional enabler with a TEDx Talk, book on Eloping Your Life™️, and a decade of helping couples elope under my belt. I specialize in helping fun, & free-spirited couples create bold “Elope Your Life” wedding days. Days that are intentional, full of meaningful details, and do-it-for-the-plot adventure in dramatic places like:
- Alaska (A couple eloped in an ice cave via helicopter before attending the Iditarod start this past March!)
- Oregon (You can elope on a desert playa, have an intimate wedding on the Oregon Coast before whale watching, or witness sunrise above a volcano caldera)
- California Redwoods (Emily and Jessey eloped on a redwood canopy walk before walking a lantern-filled path through old-growth redwoods)
- Scotland (want to elope on the Isle of Skye and then witness the Jacobite Steam Train like Adrianna & Cam did?)
- Norway (two brides just boarded a sailboat to elope in the Lofoten Islands the first couple days of Pride Month)
Then my couples use that empowerment to transform the rest of their lives.
ELOPE
/əˈlōp/ – verb
To have an intimate wedding that represents the interests and passions of you and your partner, however nontraditional they may be in terms of weddings.
ELOPE YOUR LIFE ®️
/əˈlōp yôr līf/ – verb
To take the confidence and empowerment of eloping and use it to transform other areas of your life in order to live unapologetically and authentically. The ‘Elope Your Life’ philosophy is built around a simple idea: choosing to elope, to design your day around what actually matters to you instead of what’s expected, takes a specific kind of confidence. My couples leave with that confidence. They use it. I’ve watched it change careers, relationships, and how people move through the world.
***JUST FOR OFFBEAT BADDIES: LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN — SCROLL DOWN FOR MY ADVENTURE BUCKET LIST SPECIAL OFFERINGS & OPPORTUNITIES*** “ELOPE YOUR LIFE” ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT FAQ We’re interested in possibly adventuring with you. What are the next steps?
Check out samstarns.com for more inspiration and fill out the contact form at samstarns.com/contact — we’ll then hop on a discovery call to see if we’re a great fit for each other (a must for an experience that’s so human-based, and not some robotic transaction). Couples walk away from discovery calls with more clarity, a sense of agency, and inspired, no matter who they end up working with.
Do I need to be super athletic to have an adventure elopement?
Absolutely not. While I carry heavy camera gear around and up mountains, there’s no way I can run a marathon. In fact, while I enjoy hiking, I love capturing unique activities even more.
You don’t need to hike 3000 ft up a mountain, you just need to be intentional. Most couples, if they’re not going on a big hike, incorporate a fun activity that’s special to them, or something they’ve always wanted to do. You can hike on your elopement day. You can also hop on a sailboat, go whale watching, helicopter to a glacier, chase the northern lights, ride horses, go on a safari, and so much more.
What’s included in an adventure elopement collection/package?
A custom planning portal dedicated to you, permit and planning assistance, planning calls, day-of elopement timeline, heirloom album credit, my travel, and so much more. More details are available at samstarns.com/pricing-info.
How far in advance do people typically book?
While engaged couples can book an elopement photographer as last-minute as a week out or less, I highly recommend booking 6-12 months in advance so you have a chance to explore, discover, and book the vendors and experiences you want. National park permits require detailed ceremony plans, and permit applications are usually due at least 30 days out. Many desirable lodgings book up well in advance. The earlier you start your elopement planning, the more intentional you can be! I’m here to help you curate something next-level.
What makes your approach different from other adventure elopement photographers?
Many elopement photographers take on 30-50 (or more) elopements per year. That allows a photographer no time to get to know you as people. This isn’t just a photography experience, it’s a human one.
What’s the craziest/wildest elopement you’ve ever photographed?
That’s a hard one to answer — each elopement is unique, but my favorites usually involve a fun activity and something that’s special to the couple. I’ve had couples camp in their rooftop tent on a vast desert playa and stargaze, I’ve had couples helicopter to a glacier and overnight geodesic dome stay in Alaska, I’ve also had elopement couples fly to Norway and sail on a 75-year-old sailboat on the Norwegian Sea.
What are some elopements/activities that you’d love to photograph?
My latest bucket list elopements involve African safaris or trips to explore countries like Namibia, hiking and witnessing active volcanoes at sunset/sunrise in Guatemala, checking out the iceberg alley in Greenland, and more. Looking for something exciting like this? Reach out and let’s brainstorm!
Former park ranger + badass adventurers? Your adventure is already set to be out of this world. Let’s f****ing go.
Submit an inquiry via samstarns.com/contact. I typically respond within 24 hours (usually within just a few hours or less) with a link to schedule a call to dive in, brainstorm, look over pricing/collections, and answer questions!
Services Offered
CUSTOMIZED PERSONAL PLANNING PORTAL
Your custom, password-protected planning hub with every resource you’ll need to feel confident in planning, from invoices and emails to location guidance and elopement tips. You’ll have expert support as your personal guide throughout the process. Instead of a one-and-done guide, my resources (and your future knowledge) are broken down into approachable segments.
PLANNING & CURATION ASSISTANCE
On top of your personal planning portal, we’re going to dive in via Zoom. Our main planning and getting-to-know-you call is full of catching up, dreaming, brainstorming, virtual field trips of your adventure destination, and answering all the planning questions you’ve got, so you walk away feeling energized, excited, and at ease.
VENDOR REFERRAL HUB
A handpicked list of trusted vendors tailored to your location and vibe.
I only refer folks I’ve personally worked with or vetted. People who’ll take care of you and leave you feeling seen and celebrated, and as often as possible, those who are openly supportive of all types of love.
OFFICIANT (for elopements with 2 guests or fewer)
If you want to keep things intimate (or avoid adding more vendors), I’m ordained and can casually officiate elopements with up to 2 guests. A perfect option for those of you who’d rather say your vows and exchange rings without ceremony preamble or closing statements (aside from those that I have to legally say, of course). This is included in every elopement collection!
YOUR PERSONAL PARK RANGER
I’m not a park ranger anymore, but I used to be. I was an interpretive ranger on the Oregon Coast, and guided guests & field trips, teaching them about marine biology, the local ecosystem, and enchanting guests with lighthouse history.
I’ll weave stories and insights from my geology background and ranger days into your adventure, helping you connect deeper with the places we explore. Want to share some of your own knowledge? I’m all ears.
LOCATION MATCHMAKING
Want mountains and water? A remote forest or arid desert? If you’ve got a vibe but not a pinpointed spot (or need help with permits) you’re in good hands. Most of my elopement couples don’t come to me with a certain destination in mind.
I’ll send over a curated list of incredible locations that match your vision, avoid the crowds, and set the scene for an unforgettable adventure.
FULL RESOLUTION GALLERY
All collections come with hi-res images for you to download, print, and share for personal use, so you can remember vividly what it felt like to adventure, hike, helicopter, dogsled, packraft, or off-road with your life partner.
If you want high-quality heirloom prints from a professional lab, your gallery has a store option to immortalize your intentional adventure in print, so you’ll have access to the same quality prints that professional photographers do.
TRAVEL INCLUDED
No surprise fees. My travel is included. Change locations by a few miles? No problem. It’s part of the plan. It’s about choosing what resonates most with you, not how far you have to go to get there.
HEIRLOOM ALBUM
Imagine experiencing your best day yet, then getting a gallery of stunning images where you get to re-live all of your wedding day, and then you receive those images in a rich grimoire-type tome in the mail. When you book a full-day (or longer) collection, you automatically get to experience the excitement and nostalgia of your day in hard copy.
This isn’t your grandma’s padded, button-darted, lace-frilled wedding album. It’s a coffee table staple.
ADD-ONS
The ability to add on hours at the last minute when you want them is handy, but you’re also able to add on the following to each of your collections (though some already come with these!)…
GIF
A GIF of anything from you twirling, to your first look, to your first kiss – we’ll pick a moment and I’ll transform it into a GIF!
TIKTOK/REEL
Done on iPhone with gimbal setup, this is a casual organic-feeling social media video anywhere from 30-60 seconds long, focusing on you, your story, and the backdrop.
Service Area
- Oregon
- Alaska
- California
- Washington
- Montana
- Utah
- New Mexico
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- United Kingdom
- Norway
Pricing & Packages
OREGON COLLECTIONS start at $6500 for half-day adventures
WESTERN US COLLECTIONS start at $8500 for full-day adventures (2026)
INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS start at $10,500 for full-day adventures (2026)
★ Offbeat Member Deal
SPECIAL PRICING/BONUSES FOR THE FOLLOWING ADVENTURERS:
— Two grooms/masc-presenting folks, especially if unique attire like a detachable skirt or cape is involved.
— Kenya/Tanzania/Namibia elopements
— Guatemala Volcano Hike elopement
— Gates of the Arctic, Alaska elopement
Mention Offbeat Wed when reaching out via samstarns.com/contact
Frequently Asked Questions
My intake process starts with pronouns. My contracts use gender-neutral language throughout. I’ve photographed everything from queer elopements, same-sex weddings, and nonbinary couples across a dozen states and countries, and I don’t partner (or refer) with venues or vendors who aren’t fully affirming when possible.
If you’ve been wondering whether you’ll have to tone yourself down for your photographer, the answer here is no.
I’m here to empower you to have an elopement YOUR way. And for me, that includes being a safe haven and space for those who are different.
I photograph primarily nonreligious or pagan/earth-centered elopements that have a deep desire to connect to the land the couple is eloping on. These days are full of adventure and often activities like helicopter or hot air balloons, ATVs, sailboats, hiking, and more.
Neurodivergent and LGBTQ couples are folks I regularly get to adventure with!
I predominantly photograph adventure elopements in the following areas, but am often booked for adventures in new places!
- Oregon
- Alaska
- California
- Washington
- Montana
- Utah
- New Mexico
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- United Kingdom
- Norway
First step: fill out the contact form or on my Contact Page (samstarns.com/contact). We’ll get on a discovery call to answer questions, serve you with basic resources/info, and see if we’re a good fit!
Because my approach is so connection-based, I require these discovery calls with the two of you to ensure your day feels smooth, easy, and fun!
After our call, if you decide it’s the perfect fit, I’ll send over a proposal (lots of those in this season of life, eh?) that allows you to select your collection, then submit an agreement and retainer.
I have couples that book on very short notice, but it’s not necessarily what I would recommend if you’re wanting to make your adventure intentional. That takes time if you don’t want to feel rushed! For a variety of reasons, I recommend booking at least 3 months out (especially if your location, like national parks, requires a permit and is due 30 days out), though 9-12+ months is ideal to ensure you have your pick of lodgings, activities, etc.!
That’s a hard one to answer — each elopement is unique, but my favorites usually involve a fun activity and something that’s special to the couple. I’ve had couples camp in their rooftop tent on a vast desert playa and stargaze, I’ve had couples helicopter to a glacier and overnight geodesic dome stay in Alaska, I’ve also had elopement couples fly to Norway and sail on a 75-year-old sailboat on the Norwegian Sea.
Sylvia & Amy’s Norway elopement was full of twists. We didn’t have a timeline until nearly the day-of (not ideal) due to weather and the relaxed attitude of the Norwegians and Italians who were commanding the sailboat. A&S also had to book a new Airbnb upon arrival because of construction blocking their access back to the original Airbnb.
All of those difficulties aside, we were still able to be super intentional, with a quintessential rorbuer cabin, a hike in the midnight sun, dresses that oozed flow and movement with Norway’s wind, and a 50+ year old sailboat we rode to explore the turquoise Norwegian sea.
Friend
Intentional
Compassionate
Storyteller
A nerdy, communicative couple who doesn’t care if the bottom of their attire gets a little wet or a smidge dirty, who crave a connection to the place they’re eloping, and who want to incorporate activities/details they’re either passionate about or have always wanted to try/experience!
Pagan, earth-centered ceremony details.
Additional Information
At a Glance
Alaska California Montana New York Oregon Utah Vermont Australia & New Zealand International Scotland UK & Ireland Available for travel
Check Availability
Reach out to Sam Starns Adventure Elopements about working together:
★ Offbeat Member
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Gallery
Love from Offbeat Couples
There is no reason to look at any other photographers. Sam is absolutely the BEST out there! She helped us plan our dream elopement and made it even more amazing than either of us could’ve dreamed. We live in Oklahoma and had never been to Oregon but knew that’s where we needed to go for our big day. Sam took our vision and found exactly what we were wanting without us ever seeing it. She made the entire process so flawless and zero stress and SO MUCH FUN from start to finish. Not only did she make our day special but she also included our young daughter in the day and made it her best day ever too. She still talks about Sam to this day. Her intention to your vision and your day are unmatched. We felt as if we were the only people in the world the whole day. Oh and she has an amazing coat if you get cold! It was also a massive comfort as an LGBTQ+ couple in the current world that she is so warm, inviting and caring. There really is no one better out there, she has the biggest most compassionate heart and has some amazing stories to tell during your day! I would relive that day every day if we could.
From start to finish, Sam was truly exceptional. For a couple that would consider themselves non-photogenic and NEVER takes pictures together we had a goal of just getting a handful of useable images we could tolerate but Sam left us with so many impeccable photos that we can barely narrow it down to fit onto our walls/album.
Her level of organization gave us complete peace of mind and appeased my nero-divergent brain. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, every timeline handled seamlessly, and nothing ever felt rushed or chaotic. Sam was incredibly intentional about how the day unfolded, making sure each moment had purpose while still feeling relaxed and natural.
Beyond being so organized, Sam was also deeply insightful. They offered thoughtful guidance, creative ideas, and gentle direction that made everything feel effortless. What stood out most was how intentional Sam was about protecting space for us to simply be together. They made sure we had time to slow down, take it all in, and actually enjoy our elopement as a couple rather than feeling like we were moving from one photo to the next.
On top of all that, Sam was just a joy to be around. Fun, easygoing, and genuinely invested in our experience, they brought such positive energy to the day and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera, even for a non-camera couple. We could not have asked for a better person to share such an intimate and meaningful moment with. The photos are stunning, but the experience itself was just as unforgettable.
We highly recommend Sam to anyone looking for an elopement photographer who is intentional, professional, and an absolute pleasure to work with.
If you’re on the fence about eloping this is your sign to do it! and Sam is the best option, there is! My wife and I tried to plan out wedding in our hometown a few times and went back and forth on if we wanted to just elope and once, we found Sam we never looked back. She was amazing from start to finish; I was like we’d been friends for years after the first meeting. She made our wedding day so special, and we would trade it for the world.
If you’re looking for someone attentive, knowledgeable and in depth look no further.
Where do I even begin? Sam has far exceeded our expectations in every aspect. Once my wife and I decided we wanted to elope, we knew we wanted some epic pictures. We met with Sam and we knew in those first few minutes that she was our girl. Sam went above and beyond, even helping us choose where we wanted to go. We could not have asked for a more perfect, special, kick ass, epic elopement and Sam is a big reason for that. I literally cried when she showed us our gallery for the first time. We are so grateful to have to experience we did and couldn’t recommend her enough.
Sam was truly amazing to work with and if we could give her 100 stars we would! We wanted our wedding day to feel intimate, natural, carefree, and still fun and adventurous. Sam was able to help make it feel like all of those things and so much more. With all of Sam’s upfront planning (recommendations for locations, day of timelines, activity recs, vendor recs, etc.), it made the whole process and day of stress free. We were originally a little nervous going into it thinking, how are we going to feel after hours of taking photos? But at the end of the day the pictures being taken were the last things on our mind because Sam was so great at making us feel present with each other and connected with the environment around us. She is one of the main reasons our wedding day was so magical and will be one we remember for the rest of our lives. Sam captured the essence of it so beautifully that whenever we look at the photos we remember exactly how we felt during each moment of the day.
How do you personally identify, and how does that shape how you work with couples?
What was the moment you realized you didn't fit into the traditional wedding industry?
Describe your aesthetic in three words that have nothing to do with weddings.
What wedding tradition or trend do you wish would die and never come back?
Have you planned your own wedding? How did it change how you work?
What do you wish couples knew about you before they reached out?
Get to Know
Sam Starns
When we're out embracing adventure together, my goal through my job and photography is to help you see and relive the wonder & magic of you, your elopement day, and the life you're crafting together. My past experience, from being a park ranger to living abroad (France, if you're curious), allows me to help bring that to life in a singular and cinematic way.
And I'm fueled by my mild addiction to Diet Coke, so you know it's gonna be bitchin'.
I believe the most unforgettable elopement experiences come down to relationships and connection. My process is set up so I can get to know the amazing humans in front of my camera in a real and authentic way. One of the most kickass parts of my job is the people I get to meet (hi, yes, I'm talking about you).
