Here are all the details from a gorgeous queer elopement in Red Rock Canyon!
Did you know Nevada was the first state to specifically enshrine and protect same-sex marriage in its state constitution? We love to see it! This is exactly why Kia and Lauren chose to get married here. So why Red Rock Canyon?
It has all of the convenience and luxury of Las Vegas (international airport, tons of hotels and restaurants, etc) just 30 minutes away from untouched desert with iconic rugged red rocks. Las Vegas is also a very LGBTQ-friendly city and I am glad to say you’ll have lots of options when planning a queer elopement in Red Rock Canyon.
Their wedding day had everything I love about elopements: a slow morning together, private vows, time to explore a beautiful landscape, a celebration with their families, and enough breathing room that none of it felt rushed.
Vow Writing in Pajamas
The day started in their hotel room at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, where the two of them got ready together. They had their hair and makeup done by Makeup in the 702 (an LGBTQ+ friendly vendor… the only kind I would ever recommend). They wore coordinating pajamas while they wrote their vows. Before there were dresses, suits, ceremonies, or portraits, there were just two people hanging out together.
From a photographer’s perspective, I really love when couples start the day with an intentionally slow activity. There are naturally going to be some nerves and it gives us all a chance to warm up, lets the couple get comfortable in front of the camera, and eases those anticipatory jitters.
Once they were ready, they had their first look at the resort before we headed out toward Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Private Vows at Calico Tanks
One of the things I loved about their day was that they made a distinction between their private vows and their family ceremony.
The vows they had written that morning were just for each other. We drove into Red Rock Canyon and found a quiet place where they could read them privately, without a group of guests watching or any pressure to turn the moment into a performance.
There is something particularly meaningful about that kind of privacy. Weddings can involve a lot of people, and even very intimate ceremonies can come with an expectation that you need to say the right thing, look the right way, or create a moment everyone else can witness.
Kia and Lauren didn’t need to do any of that.
After their private vows, we spent time driving the scenic loop and exploring the canyon. Red Rock is one of those places that rewards you for slowing down. The landscape changes as you move through it, and there are so many different textures, colors, and formations that you can spend hours wandering around without feeling like you’re looking at the same backdrop twice. And of course we had to get some shots with their sick Jeep!
Ceremony at Red Rock Overlook
Eventually, it was time to meet up with their families for the ceremony at Red Rock Overlook, one of a handful of locations where ceremonies are permitted to take place.
Kia and Lauren had their loved ones wear matching colors (a lovely blue that complimented the red rocks beautifully). Their families got to witness the ceremony and be there as they officially became married! Peachy Keen Unions took care of the legal paperwork for them.
Afterward, everyone gathered for a picnic lunch together. Photography coverage paused here to give everyone a breather, escape the midday sun, and relax in whatever way they chose.
Evening Hiking Adventure
After lunch with their families and an afternoon of relaxation, we had the rest of the evening to explore. We met back up for a hike through Red Rock Canyon. This ended up being one of my favorite portions of their day! The wedding ceremony was over, the family celebration was done, and there was nothing left that they had to do.
They could just enjoy being newlyweds.
We wandered through the red rocks, stopped for photographs, and let the evening unfold naturally. Their wedding clothes looked incredible against the desert landscape, but what I loved most was how content they seemed. At that point, they had already spent an entire day together, said the things they wanted to say, married each other in front of their families, and lived out the plans they’d spent months anticipating.
I’m all about keeping things laid-back with my couples. Plans are flexible and I’m always ready to pivot. So when they decided they didn’t want to do the entire hike, I was more than happy to slow down the hiking pace and really lean into the landscapes we had right in front of us. It’s about the journey, right?
We had so much fun scrambling over the red rocks and navigating the terrain with Kia’s long train. I call this “bridal parkour” and it’s one of my favorite things to photograph on an elopement day.
Kia had a specific vision of photos featuring the stunning landscape with them as miniature brides somewhere in the photo. We made it happen ten times over!
We took our time, enjoyed some snacks, and simply took in the day as the sun went down over Las Vegas. Eventually we walked back to our cars with our headlamps lighting the way.
Make Your Wedding Day YOURS
I think this is especially important for queer couples.
There is no shortage of wedding traditions that were designed with a very specific idea of what a couple and a wedding are supposed to look like. If those traditions are meaningful to you, wonderful. But they don’t have to be the starting point.
You can start somewhere else. You can start with the places you love, the people you want around you, the way you actually like to spend time together, and the things that make your relationship yours.
If you’re considering a queer elopement in Red Rock Canyon I’d love to help you plan it and document it. Please contact me to set up a free consultation, or read more about how to elope in Red Rock Canyon.
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