When Miguel walked into his first yoga class in 2021, he had no idea his future wife was in the room. As he became a regular at the studio, he noticed there was one other yogi, Ryen, who attended class as frequently as he did. For months, Miguel was too nervous to give Ryen more than a wave. That is until he finally worked up the courage to ask her out! Miguel and Ryen’s Joshua Tree elopement was the perfect way for them to exchange vows. Not just for the park’s out-of-this-world landscape, but because of the genuine connection they built there. Yoga remained a large part of their lives and they spent most weekends driving to classes in Yucca Valley. The two-hour drive gave them plenty of time to have fun conversations and build the foundation of their adventurous relationship.
We approached the location and ceremony timing in a fun, stress-free way. Marie (their officiant) and I are all about creating a day that feels authentic to you. We spent some time exploring the area, taking photographs, and sharing stories. You can’t go wrong with any of the locations at the site! We proposed a few options for the ceremony and they chose one a beautiful rock formation. After the ceremony, we spent more time adventuring around the park and taking advantage of all the beauty it has to offer.
One of the reasons I moved to Southern California was because of my love for visiting Joshua Tree. Getting to photograph an elopement there was my dream come true! See what it looks like to create an intimate and meaningful day in my favorite images from the day!
Chelsea Stratso is an adventurous elopement and intimate wedding photographer based in Southern California. Click here to start planning your photography!
