A creative portrait of two people with a mirrored, overlapping effect in front of a white wall.

A Creative Elopement in the Californian Desert

Among the desert landscape of Pioneertown, California, Pai (she/her) and Misty (she/her) eloped. It was planned all the way from their home in the Philippines, was creative and intimate – everything they had hoped it would be. 

Tell us about your proposal.

Pai: We didn’t have a traditional marriage proposal. We wanted to get married in 2020, but the pandemic disrupted our plans. Three years later, as our 15th anniversary approached, we decided to just do it. 

We didn’t need to ask each other; we just knew. 

How did you find your wedding vendors in California, from your home in the Philippines?

After extensive research, we found our photographers, The Hendrys, on the day we set as our deadline. We wanted non-traditional and avant-garde photos, and The Hendrys were perfect. They referred us to Belinda of Opus Events Co, who helped us plan everything remotely. Vanessa of The Raconteur Collective was our videographer. It was a happy coincidence that Vanessa was in the Philippines at the time, so she was the only vendor we met before the wedding day.

Tell us about your California elopement. 

Pai: The day was chill. We arrived at our accommodation and elopement venue, Sol to Soul, a day before and had extra time to enjoy the place. 

The elopement day was perfect. It was private and intimate, with just us and the wedding team. Everything went smoothly, thanks to our Calfornian elopement coordinator Belinda of Opus Events. Our hair and makeup artist, Danielle of Desert Honey Artistry, made us look fabulous. Vanessa and Christian from The Raconteur Collective were enthusiastic videographers. The Hendrys, our photographers, were creative and calm, making us feel comfortable even though we are shy and awkward in front of cameras.

Misty: We did our vows during sunset, with giant boulders as our backdrop. After the vows, I surprised Pai with a custom necklace.

We then did night shots with colored lights and a smoke machine – which gave us awesome photos.

We signed our marriage certificate a couple of days later with Emily Button of LA Wedding Woman, at a coffee shop. Seeing the document that made it official made the happy tears flow. 

What’s your advice for others who are planning an elopement?

Pai: If you want an intimate wedding focused on your partner, it’s okay to do it alone. A modern elopement can be beautiful, with every moment together in serenity.

Misty: Even for a small wedding or elopement, having a planner helps make the day stress-free. Choosing the right vendors is key. We talked to each potential vendor to ensure we vibed well with them. 

We also made a design brief to communicate our vision and ideas clearly.

A rocky desert landscape with Joshua trees and large boulders under a clear blue sky.
A pair of black high-heeled boots and a pair of black combat boots arranged on a concrete surface.
Two black notebooks, one with the date '08.24.2023' and the names 'Misty & Pai' embossed on the cover.
An open notebook with handwritten notes and a closed black notebook with embossed names and date.
A person with short hair and glasses putting on a black blazer over a white shirt.
Two people sitting on a couch, putting on black boots; one person has tattoos on their arms.
Two people sitting behind a reflective table with a large piece of art in the background.
A close-up of two people holding hands, one with tattoos on their arm.
Two people holding hands and walking down concrete steps in front of a modern white building.
A creative portrait of two people with a mirrored, overlapping effect in front of a white wall.
Two people standing close, embracing with their foreheads touching, rainbow light reflecting on their faces.
Two people lying on a colorful blanket with their eyes closed, captured from above.
Two people standing in the desert, holding hands, with mountains in the background.
A person reading vows from a notebook to another person in the desert.
One bride presents a wedding necklace to the other during the ceremony in the desert. The other bride wipes a tear from their eye.
The two brides are smiling and exchanging a necklace during their desert ceremony.
Two people embracing and kissing in the desert, holding notebooks.
Two people laughing together in the desert, surrounded by boulders and shrubs.
A wide shot of the desert landscape with rocky hills and a distant mountain range.
A shot of a half-moon in the sky with a bird flying beneath it. Two hands are intertwined and reaching upwards.
A close-up of the couple gazing into each other's eyes, with the moon visible in the background.
The couple kisses, holding hands under tall Joshua trees. The photo is taken from a low angle, emphasizing the trees and the sky.
The couple walks hand in hand under the night sky, with their faces softly illuminated.
The couple stands in a doorway illuminated by neon pink and green lights, creating a modern and dramatic effect.
An artistic shot of the couple with a kaleidoscope effect, showing multiple overlapping images of them under neon lights.
A creative shot of the couple with a reflective surface partially obscuring them, adding layers and depth to the image.
The couple sits together, holding hands under neon lights. Their expressions are contemplative.
The couple is surrounded by colorful smoke, sharing a kiss. The vibrant hues of green and pink create a dreamy atmosphere.
The couple stands together in the desert landscape, holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, with soft evening light.
The couple stands together, silhouetted against the setting sun. Their profiles are softly illuminated.
The couple lies on a blanket under the night sky, their faces close together. The stars are visible above them.
A photo of the night sky filled with stars, with the couple's silhouette in the foreground.

Photography by The Hendrys

Elopement Coordinator Opus Events
Makeup Artist Desert Honey Artistry
Officiant LA Wedding Woman
Venue Sol to Soul
Videography The Raconteur Collective

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