Woman Owned, LGBTQ+ Owned
Woman Owned, LGBTQ+ Owned
Sam Starns Adventure Elopements
The Badass ‘You’ on your Elopement Day Should be the ‘You’ Every Other Day of your Life
I’m Sam, a TEDx speaker, author and adventure elopement expert in the Western US and beyond.
And I regret my wedding. Oooof, right?
I cried on my wedding day. They weren’t happy tears, either. Let me tell you my story.
I had a day that wasn’t really about the connection I had with my husband. It wasn’t about who we were as people and about the things we loved.
It wasn’t “us.”
Imagine having an adventure elopement day that includes whatever floats your boat. Whether it’s adrenaline-packed, laughter-filled, chill vibes, or a combo of all of the above. Then add in a kickass connection between you and your partner that’s enabled by dedicating that day TO YOU.
Sam Starns is a TEDx speaker, author, elopement expert, and movement leader in adventure elopement photography. After regretting her own traditional wedding, she began her mission to empower individuals to become unapologetically themselves by creating a wedding day and life that they can be uniquely proud of.
With nearly a decade of wedding experience, Starns has traveled to numerous states (The PNW, Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and beyond) and countries for elopements to jumpstart the transformation for real change to encourage anyone to become their authentic self.
Sam Starns’ debut book, Elope Your Life, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and more.
With a passion for protecting our public lands and a love for the outdoors, Starns donates a percentage of services, including photography packages and book sales, to a nonprofit dedicated to helping preserve public lands.
Based in
Oregon
Works with couples
anywhere in America
Elopement packages start at
$6500
I work with couples of all different backgrounds, sizes, and orientations. It’s important to me that each person feels valued for the uniqueness they bring to the table. My view of inclusivity includes protecting those who may not fit society’s traditional mold and the only thing I don’t tolerate in my couples is intolerance. That means if someone doesn’t appear to respect the fact I have diverse couples (i.e. gets offended I have a pronoun field in my contact form), I politely but clearly decline their inquiry and explain why. It also means I refer my couples to other inclusive vendors and outfitters – I want my badass couples to feel safe in every aspect of their planning.
Based in
Oregon
Works with couples
anywhere in America
Elopement packages start at
$6500
I work with couples of all different backgrounds, sizes, and orientations. It’s important to me that each person feels valued for the uniqueness they bring to the table. My view of inclusivity includes protecting those who may not fit society’s traditional mold and the only thing I don’t tolerate in my couples is intolerance. That means if someone doesn’t appear to respect the fact I have diverse couples (i.e. gets offended I have a pronoun field in my contact form), I politely but clearly decline their inquiry and explain why. It also means I refer my couples to other inclusive vendors and outfitters – I want my badass couples to feel safe in every aspect of their planning.
What’s a piece of advice you find yourself giving to all your couples?
I always tell my couples to think of your elopement as an adventure first and a wedding second. The wedding industry puts us into such small boxes from such a young age that we often don’t realize we’re in them when planning. When you think of your day as an adventure, you’re more likely to brainstorm ideas to include on your day that represent you and what you love. Then we can incorporate the wedding details like a dress and ceremony. I’ve had couples not mention their bucket list includes flying in a helicopter simply because they thought of their day as a wedding first, and thought, “Well, I’ll be in a dress so that’s not possible”. Spoiler alert: IT IS POSSIBLE!
How can lovers make their wedding day special?
Intention, intention, intention. Don’t just slap things together because it’s convenient! Don’t wear a suit you already wore as a groomsperson just because you have it unless it has special meaning. Don’t neglect putting intention into the backdrop you’re getting married in or the details of the day. It’s amazing what a thought-out outfit will do for your appearance (whether it’s a specific color or a fun personality tie-in with a cool pattern) or incorporating an activity that’s special to you. Be intentional with each choice in your planning! Your day will turn out looking and feeling amazing.
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra to live by?
If there’s one thing they’ll put on my gravestone, it’d be this quote: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing” (Mythbusters). Take this as: I don’t do anything half-ass, and I encourage my couples to do the same!
