Intimate Broken Bow Wedding at Beavers Bend State Park

What happens if you just can’t decide between a private adventure elopement focused on just the two of you, and a traditional wedding alongside all the people you love most? That’s just the question Alexia & Alec found themselves asking—and I’m still obsessed with the way they managed to combine the two to create their perfect, one-of-a-kind day. I couldn’t wait to share the magic of this intimate Broken Bow wedding at Beavers Bend State Park with ya!

Alexia & Alec’s Adventurous Broken Bow Wedding

The perfect blend of elopement + wedding

When I asked Alexia and Alec why they chose to get married this way rather than hosting a larger wedding, the first thing they told me was that they really wanted something that felt more. . . personal. The idea of putting on a show for people they barely knew just wasn’t something they wanted, and they knew that the traditional aspects of bigger weddings didn’t feel like them—nor did they represent their relationship. Hence the decision they ultimately made to combine the best of both worlds: the intentional vibes of a private elopement plus the family members that they’re closest to!

Thus was born their dream wedding recipe—all the best ingredients of an adventure elopement + a traditional wedding mixed together into one incredible day. And I could tell it all turned out just the way they wanted to.

Wanna dive deeper into why I love elopements and small weddings so much as a photographer? I’ve got just the blog for you!

A cozy morning in the woods

Alexia and Alec’s wedding morning paid homage to one of their favorite memories together, back when Alexia surprised Alec with a trip to a cabin in Broken Bow for his birthday last year. It only made sense to have their wedding here after they completely fell in love with the fall foliage and beautiful pines, so they booked a big cabin in the same area where they could all get ready at! The bright sun shone down through the trees, and a gentle breeze blew through the crisp autumn air as Alexia and Alec spent time with their closest friends and family members, getting ready for the day they’d been anticipating for what probably felt like forever, at this point.

The moment they were both all dolled up and ready to go, Alexia and I made our way out to a gorgeous spot in the woods where Alex was standing, ready and waiting to see his beautiful bride. And man, first looks never fail to make me tear up—the smiles these two gave each other as they shared private vows beneath the towering trees was almost TOO MUCH to handle. My damn heart couldn’t do it. I will always love it when couples decide to do a private vow exchange before or after their ceremony, as it really gives them the chance to open up & speak freely without the nerves that come with standing in front of a group of people!

A picturesque riverside ceremony in Broken Bow

The soon-to-be-newlyweds chose a campsite at Elm Campground for their ceremony, booking up the entire place in order to host their loved ones for a gorgeous riverside occasion. Alec’s dad was fortunate enough to be the one to marry his son and daughter-in-law, which made for the SWEETEST ceremony and speeches that made everyone have to grab the tissues. Family members officiating for their loved ones will never fail to leave me feeling emo, especially because the group was so intimate with only around 20 people total.

A celebratory picnic with loved ones

There’s no better way to follow up a beautiful and emotion-filled ceremony than with a cheeseboard, wine, cake, and champagne, am I right?? Following their first kiss as husband and wife, everybody gathered at a set of picnic tables at the campsite to enjoy a celebratory picnic! And it wasn’t just your normal, everyday picnic—no, Alexia and Alec wanted to munch on finger foods + toast their glasses in STYLE. With a fire pit going in the background, area rugs spread out over the ground, and a yurt-style glamping tent, it was giving allll the boho, outdoorsy vibes. Oh, and did I mention they shared their first dance on the rugs by the campfire? Talk about a scene out of a Nicholas Sparks rom-com.

Stunning sunset photos overlooking the lake

We’d originally planned to go on a hike through the state park for golden hour photos, but we had to go with the flow a bit and adjust day-of; fortunately, these two were so freaking adaptable and down to roll with the punches! Instead, we took off from the group and went to this amazing lake overlook for a few sunset photos—we had views for daysss and the soft sunset light ended up looking so magical above the vibrant blue waters.

An intimate dinner + s’mores by the campfire

The evening wrapped up with a yummy Italian dinner back at the cabin, complete with laughs shared under the soft glow of candlelight, delicious dishes + a constant flow of drinks, and plenty of ooey-gooey s’mores by the campfire. It was exactly how they envisioned their celebration, and felt like the most magical ending to an already incredible day!

Broken Bow Wedding Photographer

Ready to follow in Alexia and Alec’s footsteps, and create your own perfect, mold-breaking wedding day? I’m SO in, whether that looks like a private adventure elopement with just you two or an intimate gathering of all the people you adore most. Get in touch, and let’s say f*ck tradition + start planning things your way, yeah?

Check out the Blog for all kinds of elopement resources + inspo just like this, or take a shortcut to one of my faves below!