The Kauai elopement you've been dreaming of
Want to elope in a tropical paradise? Then Kauai is the perfect place for you. With hundreds of miles of untouched beaches, rugged coastlines, and tropical rainforests, it’s easy to access incredible elopement locations, and have the experience of a lifetime.
Not only is Kauai stunning, but there is also so much to do. It’s the perfect place to elope if you seek adventure and luxury. Whether you want to swim in a hidden waterfall, explore a foggy canyon, hike along a cliff that towers above the turquoise ocean, or swim with the local sealife - you will never run out of things to do. Not only that, but Kauai is also one of the least visited Hawaiian islands, which means it’s easy to find seclusion and privacy.
I want that
Hey, I'm Carissa! Kauai Elopement Photographer
I’m so excited that you are dreaming up an elopement in Kauai. Kauai truly is one of my favorite places in the world, and one of the best places for an elopement. The pristine, breathtaking beauty of Kauai is unlike any place I have ever experienced. I think when people envision Hawaii, they often imagine the stereotypical beach vacation spot, with cheesy tourist traps and busy beaches. The reality is that there is so much more to Kauai than that. It’s a place rich in culture, history, and untouched beauty. It is truly a hidden paradise, and the perfect place for a tropical elopement.
Planning an elopement can feel overwhelming, but that’s what I’m here for! Think of me as your guide - I’ll help you find the incredible secret spot to say your vows, awesome local vendors to bring your dreams to life, and provide assistance with all the logistics and details that go into planning an unforgettable experience. I’ve helped plan elopements all over the world, and have a lot of experience crafting meaning, intentional elopement days.
Reach Out Now
I work with couples that want something a little deeper than the traditional.
Couples who would rather follow hiking trails than trends, and would rather have a wedding day full of adventure, than a wedding day full of “stuff.” I’m guessing you probably feel the same way, that’s why you’re here.
You want to do things differently.
I’m here to help make that happen. Every couple that reaches out to me is at the very beginning of the planning process, just like you. I take them from feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin, to a fully planned, unique elopement day.
I provide customized assistance tailored to your unique elopement vision, from scouting the most incredible secret spot where you will say your vows, to helping you book the private Jeeping tour that will get you there.
I want that
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I'll help you find the perfect location
I have lists on lists of incredible spots that I have scouted over the years, that would be perfect for an elopement. Whether you want a sweeping valley covered in wildflowers, a secluded alpine lake, or a remote mountain peak, I've got a spot in mind. My standards are high, and almost all of my favorite spots are usually empty, so rest assured you'll get some incredible recommendations from me.
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Plan out all of the details + logistics
Beyond location scouting, I'm here to help with every step of the planning process. I love hopping on Zoom with my couples to drink beers and plan together. I'll also send you amazing local vendor recommendations, help you find unique accommodations, and work with you to plan a timeline for the day. My goal is always to help you plan an intentional experience that reflects YOU.
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I'll help you find the perfect location
My work is timeless, emotional and inspired by adventure. I take a unique approach to every wedding day, and while you might even forget the camera is there, you can rest assured I'll be creating art out of your adventure. My goal is to craft a gallery of images that tells your story, so you can look back on these photos 20 years from now, and feel all of the emotions of your adventure all over again.
Contact me
"Her raw talent is unreal, and we would choose her a million times over without hesitation."
"After seeing only one certain picture Carissa had taken, we instantly knew she was the one.
From the moment we inquired to the moment we had to say goodbye, Carissa made this process an actual dream. Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but Carissa was on board every step going out of her way answering questions, providing advice and recommendations, and meeting with us to ensure all our of our needs and wants were met.
The time spent with Carissa were truly life changing, and not only will that day and the astonishing pictures be forever ingrained in our hearts, but the intentionality and charisma Carissa adds was the cherry on top."
Sadie + Dani
"The minute I discovered Carissa on Instagram I knew right then and there I wanted to elope and have her as my photographer. I fell in love with her pictures and the way she captured everyone's special day.
I felt something every time I saw her post.
She was so detailed and professional along the way but felt like a friend at the same time. She was more than accommodating to even changing the planned out locations at the very last minute for me. That I will forever be grateful for. She made me feel so comfortable and the process was just so perfect. When we got the pictures we couldn't stop staring. I finally had what I dreamed of and more all because of her."
Tara + Cody
"The minute I discovered Carissa on Instagram I knew right then and there I wanted to elope and have her as my photographer."
"We searched the internet for weeks and came across Carissa’s page and knew instantly we wanted her as our wedding photographer.
From the entire planning process, to zoom calls, to our actual wedding day was a breeze and it wouldn’t have been without her. Carissa had so much expertise on so many different locations that helped us make our decision, including everything we wanted in our day.
We will forever cherish our wedding photos because of her and we wouldn’t change a single detail if we had to do it all over again! Almost 6 months later and we are still in awe of our photos and I tear up every-time I go through them. We could never thank you enough Carissa."
Hailey + Cameron
"My husband and I had already decided we wanted to elope in Kauai before finding Carissa, but we had no idea how we really wanted our elopement day to go.
From our first conversation with Carissa, she immediately helped ease our nerves about the whole planning process and helped us plan the most magical day. She listened to the things that were most important to us and made sure the day went exactly as we hoped.
The photos from our day are stunning! We have gotten so many compliments and are truly blown away with the photos she was able to capture for us. We feel so lucky to have gotten to work with her and be able to have these photos to look back on and show our kids one day!"
Allie + andrew
"Carissa's magical work both inspired our wedding dreams, and brought those dreams to reality on our elopement adventure together."
"I came across Carissa on Instagram, and I am so unbelievably happy & grateful that she was the first one to catch my eye!
Her photos are absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, you don’t need a review to tell you that. What I will tell you is that her friendly personality, professionalism, and undeniable passion for what she does is the absolute game changer and is what sets her apart from others in this industry.
You’re choosing a partner in the planning process, a passionate photographer that will help bring out the wedding day image that lives in your head, & as a major bonus, you’ll walk away from your wedding day with a new amazingly talented friend."
Jamie + Blake
"Early on in our engagement, my wife introduced me to Carissa's photography through one of her friend's elopement photos. Those photos took me to another world, through her surreal capture of environments and intimate moments which called to my soul.
I knew Carissa's photography abilities would bring forth the best of any landscape, but what I didn't expect was how much her support and presence would enhance our wedding day. Carissa's expertise, commitment and genuine kindness guided my wife and I to the perfect sites to celebrate our union."
Carissa took what was a fun adventure and turned it into a fairy-tail, which we have the privilege of reliving through her work, every day."
Hannah + Max
Planning your Kauai elopement
Where to elope in Kauai
Kauai has so many incredible locations for an adventure elopement. Luckily the island is super small, and it’s easy to explore all over the island all in the span of one day. Here are a few of my favorite spots to help get you started choosing your Kauai elopement location:
Beaches:
Kauai is obviously known for it’s incredible, world class beaches. There are hundreds of different beaches to choose from, from secret hidden coves, to white sand beaches with mountains towering in the distance. You can’t go wrong with a beach elopement in Kauai!
Waimea Canyon:
Waimea Canyon is one of my favorite places in the world, with jagged colorful cliffs towering over the turquoise ocean water, it’s absolutely spectacular and the perfect place for an elopement.
Rainforest:
Kauai is known as the “garden isle” due to it’s lush rainforest-like landscape. You’ll find the rainforests brim with vibrant flora, thick tropical vegetation and a bounty of local fruit like mangoes, avocado, lilikoi, guava, and so much more.
Best time of year to elope in Kauai
This is a tough one because Kauai has incredible year round weather! It’s a tropical island, so the weather is warm and sunny year round, with slight variations depending on the months. April - October is the dry season, meaning the warmest and sunniest time of year! November - March is known as the rainy season! Kauai is actually home to the wettest spot on earth, so you can imagine it gets pretty rainy! Luckily, the rain tends to come and go in the form of a light drizzle, and isn’t something to be too worried about! The winter months are also known as the whale watching season, so it’s a great time of year to visit if you are a wildlife lover!
I typically recommend eloping in Kauai during the shoulder season months! So anytime from April - June, and October - December. In my opinion, this is the best way to avoid the peak tourism season, while also avoiding the rainiest months of the year. The reality is though, you seriously can’t go wrong with any time of year! Kauai is a paradise year round. I’ve explored the island in every season, and have never been disappointed.
Best places to stay for your Kauai elopement
Kauai might be a small island, but there are still some really incredible, luxurious resorts to stay at for your elopement! Here are a few of my favorite options:
Lindsey and Brady's 1-Hotel Hanalei Bay Elopement
I love elopements because they offer the unique opportunity to plan a truly once in a lifetime experience, and that's exactly what Lindsey and Brady did. They chose the island of Kauai for their elopement, and invested in luxury accomadations at the 1-Hotel Hanalei Bay.
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Amanda and Patrick's Kauai Helicopter Elopement
Amanda and Patrick eloped at sunrise in complete solitude, on the shoreline of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, as the rain fell around them and a rainbow emerged from the clouds. They finished the day with a doors-off helicopter tour around the entire island.
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Allie and Andrew's Waimea Canyon Elopement
Every part of this day was a dream - from Allie and Andrew reading their vows surrounded by the colorful, and ancient Waimea Canyon, or officially becoming one with massive waves crashing against the rocky volcanic coast, or ending the evening wandering the quiet shoreline of the beach.
View the Full story >
Kauai Elopement Stories
I believe wedding photography is an art form, and when documenting an elopement experience, I aim to capture the full story of the day in an honest, yet artistic way. To get an idea of the kind of gallery and experience you'll walk away with when you hire me as your Kauai elopement photographer, check out some recent Kauai elopement stories on the blog.
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Check out a few guides I have written for some in depth tips and practical advice on planning your Kauai Elopement.
LET'S DO THIS
Kauai Elopement Packages
My packages are structured to accommodate the spontaneous, relaxed nature of elopement days, and to document the full story of the day, so packages start at 8 hours of coverage, and range up to immersive, multi day experiences. All packages include my custom planning services, and photography documentation. My pricing is all inclusive, so there are no hidden fees or additional travel costs.
Sunset Package
Custom location scouting
+ Timeline creation
+ Permit assistance
+ Vendor recommendations
+ Online gallery of high resolution images
+ Travel included
Up to 8 hours of photography coverage - a day full of adventure and exploring multiple locations. This package gives you the chance to have your full wedding day documented from start to finish.
$9500
Sunrise + Sunset Package
Custom location scouting
+ Timeline creation
+ Permit assistance
+ Vendor recommendations
+ Online gallery of high resolution images
+ Travel included
Up to 10 hours of photography coverage - everything that's included with the Sunset Package, plus an additional morning session - this allows for even more imagery, more of your story told, and more flexibility in your schedule
$10,800
Get in touch for my full pricing guides + to schedule a free elopement consultation with me, so we can start dreaming up some ideas together.
Ready to start planning your Kauai elopement?
Just fill out the form below, and I'll get back to you within 48 hours. I’ll send you a detailed guide that includes all of my elopement packages, then we can set up a time to chat over the phone to discuss all the possibilities for your day.
