Wedding Dresses for Your Intimate Wedding or Elopement

Anybody else out here googling “bridal gowns for under $1000” or “bridal gowns for under $500”?

Tbh, that was me when I got married! I wasn’t going to settle for a dress I didn’t feel beautiful in, but we were young and in college so I had a smaller budget for my dress (and a larger budget for photography LOL).

So if that’s the boat that you find yourself in, or similar, here are some options for you! The individual dresses are linked in the photos, but the stores are linked in bold ☺️

- this gown was under $400 off of ASOS, linked below! (click on this photo to see the rest of the images from this elopement day)

BALTIC BORN has some dreamy dresses in a lot of beautiful colors, if you were interested in a different colored gown!

They also have some dresses that would be gorgeous for engagement sessions 😍

LULUS has an entire bridal shop! They also have bridal lingerie, bridal shoes and accessories, and bridesmaid dresses as well.

They also have a great “try on”/return policy - when I was dress shopping I was able to try on a dress at home to see how it fit and how it felt and decide if I liked it or not, and then easily send it back!

ASOS also has a bridal selection! They have a lot of unique, modern, sleek options like this gorgeous gown (look at the skirt! can you imagine twirling in that 😍).

Last but very much not least, we have BHLDN - my go to for all things bridal.

They have both a “wedding dresses under $1000” and a “wedding dresses under $500” tab option! Another thing that I love is they have different skirts and tops that you can pair together to kind of create your own look (like the photo here!) if none of the other gowns are speaking to you.

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Who knew there were so many options? My hope for this blog post is that it saves you lots of time googling, stress trying to find options, and money that you can spend on other things for your wedding day.

If it was helpful or you end up finding your gown on one of these websites, I would LOVE to hear about it!! Shoot me a message on instagram - I can’t wait to hear from you 😍

how to elope in alaska

Okay guys, tell me if this speaks to you:

You’re engaged, and you’ve jumped headfirst into wedding planning. It’s becoming clear that there is way more to planning a wedding than you’ve thought. What’s more, you’re beginning to wonder if it’s worth it to plan a big party for people you don’t know super well (that’s a lot of people watching you walk down the aisle). You’ve heard someone mention eloping and the idea sounds fun but like -

where do you start? how do you elope? where should you elope? what do you do on an elopement day? how much does it cost to elope?

- valid questions. You’re going to want to keep reading.

A photographer friend and I were talking about how there are a lot of epic portraits from elopements swimming around the internet, but wouldn’t it be so cool if we could create something to give engaged couples an idea of what the start to finish of an elopement day would look like?

So we teamed up with some incredible vendors to not only give you an idea of what an elopement ceremony in Alaska in the winter could look like, but ALSO what vendors you could book, how much it would cost, what details you could include, and how the day could flow.

THAT BEING SAID. Scroll through the photos of Stephen & Alexa’s (9 year anniversary) elopement day 😉 and then check out the team and the details toward the end!

the day

getting ready

hair, makeup, the works! you can get ready with your fiancé if you like, or do it separately and preserve the element of surprise! there are no rules here (:

there are lots of incredible venues in alaska but if you’re looking to keep it super simple, finding yourself a cozy airbnb will NOT disappoint (and I can help you find one!). that’s what these two did! it was perfect for getting ready in the morning and then for their private dinner later!

details

writing vows

ceremony

the sky is the limit when you keep it simple. there are SO many beautiful places in alaska where you and your person can say your vows to each other! fields, oceans, mountains, rivers, streams, cabins - take your pick!

the ceremony set up for these two was so simple but stunning - the floral pieces and a blanket/rug to stand on! easy to transport but made it special.

portrait time

these two took shots off a hockey stick because that’s how they met in college 😉 how did you meet? when did you know you loved your person? include it in your day!

afternoon alyeska tram adventure

take your newly wedded selves on an adventure! take a tram to an amazing view, cozy up by the fire and play cards, take a drive to your favorite view, spend time with close family members if that’s how your day rolls, sing songs - take both of your favorite things to do together and make it happen. what better way to spend the afternoon?

dinner reception

there are so many options for your evening after the ceremony and photos! go out to a nice dinner, order your favorite takeout, have your wedding planner set you up with an Alaskan charcuterie board and magical candles, cut the cake (if you want one!), get pizza and go out for beers after - whatever makes your heart happy!

the team

The incredible team that made this day happen! (links are in italics):

Models: Stephen & Lex of The Hitched Hiker

Florist: Natasha of Paper Peony

HMUA: Liz of EBA907

Wedding Planner: Yvette of Wedding Creative Design

Cake: Anita of Midnight Sun Cakery

Gown: ASOS

Invitation Suite: Christine of Grey Meets Gold

Earrings: Akimbo

Photographer/organizers: Me & Theresa of Theresa McDonald Photography

Videographer (yes, there’s a video coming!!): Ben Struve of Rachel Struve Photography

Location/Venue: Airbnb in Girdwood, AK

“Reception” : Girdwood Brewing Co

the cost

I know that one of the reasons some couples choose to elope is because they have a smaller budget. If that’s you, great! A smaller budget CAN go a longer way with a smaller celebration, without losing out on the details that you’ve always dreamed of. (If you haven’t thought through your budget priorities, check out this blog post). If you’re looking for an idea of what an elopement like the one featured in this post could cost, look no further! (JK obviously, reach out to the vendors you want to work with because everyone’s prices are different).

Florals $400-$900

HMUA $140-$200

Wedding Planner $600-$1500 (depends on customization of services!)

Cake $170-$245

Gown: $300-$1200 (I know this is a wide range - everyone has different priorities! If you’re looking for gowns on the lower end, check my blog next week 😉)

Earrings $30-$50

Photography $2400-$3800

Videography $1400-$1900

Invitation Suite $300-$600

Location/Venue (Airbnb) $600-800

Pizza & Beer $50-$100

Overall, you could pull off a day like the one you just scrolled through for around 5-7k, depending on what you want included! Compare that to the cost of the average wedding folks - you are in GOOD shape for such an incredible and personal adventure.

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So there you have it! A full elopement DAY.

Now you can let your imagination run wild!

If this information was helpful for you, I would LOVE to hear from you. Shoot me a message on instagram! Or if you know someone that it could help, send it their way!

Thankful for you! Hope this rocks your socks off!

-Rachel

Wedding Day Timeline Tips

I once had a bride tell me, “I don’t even know where to start with my timeline.” If that’s you, I I got you! You’ve probably never planned a wedding before, but I have planned and photograph so many that I have a good grasp on how long things take and the general order. This blog post will help you visualize and prepare your wedding day timeline! Thinking about your timeline early on in the game will help streamline the rest of your planning process as well, so let’s get into it!

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This is how long each phase of an average wedding day generally takes, and a few things you should take into account when nailing down your timeline.

Getting Ready: Okay, estimate how much time you think you’ll need to get ready depending on the bride’s hair and makeup, and how many of the bridesmaids are getting their hair and makeup done as well (however long the bride and bridesmaids takes to get ready is usually plenty of time for the groom and groomsmen to get ready as well).

Got it?

Now - add a half hour at the beginning and the end, at least 😂 If you end up sitting around ready early, that’s awesome. You can chill or even get some additional portraits with the extra time! You would rather do that than be rushing if hair or makeup takes longer than expected.

Portraits:

Bride and Groom: I would recommend having at least 30 minutes blocked out for uninterupted bride and groom portrait time, whether it’s at the first look or later in the schedule. We might not even be taking photos the whole time - the goal is to take fun, beautiful, intimate portraits AND savor some alone time together away from the crazy of the day.

Wedding Party: Bridesmaid, Groomsmen, and full wedding party photos take about a half hour to run through! If these are a high priority to you and you want to get a little more creative, I would add 15 minutes to that.

Family: Because I’ll be working off of a list that we confirm before the wedding day and I work pretty quickly, family photos should only take 15-20 minutes (as long as everyone is present on time) so making sure everyone knows when and where they need to be will help us stick.

Sample Timelines

Here are a couple sample timelines of a typical wedding day if the ceremony was at 5pm! You can shift these times around your ceremony time.

*tip -sunset into consideration when picking your ceremony times (especially if you’re having an outdoor ceremony), as that will affect your portraits. Ask your photographer if you' need help figuring this part out!

Here is what a sample timeline with a first look would look like:

10:00am Start Getting Ready

12:00pm/1:00pm

2:15 Bride Get Dressed/Bridal Portraits

2:30 Leave for First Look

2:45 First Look

3:00 Bride and Groom Portraits

3:30 Wedding Party Portraits

4:00 Finish Photos/Return to Ceremony Venue

5:00 Ceremony

5:30/45 Family Portraits

6:00 Reception

<dinner, first dance, parent dances, toasts, dancing, cake cutting etc.>

9:00pm Send Off

Here is what a sample timeline without a first look would look like:

10:00/11:00am Start Getting Ready

12:00/1:00pm

2:30 Bride Get Dressed

3:00 Bride/Bridesmaid Portraits

3:30 Groom/Groomsmen Portraits

4:00 Finish Photos/Return to Ceremony Venue

5:00 Ceremony

5:30/45 Family Portraits

6:00 Cocktail Hour/Wedding Party Portraits

6:30 Bride and Groom Portraits

7:00 Reception

<dinner, first dance, parent dances, toasts, dancing, cake cutting etc.>

10:00 Send Off

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What's in My Bag: Recommended Equipment by Rachel Struve Photography

When I first started doing photography, I did a lot of googling, “What camera should I buy?” “What lens should I buy?” to try and figure out what camera equipment to invest in. There are so many options and I know it can be overwhelming!

So to save you hours of googling and get you pointed in the right direction, I’m going to share the gear that I’ve come to love and depend on. The bold words are links to the item! (I shoot Canon, but I am including some Nikon equivalents at the bottom of the page for those of you who want to go that route!)

CAMERA BODIES

Let’s start off with camera bodies! I currently shoot on two camera bodies, a Canon 5D Mark IV and a Canon R6. The R6 is my main camera that I use on a regular basis, and it’s my lead camera on wedding days (on wedding days, I have two cameras so that a) I can have two prime lenses at once and b) so that I have a backup in case something goes wrong with one of the cameras). The Mark IV has served me SO well (tbh, sometimes I miss it) but I’ll be upgrading her to a second R6 body for next wedding season!

If you are just starting out, I would recommend the Canon t7i. I learned how to shoot in manual on my Canon t2i (that makes me feel old guys) and if you’re into taking photos for fun, this is a perfect option. If you are looking for a full frame option and interested in photography as a career, the Canon 6D was my first full frame upgrade and I loved it! (Nikon equivalent of a Canon 6D at the bottom of the page!)

LENSES

Okay let’s talk lenses! I have two lenses that I shoot on a majority of the time, and they’re prime lenses. The difference between prime lenses and zoom lenses is prime lenses have a fixed focal length, whereas zoom lenses you can zoom in and out!

My go to lenses are the 35mm, 50mm, and the 85mm. The Sigma 35mm 1.4 is a dream! I love 35mms for capturing a wider scene such as a the wedding party or a couple in front of mountains. The 85mm is great for weddings when I want to get clear shots of the bride or groom without being up in their faces!

If you aren’t photographing weddings or can’t shell out the cash for one of the lenses I just mentioned, the Canon 50mm 1.8 or Canon 50mm 1.4 are a perfect first upgrade from a kit lens. I have a Sigma 50mm 1.4 that I LOVE. 50mms produce wonderfully sharp images, are great for low light and the depth of field (which creates bokeh/blurry backgrounds) is great for portraits especially.

If you are planning on photographing mainly landscapes, a Canon 24mm Lens would be a great investment for you - it’s a wide lens that will capture more of the scene!

Additional Gear

A couple other things I always have on me:

• Batteries/Charger. I use the basic Canon - I would 10/10 NOT recommend using off brand batteries, I had one as an extra once and accidentally popped it in my backup camera body. The camera started malfunctioning on a wedding day until my assistant switched the battery (which is why I have extras of batteries AND cameras). Save yourself the trouble and get the official battery for your camera body, whether it’s Canon or Nikon etc.

• SD cards - kind of a big deal! I mainly use SanDisk 64GB 128GB and SD cards and haven’t had any issues! As with any gear, I would make sure that you have fresh cards every year or two because the older the card is, the higher the chance for corruption. You’re going to want to make sure that they have the highest write speed possible so that your camera doesn’t have to pause to record images in between shots!

• Camera Harness - my sweet husband bought me a Coiro Harness for Christmas and it is the BEST on wedding days. I have one camera + lens setup on one side and the second on the other and I can use whichever I need at a moment’s notice! And it’s classy, which I love, cuz we like to serve looks on wedding days.

• Lens Cleaner Wipes- this lil guy clears up the glass on my lenses from when I photograph in somewhat adventurous conditions! Small investment to take care of a big investment 👌🏼

I hope this list helped point you in the right direction as you purchase gear! It’s a very brief dive into the wonderful world of camera equipment. To be open and honest with you as I always strive to be, if you purchase your gear from these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I would be so honored to be a part of your photography in that way!

If you have additional questions or just want to share your excitement about the equipment you decided to invest in, head over to instagram and shoot me a message 😍

love, Rach

Nikon Starter Camera - Nikon D3500

Good Nikon upgrade to full frame Camera - Nikon D750

Sigma 35mm for Nikon

Nikon 50mm 1.8

Alternative Fall Wedding Styled Session

I photographed Paige and TJ’s wedding a few years ago, and loved being able to hang out with them again for this autumn elopement styled session!

There is something so refreshing and inspiring about the changing colors of fall, and we fully embraced the dusk of the evening.

Don’t get me wrong… I am a huge fan of laughter and sunshine, but sometimes it’s so fun to bask in the more moody, artistic, expressive side of things. This styled shoot made me fall more in love (no pun intended) with the idea of non-traditional gowns! How beautiful and elegant is a black gown on an intimate wedding day?

Huge thank you to Prose Floral Studio for this beautiful Fall bouquet and to Solid Werks Jewelry for the gorgeous jewelry pieces!

Wedding Makeup 101

WEDDING MAKEUP 101

with Elizabeth from EB Artistry

What makeup should I wear for my wedding?

How do I choose my wedding makeup style?

How do I prep my skin for my wedding?

I’m not a makeup person - I don’t know where to start!

If any of those sentences sound like something you’ve said or googled recently, this blog post is for you!

I interviewed Liz from EB Artistry live on instagram, and she shared so much good information I had to turn it into a blog post for any of you that missed it.

Liz (first photo) and I (second photo) met at the very end of the wedding fair in January!

Here’s a quick recap of the live video answering questions (:

Liz’s Introduction:

I’ve been doing makeup professionally for 10 years! I’ve worked at a salon, doing hair, and also for MAC cosmetics in Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, and now Alaska. I started doing makeup for weddings specifically 5 years ago. At first I was scared but once I got into it, I LOVED it. And that’s when I started EB Artistry! 

I realized that makeup for weddings was so different and got specifically trained in airbrush. (Rachel: AIRBRUSH IS INCREDIBLE.)

Rachel’s Two Cents on makeup for when you’re being photographed : 

As a photographer, I generally tell my clients to just go a little bit darker, a little more dramatic than they usually would because it won’t be as dramatic in camera as it is in real life. 

I don’t think it’s because you aren’t already beautiful, or need to look like somebody different - makeup is just going to help your already lovely natural features show up the way that you see them in real life and help your eyes pop on camera. You’re adding depth to your face because the camera flattens natural depth.

Liz: Yes! The basic rule of thumb is to do your normal makeup but take it up a notch and focus on making your eyes pop!

Scroll down for the Q&A!

First steps for people who don’t usually do makeup:

1. Find a good makeup artist who will make you feel comfortable and help answer all your questions. 

2. Start with a good mascara and eyebrow powder.

3. For skin, especially if you aren’t ready to jump straight to foundation, find a good BB or CC cream (slightly heavier tinted moisturizer). Perfect for people who don’t wear a ton of makeup!

4. For WEDDINGS, airbrush hands down. It evens out your skin on camera, it’s super light and not cakey, feels like your own skin, lasts forever. Airbrush, airbrush, airbrush.

What should I be thinking through when trying to pick my makeup style? 

• People feel the most beautiful when they feel confident and comfortable and like themselves. 

• Go to the edge of your comfort zone. Find the balance where you feel comfortable but also like a special occasion. 

• Pinterest is honestly an incredible resource - bridal makeup look, natural bridal makeup, dramatic bridal makeup. 

• Based off of what you generally wear for like an everyday look, or your going out makeup look, let’s just go one step farther than that.

• Pump it up for that WOW factor but not so much that you don’t recognize yourself! Example: if you don’t usually wear winged eyeliner, don’t do a wing for your wedding look.

Is a wedding makeup trial important? 

Yes! Trials are SO important. Your trial is when you get to see not only how your makeup is going to look - did it stay all day, did it look like I thought it would on my face - but also, did my makeup artist show up on time? Listen to what I wanted and help bring it to life? Make me feel comfortable, taken care of, and beautiful? I also personally take care of payment and everything on your trial day if you want to, so that’s another big thing that you don’t have to worry about on or closer to your wedding day! 

What skin care routine do you suggest to prepare your skin? 

• The better shape your skin is in the less makeup you will need for sure! 

• DRINK. WATER. Cannot emphasize this enough. The minute you book your wedding date, start focusing on drinking half your body weight in ounces of water and even more if you’re working out. 

• Make an appointment with an esthetician to get more specific input on your type of skin!

• Do a masque (that you have done before - DON’T try anything new once you’ve hit 2 weeks out from your wedding!) the week or a few days before your wedding!

• Get your facial skin/eyebrows waxed! Go to someone you trust and do it a few days before the wedding. 

Final thought from Liz:

If you do your best with the preparation, your day is going to be so good.

Thanks so much to Liz for taking the time to give us all this helpful information. Share this with your bride friends (or anyone that needs skin care tips, honestly)! The next instagram live wedding vendor interview will be on the topic of wedding hair - come hangout on instagram if you want to watch and ask questions live! Rachel on Instagram

And if you have more questions for Liz, head over to her facebook page at ebartistry.com or instagram at @eba907 (: