Rob and Emily were supposed to elope at city hall.
Then Covid made masks mandatory indoors, and they didn’t want to spend their wedding day in one. So I said — why don’t you just elope under a waterfall instead.
They said: you can do that?
You can absolutely do that.
What Happens When You Stop Fitting a Wedding Into a Box
We forget that a wedding is a day you actually get to design.
Not a template. Not a checklist someone else handed you. Not a production built around other people’s expectations.
Rob and Emily chose the Finger Lakes because it’s the kind of place that doesn’t need decoration. It just needs you to show up.
They stayed in a storybook Airbnb on the outskirts of Ithaca. Her flowers came from Wegmans and whatever she found growing outside that morning. Her dress was vintage — found in a NYC shop — and she made her own veil. Everything about that day was entirely theirs.
That’s the version of this I want to photograph every time.
What Actually Happened Under That Waterfall
Right as their vows started, the sky opened up.
Not a light drizzle. A full torrential downpour — the kind that makes you question your choices for about three seconds before you realize you’re standing under a waterfall anyway so it doesn’t particularly matter.
The officiant slipped on the rocks. Thunder rolled in. Lightning cracked through the sky. You couldn’t tell the difference between tears and raindrops.
They wrote their own vows. I got to bless the ring. And then they made it official.
We ran back to the cars laughing, soaking wet. A lens got ruined that day. I don’t even care. I got to sign as the witness — something I’d never done before — and it felt like exactly the right way to mark what that day was.
A little chaotic. Completely alive.
Why I Think About This Elopement So Often
After ten years of traditional weddings, this one shifted something for me.
Not because it was dramatic. Because it was honest.
Nothing about it was curated. Nothing was managed or scheduled or performed for anyone. It was two people deciding exactly how they wanted to get married — and then doing it, rain and all.
That’s the thing about eloping in the Finger Lakes. The east coast version of this hasn’t caught up to what’s happening out west yet, where adventure elopements are just… normal. But it’s possible here. It’s been possible here.
You can elope at the foot of a waterfall. You can write your own vows in the rain. You can make the day your actual favorite day — not just a day you survived.
If You’re Thinking About Eloping in the Finger Lakes
The region gives you options that most couples don’t realize exist.
Waterfalls. State parks. Gorges. Open fields above the lakes. Quiet vineyards at golden hour. There are places here that will hold your ceremony better than any venue — and most of them just require showing up.
If you want help thinking through what that could look like, I’d love to hear what you’re imagining.
This is what I’m here for.
Eloping in the Ithaca Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is a beautiful way to celebrate your love. The natural beauty of the area, with its tall grasses, gentle waters and stunning blue skies, make it the perfect location for an intimate and stress-free ceremony. The Finger Lakes region offers endless possibilities for your elopement, whether you dream of a ceremony at the foot of a waterfall or an open field overlooking the lakes.Eloping is all about getting married exactly the way you and your partner want, without the need for outside opinions or expectations. If you’re looking for intimate moments with just you and your partner, but want to experience them to the fullest on your wedding day, eloping in the Finger Lakes is the perfect choice.
Eloping in the Ithaca Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is a unique and beautiful way to celebrate your love. The natural beauty of the region, the intimate setting and endless possibilities it offers will make your special day all the more memorable. Let us help you capture the beauty of your elopement and make it a memory you will treasure forever.
