A Great Escape for your Wichita Mountains Elopement

The Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is over 29,000 acres of natural beauty to enjoy. The wide open space of the Wichita Mountains is breathtaking and the perfect spot for an elopement.

For this styled shoot, we wanted to showcase a progression of how a typical elopement would work. We started at the Boulder Picnic area. This is the only place in the park where ceremonies are allowed, which makes this a great starting point for an elopement adventure. 

Your Mountain Elopement

After a would-be ceremony, we continued to hike. There are some rocks on the trails and a bit of climbing involved but nothing that our bride couldn’t handle in her fabulous gown. If you are considering an adventure elopement in the park, we can talk more about what to bring with you in your backpack to make sure you’re comfortable and still glamorous. 

Once we got to the top of the trail the views were just spectacular. One of the biggest selling points for a Wichita Mountains elopement is the variety of scenery available in just one location. There are spots with big trees and rocks, a river with towering mountains, and endless fields to run in. 

We decided to make the drive up to Mount Scott for some sunset magic. This couple decided to read their vows at the top of the mountain, making for these stunning images. The light was magical as this couple shared loving promises together. Again, ceremonies are not allowed on Mount Scott, but exchanging words or promises with each other is just fine. 

We took this adventure in May and it was the perfect time of year. If you are looking for a spring elopement, I would aim for April or May. After that, it will start to get too hot to be enjoyable. Fall would also be another good time of year to plan an elopement. Starting in late September through mid November, the weather and wildlife should still be optimal. Winter could work, as the park is open year round, but the temperatures might be hard to endure. 

Necessary Paperwork for your Wichita Mountain Elopement

You will need a permit to have pictures taken in the part. A good photographer should help you with this. I take care of getting permits for my clients. To get a permit, photographers need to contact the park ranger at least 3 months in advance. Also, there is a fee to take photos in the refuge.

You are allowed 10 people or less in a wedding group. This is great for small group elopement. I would recommend having someone in your wedding party be your officiant, so you do not need to bring an additional person. 

Logistics

The Wichita wildlife refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, which means you could have your elopement in the morning and spend all day exploring the vast wildlife park. There are lots of short, easy hikes that will take you through the park. There are herds of roaming bison, deer and elk which you may come across during your visit. It’s very important to be respectful of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and leave no trace. This means refraining from using confetti, smoke bombs, glitter or anything else that could damage or impact the wildlife. 

As your photographer, I will make the day as stress free as possible. Like I mentioned before, I’ll take care of the permits, I’ll scope out the locations, etc. It’s important that you and your partner are really able to enjoy your day and not worry about logistics, that’s my job! If you are wanting to stay overnight in the area, I have accommodations I would recommend and can help you get that set up too. My goal is to really make the day about you, creating memories and soaking in your special day. Fill out my contact form and let’s plan your perfect day together!

Vendors for Styled Shoot – 

Flowers: Okie floral co okiefloralcompany.com

Coordinator: The shootout society www.theshootoutsociety.com

Makeup and hair: Teresa luz bridal http://www.makeupbyteresaluz.com