Romantic Summer Elopement on the Beach at Stanley Lake Idaho
- Karlie Larson
- Jul 4
- 5 min read
This place and the couples I get to work with take my breath away every time - Idaho has so many incredible landscapes, and I’m so happy I was able to come back at my favorite time of year to photograph this elopement. My couple Maya and Finn have never been to this location before, yet the allure of the mountains and pristine forests and lakes drew them in all the way from Pennsylvania! When they arrived everyone was in awe of how quiet and peaceful it was, which makes this location a wonderful spot to elope. This mountain town hosted their Romantic Summer Elopement on the Beach at Stanley Lake Idaho, and everything was just perfect for my couple as they got to explore this part of Idaho for the first time together.
Getting Ready at Mountain Village Resort
Mountain Village Resort was the perfect place to host everyone as they got ready that morning. My couple had a breathtaking view of the Sawtooth Mountains right outside their front doors to greet them as their elopement day started. The weather was just perfect, and the snow capped mountains at this time of year can't be beat!
Maya got ready with her mom and Finn got ready in a separate room since they wanted a more traditional first look at ceremony! This resort was the perfect place for this since they were able to stay separate, yet still be located in the same proximity.
Intimate Lakeside Ceremony with Family
Maya and Finn had an intimate and emotional ceremony with a small group of family on the shore of Stanley Lake, where McGown Peak 🏔️ framed the background for them (which is my favorite ceremony spot in Stanley). Maya wanted Finn to see her for the first time in her gorgeous lace dress from Footlights Boutique back in PA. as she walked down the "aisle" onto the beach with her parents walking her down. Finn's good friend did an amazing job officiating the ceremony for them, making it special for everyone who was there.
✍️Planning Tip:
This time of year (the first week in June) in Stanley is the best time to come if you want less crowds, and unbeatable scenery. Local businesses are open, but school isn't out quite yet so it's the perfect in between time to visit! Maya and Finn's family were just amazed at the view of the Sawtooths and kept saying "Wow!" and "I can see why you picked this place." I love getting to witness everyone's reactions to Idaho's scenic beauty for the first time!
Heartfelt Private Vows at Stanley Lake
After the ceremony, the guests and my couple split ways for a little bit and Maya and Finn shared their vows privately (after playing rock paper scissors 🪨🗒️ ✂️ to see who said them first - how fun!), and skipped some rocks on the shoreline together.
I let my couple have a few minutes to themselves after the ceremony with no cameras, and this helped them to take a breather and just enjoy the moment with each other! When I came back, I brought some drinks down from the cars and they enjoyed some good beers with some good views! 🍻
Truck Bed Picnic Overlooking the Sawtooth Mountains
Next I led my couple to one of my absolute favorite spots in Stanley, where they could have a drive-up picnic with some of the best views in the area! This spot overlooks the Sawtooth range and was the perfect spot for them to park the truck and have a truck bed picnic, complete with Uncrustables, champagne, and Idaho huckleberry pretzels - yum! 🍾
Sunset Cake and Champagne at Redfish Lake
After meeting back up with their families for dinner at Mountain Village (I'm definitely trying the pasta next time, I heard it was so good!), we all drove to Redfish Lake to enjoy some cake and champagne together! 🍰🥂 This time of day was so calm and quiet, and was absolutely stunning as the sun went behind the mountains basking everything in a gorgeous glow.
Finn and Maya also surprised everyone by taking a dunk into Redfish Lake! My couple had secretly planned this ahead of time, so Finn scooped her up and ran into the water with her in his arms...and then he dropped her right into the lake! Don't worry, he went right in after her too, haha! 🌊 But what a fun and adventurous way to end this incredible day in Stanley, Idaho!
Dreamy Summer Elopement in Idaho – Beach Wedding Inspiration
Elopement Vendors
Maya's Long Sleeve Lace Wedding Dress
Maya got her stunning lace wedding dress back in Easton, PA from Footlights Boutique. She had the seamstress take some length off the train of her dress and turn it into these long lacey sleeves, how cool is that?! Plus, lace is the perfect dress material especially if you're travelling, since it tends to wrinkle less! Looking for more dress tips? I've got you - here's a blog all about picking the best dress for your outdoor elopement.
Mountain Village Resort for Lodging and Dinner
Mountain Village Resort is centrally located right in the town of Stanley - making it super easy to find and access! You can rent a room here (and if you do you get access to their private hot springs), and they even have a rustic restaurant to get lunch and dinner at, which is super convenient! There's also a small grocery store located right across the street and a gas station.
Idaho Elopement Photographer
I absolutely love being an Idaho Elopement Photographer - getting to show my couples around my home state is so fulfilling! Idaho seriously has such diverse scenery, there's no shortage of places for what you're envisioning, from alpine lakes and rocky mountain peaks, to lush and mossy cedar forests, even to more arid areas like Stanley with wildflower fields and meadows, Idaho just won't disappoint!
A Raving Review from Maya and Finn:
"Karlie was absolutely amazing through the whole process! From our first phone call until the wedding day she helped us put together the details and timeline of our day. Without her help our day wouldn’t have been as special and went as smoothly as it did! She got our sneak peak pictures back to us super quickly and we can’t stop staring!!!"
I hope this Romantic Summer Elopement on the Beach at Stanley Lake Idaho has given you some Idaho elopement inspiration! If you loving what my home state of Idaho has to offer, I have prepared a ton of free planning resources for you on how to elope in this gorgeous gem state:
Curious about more elopement planning tips and help? See more elopement planning tips and advice here!
Stanley Idaho Elopement Galleries
Looking for more ideas on what your Stanley Idaho Elopement could look like? Here's some galleries of Stanley elopements to keep the inspiration coming:
Stanley Idaho Elopement Packages
If you're interested in eloping in this rugged mountain paradise, check out my pricing and info page! I go more in depth on the elopement experience, and how I assist you throughout the whole process.
Here's what comes with my Stanley Idaho Elopement Packages:
↠ Booking Gift
↠ 72 Hour Turn-Around Time for Sneak Peek Images
↠ Day of Elopement Gift
↠ Beautifully Edited Final Images
↠ Access to High Quality Print Products
↠ Free Phone Consultation or Zoom Call
↠ Timeline Creation
↠ Leave No Trace Guide
↠ Idaho Location Guide
↠ 90+ Page Elopement Planning Guide
↠ Vendor Recommendations
↠ Unlimited Planning Assistance
↠ 6-8 Week Turnaround Time for Full Elopement Gallery
↠ Travel & Accommodations are Covered for Photographer
Feeling like you’re in the right place? Take the next step and inquire with me here - I promise you’re exactly where you need to be to begin your next greatest adventure yet together!
