Traveling is easily my favorite hobby and intimate elopements are seriously some of the most magical things for me to shoot! Nothing beats photographing an adventurous love-fueled day for two people who love each other effortlessly! I love the Oregon coast, mountains, and desert just as much as you would expect —duuhhhh, but in all honesty, the midwest has TONS of amazing and highly underrated elopement destinations. YES — elopements are for you if you live in the midwest too!! If you’re a midwesterner and looking to elope with your lover here are my top 5 destinations to look into:

1. North Shore in Minnesota

If you love the Oregon/Washington coast, this area in MN is our own personal Midwest version of the PNW. I make myself this easy road trip 1-3 times a year, and I love it SO much every time! You'll find black sand beaches, ledges and cliffs along the shoreline, and the most scenic treelines. I typically stay anywhere between Duluth and Silver Bay. There are plenty of options from hotels, to airbnbs, to campsites along the coast of Lake Superior. My favorite thing to do is rent a cabin in the Two Harbors area ON the lake! So so pretty!

2. Custer State Park in South Dakota

Near the Black Hills in SD, this park features a variety of terrain from rivers to mountains to prairies, and more! If you are looking for that classic "national park adventurous elopement" feel, Custer State Park is our very own Midwest equivalent. There are endless options for camping in the park, and towns with lodging options within 30 minutes.

3. Madeline Island in Wisconsin

The cutest island in Lake Superior! You have to take a ferry to reach it, which I'm kind of obsessed with. If you love a small beach town touristy vibe, as well as hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, etc, Madeline Island is the spot. There are limited options for staying on the island, but plenty of options on the mainland if you don't mind ferrying each day.

4. Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin

This is Wisconsin’s most popular state park and for good reason! It's another popular option for those who love kayaking, hunting, fishing, and camping, but also want to be near a town with other options such as wineries, dining, and lodging. The lake itself is probably one of the bluest Midwest lakes I've ever seen, which reminds me of Lake Louise in Banff National Park located in Canada. Another Midwest gem!

5. Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa

I had to include some Iowa options too. ;) Located near Dubuque, Maquoketa offers lots of dense woods with the coolest caves smack dab in the middle. The natural bridge in the park makes a super lovely nook for you to exchange vows. Again, you could camp here or drive the short 30 minutes to Dubuque for your stay!

Who said MN, WI, IA, SD, etc. weren’t rad elopement locations?? Seriously though, there are so many AMAZING midwest elopement spots that are just so darn cool. Here’s to more intimate adventurous with the wild lovers! If you’re looking for a sign to opt out of the big party and elope with your bestie — this is it!

xo, Kyndal