Cindy + Riley | Soda Creek Campground Elopement

A Soda Creek Campground Elopement with Heart, Humor, and a T-Rex

Some weddings are just plain fun. This one had all the good stuff—an elopement for the ages, a surprise T-Rex suit, and two people who’ve been through a hell of a lot together and still show up with humor and love.

GETTING THERE

I met Riley and his best friend, Chris, at their Airbnb and drove them up to the site at Soda Creek Campground. Cindy and her friend Barb followed a little later so we could stage the first look. The vibe was relaxed, intentional, and refreshing. No crowd. No pressure. Just a couple wanting to do this their way.

FIRST LOOK: DINOSAUR EDITION

We picked a quiet spot for Riley to wait. Hands in his pockets. Game face on. And then Cindy rolled in wearing a full inflatable T-Rex costume. No joke. She was glowing—even through the plastic—and Riley completely cracked. The smile on his face said it all. Turns out, this wasn’t a joke for the sake of it. Cindy knew Riley didn’t love public emotional moments, and instead of trying to force a “perfect” photo, she gave them both something better: a good laugh. It broke the tension and set the tone for everything that followed.

JUST THEM

Their ceremony was short and dialed in. Just Cindy, Riley, two friends, and me. They kept it simple but made room for all the right things—including stepping away from the group to read private vows to one another. I gave them space and shot from a distance. No performance. Just connection. What struck me most was how much this place seemed to fit them. Soda Creek Campground isn’t flashy—but it’s quiet, beautiful, and real. The whole thing felt effortless. Like this is exactly how they were supposed to get married.

Quick Detour to SParks Lake

After the ceremony, we headed over to Sparks Lake for more portraits. They brought the same energy—laid back, playful, real. We hit a few killer spots with mountain views and open water, then moved on to some mock-serious “pitchfork poses” and a champagne pop. They were up for anything and clearly having fun. That makes my job easy.

A series of candid moments between a couple during a warm intimate photoshoot outdoors.

Winding Down

We ended the night in a field near Soda Creek. Light was golden. The views were wide open. They walked, laughed, clinked glasses, and soaked it all in. Riley’s dry humor and Cindy’s energy balanced each other in the best way. No crowd. No timeline stress. Just a solid evening with two people who clearly get each other.