Devils Lake Elopement at Sunrise in Baraboo Wisconsin

Sunrise Devils Lake Hiking Elopement in Wisconsin

When I first chatted with Anne and Nathan, I loved that they had the idea of a sunrise ceremony at Devils Lake! If you don’t know by now, it’s one of my favorite locations in Central Wisconsin. This mountain-and-lake-loving gal loves that it’s the closest thing I can get to mountains in Wisconsin! Devils Lake Elopement has an amazing ring to it, right? Their choice really inspired me to think about what makes a Devils Lake Elopement so unique and personal.

They were first going to book our Officiant and Photography collections because they didn’t think they would find an officiant. At least one person who wanted to do the hike or wake up before the sun. But, thankfully, they found my favorite officiant, Koru!

Devils Lake Scouting before Elopement

Justin and I camped the night before so we could just wake up, make coffee, have breakfast, and head to the trailhead. We went camping about a month before to scout the locations we all had in mind. Also, waking up to see what time was best for the start of the ceremony. In the context of a Devils Lake Elopement, this kind of preparation truly pays off when the big day arrives.

Once we had the timeline down after the scouting day, we emailed Anne and Nathan our plan. They wanted to finalize locations with their family, so the whole gang went hiking! After all this fun planning, we finalized the location, and it was perfect!

When the day came, we met Anne and Nathan at the trailhead before the sun. Hiked the short 20 min hike to their ceremony location. We set up a tent for Anne to change in. I helped her with the finishing touches, and she was off to meet her love. Moments like these really showcase the joy of elopement at Devils Lake and the intimacy possible at such a beautiful location.

Sunrise First Look

During their first look, they took the moment to soak in the sunrise. They embraced each other and just watched as the glow rose over the bluffs. It was the sweetest thing I have ever witnessed. Such special moments define a Devils Lake Elopement and make every experience unique.

Before the ceremony, we all took a few moments, had some well-needed snacks, and waited for their family members to arrive. Once they did, they all celebrated the end of the hike! Their ceremony was set on the edge with the lake in the background. While their family watched from stadium like views! Their ceremony was heartfelt, filled with so much joy and a view that matched!

Once we got all the family photos done, the family went back down the bluff. While we all stayed back and hiked a bit more. While photographing this adventurous couple in the beautiful Wisconsin Forest! We hiked back down to join the family for some well-needed snacks!

We all got back together in Milwaukee that evening. After some good naps, of course! This was where we had some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, some blackberry soda with whipped cream, and a rad send-off! All in all, it really capped off a Devils Lake Elopement adventure with a perfect ending.

Let’s get to know these two amazing humans!

Ann, what do you love most about Nathan?

Nathan is consistent, steady, and reliable; he thinks ahead and is prepared. He is an excellent companion for an evening at home or a daring adventure, and he’s always got pictures of dogs to show me when I’m down. Speaking of adventure, I loved watching their Devils Lake Elopement unfold and seeing how calm and supportive Nathan was the whole day.

Nathan, what do you love most about Anne?

Anne makes bread and hats and socks. She is warm and likes to care for those around her, being generous with her time, and is always excited to dive into something new. She brought that same energy to their Devils Lake Elopement, which made the day even brighter.

Favorite memory from their wedding day?

Hiking up the trail lit by headlamps, getting the jitters out while holding hands. Those early morning moments captured the spirit of their Devils Lake Elopement perfectly.

How did you decide on your elopement location?

We both love the outdoors – hiking, swimming, camping, bonfires, biking – and found as we were planning our wedding that we wanted to be somewhere naturally breathtaking. After deciding on a more intimate wedding, we had gone for a hike around the bluffs. Sitting there, the sun playing on the bluffs and the lake – the setting just resonated with us. We said that if we could get married just the two of us, it would be right here. (and we found, after suggesting the idea, that our little party would be happy to join us there too!) Truly, this is what inspired us to have a Devils Lake Elopement as our ideal wedding experience.

How do you feel about your decision to go with Natural Intuition Photography?

We are So Happy we went with Christine and Justin. We were worried we wouldn’t find anyone even willing to do an early morning ceremony up a hiking trail, and they were excited to do this adventure with us! They’ve got a really relaxed vibe, which helps if you’re stressing out leading up to or on your wedding day, and Christine was there for all the crazy questions and planning changes that came even with a tiny pandemic wedding. We had an awesome time taking photos, the locations that they found in the park were so cool, and it was nice to feel relaxed even in front of a camera. The best part of working with Natural Intuition was that they really know natural light photography and how to get you to feel comfortable. If you’re thinking about planning your own adventure, I highly recommend considering a Devils Lake Elopement for breathtaking moments!