Careful where you meet your future spouse—you might just find yourself rappelling 200 feet down the side of a rock in a wedding dress! Of course, if you’re a couple like Brenna + Zach, that’s just the sort of adventure you live for. These two stuck up a friendship at a local climbing gym and as they sought more climbing adventures outside, the relationship grew stronger. Fast forward to the wedding day: Z + B are lacing up their boots and folding wedding gear into their packs, ready for their biggest adventure yet:
As a couple, we have challenged ourselves to explore and embrace the mountains and all of the inconsistencies that they can bring. Getting ourselves in dangerous (or maybe just stressful) situations and literally putting our lives in each other’s hands as climbing partners has brought us to where we are now. One of our favorite climbs together was on Monkey Face at Smith Rock State Park. So when we began to list out potential elopement locations, this particular idea really stood out. Climbing sums up so much about what is important in a marriage: trust, commitment, excitement, uncertainty, strength, and adventure. That is what this climb and this day meant to us.
Mollie from Between the Pine captured the wide angles and sunset portraits while her second shooter, Megan from Cedar and Pines, joined the couple and their officiant on the climb. Let’s have a look at the adventurous + momentous day!
Ready for the day!
Goin’ to the chapel…
Ceremony on Monkey Face Rock
As family watched from a nearby overlook, Brenna + Zach exchanged their vows at the summit!
It was so quiet atop the rock that their family could hear as they said their “I dos” and exchanged the rings!
Yay! So gorgeous! Can you imagine the rush of summiting a rock AND getting married all in one?!
Just Married!
Let’s zoom out a bit and see where the whole thing took place…
Did your jaw just drop?!?
The 200-foot free-hanging rappel in our wedding attire with all of our climbing gear. Definitely a leap of faith.
And as their first act as a married couple, B + Z repelled 200 feet down the rock—wedding dress and all!
We have a feeling they’d be friends with this couple who got married suspended 400 feet above a canyon or these two, who hiked 14 hours in Norway for the most incredible views!
Sunset Portrait Session
The night before the big climb, Brenna + Zach were joined by their rescue retriever, Rowan, for a sunset session in the park.
Zach made their rings by hand! How cool is that?
SO SWEET.
This day is about you as a couple and that’s it. If you want to have a traditional wedding, that’s awesome. If you want to do something different, that’s okay too. No one is obligated to share their love in a way that is expected because it isn’t about anyone else. So do what makes you happy, find what makes you tick, and make a memory that you will cherish for a lifetime.
We have a feeling there’s nothing but adventure ahead for these two! Congrats to Brenna + Zach!
photography: Mollie Adams // venue name: Smith Rock State Park, Redmond, Oregon, USA // wedding dress: David’s Bridal // bride’s ring: Handmade by groom // officiant: Calista Klein // second shooter: Cedar and Pines