Special thanks to Alyssa Leicht Weddings and Paige Kleckner Photo for sharing their vision of the day and how to make it happen!
See more on Alyssa Leicht’s Blog, too.
All words and photos below by Alyssa Leicht.
Meet the Wedding Pros
PhotographyPhotography: Alyssa Leicht Weddings | Coordination + Styling: Alyssa Leicht Weddings and Paige Kleckner Photo | Floral Design: Wildflower | Hairstyling: Lauren Lage / Marc Stephens Salon | Jewelry: Sena Shebaro / 2AU Limited | Dessert: Dust Bowl Bakery | Studio: The Whistler Studio | Attire: Lulu’s, ASOS Men's, with models’ own pieces | Paper Goods: Paige Kleckner Photo | Models: Randy + Lea
See all the vendors we LUST for, that can help you with your big day!
Get down to what’s important.
This isn’t a “bargain hunter’s elopement guide,” but instead, a guide to cutting out all the extra stuff that isn’t important to you and your boo! We know you'll have the BEST TIME eloping in your own city with quality vendors making the most of your budget.
After nailing down the concept, Alyssa Leicht reached out to her good friend and fellow wedding photographer, Paige Kleckner, to partner on the shoot. From there, the duo curated the perfect list of wedding vendors to pull off the couples must haves.
Where to spend the most:
Alyssa and Paige knew Lea + Randy placed quality photography at the very top of their list of priorities. They wanted their elopement photos to last a lifetime so they could show all their friends and family what an amazing adventure they had! The groom sprung for a beautiful custom-made piece of jewelry for his hunny’s engagement ring to match her personal style — she's not a diamond gal. The couple also loves trying new things to eat, so they wanted their elopement to be an epicurean adventure. It was important to get a small cake to cut to enjoy with champagne. And Lea LOVES fresh florals, so she knew her bouquet needed to be grand!
Where to cut things out:
The couple didn’t want to buy a wedding dress and tuxedo they’d only wear once, they preferred a more relaxed and non-traditional look. They decided to buy the bride’s dress from Lulu’s and the groom’s jacket and shirt from ASOS and incorporate items they already owned (shoes, pants, accessories) to complete their outfits. They knew they’d be able to wear all the pieces again for formal events down the road.
The adventure:
Getting some gorgeous portraits was a must, so a shoot in The Whistler Studio for a cake and champagne picnic was perfect for the shots. Alyssa and Paige then took the couple exploring the East Village neighborhood in Des Moines.
Next up, they stopped for some fresh and delicious tacos (with lime Jarritos, duh!) at Taquería Veracruz taco truck on East University, capped off with a trip to Dairy Zone for frozen sweet treats. They finished the adventure by hanging out on one of the pedestrian bridges above I-235, watching the traffic zip by below as the sunset. After all was said and done, everyone had a ton of fun eloping in the city!
Every shoot is different, but we estimate you can put a stylish and intimate boho elopement adventure like this together for a total investment of around $3K-$5.5K!
