I love my alt couples. Give me the tattoos, the bold outfits, and a couple who is completely themselves, and I am very happy behind my camera. So when Casey reached out about photographing his and Hailey’s Las Vegas elopement, I was excited from the start. They knew they wanted their entire session photographed on film, which immediately caught my attention. They ended up bringing a few digital photos into the mix as a backup, but the majority of their gallery was captured on film.

Their alt couple elopement took us from Sure Thing Too through downtown Las Vegas, with stops at El Cortez, Plaza Casino, and Carousel Bar along the way. They were covered in tattoos, dressed in outfits that looked incredible on them, and had the kind of confidence that made photographing them so much fun. Most importantly, they had so much love between them. The two of them were incredibly sweet, and their chemistry made the entire session feel easy from the moment we started.

An Alt Couple Elopement at Sure Thing Too

Hailey & Casey chose Sure Thing Too for their ceremony, and it was such a good fit for them. Sure Thing Too is the newer sister chapel to the original Sure Thing Chapel. The original chapel is pink and can accommodate up to 43 guests, while Sure Thing Too is blue and holds up to 24. Lucky the clown is also exclusive to Sure Thing Too, while Hellvis performs exclusively at the original chapel.

Both chapels are amazing, so I really think it comes down to the look you love and how many people you’re bringing with you. For an alt couple looking for something that feels playful and very Vegas, either would be a fun choice. Hailey & Casey chose Sure Thing Too, and the blue chapel gave us a great starting point before we headed out into downtown.

Why Film Was Perfect for Their Elopement

Hailey & Casey knew from the beginning that they wanted an all-film experience. Film has a look that is difficult to recreate digitally. The colors are rich without feeling over-edited, skin tones stay true to life, and the grain adds texture to the images. Rather than chasing perfection, film celebrates the little details that make your wedding unique.

That was especially fitting for Hailey & Casey. Their tattoos, outfits, and overall style were such a big part of who they are, and I wanted their photos to preserve those details while keeping the focus on the two of them. They also had so much confidence in front of the camera. I could tell they weren’t trying to fit themselves into some idea of what wedding photos are supposed to look like. They trusted me, trusted each other, and had fun with the experience.

That’s one of the reasons I love photographing alternative couples so much. There is usually so much personality built into the way they approach their wedding day, and I want their photos to reflect that instead of trying to make them look like every other couple.

What You Should Know Before Booking an All-Film Package

There is one important thing to understand when you’re considering an all-film photographer: you have to trust the process. With film, there is no looking at the back of the camera after every photo. You don’t get an instant preview to check your hair, your pose, or whether you like the image. You have to trust that your photographer knows how to work with their equipment and understands how to handle different lighting situations.

Even when your photographer knows exactly what they’re doing, things can still happen. That’s why I always come prepared with backups. I carry a digital camera as a backup as well as an extra film camera, so a technical issue doesn’t completely derail the experience.

If you’re specifically looking for an all-film wedding or elopement photographer, this is something I recommend asking about. Film is beautiful, but you also want someone who has the experience and backup plan to handle the unexpected.

From Sure Thing Too to Downtown Las Vegas

After the ceremony, we headed downtown for more portraits at El Cortez, Plaza Casino, and Carousel Bar. I love using Las Vegas this way because you don’t have to choose between a beautiful ceremony venue and the gritty, neon side of the city. You can have both, and moving around the city gives your gallery a lot more variety.

For Hailey & Casey, these locations also gave us plenty of room to keep their personalities at the center of the photos. We weren’t trying to turn them into something they weren’t or force them into traditional wedding poses. We gave them direction when they needed it, let their chemistry take over when it didn’t, and used the city around them to build out the story of their day.

Plan Your Ceremony Around Golden Hour

When I photograph a Las Vegas elopement, I always recommend planning your ceremony so that it ends around golden hour. That gives us beautiful natural light immediately after the ceremony, and then we can keep photographing as the sun goes down and the neon starts coming alive.

I love that transition for Vegas elopements because your gallery can move from warm, natural light into the colorful energy that makes Las Vegas so much fun. You get a little bit of everything without having to cram your entire photo experience into one lighting situation.

Just make sure you consider the time of year when you’re planning your schedule. Hailey & Casey got married in July, which is one of the hottest months in Las Vegas. For a summer elopement, I recommend choosing an evening time, staying hydrated, and bringing things like water and a portable fan so you can actually enjoy being outside.

Your Alt Couple Elopement Photographer

If you’re planning an alt couple elopement in Las Vegas, you don’t have to tone yourselves down for your wedding photos. Show off the tattoos. Wear the outfit that makes you feel incredible. Pick the colorful, weird, unexpected thing you really want. Choose film if you love the way it looks. Your wedding photos should still look like you.

That’s a huge part of why I love photographing alternative couples. There is so much personality in the way they dress, love, and celebrate, and I want to document all of it. Hailey & Casey were such a perfect example of that, and their day reminded me all over again why these are the couples I get so excited to photograph.

We’re a Las Vegas wedding and elopement photographer and videographer duo who travel for our couples, and I would happily follow your celebration wherever it takes us. I’m also excited about the new Sure Thing Chapel NYC location, so if you’re planning a Sure Thing NYC wedding or elopement, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.

If your wedding is going to look a little different from the traditional version, that’s exactly what I want to photograph. Get in touch today to discuss what you’re envisioning!