Buffalo National River Elopement

An elopement location that had been on my bucket list ever since I started my elopement photography business: the Buffalo National River. It was a dream come true to photograph Karla and Shane in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. With its distinctive bluffs towering over the deep green winding river, our country’s very first national river stretches 135 miles through the heart of Arkansas. If you’ve never been (or even if you have been before), I highly recommend a visit. Check out the National Park Service‘s website for more info if you’re planning a trip.

The drive from Siloam Springs to the Tyler Bend visitor center took about two-and-a-half hours, and there were breath taking views around every turn of the road (actually, the road was quite curvy, so if you get car-sick like I do, be prepared). There aren’t many places to stop along the way, so I made sure to bring plenty of snacks and water for the day.

When Shane and Karla first met in high school, Shane described her to his friends as “the prettiest girl I’ve ever met”. As I helped Karla change into her dress in the day use bathroom, I had to agree with him. She was radiant (yes, even in a public restroom lol). Seeing a bride in her dress for the first time always brings tears to my eyes – it’s a hazard of this job, I suppose.

The last weekend in May was the perfect time for an elopement on the Buffalo. Although it was quite warm (though not so warm as to be unpleasant), it was just before the true peak season, so we had our beach mostly to ourselves. The few people we did see (either wandering down the beach or floating by on the river) all shouted their congratulations to the eloping couple – this is one of the reasons I love being a part of the elopement community; seeing total strangers being so happy and supportive of my couples is such a special thing.

Spending the afternoon and evening on that warm and sandy beach with Karla and Shane really felt like the quintessential Arkansas elopement experience. Nothing was rushed, and it was reminiscent of long childhood afternoons with our toes in the sand, skipping rocks, and laughing for the joy of it. I don’t think there’s anything better than spending days like that with couples who are so in love.

As the last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees lining the riverbanks and our time at the Buffalo came to an end, we made our way back up to the parking lot. It was a little like coming back to reality after enjoying a slice of paradise. But we’ll always have these photos and our memories from that day.

In the spirit of full transparency, this day I spent with Karla and Shane was a styled elopement that I planned. They are a real married couple (who just welcomed the sweetest baby girl to their family!). And even though it wasn’t an actual wedding, I still had to apply and pay for a special use permit. It was a very realistic styled elopement. Stay tuned later this month for a blog post all about how to elope at the Buffalo National River!

*All my blog posts contain a selection of images. If you are interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!

I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook to get updates on future blog posts, see sneak peeks of my amazing couples, and so much more! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!

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