It isn’t often that a couple who lives in the sunny and warm state of Florida, dreams of a Winter wonderland elopement in Central New York. But in this case, Kyle and Aubrie, with their two boys under two, wanted just that! While searching the internet, Aubrie came across some of my photographs from another waterfall elopement in Ithaca, NY. Without ever visiting New York, she decided that’s where she wanted to elope! With the grand waterfalls of Tompkins County, Ithaca Gorges, and Snowcapped mountains of Cortland at Greek Peak.

Planning their Waterfall Elopement

Aubrie and Kyle wanted to spend their wedding day doing something fun in an intimate setting. With Aubrie super close to her family and Kyle’s relatives happy to make the trip, we began planning their adventure elopement. March is a tricky time of year to get married in Upstate New York only because the weather is so unpredictable. Sometimes we could have a few feet of snow. Sometimes there is no sign of Winter and we get unusually warm weather. Of course this was a year for a glimpse into Spring a bit early and all the snow melted.

As Floridians who have never seen snow, they were a little bit disappointed. They imagined the waterfalls of Taughannock State Park to be frozen over with snow all around them. Sounds incredible but the reality was wet and muddy grounds with raging waterfalls throughout Ithaca. I give these two so much credit for being flexible and going with the flow, regardless of the weather!

Before their micro wedding in Ithaca, NY, we planned out their day via Zoom. Which included multiple locations, fun activities, and private moments for them to spend quality time with each other. The day before their wedding, I went and visited each location we talked about to make sure everything was accessible. I spoke with the event planner at Greek Peak, the ski resort where they stayed for the week. We secured a snowmobile and a side by side to take them up to the top of a snowy mountain! All the other locations were perfect and things were falling into place perfectly!

Adventure Elopement at Greek Peak & Taughannock Falls

The morning of their elopement, Aubrie and Kyle spent time getting ready in separate hotel rooms. Aubrie, who’s a hair stylist in Florida, flew her makeup artist up from the sunshine state to do everyone’s hair and makeup. Laney is a super talented makeup artists and Aubrie’s go to stylist! Once Kyle and Aubrie were ready for the day, they shared a private first look outside the lodge as the wind picked up and blew her dress all over! Although sometimes wind isn’t a good thing, it provided so much movement to this beautiful bride’s flowy dress!

When they were ready, we drove across the street to Greek Peaks ski area. A side by side and snowmobile were waiting there for us to take us up to the top of the mountain for their dreamy snow filled elopement photos! This was somewhat of a spontaneous adventure but they loved every second! All they wanted were beautiful portraits surrounded by snow. Not only did we achieve their Wintery vision, but we also had an incredible view! Winter wonderland photos, CHECK!

Taughannock Falls Micro Wedding

From there, we drove over to Taughannock Falls State Park. This is such perfect location for a waterfall elopement in Ithaca, NY, as it offers so many views in one spot! We started at the overlook where we only saw one other person while we were there, giving them total privacy. They took in the waterfall view from a distance, posed for a few portraits, and then it was time to see the falls up close!

After an easy one mile walk, we arrived at the base of the waterfall! Here, Kyle and Aubrie shared private vows together with an epic scene behind them. They took their time making promises to each other and taking in one of the most special moments of their wedding day. When they were ready, we spend a little more time taking beautiful portraits before walking back down to the first set of waterfalls for their official ceremony with their family.

Ceremony at Taughannock Falls State Park during a Waterfall Elopement in Ithaca

When we arrived at the lower falls, we were greeted by Kyle and Aubrie’s family members! Their ceremony, which included about 20 guests, was short and sweet. We were up against a storm rolling in so everyone was speedy to do family portraits, a ceremony and a quick celebration of hugs and signing their marriage license before they headed back to the lodge for dinner.

Just in case you are looking to host a ceremony at Taughannock Falls State Park, a permit is required! It’s a simple process and the permit is only $25 as of 2025. So if you’re planning an elopement here, contact the park office to obtain a permit first!

Casual and Fun Family Day

Aubrie really wanted more photos of their family playing in the snow and tubing down a mountain at Greek Peak. The day after their intimate waterfall elopement in Ithaca, everyone suited up in snow gear and were ready for fun in the snow! Thankfully snow tubing was open and everyone was ready to celebrate the newly married couple in a laidback and fun way.

They had so much fun sliding down the snow covered hill, having a mini snowball fight and hanging out together. So many fun memories were made with their kids and extended family. They had little expectations for the day and just wanted to make their elopement experience more than just one day. Especially since everyone made the trek up to New York from Florida. They ended their time with me by having s’mores inside the lodge at Greek Peak to warm up with a delicious treat!

Planning a Waterfall Elopement in Ithaca

Ithaca is a stunning location for your central New York elopement! There are endless places filled with waterfalls, views of the Finger Lakes, a fun and artsy downtown area. Plus there are plenty of parks and things to do! Each season offers something different. So make sure to do your research to find out which season makes the most sense for you and your partner. Keep in mind that some locations in this area require a permit to host a ceremony or intimate celebration. It’s always a good idea to check on this before making any official plans. Work with an experienced elopement photographer who can make recommendations on locations and vendors. Finding a photographer who knows the area, especially if you’ve never been before, is a great idea! If you’re planning an elopement in Ithaca, NY, send me a message! We can start planning your adventure elopement today!