BS or expectations

10x

the fun & flexibility

1/2

the stress

1mil

possibilities

Lake Como Elopement photography packages

Refined adventure for that once in a lifetime trip

There is a big difference between a Lake Como destination wedding and a Lake Como adventure elopement. If you're more of the latter, then let me be your refuge from Lake Como's performative and posh wedding culture.

Over here, I specialize in highlighting Como's adventurous side. Come for the lake and the luxury, but stay for the hiking, the soul warming food and the gelato.

From above, gorgeous mountain trails provide views of the Swiss Alps. Combine that with a little bit of luxury along the lake below, and you've got yourselves the perfect balance of high class adventure for your wedding day.

How about: movie star vibes, but as your low key and adventurous selves, instead?

Are you dreaming of a lavish, 200 person wedding at Villa Balbianello with an offensively expensive, how-tf-did-they-afford-that party supported by an army of caterers, multiple planners, a dove release, fireworks show, and a team of makeup artists? Then you can stop reading here -- I'm not the Lake Como photographer for you.

But if you feel relieved rather than offended after reading that, then "hello." You're in the right place.

I specialize in creating bespoke and intimate celebrations of love and adventure, not stuff.

Adventure - but make it bougie

it's a big bad world out there...

Villas, Gelato, b0at cruises, wander, wonder - GO!

lake como, italy 2024

What does a 10hr split elopement day
on Lake Como look like?

an example timeline:

8-10am

Getting ready

Take your time getting ready. I capture all the little details of your outfits, hair and makeup behind the scenes.

10-1pm

sunrise vow ceremony

The lake is quietest early in the morning. You can say your vows on a rooftop terrace or at a nearby lookout.

3-5pm

Villa GArden Tour

Book a photography permit in one of the villas. We can explore the gardens and take photos at our own pace.

5-8pm

sunset Boat Tour

Sit back on a classic Como boat ride. Zip past Nesso and a host of villas as the sun sets, a glass of wine in hand.

hi, its me!

TRUST ME: I GET IT

I call BS on traditional weddings because I know marriage has a fingerprint. It's as unique as each couple. You define what marriage means to you AND how you celebrate it.

I'm an American who's lived in Europe since 2018. I've amassed a ton of local knowledge to help bridge the gap between languages and cultures from start to finish.

I exist to empower couples, eliminate fear & create fun. Planning a destination wedding or elopement on Lake Como does not need to be stressful...

Actually, I make it my job to make sure it's not.

We're a dream team if you...

Value a local professional with over a decade of photography experience, first aid training, and thousands of hours behind the lens

Value sustainable travel, respecting local culture, Leave No Trace principles, and environmental consciousness - and a photographer who does too

Value meaningful, fun, unique and intentional experiences which prioritize memories over things and adventure over show. Quality time is your "love language!"

But Why Should You Elope "With Me"?

Because your experience is my #1 priority and this is about so much more than pretty photos.

Real talk: every photographer you've looked at "takes pretty photos." You're looking for someone with that little something extra: knowledge. I've shot multiple weddings on Lake Como. I know which boats to hire, what towns along the lake make for the best photos and which villas are worth touring. Hiring me means hiring someone local who's absolutely stoked about helping you explore hidden gems,
and dedicated to making your time in Italy kick ass.

Trouble picking locations?
I have a guide for that.
Worried about crowds?
I know how to avoid them.
Vendors not responding?
Let's find you better ones.

You deserve someone local to the area who knows where to go and what to expect.

"Mariah is incredibly prepared for any and all weather, is up for an adventure, and is mindful of leaving no trace. She will probably have researched your location better than you have, and seamlessly move from one place to the next." Sara & Drew

How It All Works

it's really simple, and I'm here for you every step of the way

step one

Get on the calendar

Schedule a free chat to pinpoint your needs & choose a package. A signed contract and €1,500 retainer reserves your date!

step two

Get the guides

The Ultimate Elopement Guide.
The Como Location Guide.
The Vow Writing Guide. Como vendor recs.
It's all yours.

step three

get married af

Breathe deep and embrace Lake Como. We've nailed the planning and thought everything through. Be present and enjoy every second!

What's included?

PLANNING, services, Products & VIBES

my travel costs

Every one of my packages, whether local to the European Alps or across the world, has my travel rolled in. You'll never have to worry about hidden costs or coordinating my travel itinerary. I come to you.

1:1 consultations

Planning an elopement is stressful and I'm here to do the heavy lifting. I provide vendor recs, travel advice, location scouting, to the minute timelines and a place to bounce ALL your wildest ideas.

Prints & Products

I don't believe photos should live behind a screen. All packages come with prints and products built in and a way for family & friends to order their own high quality print lab keepsakes.

Planning guides

Every couple gets a 70 page "everything you need to know and plan for" elopement planning guide, bespoke time lines, plus my custom Vow To Wander vow writing guide & workbook.

With Mariah, you’re not just hiring a photographer, you’re hiring someone that takes your vision to the highest quality, to create a life long memory of the best wedding experience. The dedication she has to researching the BEST and most BREATHTAKING views/venues is by far more than ANY other photographer would ever go."
- Anastasiya & Tyler

2 day

1 day

Mini

Adventure

This package is perfect for: those wanting multiple locations and activities, more flexibility around the weather, or plenty of time to split between guests and "just us"

The 2 Day Lake Como Adventure

16 hrs coverage over 2 consecutive dates

Photographer travel, food & lodging included

500+ hi res images in a private online gallery

Unlimited gallery downloads & social sharing

Unlimited location, vendor & travel consultations

Planning & timeline consultations

The 70 page elopement planning guide

Vow to wander vow guide & workbook

Keepsake album of Instax polaroids

20% VAT sales tax included

FOR THE travel OBSESSED WANTING A stress free and IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE. THE PERFECT FULL COVERAGE AMOUNT to hit MAGIC LIGHT HOURS at SUNRISE and SUNSET, or multiple locations.

The Full Day Lake Como Elopement

Full day of coverage (10 hour split)

Photographer travel, food & lodging included

300+ hi res images in a private online gallery

Unlimited gallery downloads & social sharing

Unlimited location, vendor & travel consultations

Planning & timeline consultations

The 70 page elopement planning guide

Vow to wander vow guide & workbook

Keepsake album of Instax polaroids

20% VAT sales tax included

FOR THE ABSOLUTE MINIMALISTS. COVERAGE OF A SUNRISE OR SUNSET COMMITMENT CEREMONY WITH JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR A SIDE QUEST...

The Mini Adventure Experience

Mini adventure coverage (4 hours)

Photographer travel & accommodations included

200+ hi res images in a private online gallery

Unlimited gallery downloads & social sharing

1 hr location, vendor & travel consultation

1 hr planning & timeline consultation

The 70 page elopement planning guide

Vow to wander vow guide & workbook

Keepsake album of Instax polaroids

20% VAT sales tax included

VOW RENEWALS, ADVENTURE ENGAGEMENTS, adventure travel & OTHEr life milestones that'll make it onto this year's holiday card

Adventure Sessions & Non-Wedding Packages

1 hour adventure coverage

Photographer travel included

25+ images per hour in a digital gallery

Photo bundle upgrades available

Location & trail scouting

Keepsake Instax polaroids

20% VAT sales tax included

Please note:

Adventure Sessions are contingent on pre-booked travel. You can view my current travel schedule HERE.

Packages + pricing

Choose one:

Packages starting at €7,000

Contact me here for Available Dates & pricing

Choosing Mariah to be our elopement photographer came down to one big thing: the thought of spending the entire day with her excited us. She is a blast to spend time with. We were blown away by her ability to capture our personalities in her photographs but also make us look like complete rockstars. During our elopement we went on a few hikes, and not only was she game for them, she actually led out! She is incredibly prepared for any and all weather, is up for an adventure, and is mindful of leaving no trace. She will probably have researched your location better than you have, and seamlessly move from one place to the next.

Mariah is like four people wrapped into one

When I look at the photos, I am instantly transported into my heart with a huge feeling of love and warmth for my girlfriend, realizing, omg that’s how beautiful we are!? I feel it always, but seeing it like that is something spectacular. My partner and I were left feeling so satisfied and so loving of each other, so confident we had captured some beautiful photos. The photo quality and artistry is truly incredible, top notch, world class. Our love really shines through in the photos, they are simply amazing.

I have never been able to relive an emotion through a photograph of myself so immensely before.

We could not have had a better day exploring the views with Mariah and Johannes and are grateful for the beautiful site. We actually had to adapt our schedule last minute due to weather and the timing turned out amazing. The two of them were a great team down to keeping the hunger at bay, dirt off attire, to capturing moments between my wife and I to cherish forever. Our enjoyment of the photo shoot, the views and area, plus each others’ company shows through in our photos thanks to Mariah.

Mariah continued to impress and go beyond

Elopements are scary, going against traditional ESPECIALLY in a foreign country with no understanding of the language. But believe me when I tell you that this was the once in a lifetime experience I’ve been waiting for and tops ANY wedding. Mariah is TRULY one of a kind. Trust me on this. This is her calling. With Mariah, you’re not just hiring a photographer, you’re hiring someone that takes your vision to the highest quality to create a life long memory of the best wedding experiences. The dedication she has to researching the BEST and most BREATHTAKING views is by far more than ANY other photographer would ever go. I mean seriously!! How many photographers do you know that would climb a mountain not once but TWICE!

I can go on ALL day about how precious and ORIGINAL Mariah is!

I was stunned when I saw the sneak peek photos! We had a sunrise shoot and Mariah was already waiting for us before 5:30 AM! Talk about dedication and professionalism! My husband and I were nervous about getting our picture taken. Mariah walked us through her vision and just told us to talk to each other about our favorite moments, it made us less tense and Mariah was able to capture the real us. Mariah has an amazing personality, easy-going but focused which I truly appreciated. We had a lot of fun! You can tell the passion and dedication that Mariah has for her work and it translates through her photos. My pictures are BEAUTIFUL and I can't wait to frame, literally most of them.

Everything flowed so naturally

frequently asked questions

01. How do we know how many hours coverage we'll need for eloping on Lake Como?

01. HOW DO WE KNOW HOW MANY HOURS COVERAGE WE'LL NEED?

I recommend a full day. If you plan on having anything more than a simple ceremony and portraits, you'll need the flexibility of a full day. As soon as you add additional activities like villa tours and boat rides etc., mini coverage will not be enough.

02. What if it's cloudy, windy or rainy on our elopement day?

02. WHAT IF IT'S CLOUDY, WINDY OR RAINY ON OUR ELOPEMENT DAY?

Although it doesn't sound ideal, moody weather can make for some seriously incredible photos, and clouds are actually wonderful for soft, even lighting. Inclement weather is the only reason we'd move the date. I work in a bit of emergency buffer room for every full day elopement, so we always have a backup.

03. Should we elope on a weekday?

03. SHOULD WE ELOPE ON A WEEKDAY?

YES! You can almost guarantee yourself more seclusion by choosing days like Tuesday or Wednesday. Lake Como is almost always quit busy though due to tourism, so book things well in advance.

04. What about traditions like dad walking me down the aisle?

04. WHAT ABOUT TRADITIONS LIKE DAD WALKING ME DOWN THE AISLE?

Include it. Eloping doesn't mean giving up the important traditions that come with big weddings. Have a ring bearer, a first dance, anything you want!

05. What if I want to invite my family or friends?

05. WHAT IF I WANT TO INVITE MY FAMILY OR FRIENDS?

What's stopping you? It ain't me! The wonderful thing about elopements is this: there are no rules. You get to decide what is most important to you, and what to do about it. 2-25 guests is ideal.

06. Can we legally get married in the Lake Como area?

06. CAN WE LEGALLY GET MARRIED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY?

Yes. If you choose to go this route, I recommend hiring a local Lake Como celebrant or wedding planner to assist with the paperwork. The easiest thing is to complete the legal paperwork in your home country and have a symbolic vow ceremony on Lake Como instead. Most couples do this!

07. Do we HAVE to hike in order to be adventurous?

07. DO WE HAVE TO HIKE?

No way - not if you don't want to!! I love crazy challenging hikes and adventures, but it's not for everyone and that's 1,000% fine. I'm happy to help you find activities that work best for your comfort levels.