“The essence of a wedding or saying vows to each other,” says Jeana Berrios, “is when you remove the guests; remove the bridesmaids; remove the groomsmen; remove all that. And it comes down to two people who are in love, in this beautiful location, whispering vows to each other.”
Jeana, owner of Adventure Begins Photography, is committed to capturing those amazingly intimate moments. After years as a photographer for traditional weddings and six years in the Army, Jeana had an epiphany that she wanted to “offer a different option for those couples who don’t want the stress that can come with traditional weddings.” She now focuses on non-traditional adventure elopements and intimate weddings.
“The difference between an elopement and an intimate wedding,” says Jeana, “is that an elopement is essentially two people and an officiant saying vows to each other. An intimate wedding is if you want to share the day with a small number of friends and family, no more than 20-30 guests.”
Adventure Begins Photography caters to couples who want less worry about wedding details, offering brides and grooms the chance to get away to mountaintops, waterfalls, and rivers to exchange their vows in their own way.
Destination elopements or intimate weddings can come in at a third of the cost of a traditional wedding, and once Jeana gets to know the couple and what they want, she says, “I handle everything. All they have to do is show up with their outfits. If they tell me they want to get married in Italy, Ireland, or Switzerland, I contact florists, hair and make-up over there.”
No matter where the couple chooses, Jeana creates a dream of a day. She serves as a wedding planner and guide in addition to photographer, making sure all details fit their desires. She does the research on permits, paperwork, and finding officiants if needed—even for international wedding adventures. As the wedding approaches, Jeana arrives on location a day or two early to scout the exact setting, hiking routes, sunrise and sunsets, lighting, etc. She envisions and documents the whole experience, not just the ceremony.
“If we’re hiking up a mountain,” Jeana says, “I’m photographing her putting on her hiking boots under her wedding dress, stops along the way, and intimate moments leading up to the vows.” With every detail attended to, the couple is free to soak in every moment, every glance, every breathtaking view together, even as they speak their vows and enjoy the start of their new journey.
Ultimately, Jeana is committed to making each adventure elopement or intimate wedding “an intentionally small, intimate, authentic, meaningful wedding day that is a true reflection of your relationship, where the focus of the day is really about you two.”
To begin planning your own adventure, contact Jeana Berrios at Jeana@AdventureBeginsPhotography.com or 305.607.3135.