Riverside Elopement Photographer

Film + Digital · Mission Inn Hotel · Inland Empire · SoCal

Riverside is where I'm based — and the reason most couples choose to elope here is one of California's most extraordinary buildings: the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.

A National Historic Landmark in the heart of downtown Riverside, the Mission Inn is genuinely unlike anything else in Southern California. Spanish Gothic towers. European-style courtyards and rotundas. Ornate wrought iron, hand-painted tiles, and a scale that feels grand without ever feeling cold. Presidents have stayed here. Couples have been married here for over a century. And on film, it photographs like something out of another world.

I've photographed destination elopements at the Mission Inn for couples who flew in specifically for it — and I understand why. It has the kind of presence that doesn't need a backdrop. The building is the backdrop.

As my home base, I know the light here, the quieter corners, and exactly how to build a timeline that makes the most of the architecture at golden hour. No travel fee, no logistics learning curve — just a photographer who has genuinely fallen in love with this place.

Why the Mission Inn for Your Elopement

The architecture is extraordinary on film. The arched corridors, the courtyard fountains, the wrought iron and tile details — medium format film renders all of it with a richness and warmth that makes every frame feel like it was shot a hundred years ago.

It's a destination venue hiding in plain sight. Most people outside Southern California don't know the Mission Inn exists — which means couples who choose it end up with images that look completely singular. Not another canyon, not another national park. Something genuinely different.

It's designed for intimacy. Despite the grandeur, the Mission Inn has tucked-away courtyards, shaded arcades, and quiet rotundas that feel deeply private. You can elope here without an audience.

No travel fee — ever. Riverside is my home base. What you see in the pricing is what you pay

What an Elopement at the Mission Inn Looks Like

What an Elopement or Micro Wedding at the Mission Inn Looks Like

I'll work with you to build a timeline around the best light and the quietest moments in the building — typically the early morning hours before day visitors arrive, or golden hour when the exterior architecture catches the last sun of the day.

Film is woven throughout. The interior light in the Mission Inn's courtyards and corridors is some of the most beautiful available light I shoot in — soft, directional, and extraordinary on medium format.

If you need an officiant or florals, I have trusted recommendations locally who know the venue and whose work fits the setting beautifully.

Riverside + Inland Empire Pricing

Riverside and the Inland Empire are home base for me — which means no travel fees, no hotel stay, and total flexibility on your date and timeline. This region has more to offer than people expect: the historic Mission Inn, citrus groves, Mt. Rubidoux at sunrise, the wine country out in Temecula, and the desert just a short drive away. If you're picturing a beautiful, low-key elopement or wedding day close to home, this is exactly where we start.

Every Riverside + Inland Empire collection includes:

➡ A 2, 3, and 4+ hours elopement session at your choice of locations across Riverside + Inland Empire

➡ Hybrid film and digital photography - film moments are captured throughout your time with me

➡ A custom timeline and location plan built around your vision

➡ A complete digital gallery delivered with full printing rights

Pricing

The Little Ceremony - $1,600

2 hour coverage
Online gallery, full print release
A handful of mini polaroid prints
35mm film
Sneak Peek within 5 days

The Photo Story - $2,400

3 hour coverage
Online gallery, full print release
A handful of mini polaroid prints
120mm Film ( Medium Format)
Sneak peek within 5 days
Timeline assistance and guidance
Bouquet + Boutonniere

All Inclusive: starts at $3,800

Includes everything in the “Long way home”

Plus: Additional 2 hours, Additional 1-2 locations, Bouquet & Boutonniere, Officiant, additional film rolls, timeline assistance & coordinating

For Destination + International Couples

Riverside and the Inland Empire are one of the easiest places in Southern California to plan a destination wedding — and being my home base means zero travel fees on top of it. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is just 20 minutes away, with direct connections across the US plus international routes to Asia and Central America, and LAX is about an hour out for nearly any global connection. The logistics on the ground are genuinely simple. California has no residency or citizenship requirement for a marriage license. Your passport and your partner are all you need.

Couples flying in for the day often choose the iconic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa for its Mission Revival architecture, Glen Ivy Hot Springs for a spa-resort feel, the historic citrus groves of Arlington Heights, or the wine country estates out in Temecula.

→Full planning guide for international and destination couples

FAQ

No — this is my home base. No travel fee applies within the greater Riverside area or for day trips to nearby destinations like Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, or Temecula (within about 50 miles).
Not at all — I've photographed destination couples who flew in from out of state specifically for it. The Mission Inn is a genuine destination venue. It just happens to be in my backyard.
I keep Fridays and Saturdays for full weddings, so elopements are available Sunday–Thursday.
The Mission Inn is a private hotel and venue — you'll work directly with their events team for any ceremony permissions. I'll help guide you through the process and can recommend trusted officiants who have worked there before.
Absolutely. A popular option is an intimate ceremony at the Mission Inn followed by desert or wine country portraits in the afternoon — Joshua Tree and Palm Springs are both under two hours away. The Two-Day Experience is built for exactly that kind of itinerary.
Yes — I have trusted local recommendations for both. I also have packages that include both services plus me! Just ask when you inquire and I'll connect you with the right people.