For Indiana couples who want a private, stunning outdoor elopement, look no further that DePauw Nature Park. Complete with hiking trails, gorgeous views, wildlife, and peaceful serenity, DePauw Nature Park will make outdoorsy couples swoon.
As a husband-and-wife photo and video team who love spending time in nature, we are over the moon when our couples reach out about outdoor elopements! Living in the moment with our couples while enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer is a gift to document.
DePauw Nature Park Greencastle Indiana
DePauw Nature Park was originally the site of a limestone quarry from 1917-1977. In the early 2000s, the land was donated to the campus and the park transformed to what it is today.
It houses 10 miles of trails open to the public as well as multiple buildings that can be used for various events. The campus also uses the nature park for classes, research projects, and the like.
DePauw Nature Park allows for spaces to be reserved for elopements/weddings. Cost varies depending on the areas reserved. Whenever using outdoor spaces for elopements/weddings, each park has their own rules and guidelines. Check out their website for this information.
DePauw Nature Park is located minutes from downtown Greencastle where you can grab something tasty to eat (pizza, ice cream, and a brewery are all close by), explore art galleries, catch a local theater production, walk around DePauw University’s campus or go to a sporting event, check out a covered bridge or two, or stay the night at The Doc’s Inn.
Leave No Trace at DePauw Nature Park
Whether your elopement is at DePauw Nature Park or any other outdoor location, follow Leave No Trace (LNT) principles to protect those spaces. We are LNT certified photographers and videographers and take this very seriously. By doing this, it will allow all of us to return to these beautiful outdoor spaces for years to come.
If you’re wondering what LNT is, our blog, “Leave No Trace Aware Photographer—What Does That Mean?” talks about this in detail.
Here are the 7 principles of Leave No Trace:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Hike + camp on durable surfaces.
- Leave what you find.
- Get rid of waste properly.
- Minimize fire impact.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of others.
Every time we are in nature, we step into a shared space with wildlife and plants that should be kept pristine. Be kind, pack out anything you bring in, and leave it better than you found it. As they say: “Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints; kill nothing but time.”
Elopement Activities at DePauw Nature Park
Elopements don’t just have to be a ceremony or a giant photoshoot. Your elopement is your wedding day and it should feel like it. Plan activities that allow your wedding day to truly be celebrated! Thing of some fun things that you love to do together and work those into the day.
We are always here to help you brainstorm ideas, but here are a few to get started!
- Have a picnic (maybe even some wedding cake!) in the amphitheater area
- Go for a hike on the many trails that wrap around the nature park
- Watch the sunrise or sunset from a beautiful vantage point
- Share your first dance together
- Quietly watch the birds that call DePauw Nature Park home
- Celebrate with a sparkling water pop (NOTE: no alcohol is allowed on site, plus you don’t want to pollute the eco-system with champagne)
Private Elopement at DePauw Nature Park
Emily + Rhys
Emily + Rhys met while working at a rock quarry as they are both mining engineers. As they started to plan their wedding day, they knew they wanted to get married in an epic outdoor location. Since it is a park set in a reclaimed quarry pit, DePauw Nature Park was the spot for them.
When they reached out to me initially, they knew they wanted to elope. I asked them, “When you look back on your elopement photos, what do you want to feel/see years from now?” What they told me was music to my ears. They said, “We want to see ourselves happy together and be glad that we didn’t go by what society wanted, but did what made us happy. We want to remember how special it is—just because it is small, doesn’t make it any less important.”
Their goal was a peaceful day in nature that didn’t cause them stress, but brought them joy. Every choice they made was intentional so they could have the best experience possible just between the two of them.
When they mentioned they were looking for an officiant, they were very excited when I shared that I was considering getting ordained so I could officiate elopements. I had the truest honor of being their officiant and I loved getting to create a simple, sweet ceremony that fit what Emily + Rhys wanted for their outdoor elopement.
Emily + Rhys’ elopement took place on a warm July day surrounded by giant rocky walls with the sun shining overhead. Their personal vows brought tears to their eyes and smiles to their faces. After their heartfelt ceremony, they grabbed their picnic basket and headed over to the park Amphitheater for dinner and their first dance.
Then it was time to watch the sun set over the rocky walls, so we hiked one of the trails to the upper part of the quarry for an amazing view. To end the day, we went to their B&B, The Docs Inn, for some portraits before Emily + Rhys shared a private dinner together.
From the Couple Themselves:
“Ashley did our elopement shoot and we are so grateful for her excellent photos. She was so helpful with planning and even officiated our ceremony. For our elopement, Ashley was a one-stop shop for all our planning, advice, and support. Thanks Ashley!”
-Rhys
“It’s hard to find words for how impressed we are with Ashley. She is thoughtful, organized, flexible and fun to be around. Our elopement came together better than we could have even imagined because of her talents.”
-Emily
Vendor Feature at DePauw Nature Park Elopement
Emily + Rhys’ Elopement Vendors:
- Venue: DePauw Nature Park in Greencastle, IN
- Photography + Officiant: Vallosio Photo + Film
- Florist: McNamara Florist
- HMUA: Blush and Bobby Pins
- Dress Shop: Lux Redux Bridal
- Rings: Ada Diamonds + LadiesAndGentsBands on Etsy
- Bowtie + Suspenders: The Bold Bowtie
- Bride + Groom Accommodations + Shuttle: The Docs Inn
Wedding Anniversary Portraits at DePauw Nature Park
Ming + Anne
In true Indiana spring fashion, this was a rainy day—even as we drove to DePauw Nature Park! But when we pulled into the park, miraculously the clouds parted, the rain ceased, and the sun came out. The sky was moody, the puddles were scattered among the rocks at our feet, and geese were making all sorts of sounds around us in the water. The quarry pond was surrounded by towering rocky walls and purple trees flowering in the height of spring.
Ming and Anne were excited to explore DePauw Nature Park with us and get some photos to celebrate their wedding anniversary! Anne even brought along her bouquet from their wedding day. These two are a beautiful couple—inside and out—and were natural in front of the camera for their portraits. They ran, laughed, and explored the nature around them. It was peaceful and genuinely sweet watching them. Moments like these leave us speechless because of the beauty we get to capture.
“When it comes to photo sessions, I always get really nervous about posing, feeling comfortable, and knowing what to do. Working with Ashley, all those fears melted away from the moment we stepped out of the car at our location. Ashley made me feel so comfortable and natural! It was like we were hanging out and she happened to be taking pictures too! My favorite part of the session were the scenarios and prompts that we were given. It was so fun to play and be silly! The location was also stunning, a perfect match for our personalities! 10/10 I would definitely work with her again!”
-Anne F.
Nature Park Elopement
So if you want to celebrate the start of your marriage with a nature park elopement, then that’s exactly what you should do! Don’t forget: no matter what kind of day you plan, make sure it brings you both peace and joy.
If you’d like us to document your day, you can contact Jonathan and I here. Then we can start talking about your day along with any photo or video needs you might have.
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