Layne + Travis

AUGUST 26, 2020

The best photos require emotion, a beautiful landscape, and a photographer to capture the moment with exquisite timing. These elements also had a hand in bringing together professional photographer couple Layne and Travis.

The couple had a long-distance friendship that grew over the years from di erent states and even continents. A er years of friendship, they met up 24 hours before Travis was set to board a plane with a one-way ticket to Nicaragua. Layne had spent a semester of college overseas and Travis wanted to know her opinions on where to go and what to see. It was this meeting where Travis confessed he’d always wanted to be with Layne and she felt the same way. That turned out to be perfect timing — a few months later, Layne met Travis in Costa Rica and they’ve been together ever since.

Fast forward two years to April 2020, the couple headed west from their home in Bismarck, to Medora, North Dakota, for a weekend of hiking in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. While hiking, they often set up a camera to take photos of the landscape. Travis took advantage of this and set the camera to burst mode to capture the moment he got down on one knee and asked Layne to marry him with the beauty of the landscape stretching behind them.

A badlands proposal turned into a badlands elopement. The couple had planned to get married elsewhere, but COVID-19 meant that making plans to travel and include their parents and siblings, some of whom live out of state, became impossible. “Eloping was always on the table for us. We always talked about going back to Costa Rica or somewhere,” says Layne. “We both have close, large families, so we either wanted everyone there to celebrate with us or to keep it just the two of us, because it would’ve been impossible to choose who to invite.” So they made the decision to elope, just the two of them.

Throughout the process, the couple kept everything secret aside from the few people who helped make plans. A friend of Layne’s was the only one who knew their plans and she supported Layne wholeheartedly while planning the elopement. She also owns an uncommon plants and home goods shop in Colorado and made the bouquet. Unable to ship the owers intact, she drove the bouquet all the way from Colorado to Medora for Layne. The ceremony was o ciated by Travis’ brother who is also a pastor. “My brother wore many hats that day — pastor, best man, maid of honor, he strung the lights and brought Layne’s jacket when she forgot it for the photos, all the things that needed to be done,” says Travis.

VIDEOGRAPHER: Flom Films, Minneapolis DRESS: asos.com

BRIDE’S SHOES: Dolce Vita HAIR: Hi Honey Salon, Bismarck

MAKEUP: Beauty Bar by Chelsea, Bismarck

SUIT: Suit Supply, Denver GROOM’S SHOES, TIE: Halberstadt’s

EARRINGS: Riddle’s Jewelry BOUQUET: Overgrown Home Co., Denver

A private lodge owned by a family friend surrounded by 80 miles of badlands set the stage for the day. The ceremony itself took place on a blu outside of the national park. The couple handpicked the spot for its stunning view of the landscape to showcase all the gorgeous colors present in the badlands. When asked what her favorite part of the wedding was, Layne replies, “Our ceremony was really special. We wrote our own vows. It was about us and what we were promising each other. It was amazing.”

The only people present to witness the ceremony were photographer Brittany Walsh of Two Birds Photography and videographers Josh and Lisa Flom of Flom Films. Layne and Travis chose professionals they loved and picked a date that worked for those vendors. “Our photographer and videographers were the best investment we made and ended up being the most important thing that we could have done,” says Travis. As the sun set over the badlands, the couple shared their rst dance as husband and wife and then they all relaxed over a dinner of Thai food from the couple’s favorite restaurant, Eat Thai, in Bismarck. Layne and Travis spent the night at the cabin, then headed to Montana for a week-long honeymoon before telling their families about the wedding.

When asked if they have any advice for other couples considering elopement, the couple is all for it. “The biggest thing is de nitely do not tell other people, they will try to talk you out of it. Only tell those closest to you on an absolutely need-to-know basis,” says Layne. “The wedding is between you and your spouse. That’s the most important aspect of it, being able to focus on your marriage.” Travis chimes in, noting, “Being wedding photographers, we’ve noticed that nine times out of ten, the issues that arise on a wedding day are about someone other than the bride and groom who want something done one way and someone else wants something di erent.” Layne laughs, “It’s easy to get wrapped up in the shiny objects and pleasing others, but it’s really about your marriage and future together.” She remembers being pulled into the trappings of a perfect elopement herself while looking online. Her friend gently reined her in, saying, “Layne you’re making this stressful for yourself. What can you take out that is just creating chaos for you.”

Now, looking back, Layne and Travis know eloping was the perfect choice for them. “When anyone asks us why or how, it was the least stressful day of my entire life,” says Layne. “We’re wired to think our wedding day is supposed to be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. We were able to truly focus on us and what it means to us.”

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