Lost Mine Trail Sunrise Ceremony
SUNRISE JUST-US Elopement in Big Bend National Park
Jiming + Jinyang’s “just-us” elopement day started bright and early with a 2.5-mile hike in the dark. I love when couples are game for adventure, and these two came ready for it. Despite having never hiked in the dark, they strapped on their backpacks filled with their wedding outfits and handled the early morning climb like pros.
Why I love Sunrise Elopements
Sunrise elopements are special in that you get to get married while the sunlight grows steadily behind you. It’s poetic—getting to ease into the morning while the sky changes from inky black to blue to pink to orange. Jinyang and Jiming had an epic crescendo of light behind them during their golden hour ceremony and as I watched them exchange their vows, tears streaming, while the sun rose directly behind them, I couldn’t help but feel immense gratitude for having the honor of sharing in experiences like this one.
Jinyang + Jiming’s Story
When J + J inquired with me about their spring Big Bend elopement, they knew exactly where they wanted to get married — Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park. One of the most iconic and beloved trails of the park, the rewarding views at the end make the effort required to get there more than worth it. With sweeping 360 degree views of the Window Trail, the Chisos Basin, and the surrounding topography, you get a “top of the world” feeling similar to Emory Peak — but in half the hike.
We started their day with our headlamps on, making our way up the leg-burning switchbacks in the dark. Since there are mountain lions and bears in the Chisos, I always recommend talking while we hike so we don’t accidentally sneak up on an animal and scare it (and us). We didn’t come across any wildlife on our way up and—before we knew it—blue hour was starting and we had made it to the top.
While I scouted the best spot for their ceremony, J + J changed into their wedding clothes. They met back up with me right as the sun was peeking over the mountains; it was time for the ceremony!
With the whole summit to ourselves, Jinyang and Jiming shared their emotional vows with one another. Tears flowed, vows and rings were exchanged, and to seal their commitment they celebrated with a romantic first kiss.
After the ceremony, we explored a bit more of the summit and allowed their nerves to settle and the excitement to really set in. With a whole day of adventures ahead of us, even though we had already been awake for 5+ hours it felt like the day was just getting started.
Our main priority after hiking back to the cars was breakfast.I went into town to my favorite local burrito spot while J + J grabbed tacos to-go and left to check-in to their Basecamp Terlingua Bubble.
AFTERNOON ADVENTURES
With their ceremony at sunrise, Jinyang + Jiming wanted to be intentional with how they spent the rest of their wedding day. We brainstormed ideas together of how we could incorporate activities they love doing together and one of the main ones that we landed on was camping. So, for the afternoon of their wedding day, we packed up the cars and drove to the park for some portraits with their well-loved tent.
However, as is the case sometimes with Mama Earth, the weather had other plans. Storm clouds had been hanging around all afternoon but for a while it looked like the rain might miss us. Of course, the moment we pulled up to the campsite, it started to downpour. Huddled under a picnic shelter, I looked at J +J and gave them two ideas of how we could handle the situation, “We can hang out under here or in our cars and wait it out, or we can run around in the rain—what feels best to you?”
They look at one another, paused for a moment, then looked back at me and said with absolute confidence, “Let’s go get in the rain.”
The following 15 minutes were a blur of belly laughs and the incredibly special smell of desert dirt after a hard rain. The joy of letting go of expectation and surrendering completely to a moment is hard to beat — and J + J leaned in hard to that feeling. I had so much fun running around with them as they danced in the raindrops and made the most of a situation that is most people’s wedding day nightmare. The photos from this part of the day are some of my favorites!
Eventually, the rain did stop and we were able to continue with our original plan for the day of getting some photos of them snuggling together in their camping tent.
Finally, to wrap up their incredible Big Bend elopement, we did some late-night cake cutting and champagne-popping and watched the stars come out while they grilled up their wedding-day dinner.
Congrats J + J. This day was a special one.
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