See us here:
It deserves safety.
It deserves affirmation.
It deserves storytelling that feels like you.
Because let’s be honest, Arkansas is beautiful.
But not every vendor understands queer love.
We do.
We don’t just document weddings, elopements, and affirming sessions"
We create space for you to breathe, laugh, cry, and exist without explaining yourselves.
Who we are
Queer-owned.
Genuinely your people.
We built Hey Love Studio because we knew what it felt like to search for a photographer and quietly wonder whether we'd be celebrated or just tolerated. Adeline leads film, Valerie leads photography, and we work the same day as one team — which means two focused people instead of one trying to do everything.
Eureka Springs sits in the Ozark hills — forests, historic Victorian architecture, scenic overlooks, and a downtown built into a hillside. It's the kind of place that does the work for you. No styling required, no venue trying to look like somewhere else.
The town has been a queer haven for decades. That isn't marketing language borrowed for a Pride post; it's a long-standing reputation built by the people who live there. For couples coming from places where they've had to be careful, arriving somewhere that already expects you is its own kind of relief. We went deeper on that history here: why Eureka Springs is the best place for a queer elopement in the South.
And practically, Arkansas has no waiting period once you have your marriage license. For couples traveling in from Texas, Oklahoma, or Missouri, that means you can arrive, get your license, and marry the same trip. Check current requirements with the Carroll County Clerk before you travel.
Why couples elope here in Eureka Springs
established in Arkansas
affirming weddings + elopements
of couples book photo + film together
Videography Only
Hybrid (Photo and Video)
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Photography ONly
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Custom collections available for intimate gatherings, bold celebrations, and everything in between.
Full detail on what's included in each: elopement photography packages.
– Hybrid photography and videography coverage by Adeline + Valerie
– Two professional photographers/videographers capturing both the big and in-between moments
– Candid, documentary-style storytelling focused on connection, celebration, and inclusion
Deliverables:
– Full online gallery of high-resolution, hand-edited images
– Sneak peek of your celebration delivered within 24–48 hours
– 3–5 minute highlight wedding film
– 45-second teaser video, perfect for sharing on social media
Extras:
– Complimentary engagement or pre-wedding session
– Pre-wedding video meetings to help build a custom timeline and ensure every moment is covered with care
Starting at $4800
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Hybrid (Photo and Video)
– Valerie-led documentary photography coverage. If photography is your priority, we go deeper on it here: Dallas LGBTQ wedding photographer
– Candid, documentary-style images with a warm, inclusive storytelling approach
Deliverables:
– Sneak peek of your celebration delivered within 24–48 hours
– Full online gallery of high-resolution, hand-edited images
– Print release included
Extras:
– Pre-wedding video meetings to help build a custom timeline and ensure every moment is covered with care
starting at $3900
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Photography only
– Videography coverage by Adeline + Valerie
– Two professional filmmakers capturing your celebration with care and presence
– Documentary-style storytelling focused on emotion, sound, and meaningful moments
Deliverables:
– 3-5 minute cinematic highlight wedding film
– 45-second teaser film for social media
– Licensed music so your film can be shared freely
– Digital delivery via a private online viewing link
Extras:
– Pre-wedding video planning meeting to build a thoughtful, realistic timeline
starting at $3900
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Videography Only
As a queer-owned studio, we know the particular exhale that comes with arriving somewhere you don't have to brace for anything. Eureka Springs has been offering couples that for decades, and we try to show up the same way — two people who are genuinely glad you found each other, filming the day as it actually happened, with nobody asking which of you is the bride.
Elopement Videography & Photography Pricing
Representation Isn’t a Trend. It’s Essential.
Photo and film from a married couple who've worked together for years. On a day with just the two of you, that matters more than it does at a 200-person wedding.
We're two people, not a crew.
Permits where they're needed, parking near the trailheads, which overlooks get crowded and when. You shouldn't have to research any of it.
We know the logistics.
Vows recorded on dedicated mics. In a town this quiet, in a chapel or on a trail, the audio is often the thing couples return to most.
We capture sound, not just frames.
An elopement isn't a compressed wedding. There's no timeline imposed by a reception or a vendor schedule. We plan around light and around what you actually want to do that day.
How we document an elopement
How we document an elopement
Great for: couples who want indoor and outdoor options, out-of-town guests, a full weekend
The Crescent Hotel
An 1886 hotel on the hill above town, with the views to match. It works as a venue, as a getting-ready space, and as somewhere your people can stay without driving. The building has a reputation and a history, and it photographs like it.
Thorncrown Chapel
Forty-eight feet of glass and pine set directly in the woods, and one of the most photographed buildings in Arkansas for good reason. Light moves through it all day and never the same way twice. Thorncrown books in advance with specific time slots, so this one requires planning rather than spontaneity — but it's worth building the day around.
Great for: couples who want architecture to carry the ceremony, small guest counts, golden hour
Basin Spring Park
Downtown, in the middle of everything. It's public space, so there's no venue fee and no coordinator — but it puts you in the heart of a town that's been marrying queer couples for years, with the historic buildings right there as backdrop.
Great for: downtown ceremonies, couples who want the town itself in the photos, spontaneous timing
Great for: private ceremonies, hikers, couples who want water and woods over architecture
Over a thousand acres of trails, water, and forest just outside town. Quieter than downtown and considerably more private. If you want the ceremony to be just the two of you with no one walking past, this is the direction to go
Lake Leatherwood City Park
We're not going to list every venue in the metroplex. Here are four we can speak for, in order of how confidently we can do it. That ordering is deliberate — we'd rather tell you where our knowledge runs out than flatten everything into one list.
Where couples actually get married here
Book accommodation before you book anything else.
This is a popular weekend town, particularly spring and fall. The Crescent and the Basin Park Hotel are central. There are cabins scattered through the surrounding hills if you'd rather be alone.
Pick your season on purpose.
April and May bring wildflowers and green hills. October and November bring color you won't get in Texas. Summer is lush but busy. Winter is quiet and moody, and honestly underrated if you want the town mostly to yourselves.
What to sort out before you come
Planning your Eureka Springs elopement
Once the logistics are handled, the shape of the day matters more than the schedule. Here's how we'd plan an elopement timeline that doesn't feel rushed.
Get your Arkansas marriage license.
Apply at the Carroll County Clerk in Berryville, about twenty minutes out, or at Eureka Springs City Hall. Arkansas has no waiting period, so you can collect it and marry the same day. Bring valid ID and check current fees with the clerk before you travel.
Find an officiant early.
Eureka Springs has plenty, and several have been marrying queer couples for years. Ask directly whether they've officiated same-sex ceremonies — the answer tells you what you need to know.
Across parts of the South and Midwest, queer couples may encounter spaces that are not fully inclusive. We share trusted vendor recommendations and venue insights to help you build a supportive wedding team.
Ultimately, hiring an LGBTQ wedding photographer means working with someone who celebrates your love in a way that feels natural and empowering.
Guidance in Finding Affirming Vendors and Venues
Your wedding does not need to follow outdated expectations. Whether you are getting ready together, walking each other down the aisle, or designing a timeline that prioritizes connection over tradition, we support storytelling that reflects your identities.
Comfortable Direction and Inclusive Language
The way a photographer communicates matters. Gentle posing guidance, gender-neutral language, and respect for body autonomy help couples feel confident and relaxed in front of the camera.
Freedom from Traditional Gender Roles
Many LGBTQ weddings center chosen family as much as biological relatives. We document these relationships intentionally and respectfully, recognizing their significance in your story. We also navigate layered family dynamics with sensitivity during portraits, ceremonies, and candid coverage.
Understanding Chosen Family and Complex Dynamics
Wedding planning can include conversations about visibility, comfort, and acceptance. Working with a queer photographer means you do not need to explain who you are or worry about inclusive language. This emotional safety allows you to focus on celebrating your relationship.
Safety and Emotional Affirmation
Choosing a photographer who understands queer identity and lived experiences can shape how supported and relaxed you feel throughout your wedding journey. While many talented vendors can create beautiful images, an LGBTQ wedding photographer brings awareness, empathy, and cultural understanding that helps couples feel seen.
Why Hire an LGBTQ Wedding Photographer
Watch the silence
Ask who's actually working your day
We'll be straight about why this section exists. There are venues in DFW that will not host queer weddings. We're not going to name them here — but we want you to be able to spot them before you've spent a Saturday driving out there.
"We're a same-sex couple planning our wedding for [date]. Before we tour anywhere, we like to ask directly — do you have experience hosting LGBTQ+ weddings, and are there any restrictions we should know about?"
They say yes, they mention couples they've hosted, they often send photos without being asked twice. The tone is warm and slightly surprised you felt you had to check.
"We welcome everyone" with nothing after it is a sentence built to end a conversation rather than answer one. So is "we've never had a problem" — that quietly frames you as a potential problem.
Contracts with "bride" and "groom" fields nobody offers to change. Planning documents that assume a father walking someone down an aisle.
A venue that answers every other question within a day and goes quiet on this one has told you something.
The owner books you. A coordinator, a bartender, and a maintenance lead are the ones in the room. A venue that has thought about this has an answer ready.
How to tell whether a venue actually affirms you
Send one direct email
A good answer sounds like an answer
Watch for a reply that answers a different question
Watch the paperwork
Yes. We're based in Little Rock and Dallas, and the Ozarks are a regular drive for us. We photograph and film elopements throughout Northwest Arkansas including Eureka Springs, Beaver Lake, and the surrounding hills, as well as across Arkansas and Texas. More on our full coverage as an Arkansas wedding photographer and videographer.
Do you travel to Eureka Springs for elopements?
April and May bring wildflowers and full green hills. October and November bring fall color that draws visitors from across the region. Summer is lush but the town is busy. Winter is quiet and atmospheric, with the fewest crowds and often the best rates on accommodation.
What's the best time of year to elope in Eureka Springs?
Yes, and many couples do. Arkansas has no residency requirement and no waiting period, so couples traveling from Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri can arrive, obtain a license, and marry on the same trip. We recommend arriving at least a day early to collect the license and settle in.
Can we elope in Eureka Springs if we live out of state?
Common choices are Thorncrown Chapel, a glass and pine chapel set in the woods that books by appointment; Basin Spring Park in the historic downtown; Lake Leatherwood City Park for something more private; and the 1886 Crescent Hotel on the hill above town. Trails, overlooks, and private cabins throughout the surrounding Ozarks are also popular.
Where do couples elope in Eureka Springs?
No. Arkansas has no waiting period once you have your marriage license, which means you can collect it and hold your ceremony the same day. Apply at the Carroll County Clerk's office in Berryville or at Eureka Springs City Hall, and check current identification requirements and fees with the clerk before traveling.
Do you need a waiting period to get married in Arkansas?
Yes, and it has been for decades. Eureka Springs has a long-standing reputation as one of the most welcoming towns in the South for queer couples, with an established LGBTQ community, affirming businesses, and vendors who have been serving same-sex couples for years. For couples traveling from less affirming areas, it's often the first place they've planned a wedding without bracing for a reaction.