How to Elope

Inspiration – What does your dream day look like?

Elopements are all about choosing what is best for you as a couple over what a “traditional” wedding may expect. This means that the sky is the limit. Your day can look any way you want it to, and it is up to you to figure out what your dream day entails.

A great way to start the elopement planning process is by looking for inspiration. You can search places like Pinterest or Instagram to get ideas. Where are some locations that speak to you? What kind of activities are others incorporating on their wedding day? What kind of attire do we want to wear?

The dream is where it all starts. 

Sit down with your partner and start brainstorming. Let your imagination run wild, the details can all be ironed out later. One elopement is not like any other.

While you are both imagining, think about – weather, temperature, vibes (adventurous, relaxed, joyful, etc.), scenery, season, attire, etc. Think about what the two of you love to do together for fun – can that be incorporated in any way?

Guests or Just the Two of You?

One of the largest hurdles couples who are choosing to elope face is whether or not to include guests in their special day. It has become a normal expectation for family and friends to attend your wedding, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

Elopements typically consist of just the two of you or can have up to about 25-30 guests. Any more than that and you start creeping into small wedding territory.

The most important part is not losing sight of the main focus, which is YOU and YOUR PARTNER. If at any point during the planning process you start losing sight of this or getting anxious about certain guests being there (and how they may behave) it is good to consider enjoying your day with just the two of you.

There are a ton of other ways to include your friends and family without having them be there for the ceremony.

How to Include Family and Friends

Whether or not you have decided to have family and friends attend your elopement, there are some creative ways to include them.

• Ceremony – A classic way to include your loved ones is to invite them to attend the ceremony. 
• Elopement Announcements – Send out an elopement announcement with some photos from your special day.
• Letters – have your loved ones write letters that you can read together on your wedding day.
• Audio or Video Recordings from your loved ones to listen to/watch
• Celebratory Dinner – Invite your loved ones to a celebratory dinner after the ceremony (or the day before or the day after!)
• Throw an engagement party.
• Ask them to help you pick out your wedding attire 
• Invite them to watch you sign your marriage license before you leave for your trip 
• Include family heirlooms as detail items in your day
• Facetime, Skype, or Zoom them on your day
• Send them photos, videos, and selfies during your day
• Open gifts or cards from them on your day 
• Bring something back for them from your trip
• Have a party or reception with them after your elopement
• Share your full gallery of photos with them (you can even have a photo reveal party!)
• Gift them prints or an album

There are so many creative ways that friends and family can still feel included and a part of the elopement experience.

Location – Where to Elope

Think back to the dream phase of your initial elopement planning. The location you choose should bring you both so much joy and make you feel alive.

What type of scenery are you drawn to? What is the weather like? What season is it?

Seclusion and privacy – how popular is a location? Are there other locations that may offer more privacy? This can also help you determine what time of year that you elope (shoulder seasons are often ideal for skipping the large crowds!)

How accessible (or inaccessible) do you want your location to be? Some couples opt for locations that are easily accessible with great views. Others desire a few mile hike to add to the adventure and privacy.

Experience and activities – does your dream location offer the experiences and activities that you want to include on your day?

Some folks choose a location because it means something to them. Maybe that is cultural significance, or somewhere that is tied to your ancestry. Maybe it is where the two of you met for the first time or a favorite place that you love to travel.

These are all things to consider when finding the perfect location for your elopement. As your photographer I always assist with this process so that you can find the best location that works for you.

Leave No Trace

There are 7 principles in Leave No Trace that help people enjoy and respect the outdoors in a responsible way. It is important to follow these principles so that the beautiful environments that we love to explore are protected and accessible for future generations to come.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of other Visitors

It is easy to think that your own impact on a location is minimal, but when you consider the 331.9 million visitors to National Parks each year the impacts are huge. Incredible elopement locations have been closed to the public due to overcrowding, destruction, and litter.

Following Leave No Trace is simple and ensures that amazing locations can be enjoyed into the future.

Lodging & Accommodations

Your lodging should be considered a part of the elopement experience. This is likely the space you will be getting ready together in and the place where you will spend the first moments as a married couple together. What better excuse is there to book a fun place to stay than for your wedding?

AirBNB, VRBO, glamping, and treehouses are all great ideas for lodging.  You could even rent an overlander or van if you are the more adventurous type!

When it comes to where you will be staying you will want to consider a few things. 

• Natural light and aesthetics. If you are having photos taken in the space these items can be particularly important. Couples often incorporate getting ready photos into their day.
• Privacy. If you plan on having guests at your elopement, it is a good idea to ensure you will have some privacy where you are staying.
• Location and travel distance. How far is your lodging from where your elopement will take place? You will need to incorporate this travel time (plus some buffer time) into your timeline.

Ultimately I recommend that you choose a location that makes you both happy and makes sense for what you are doing with your day.

Vendors – Creating Your Dream Team

A lot of people don’t realize that vendors can also be a part of your elopement. A “typical” large wedding likely includes things like a DJ, caterer, planner, venue, and rentals. These vendors are often there to support the things necessary to support the guests at your wedding.

When it comes to elopements, you can include any vendors you want to. Without the need to support a large number of guests, the vendor team you choose for your elopement can look however you want it to.

• Musician
• Florist
• Baker
• Private Chef / Caterer
• Hair + Makeup Artist
• Videographer
• Officiant

Out of the box vendor ideas:

• A jeweler that will let you make your own rings
• A tattoo artist who will give you wedding day tattoos
• A hot air balloon, helicopter, or float plane pilot
• A professional 4×4 driver
• A rock climbing, canyoneering, or mountaineering guide

Activities

The activities you choose to incorporate into your elopement day are completely up to you. You and your partner can plan the most chill, laid-back, and romantic wedding experience of your dreams OR an action-packed, adventurous day full of activities. 

At the end of the day the activities you choose should be a reflection of who you are as a couple.

• 4×4 adventure
• Rock climbing
• Hiking
• Kayaking / river rafting
• Star gazing
• Playing music together
• Dinner prepared by a private chef
• Helicopter ride
• Explore a castle in Scotland
• Go to a brewery or wine tasting

Keepsakes

These are the special items included in your wedding day that could become family heirlooms. Things that are unique and special to you that can be passed on for generations to come.

• Flowers
• Shoes
• Handwritten Vows or Letters
• Rings
• Jewelry
• Sentimental items (family heirlooms)
• Invitation suite
• Perfume
• Anything else that’s important to you!

Elopement Attire

The attire you choose for your elopement should be whatever you feel comfortable and confident in. If you haven’t picked up on it yet, your elopement day is all about doing whatever you want to do. The attire you choose shouldn’t be any different!

Keep an open mind. Try a variety of options, you never know what may surprise you!

It is also important to consider the activities that you have planned. If you plan on hiking, you may want a dress that is comfortable to hike in or plan on packing it in and changing on location.

If you plan on wearing a dress…

• Your dress can be white or any color that you want! If opting for color, earth tones and neutrals often photograph the best and flow the best with the natural environment.
• Movement is great for wedding photos and outdoor elopements often a natural breeze (or high winds). When trying on dresses try picking up the bottom of the fabric and seeing how it moves. Also consider how stretchy and breathable the fabric is for whatever activities you will be doing. Can you take big upward steps? Will you be able to climb rocks, dance, and run for epic photos?
• For longer hikes, it is a good idea to pack your dress in a backpack and change into it once you get to your location. Be sure to take into account how heavy your dress (and backpack) may be and how far you will be hiking. In general, lightweight, comfy, and stretchy are the best ideas for adventure elopements!
• If the weather will be cold don’t forget to bring a jacket and fleece-lined leggings to wear underneath your dress.
• Accessories: jewelry, veil, hair clips, flower crown

If you plan on wearing a suit or tux…

• Your suit can be a classic black or you can choose to be creative with your color choice! You can mix and match the top and bottom (grey coat with Wrangler blue jeans for a Western style??). Neutrals and earth tones work great with the natural environment and photograph incredibly well.
• Express your unique personality with unique colors and patterns! Not everything has to be black tie.
• Consider the activities you will be doing on your big day when selecting your suit. Think about whether or not it will be hot or cold and how well you can move and hike.
• Accessories: bolo ties, bow ties, vests, suspenders, watches, cufflinks, pocket squares, belt buckles

Ultimately you should choose attire that makes you feel beautiful, confident, and pressure-free. And don’t forget comfortable shoes that meet the needs of your planned activities!

Planning Your Elopement Timeline

Once you have your location and activities selected and your lodging and travel booked, it is time to start creating your elopement timeline. This is where the vision all starts to come together and the great part about an elopement timeline is that it is WAY more flexible than a large wedding.

I highly recommend including plenty of buffer time around activities and travel. I also recommend not getting too wrapped up in creating a strict schedule and allow the day to just flow naturally. The timeline is there to make sure you have time for everything that you want to do and see, but it’s important to embrace the natural flow of the day and not get too caught up in the minute to minute play-by-play. This is the key to the stress-free elopement of your dreams. Always leave room for spontaneity and relaxation!

Sunrise or Sunset

Sunrise and sunset are coveted times for photographers because these are the best times of day for photos! The gentle morning/evening light provides a golden glow that is famously known as the golden hour. The lighting during this time is less harsh – skin appears smooth and glowy, the mountains are contrasted with both light and dark, and the sky lights up with color.

Golden hour is the prime time to plan for couple’s portraits in most locations! 

There are pro’s and con’s to consider when choosing between sunrise and sunset for your elopement.

Sunrise can often mean less crowds in popular locations. This time of day is ideal for east-facing views. Sunrise often means waking up early and starting the day on the colder side, but warming up as the sun rises higher in the sky.

Sunset is generally more popular potentially meaning more crowds, but also allows you to sleep in. This time of day is ideal for west-facing views.

Getting Ready

You may not realize it, but the getting ready portion of your wedding day is very special and deserves to be captured.

These are the quiet, reflective moments you spend preparing for one of the most important ceremonies of your life. The excitement is high as you prepare to marry your best friend! 

I recommend allowing yourself plenty of time to relax and prepare for your day. 

You can get ready together or separately – the choice is entirely up to you! Some couples choose to get ready separately so that they can do a first look, a special moment where you see each other all dressed up in your wedding attire!

Planning Your Ceremony

Your elopement ceremony is entirely up to you. You can choose to make it short and sweet so you can get right into the adventure, or incorporate cultural traditions that are important to you. There is no right answer when it comes to planning out your ceremony. 

Legality

You will need to research what the legalities of marriage are where you live and where you are eloping. The rules are slightly different everywhere and can become more complex if you are eloping abroad. Some couples opt to take care of the legalities in their local area so they don’t have to worry about it on the day of their elopement. Others choose to take care of the legal side the day of. Marriage licenses can be signed before, during, or after the ceremony, so  do your research and decide which works best for you!

Commitment Ceremony

If legal marriage isn’t your thing, but you want to perform a ceremony to celebrate your love story you can always choose to have a commitment ceremony. This is basically all of the same details of a wedding or elopement, just without doing the legal paperwork.

Here are some unique ideas to consider:

• Reading vows
• Exchanging rings
• Handfasting
• First kiss
• First dance
• Incorporating music
• Exchanging gifts
• Unity ceremony

Ready to Elope?

Planning an elopement can feel overwhelming at first.

As your photographer I am here to support you every step of the way, whether it’s helping with your timeline, sending you location recommendations, or helping you zip up your dress the day of! I am here to help make your elopement dreams come true.

Remember to embrace change and go with the flow. The more relaxed you are and the more fun you have will make all the difference in your elopement day (and in your photos)!