How to Plan an Epic Elopement
Are you thinking about eloping, but don’t know where to begin?
Maybe you always knew a big, traditional wedding wasn’t your idea of a party – or, maybe you began planning a traditional wedding & are now considering a smaller celebration. Whatever your reason for wanting to elope, this guide has a step-by-step list to get you started on the right track!
Step One: Connect with a Photographer
Ask about these FOUR things & ensure you’re working with the right person!
Availability
If there’s someone you really want to work with – connect with them ASAP! Each photographer is different, but we typically begin booking 12 months in advance. We often have last-minute availability, but popular dates book up fast! As you begin reaching out to find a photographer, ask what their availability & travel schedule is – if your date is flexible, this is a great way to have a higher change of booking.
Style
Every photographer has a different style – as you begin looking for someone to hire, check their social media profiles & website for previous elopements & weddings to see if their style will produce the images you’re envisioning. Everything from color to lighting to posing is something unique to each photographer. If you’re unsure how to describe the style you’re looking for, here are some terms used within the photography community to help you narrow down your personal preference:
Light & airy – means bright backgrounds, usually warmer colors, & fewer shadows.
Dark & moody – darker shadows, usually cooler colors, & less blown-out backgrounds.
True-to-life – Realistic color portrayal, less of a push toward warmer or cooler colors.
Documentary-style – More true-to-life color, less editing & more candid images.
Artistic-style – Possibly less realistic color choices, more posed images & more editing.
Consultation
Make sure that your photographer is available to help you through the planning stages. Especially with elopements, where a photographer is often one of the only vendors, they don’t just “show up & shoot,” they are often the person who can help you plan out a timeline, learn more about the location, and really feel prepared on the day of your elopement to have a stress-free adventure. We offer extensive planning consultation & sustainability consultation – to help you navigate the most eco-friendly ways to work in these beautiful natural environments.
Step Two: Pick a Date
Consider Accessibility
If you have a location in mind, remember that not all places are accessible year round. Beyond that practical aspect, consider the accessibility & availability of everyone you want in attendance as well. Is everyone available on this date? Is everyone available to travel on this date? Does the date create certain barriers to health or physical requirements? – ie. heat, snow, hiking, etc.
Consider Popularity
Is your date a holiday, or a summer weekend in a popular park? If so, it’s going to be busy. Is it a popular wedding date (like, 10/10/20), because that will probably mean vendors are already booked. Would the location for any reason be less crowded if you chose a different date, or eloped mid-week? Morning, mid-week, or off-season is your BEST chance at having a private elopement ceremony.
Consider Season & Location
You don’t have to have an exact ceremony location chosen yet, but a general area would be helpful when you choose your date. For instance, a July wedding in Arizona is going to be totally different from the same date in Australia when considering attire, accessibility, and activities. Do you want to get married during a certain season because of the environmental benefits (wildflowers, snow, sunlight) or do you want to participate in certain activities only available during certain months of the year (backpacking, skiing, climbing)?
Step Three: Pick a Location
Season & Activities
Similarly to choosing your date, your location will have different seasons & activities at different times of year – what is most important to you? Whatever you want to do, and what you want the images to look like, will significantly narrow down your location options. Date and location go kind of hand in hand through the planning process because each affects the other & what that means your wedding day will look like.
Consider Accessibility
Elevation, length of hike, terrain, and other factors will affect whether you or guests can easily access a location for your elopement. Beyond that, you also need to discover if elopements are even an option in certain places – whether you need to have a small group, can bring certain decor, etc. National parks especially have strict rules about group sizes in ceremony locations, so we can discuss these specifics as you narrow down location choices.
Permits
Public lands often require permits. If you want to get married in a national park, national forest, special recreation area, or wilderness, we need to contact the governing body & get permits lined up to ensure we’re supporting the groups who take care of our public lands.
Step Four: Finalize Details
Timeline
Finalizing your timeline is something we’ll do together – planning when to have the ceremony, portraits, get ready, etc. will all be something we discuss with consideration for the light, travel times, and anything you specifically want to include as a part of your special day! Timelines are different for every single couple I work with, but I’ll put a full-day elopement timeline sample below:
11 AM – Meet at rental. Photograph detail shots & getting ready photos.
Noon – Do a “first look” outside the rental & some couples portraits.
1 PM – Travel to the trailhead. (Travel time: 35 min.) Then pack up and get ready for hike.
2 PM – Begin hike (Trail: 1.5 miles each way). Stop along the way to take photos.
3 PM – Stop at an overlook for a picnic & break out the cake.
4 PM – Reach the top of the trail. Explore the lookout & read letters from family.
5 PM – Sunset ceremony. (Sunset Time: 5:15 PM)
6 PM – Take photos as the sun sets & out on headlamps for the hike back.
7 PM - Return to trailhead & end session.
Vendors
First, decide what vendors you need. Then, make sure they’re available & prepared to work with an eloping couple. This might mean making sure they’re available for an early hair & makeup session for a sunrise ceremony, or prepared to hike with you to your ceremony location. You can even ask your florist to prepare your bouquet to be packed in a hiking backpack & that the plants are sturdy enough to handle extreme temperatures. A few vendors that eloping couples often hire: officiant, florist, hair & makeup artist, videographer. You can also hire a chef to cook you a meal, a musician to play live music, or a designer to create “Just Eloped” signs & other personal details.
Marriage License
If you’re getting legally married during your elopement, you’re going to need to check with the local county laws to see what you need, when you need it, and who should be present at your elopement. Some states require an officiant & two witnesses, while other places (like Colorado) allow self-solemnization – this means you can marry yourself & sign your own marriage license. Some places have a waiting period, while others don’t. Some states have state-wide laws, while others vary by county. Some places allow you to apply online, whereas others require an in-person appointment.
Attire
Comfortable, easy to move in, & flowy elopement attire is best for outdoor weddings – what you’re going to wear will be dependent upon the temperature, activities, & personal style. Not all wedding apparel companies make clothes that are easy to hike in, or comfortable to wear on uneven ground – I highly recommend choosing attire that you feel GOOD in, and can enjoy exploring your surroundings without feeling restricted. Some of my favorite elopement dress companies are Nordeen Bridal, Rue De Seine, Grace Loves Lace, and Reclamation.
Decor
Depending on where you elope, you can bring along some decor – florals, blankets, string lights, & other decor all have a time when they are appropriate, and make gorgeous additions to a natural outdoor setting. National parks & other public lands all have regulations about what is & is not allowed to be brought in for events. If you want to have certain decor, include that as part of your planning process to ensure that the land is protected, and your decor capable of traveling & being set up at your location.
Step Five: Have the BEST DAY EVER!
The time has come & YOU. ARE. READY! You’ve done all the necessary prep work, talked with your vendors, and crafted a true-to-you authentic elopement day that you’ll look back on with a smile for the rest of your lives! No more stress, just FUN!
You deserve this!
Elopement Planning Tips from an Elopement Photographer
Each of your choose ONE thing that is MOST important: Whether it’s the location, photography, food, honeymoon, etc. – invest in something you don’t want to skimp on, & then find a way to fit your budget to everything else. This is more fulfilling than choosing the “budget” option for everything.
Compromises shouldn’t hurt: Do what YOU want on the day you celebrate with your partner. Not all compromises are bad, but if you feel like friends or family or expectations are taking away your joy in the celebration, don’t listen!
Connect with vendors ASAP: If there’s someone you’ve been following on IG or Pinterest for a while, reach out SOON! Photographers often book up on popular dates 1-2 years in advance of a wedding, and other vendors are also getting busy many months out. Don’t wait if there’s something you REALLY want to work with!
Don’t beat yourself up over expectations: You don’t have to lose weight, get fit, accomplish x, y, or z before the wedding – all you have to do is make a plan & have FUN! Life happens, goals aren’t always reached, & people are super prone to overextend themselves when planning for a big event. Don’t beat yourself up over what you don’t get done before the wedding, instead celebrate what you ARE doing!
This is life’s greatest adventure: A wedding is JUST one day in a lifetime FULL of days! But, planning for something you really want is one of life’s greatest joys. Let yourself invest in this significant moment & fulfill dreams of travel, adventure, or anything else! This truly is what life is about – working to accomplish the BEST days, & you deserve to have a wedding to look back on that makes you smile.
Ready to plan your own elopement? Reach out!
Looking for more elopement planning resources? Check out these guides:
How to Elope in White Sands National Park
How to Elope in Yosemite National Park
