Choosing to elope can be a wonderful way to celebrate your love in a way that feels authentic and true to you as a couple. In this blog, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to plan your dream elopement experience.
So what is an elopement?
An elopement is…
a deliberately intimate (25 guests or less) and authentic wedding celebration that focuses solely on the couple and their love for each other. It is a meaningful and personalized experience that captures the essence of their relationship without the distractions and expectations of a traditional wedding.
Instead of succumbing to the pressure of pleasing others, you’re embracing the true essence of your love story. And with me by your side, I’ll take the stress out of elopement planning and photography. And I’ll be encouraging you to embrace your unique quirks and individuality throughout the whole process.
You may choose to have an…
- Just Us Elopement (you two…well three including me)
- Elopement with a Handful of Guests (10 or less). Many ceremonies at state/national parks held off of the trails are designed for groups no bigger than this.
- Elopement with an Intimate Group (25 or Less).
- Intimate Wedding with a Group (60 or less). With a larger intimate wedding, you will be booking a venue to hold everyone.
Elopement Process Breakdown:
- Brainstorm your perfect day
- Choose your date & location
- Choose vendors (like me…your photographer & planner)
- Decide on who’s celebrating with you
- Book your travel & lodging
- Obtain your permits & marriage license
- Purchase and gather your attire & gear
- Relax & have the best elopement day
1. Brainstorm your perfect day
Let your imagination run wild. You’re envisioning the most perfect day for the two of you. A day that would celebrate your relationship in the most you way. What does the scenery look like? Who’s joining you? What activities are you doing together? How does your perfect day feel? From sunrise to sunset you can dream up your day however you’d like.
Brainstorm and write down all the ideas that sparked your excitement. There is no single elopement or intimate wedding that is exactly like another. Don’t limit yourself to what you’ve seen on blogs, social media, friends and family, or hell…even me! It’s your wedding day, you can celebrate it however you want.
Your homework for this step is to make it fun. Make a date out of it.
Sit down with your partner for a date. Pour a glass or light up and start bouncing ideas off of each other.
What places are most significant to you and your relationship? Would you want to commit your lives to each other at that significant location or in a bucket-list destination? What activities would you love to do together at this new location? What sort of food and drinks do you want to indulge in? What unique ways do you want to commemorate your marriage?
Jot down your ideas. Remember, there’s no boundaries to brainstorming.
2. Choose your date & location
Once there’s a vision for your overall day, it’s time to consider: when your taking this epic adventure, where you’re getting married, and how long your trip is going to be. Take your time with this, making sure it’s in alignment with what you two decided you wanted out of your wedding experience.
Tip One: Take into consideration busy season for your location. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday’s are always busiest during peak season. Consider a less busy weekday for your plans.
Tip Two: Take into consideration how secluded or accessible you want your location to be and if guests will be joining you.
Most of my couples do not have a wedding date or location solidified when they first contact me. I’m excited to work with where you’re at and help plan your big day.
3. Choose vendors (like me…your photographer & planner)
Now in alignment with what you dreamed up, who else will be needed to make the experience come to life? Are you going to pick and arrange your own wildflower bouquet or will you want to a florist? Are you having a small celebration with guests that will need a venue of sorts?
Vendors you may consider:
- Elopement Photographer
- Florist
- Hair / Makeup Artist
- Officiant
- Venue
- Restaurant / Catering
- Wedding Planner
- Videographer
- DJ / Musician
- Decor Rentals
Out of the box ideas to consider:
- Hiring a private chef for you and your partner
- Hiring a tattoo artist to give you and your boo wedding day tattoos (matching or not)
- Hire an adventure guide–go rafting, canyoneering, or rock-climbing together
- Renting a overlander vehicle or boat to go adventuring together
- Booking a food truck for you and your guests
There’s one thing that should never be left out of your wedding plans, and that’s your photographer.
Skipping or skimping on a photographer is a mistake couples regret years into the future. By investing in a photography, you are ensuring that your wedding memories are captured, preserved, and cherished for generations to come.
A professional photographer knows how to capture the perfect lighting, angles, and emotions to make your wedding day look its best in photographs. No matter what your plans are, a professional will make them look even better on camera.
Personally, I am hands on in the elopement planning process taking on a role more like hybrid photographer & planner. I am by your side every step of the way for encouragement, guidance, and support, helping you with itinerary creation, location guidance, permit assistance, and logistics.
When it comes to documenting your elopement day, you may be wondering…
How much coverage is enough?
In my opinion, your day deserves just as much documentation as anyone else getting married, and maybe even more. Here are three reasons why:
1. Your wedding day is not just about saying your vows and taking portraits. It’s an entire experience that you will remember for the rest of your life together. Couples having big weddings get the entire story of their day documented, so why shouldn’t you?
2. If you’re spending all this time intentionally planning the best and most authentic experience for you and your partner, don’t you want to be able to relive it and remember it precisely in full-color detail?
3. If you’re not having as many people attend your event in-person, the photos of your day are the only way to share your experience with others. Don’t you want to be able to do that?
This is why my elopement packages are all inclusive. It includes all day photography coverage for up to 12 hours on your day. This way you can plan on just enjoying your experience and I will be there for it. I’m a fly on the wall as long as you want me–and when you want some space, you got it.
4. Decide on who’s celebrating with you
For some couples, this is a super easy question to answer—and for others, it’s more of a debate. Incorporating family and friends into your elopement experience is completely up to you. It’s best to research your chosen location’s specific regulations before sending out invitations.
How many guests can I have at a national park elopement?
National parks have varying limits on the number of people allowed for ceremonies. For instance, Mount Rainier only allows up to 6 guests at certain ceremony sites, while Grand Teton allows up to 40. Bringing fewer guests is recommended to avoid location limitations.
How to include family and friends even when they’re not present at your elopement:
No matter who’s physically joining you, there are many ways for loved ones to participate in your wedding.
- 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
- Invite them to write letters that you’ll read during your ceremony
- Arrange a small reception or dinner after your wedding trip to celebrate and share your joy with them
- Share your full gallery of photos with them (you can even have a photo reveal party!)
5. Book your travel & lodging
Depending on where your epic adventure is, you will have to make appropriate accommodations for yourself. Take care of your travel arrangements early—get those earlybird airfare deals!
Depending on your travel, you’ll consider:
- Airfare
- Car or 4×4 Rental
- RV Road-trip
- Train
- Airbnb (some may be Event Friendly too!)
- VRBO (they have a search function for Event Friendly spaces!)
- Hotel
- Campground
6. Obtain your permits & marriage license
There are three legal things to get squared away right away.
- Marriage License
- Special Use Permit
- Photography Permit
How to get your marriage license
To ensure a smooth and hassle-free process when obtaining a marriage license, it’s important to visit the official website of the state and/or county where you plan to get married. Be sure to look for websites that end with “.gov” to ensure that you are on the right site.
Keep in mind that some courthouses offer the option to apply for a marriage license online, while others require you to apply in person. If an in-person application is necessary, plan accordingly by allowing extra travel time, and check if an appointment is required. Some courthouses may not accept walk-ins, so it’s essential to check their policy beforehand to avoid any delays or inconvenience.
How to I legalize my elopement?
The legal side of getting married depends entirely on where you live and where you elope—so do your
research beforehand, familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations, and decide if you want to
go through the steps of getting legally married on your actual wedding day or if you’d prefer to do it
before, after, or not at all.
Depending on your location you will have to consider:
- Will you need witnesses?
- Is self-solemnizing an option?
- Are there officiant requirements?
What’s it mean to Self-Solemnize?
Self-Solemnization is currently recognized by only a few US states, CO, PA, WI, & D.C.
It enables couples to conduct and legalize their own marriage ceremonies. In essence, self-solemnization empowers you and your partner to marry each other without requiring an officiant or a witness–all you need is each other and your love! It’s a wonderful option for couples who value intimacy, independence, and simplicity in their wedding ceremony.
What permits do I need?
If you’re planning on a ceremony on public land, most require a Special Use Permit. Some locations also require an additional Photography Permit. Permit cost will vary depending on your location. Once you have your wedding date, you will want to register for these permits so we can make your day official.
Couples are responsible for filling out their own permit requests due to the personal nature of the information required. I provide detailed instructions to help them navigate the process specific to their chosen park. If a photography permit is needed, I’ll handle it.
7. Purchase and gather your attire & gear
Next you just need to gather everything for your trip. Pick out your wedding attire and gather any extra gear you’ll want for your experience. Invite your loved ones along with you in the activities preparing for your elopement. Make sure you communicate with any guests and countdown the days to your adventure!
Packing Checklist for your Elopement
- Wedding Attire for Lover #1 (outfit, footwear, accessories, jewelry)
- Wedding Attire for Lover #2 (outfit, footwear, accessories, jewelry)
- Warm Layers that your comfortable with in photos
- Clothes hanger for wedding attire
- Vows
- Rings
- Marriage License
- Permits
- Offline Google maps downloaded
- Backpack
- Itinerary & Timeline shared with appropriate vendors
- Sun screen / bug spray
- Food / snacks / water
8. Relax & have the best elopement day
You did it! Your day is here! Relax and soak in every moment and be fully present with your partner. Everything has been curated for you to fully enjoy yourself. Savor the incredible experience you created together–saying your vows and committing your lives to each other. You can trust me to capture how the day unfolds while making you both look great.
