How to Hike in Your Wedding Dress
First things first
One: people absolutely do this!
And two: your dress is probably going to get a little dirty. It’s a great look. Hiking on your wedding day is badass — don’t let a little dirt stop you! For those of you who are tying the knot in the winter, we’ll be sharing our best tip for snow day brides at the end. Keep scrolling because this guide has a ton of info!
Choosing the right dress
To choose the right dress for hiking on your wedding day (damn, doesn’t that sound cool?), bring your backpack and supportive hiking books with you to your fitting to make sure you can move around and that there aren’t any elements — such as a shoulder cut that sits just right — that you’ll have to adjust throughout the day. It’ll save yourself from surprises and fussing day-of.
Look for dresses that have simple button or snap bustles rather than many numbered ribbons that need to be tied exactly right — your bridal studio will know what I mean. During the hike you’ll probably bustle and un-bustle your dress a couple times and it’s just so much easier and quicker with simple styles.
Although you might feel a little weird doing squats and waving your arms around in the bridal studio or trying it on at home, (1) it’s fun to shake things up and (2) you want to be able to do things like scale a boulder or give your partner a bear hug! We want you to be able to do the things you want to day-of.
It’s important as well to find undergarments that feel secure and comfy. We love Nude Label and ARQ for beautiful, simple, and supportive cuts.
If you’re feeling a veil, layers, or a train, listen to that calling. But do have a plan—such as a spare bag in your backpack— for easily bustling your dress or stashing the veil if it’s getting in the way. Veil weights are crucial too for making sure your veil doesn’t turn into a twisty mess over and over.
For shoes, Ahnu, Danner and Blundstones make pretty cute comfortable boots that you can wear again and again for years to come. If it’s summer and you’re not hiking too far, consider trying out Chaco’s sweet Chromatic line in monochrome shades.
On the trail
For a shorter hike between 1 to 3 miles, you can definitely just wear your dress the whole time. Some brides simply hang on to the wrist loop or gather up the slack in one hand while moving and that works out great, but we’ve seen a lot of creative methods for getting the bulk of your skirt up and out of the way:
If you’ve got a solid layer (not tulle or lace) that can handle a strong hem, add a sweatshirt style drawstring to the bottom so you can fold everything up and cinch it at the waist.
If your dress isn’t the right style for a drawstring, try bringing a belt! We’ve seen so many brides just gathering everything up using a belt or bungee cable cinched or clipped at the waist. It’s totally goofy and very badass and practical.
Longer hikes or first looks might call for changing into your dress at your ceremony location.
What to pack
Make sure at least one of you has a backpack so you can carry some water, snacks, sunscreen, a headlamp, make-up and fun stuff—such as vows, rings, marriage license, and a few cans of bubbly! Especially for those of you eloping in Colorado where the weather can be totally tempestuous, pack a puffy and/or lightweight rain jacket to stay warm in the face of rain, high winds, or dropping temps after dark.
Bonus points if you can find a way to strap your bouquet to your backpack for hands-free roaming. I recommend nesting the stems in the water bottle pocket of your backpack. For added security, loop some of your accessory strings around the base of the stems. If you’re planning to bring along any keepsake charms for the bouquet, it’s best to add those elements right before the ceremony and then put them somewhere safe before jetting off again.
Tips for winter weather & cold temps
Eloping in the winter is magic. Pristine blankets of white snow and pearly grey skies make for incredible views (and stunning snapshots). That said, hiking in winter weather is a little bit of extra work.
Leggings are a must, especially if you can find cute fleece lined ones for your snowy elopement. Black is easy because most people already have a pair, but pastels and patterns are super fun for a shot of color in the white landscape.
Although you definitely want to bring a jacket in case of really heavy snow or wind, it’s also good to plan for a photo-ready wrap. A pashmina-style oversized scarf is a timeless look and can be worn again and again after your wedding day.
If you’ll be walking on hard-packed snow, traction cleats like these are SO GREAT. These were a game changer for us, so we picked up a few extras for our couples to borrow. We’ve also got snowshoes, but tend not to use those as often as they’re loud on packed trails.
To sweeten the deal, bring a thermos of coffee, tea, cocoa, or a hot toddy to make cold days warmer. It’s so fun to hike a trail in the snow with a steaming cup of something cozy.
May we present: the Wedding Romper.
Closing thoughts
No matter where you hike or how, your elopement is really about the experience of savoring a magical place with the one you love. Don’t sweat the dirt on the hem of your dress. Choose instead to cherish the strength of your legs as you hike up a beautiful trail and the feel of your partner’s palm in your own as you soak up a stunning vista. Laugh at the need to belt your dress and the sublime bliss of freeing yourself from convention. When you return the focus of your elopement to the experiential—the snow falling, the surrounding wildflowers, the winding path, the expansive views—you’ll be rewarded in rich memories and precious present moments.
