What is an Elopement?
Is an elopement
the same as a wedding?
All elopements are weddings, but not all weddings are elopements.
Put simply, eloping means you’re gonna marry your partner, in private or with relatively few guests. That’s pretty much the only given. Everything else is optional, and really that’s the fun. The location, your clothing, the wedding traditions you incorporate or don’t, who’s there or isn’t — eloping means it's all about you two: where, when and how you want to marry your partner.
“Running off to Vegas together” is eloping. So is getting married during a trip to Iceland. So is getting married on the shore of a local lake you love with your closest family and friends. So are courthouse weddings I’d argue. The modern elopement is varied, and broad.
Traditional weddings are generally… traditional.
They’re larger communal celebrations of commitment in front of more family and friends (group-centric). It’s about you, but it’s largely about them, too. Why else would they be there?
There’s some overlap between larger elopements and intimate weddings, and larger intimate weddings and traditional weddings. Probably best to do what you want and forget the labels, really.
Worth noting:
You can have a little of each. Many of our couples elope in private/do something awesome, and have a reception back home to celebrate with everyone. They tell us it made both their elopement and reception less stressful.
So then what is an adventure elopement?
Adventure looks different for everyone.
Really anything you love to do outdoors together you could build an elopement experience around. You could:
Hike to an alpine lake in the mountains and exchange vows on the shore at sunset
Fly to a new city halfway around the world, stay at an awesome Airbnb or hostel, and explore the architecture, culture and food together
Off-road in the desert and stop to get married at an awesome spot along the way (or the next day)
Explore a tide-pool on the pacific coast in the morning, then go on a cozy coffee date or take a chartered sailing trip together
Check a dream National Park off your bucket list on your wedding day
Relax on a beach, catch up on reading, go on a wildlife tour, go snorkeling, catch every sunset — and toss in a wedding somewhere in the middle
And the photo part?
The photos are only as good as they experience they bring you back to.
For most folks, choosing an adventure elopement starts with seeing an awesome photo of a wedding couple having a great time somewhere incredible — but what led them there? What kind of experience were they having off-camera? Are they just doing this for the gram? Are they actually having fun? Is it real?
Our couples aren’t using the outdoors as a backdrop to snap a few photos — they’re really getting out there and connecting with each other and the world around them in an intentional way. They’re not there solely for the photos — photos aren’t the experience. The photos are gonna be there for them, to bring them back to one of the most memorable experiences of their lives.
We realize the irony in wedding photographers telling you that photos themselves aren’t everything, but alone, they’re really not. Paired with great memories though, they’re priceless. The distinction’s really important to us.
Why do people elope?
The people we work with tell us they want something fun, they want to travel/go on an adventure together, and want their wedding day to be about the two of them.
These folks take marriage seriously, and choose to have a chill wedding day filled with as much fun and adventure as possible. They incorporate the wedding traditions that are meaningful to them and skip the ones that aren’t.
Who does this kind of thing?
They’re a great fit for people who:
Prioritize awesome experiences and memories over material things and just getting epic photos
Prepare about as well as they can for things, but are flexible and able to roll with whatever happens
Already love to travel and adventure and want these things to be part of their wedding day
Have an appreciation for nature
If this sounds like you, we can help you plan an amazing day that’s tailored to your interests and skill level.
Where could we go?
Short answer: anywhere!
With the entire world as your oyster, dreaming up and narrowing down a location for your elopement is seriously FUN.
What locations are calling to you? What places do you love, or where have you always wanted to go together? Is this gonna be the trip of a lifetime, or a trip in your lifetime?
As a starting point, it can be helpful to pick a vibe and narrow it down from there:
Mountains, crisp air, alpine lakes, hiking trails, bird calls and moose sightings
Deserts, sagebrush, red rock formations, cactuses, views for miles
Cities, coffee shops, charming neighborhoods, architecture tours, river walks, museums
Coasts, seaside towns, tide pools, crashing waves, endless sunsets, ancient trees
Snow, fireplaces, hot springs, rosy cheeks, warm coffee, warm soup, cuddles
Sand, salt, crystal waters, bare feet, snorkeling, sunsets, tiki drinks, a balmy breeze
Fog, moss, mystery, glaciers, fresh bread, steamy tea, misty waterfalls, a campervan
…you're starting to picture it, right?
When should we elope?
Any time is a good time for an adventure — some times are just good-er than others.
A few things to consider about your location as you land on a date:
Peak travel seasons: Dates that are safe bets for good weather draw larger crowds, longer lines and often increased lodging prices. In the Northern Hemisphere that means June, July, and August!
Weather: Be aware of rainy season, fall color crowds, snowy road conditions, ski traffic and seasonal road closures
Time of day: Sunset/sunrise offer the most privacy and better light for photos
Day of the week: Non-holiday weekdays are best – they’re typically the least busy – and they make every part of an elopement run more smoothly
How do we elope?
The first step is to contact us!
Let us know on our contact form below what you’ve got in mind so far.
From there, we’ll schedule a video call to go over all the fun ideas and options, answer any questions you might have, and make sure there’s a fit all around – super important no matter which photographer you hire.
After you officially book, we’ll pass along a ton of planning tips, guides, recommendations, location photos, timeline info – it’s really thorough – as we help your ideas take shape and narrow down locations.
Fun fact: Most of our couples come to us with just a few general ideas of where they’d maybe like to go or what they’d maybe like to do. There’s really no need to have everything in place before reaching out!
