While eloping might still be a new, and awesome idea many steps can still be unclear. This blog on How to Elope will go over 7 easy steps to help you and your partner plan your perfect elopement day and enjoy the heck out of it.

This blog is based on so many different experiences from my couples who eloped over the years, and while eloping means doing things your way, there are some parts and elements that overlap from one elopement day to another.

So while you’re reading this blog on How to Elope, and planning your elopement day, keep in mind that this is so much more than a photo shoot and this is your official wedding day that you’ll be celebrating for many years to come.

Let's dive in!

First things first; What is an elopement?

Elopements have become increasingly popular in recent years and there has been an even greater amount of elopements this past year due to COVID-19. I’ve written an in-depth blog post on What is an Elopement, but in short, an Elopement is a non-traditional way of getting married where the couple focuses on intimacy, intentionality, and experiences. An elopement forsakes the need to adhere to the traditions one might typically find at a wedding and allows the couple the freedom to incorporate only the traditions that are important to them.

Why should you elope?

You only need one reason to elope and that is if you and your partner want to. I am a firm believer that your elopement day is a day set aside just for the two of you so you should be able to celebrate it however you want.

One of the main reasons many couples choose to elope, however, is because of the intimacy of the day. Your marriage is about the two of you and by choosing to elope, you get to celebrate by doing whatever makes you happy. The focus is on your love and each other, which allows you to fill the day with activities and experiences that are meaningful to you both and that represent who you are as a couple. How’s that for the start of an epic marriage?

Of course, another common reason couples choose to elope is the cost savings an elopement can provide. While elopements are oftentimes cheaper than traditional weddings, they are not always and it really comes down to what you value as a couple and what you want to include in your elopement, but more on that later.

Did you know?
As an elopement photographer, planner, and guide, I love helping couples make their day as intentional as possible. This blog is a small portion of all the help and guidance that provide to couples who trust me in capturing their day.
If you’re planning or considering eloping and looking for a way to celebrate like no other, feel free to reach out and I’d be honored to help you and your partner as much as possible with everything you’re after.

7 Steps to planning your elopement day

Planning an elopement or intimate wedding is no easy task, but with these 7 tips you will be well on your way to planning your dream elopement and, of course, as your elopement photographer, I will be there every step of the way to guide you through the planning process. We will dream together, plan together, and on your elopement day, we’ll adventure around together having the best time celebrating your love! So let’s dive in!

1. Create a Vision for Your Elopement Day

All good plans start out with a dream so what is it that you and your partner envision for your elopement day? Is there a particular country you’ve always wanted to visit? Or maybe the two of you met on a hike in the mountains and you couldn’t dream of having your elopement anywhere else!

Whatever it is, sit down together and dream about your elopement. What does your ideal day look like? How do you want to feel on your elopement day? Do you want to feel relaxed or adventurous? Do you want to try something new or revisit something familiar? Listen to each other and start making plans on what you both envision; after all, this day belongs to both of you so you should both have a say in how your day looks.

2. Set an Elopement Budget

As I mentioned earlier, elopements can be cost savings compared to weddings. You will likely not need to pay for a venue or catering for guests for your elopement, but you will still have costs such as your vendors, elopement attire, licenses/permits, and possible travel costs, so you will want to create a budget based on what you have planned for the day.

My advice to couples is to invest your money in the top 2 or 3 things that are most important to you. Maybe it’s traveling to a new destination and bringing your closest family and friends. Or maybe you want to splurge on a multi-day adventure with your new spouse. And of course, you will want to invest in your wedding photos (wink, wink.)

In all seriousness, I truly believe that photos are the greatest way to preserve memories and the best way to help us remember exact moments and feelings. One look at a photo has the power to whisk you back to that exact moment in time and remember exactly the way you felt. There is nothing greater than that so I will always advise you to invest in elopement photos that will preserve your story for a lifetime.

3. Choose Your Elopement Location

This is where the fun really begins! Your ceremony location plays an important role in your elopement and is a place that will be meaningful to you and your partner for years to come so take your time when choosing your elopement location.

Your elopement location should speak to you both and be a place that fits your vision for the day so go back to when you started dreaming together. What did you talk about? Do you want to travel abroad or visit a new location nearby? Do you envision something in nature or more urban? These are all important questions to ask yourself when deciding on an elopement ceremony location as they will help you narrow down exactly where to go!

Your elopement is also an excellent opportunity to go on a vacation with your new spouse and can be a great way to celebrate your new marriage. While you can absolutely get married locally and go on a honeymoon or vacation later, choosing to vacation around your elopement location allows you to fully experience the destination. Instead of spending one day at your elopement location, you can spend several days or even weeks in the place where you were married.

If you’re struggling to choose an elopement location, don’t worry! As your elopement photographer, I can help provide a list of recommendations based on your dreams for the day.

4. Hire Your Elopement Vendors

One of the reasons I love elopements is because the elopement experience is a deeply personal one. There are no rules to adhere to and no one telling you what you should or shouldn’t do and that’s especially true when it comes to deciding which vendors to hire.

You may decide that you just want to spend the day alone with your partner and hire a photographer to document your day. Or, you may decide that you want to incorporate some traditional elements in your elopement and hire a small team to help your dreams come to reality. Either way, you get to make the decision.

Even if you are not getting married at a venue, hiring elopement vendors can help you bring your elopement vision to life as well as take off some of the stress that comes with planning an elopement. When deciding who to hire, refer back to your budget. What aspects of your elopement are the most important to you? This will help you know which vendors to prioritize.

“Pro tip: If you decide to hire many vendors it’s generally best to reach out to your vendors as soon as possible to ensure they are available for your day.
10-14 months is a good timeline to start inquiring with your vendors to ensure they will be available on your preferred date as well as allow for plenty of time to plan together. ”

Elopement Wedding Vendors to Consider

Photographer - Elopement Timeline

I may be biased when I say that a photographer is one of the most important vendors you can hire for your elopement, but I truly believe that once your elopement day is over all you have left are the memories you make and the photos that help you remember them by.

This is a rich topic (for obvious reasons) but as your elopement photographer, my role is more than just a person with a camera who shows up on your wedding day to take pretty photos. I also want to bring value to your day by capturing all the intimate and special moments and emotions from your wedding day so that they can be cherished and remembered for years to come. I want to invest my time in getting to know you, your story, what’s important to you, and all the little things that matter to you and your partner so that I can help you create an experience that truly reflects the two of you as a couple.

Though I am not a wedding planner, I do aim to help my couples as much as possible throughout the planning process. Since your day is unique to you and your partner, knowing how to plan an elopement that is customized directly to you can be one of the hardest things about planning an elopement. This is why I have created a detailed guide for my couples with tips and recommendations that I have learned over the years. On top of that, I also help you plan your day from start to finish giving you recommendations on location, weather, time of year, other vendors, etc. I will scout out the best elopement locations, create your wedding day timeline, and, of course, take the best photos capturing you and your partner’s love.

My goal as your elopement photographer is to simplify the process so you can enjoy every moment of your elopement journey. I will walk with you every step of the way from day 1 all the way up until you say ‘I Do.’

Officiant

Most areas in the United States and worldwide will require you to get married before an officiant. A few locations in the U.S. like Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania allow you to self-solemnize which means you can legalize the marriage yourself, but in general, you will need an officiant and 1 or 2 witnesses. I can help provide recommendations for an officiant and even act as a witness for you if you are not planning on having any guests at your elopement.

Florist

Flowers are a beautiful way to bring your elopement vision to life. They add color and texture to your day and are a great way to tie together your elopement theme.

Floral creations can also be so versatile! From bouquets to hair crowns to wrist pieces to centerpieces, there is truly so much variety to choose from and so many ways to re-use the florals throughout your day. Think about it, your bouquet or ceremony florals can also serve as a centerpiece for your elopement dinner / intimate reception.

Videographer

In addition to an elopement photographer, an elopement videographer can help capture additional details from your day giving you the full picture of your elopement. Not only will you have a video to watch over and over, but you will also be able to listen to the words and hear the emotion of your day.

Cake Artist

Who doesn’t want to eat cake or any other dessert on their elopement day? Feel free to get creative and come up with a dessert or snack that reflects your personality.

HMUA

If you want to feel pampered on your elopement day hiring a hair and makeup artist can give you the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy your day, not to mention they will have you looking your best for all your elopement day photos.

Wedding / Elopement Planner

If you’re feeling stressed about all the details that go into planning an elopement, don’t know where to start, or just don’t have a lot of time to take on the additional work, then hiring a wedding or elopement planner could be very helpful! Your planner is someone who helps manage your elopement budget, schedule vendor meetings, book accommodations or reservations and coordinate all the details of your elopement to ensure they come together seamlessly. As your elopement photographer, I will also be there with you to provide guidance and help you plan, but if you feel that you want some more assistance with the specifics of your elopement, then hiring an elopement planner is a great option.

5. Choose Your Wedding Attire & Coordinate Details

Your wedding attire is the chance for you to showcase your personality and this is especially true for elopements. Because elopements are a non-traditional way of getting married, you don’t have to adhere to any expectations when it comes to what you wear for your elopement. Whether your outfit is a different color or style or something non-formal altogether, choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and confident and I promise, you will be looking your best!

Though your wedding outfits are a large part of your elopement day, they aren’t the only aspects that create your wedding day look. The decorative details you choose also play a large part in creating the vibe and theme of your elopement day. Consider where your elopement is taking place and try to coordinate your vibe with your surroundings. Is your elopement taking place on the coast or in the mountains? Or maybe it’s in a downtown, urban environment. Wherever it is, choose colors and details that complement the look you are going for as this will help create a cohesive look for your elopement.

6. Finalize Paperwork: Marriage Licence, Permits, Fees

This step will largely depend on where you decide to elope as each location is different and has different rules and regulations.

If you are eloping in the United States you will need to apply for a marriage license prior to your wedding date. Most marriage license applications can be found online and are valid for 60-90 days and are ready for use within 0-3 days after receipt.

If you are eloping in a National or State park you may need to apply for a special use permit to get married within the park as well as pay an entrance fee once you arrive.

For all permits and licenses, it is best to apply early to ensure there is enough processing time so be sure to give yourself plenty of time when planning this step.

It can be difficult to know where to start and with so much information online where should you even look? This is where I help my couples and provide information. As your elopement photographer, I will help make sure you have all the necessary information regarding permits, licenses, and fees for your elopement day.

7. Show Up on Your Elopement Day and Have Fun!

This is by far the best step! After months of planning and preparation, you have arrived at your elopement day! There is nothing left to do other than to show up and have fun! Whether you are celebrating with just the two of you or with family and friends, this day is all about you and your partner, so don’t stress about the details. Enjoy the moments and the time you have together. The day is going to fly by, but with these tips, you will be well prepared to have the best elopement day ever!

Are you Ready to Elope?

Thank you for checking out this blog on “How to Elope”

You may have landed on this page because you’re considering eloping yourself, and that’s amazing!! Congrats on taking the first step in creating an intentional experience for you and your partner!

While this is an awesome step, many questions start to come up; but don’t worry, that’s what I’m here for.

At first, this seems overwhelming, and I get it!! Planning an elopement isn’t an easy task. And while elopement planning may seem easier when compared to planning traditional weddings, elopements actually require a TON of planning in a different approach. A much more fun, relaxed, freer, do whatever-the-heck-you-want-for-your-wedding-day kind of planning approach.

As one of the most important elopement vendors for your wedding day, this is where I come in! I’m here to guide you with absolutely EVERYTHING you need. I’m here to help you decide on the right location, how to prep for the big day, where to get permits, provide travel tips, location scouting, or literally everything in between -

I GOT YOU!!

I love helping couples create a memorable experience and I’m ready to pass on everything that I’ve learned and have gone through over the years of being an elopement photographer so you and your partner can take a deep breath, focus on the things that matter the most and have the most meaningful, amazing and memorable day.