My Top 5 Elopement Planning Tips | In The Alpenglow
Oftentimes, when couples think of elopements, these misconceptions come to mind. One, adventure elopements are completely spontaneous. Two, little planning is necessary. And lastly, adventure elopements involve less thought/planning than a traditional wedding. But if you’ve made it to this blog, you’ve probably already realized that elopement planning can be a bit more complicated than the reputation implies. If you’re looking to do a quick courthouse ceremony, then YES by all means — go for it and throw plans out the window. However, if you’re looking to elope in a beautiful outdoor space and craft an adventure for you and your loved one, a bit of prep is a must. From securing permits to choosing the perfect location, planning helps avoid some of the more common pitfalls and ensures that every detail aligns with your vision — making the day truly unforgettable.
A bit of forethought and some intentional prep can go a long way and give you a wedding day that has room for spontaneity and adventure. Crafting the perfect elopement day just requires a different type of planning than traditional weddings. If you address logistical elements ahead of time—like weather contingencies or travel arrangements—you can fully embrace the sense of adventure that elopements offer, knowing that the foundational pieces are taken care of!
Why is elopement planning important?
Adventure elopements are a relatively new phenomenon, blending the traditional elements of a wedding with the excitement of exploring unique and often remote locations. However, with this refreshing experience comes an immense amount of freedom. As a result, it can be challenging to know where to start or what needs to be done. From trying to find the perfect off-the-beaten-path spot to ensuring you have the necessary permits and gear — a well-planned approach helps demystify this process, giving you a roadmap for your day and helping transform a potentially overwhelming task into a seamless, exciting journey.
Read on for my top 5 tips for elopement planning to help you shape your own elopement into your best adventure yet!
Elopement Planning Tip 1: Hire a photographer before making decisions
One of the places where traditional weddings differ from adventure elopements is that often couples choosing a more tradition celebration reach out to a photographer with a fixed date. However for elopements, I absolutely recommend reaching out to a photographer before you make any big decisions. Elopement photographers are truly experts in their field, which means we know details that can impact your experience in a big way! Whether it’s snowmelt timing for specific locations, weather patterns and seasons, commute/transportation, popularity of certain locations, etc. — we’ve seen it all and can guide your decision making! It may seem like an easy choice from what you’ve seen online about certain locations/dates, but there is so much more to consider, and we would LOVE to help you find the perfect spot and create your dream day.
Elopement Planning Tip 2: Be open to less popular locations
Instagram is (unfortunately) not always the reality. It’s fun to get inspiration from social media and check out the locations mentioned, but try not to make any final decisions before talking to an expert! Influencers or other elopements might be falsely portraying a location or building up an experience to be something it isn’t. Stay flexible and be open to spots that will more realistically align with your vision! It makes me so excited when a couple reaches out to me and asks, “what are your bucket list locations?” This allows me to share the hidden gems I have in my back pocket, giving them more unique memories!
Elopement Planning Tip 3: Reach out within 6-8 months of your date
Elopements — especially at popular adventure spots around the world — have become a super popular alternative to the classic big ballroom wedding. This means that vendors can book out faster than you think! There can be elements of spontaneity and going with the flow on the actual elopement day, but a bit of thoughtful planning and coordinating with those involved will help build the foundation for an amazing day.
Elopement Planning Tip 4: Don’t try to control nature.
Choosing to elope in the outdoors is a beautiful, powerful experience, but mother nature is a powerful, uncontrollable mystery. And while we love her for that, it can make any tightly held, rigid plans lead to disappointment and unmet expectations. I love to remind my couples that the goal of the day is to get married — everything else is a bonus! When we can lean into the uncertainty that comes with an adventure elopement (crafting a few different timelines and locations depending on weather) and anticipate whatever beauty the day has for us, we can experience JOY and craft our own unique story.
Elopement Planning Tip 5: Don’t view nature as a photo backdrop
If we elope in the outdoors simply for an Instagram-worthy backdrop, we’re missing the point. Nature is powerful and awe inspiring, giving us an unforgettable adventure to commemorate an exciting phase in our lives. As your photographer, I’ll do whatever I can to keep us grounded in the moment and soak up all that surrounds us. It’s so easy to forget how much magic exists in the world, but by removing ourselves from our busy lives and stepping into nature, we get the opportunity to rekindle an admiration of & connectedness to our beautiful home. Immersing yourself in nature has long-lasting, life-changing effects on us and THAT is the point of exchanging your vows there — not for the likes and accolades that come with a pretty picture.
That sums up my top 5 tips for elopement planning! I hope that this guide doesn’t add more on your plate but shows the deep value in preparing for your big day. How creating a plan will FREE you up to be in the moment and soak up all the beauty of the outdoors! And if you want a planning buddy / photographer as you’re dreaming about exchanging vows, I’d love to have a conversation with ya. 🙂 Just click on the link below to get started!
