What Exactly Is An Adventurous Elopement + Is It For Me?
What is an Adventurous Elopement?
If you’re looking at the Oxford dictionary, the definition of “elope” is “(verb) run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent.” I’m here to tell you that is NOT what an elopement is in our current society. Elopements are often misunderstood, mostly due to preconceived thoughts and ideas and what eloping used to mean. People often think that if you’re eloping you are not spending any money, it’s last minute, and that you’re doing it to exclude your family and friends intentionally.
THAT IS NOT TRUE ANYMORE.
Especially in the year of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many couples to postpone their weddings, eloping has taken on a completely new meaning. Let me tell you about the new definition of eloping:
Two people designing an intentionally focused day filled with meaningful activities and intimate moments to celebrate their love with one another. A true reflection of who the couple is, both individually and as a unit.
An elopement is about taking away the pressures and expectations that society places on a wedding day and creating your perfect day to represent your love and focus on the two of you. It doesn’t matter where you do it, who’s there, or what you do - all that matters is that you’re doing it for the two of you. It’s not about the tangible details - the flowers, the decorations, the bridesmaid dresses - it’s about an intimate experience shared with those closest to you. It’s the look in your partner’s eye as you say the vows that you really want to say and they are the only ones privileged to hear them. It’s the two of you holding hands as you reach the summit of a mountain and the view takes your breath away. It’s about having a completely perfect, relaxed day and starting your forever with someone in the best way possible.
I’m not knocking big weddings - in fact, I had one myself. If a big wedding is what you want then that’s okay, do that. I’m simply letting you know that a big wedding isn’t the only way you can celebrate your marriage. It’s your choice how to spend your wedding day, so plan a day that is centered and focused on the two of you. If that’s a big wedding then do that, but if it means something else to you then that’s okay too.
If I elope does that mean my family can’t be there to witness my wedding?
No, not at all! Many couples choose to have their family and close friends present for their elopement. Some couples choose to have a portion of the day just to themselves (for example the hike/adventure of your choosing) and then have family join them for the official ceremony/vow reading. Some couples prefer to read vows only to each other and then have their families join for a celebration afterwards. This is your day and you can customize it exactly as you want. If you want your family to join you for an epic hike - tell them to pack some hiking boots. If you’d rather have a few moments between you and your partner to savor just for the two of you - have your family join for a celebration in the evening. The possibilities are endless and there are no rules on who can or can’t be present for an elopement.
What does an all day timeline look like?
This question is, without a doubt, the number one question I receive from couples who are interested in eloping. “What do we do for 6-8 hours?” - “Do we have to create activities for you to photograph?” - “Isn’t this just like a normal session? It won’t take us all day to say our vows.” Are these the questions that pop into your head when you consider an adventurous elopement? Great - keep reading.
What most couples don’t realize is that an elopement can often have a similar timeline as a traditional wedding. Just like you would opt for getting ready pictures, first look, vow reading/ceremony, a bride and groom session, meal/reception photos, first dance, cake cutting, champagne toasts, and other notable moments of a traditional wedding, you can incorporate the same elements into an elopement day! Granted, your first look might be in a mountain valley or next to an alpine lake instead of a traditional venue…. your bride and groom session might take place over a hike to your favorite mountain summit…. and your first dance could quite possibly be next to a cozy fire outside of your airbnb instead of the usual dance floor.
Below I’ve included an example timeline from a recent elopement I photographed that took place in Rocky Mountain National Park to give you an idea of what an elopement day might look like:
11:00 AM - Meet at Airbnb to get ready for the day and take getting ready photos
12:00 PM - Location 1 - Bride and Groom Share First Look - Spend time getting mountain valley photos
1:30 PM - Drive to Dream Lake Trailhead
2:00 PM - Begin hike to Dream Lake - take photos along the way
3:00 PM - Bride and Groom Session at Dream Lake
4:00 PM - Begin hiking back
5:00 PM - Drive to Ceremony Location
5:30 PM - Begin Ceremony/Vow Reading with Family and Friends Present
6:00 PM - Photos with Family + Friends
6:30 PM - Pop Champagne! Toasts to Bride/Groom
7:00 PM - Private Chef prepares dinner for couple. Private mountaintop dinner at ceremony location.
8:00 PM - Couple’s first dance /end evening
As you can see from the timeline above, there are a TON of memories to capture even if you are eloping. There are so many options you have with an elopement… I’ve known couples to incorporate rad ideas like a whiskey ceremony, snowshoeing, helicopter tour (instead of a hike), ATV exploring, relaxing in hot springs, and so much more. This is just the tip of the iceberg - you can make your wedding day completely unique to you and your partner filled with your favorite activities and create memories that truly represent who you are as a couple and the love you share. It’s also important to budget a little extra time so that you don’t feel rushed going from place to place. One of my favorite things about elopements is how relaxed they are… just two people enjoying an intentional day of adventure together and capturing their love in their own unique way. Elopement timelines are meant to be a little fluid so you can enjoy all of the little moments in between.
Is it for me?
What are you envisioning for your wedding day? If you are looking for something that is intentionally designed around you and your partner, includes your favorite activities, takes place in epic scenery, and is a relaxed day that you just get to enjoy - then yes, I can confidently say that an adventurous elopement is for you. An elopement can be anything you want it to be - there are no rules on what you do or don’t have to do to have an elopement. You literally get to design your perfect day from start to finish and have someone there to capture it all in photographs that you will look back on for the rest of your life. If this sounds more your style than a big, traditional wedding then don’t be shy to take the chance and plan an awesome elopement - I promise you won’t be disappointed.
We definitely want to elope, but how do we plan an epic day like this?
That’s where I can help you! One of my favorite things about being an elopement photographer is that I get to help my couples envision their perfect day and bring it to fruition. The first step would be to get in touch and let’s get talking about what your ideal elopement day will look like. Don’t fret - I’ll help you come up with cool ideas, plan the locations, adjust the timeline, and make sure that it’s an unforgettable day in your lives. There is a lot goes into elopements, but my goal is to help you keep it stress-free and a super fun experience from start to finish. If you’re ready to say “I Do” to an adventurous elopement (haha pardon my pun) then get in touch with me and let’s get to planning!