Not really sure where to even begin planning your elopement?

Don’t worry.

I got you girl!

The last thing any bride should feel is confusion. You deserve to plan out your beautiful and special elopement day in confidence. That’s why I created this elopement guide for all the adventurous brides out there who are ready to kick this elopement planning in the butt.

First things first, let me get something out of the way.

NEVER FEEL BAD FOR DOING SOMETHING YOU DESIRE TO DO. Phew, I said it…

There’s a lot of emotions and classic assumptions that come with eloping and I’m just here to say, “Don’t listen to them.” You deserve to create the day of your dreams. And if that’s hiking up mountains, frolicing through a field, or squishing sand between your toes, then DO IT. If the classic wedding tradition is boring to you and you’d rather experience an adventure and create beautiful memories of your wedding day, then freaking do it! It’s you and your boo thang’s freaking day, so make it how YOU want to celebrate it and don’t worry about feeling like you have to do the traditions.

Alright, now that you feel empowered and ready to create the elopement adventure of your dreams, let’s do it!

1. DREAM BIG – there are seriously no limits! 

Dream about all the potential ideas that you’ve thought about and don’t you dare shut them down. Dream about the views, the intimacy, the smells, the wind, the seasons…dream about everything that would make your elopement day perfect for the two of you. 

If that’s smelling the salty breeze, sand between your toes, and golden waters, then go for it! If it’s crisp mountain air in the middle of fall, snuggling up in a blanket, and smelling the pine forest, then go for it! If it’s in a golden field, running barefoot with the wind in your hair, then freaking go for it! 

Do something that excites you, thrills you, something that will create a memory you’ll want to cherish forever.

Need some fuel for the fire? Here’s some dreamy elopement ideas:

• Have a picnic! Create a charcuterie board, bring some bubbly, snuggle in a blanket and spend some intentional time with one another.
• Hike a mountain or a 14er for those EPIC mountaintop experiences and then share a beer at the peak!
• Rent a hot air balloon, grab some champagne and create a magical day you’ll never forget!
• Travel to a new country you both have never been to! Explore the place, go on adventures, eat new food, share in the culture! It then all doubles as a honeymoon 😉
• Elope at a winery…the gorgeous fields, the sweet and tasty wine, the romance…phew, got me swoonin’ already!!

2. Curate your guest list – who’s going to be by your side?

I know this can be hard for some and easy for others. But ultimately, you guys get to make the big decision on who’s actually coming or not. You can make it a special and intimate day between the 2 of you (check to see if you need a witness or someone to ordain 1st) or you can surround yourself with your closest family and friends to celebrate!

PRO TIP: Keep in mind where you may be eloping, as some locations have a maximum capacity.

PRO TIP: List out those who are priority and must be there–people, and then work your way from there.

3. Set the date.

Now that you have general ideas of how you want your elopement day to look, you should set the date. Choose it around the season that you want to have your elopement (make sure the weather is appropriate for the location) and any other important dates in your life.

PRO TIP: Some vendors or venues charge less for weekday weddings and places in nature will usually be less crowded.

PRO TIP: Ladies, if you have a regular period, count the weeks in advance to plan around that week…and remember, you’ll look radiating no matter what!! 🙂

4. Budgeting – let’s talk about $$$

Budgeting is super important to talk about with your partner through all this planning. Oftentimes people believe eloping is less expensive than a big wedding and although that can be true, it’s also easier to get carried away in creating your fantasy. So here are some top expenses you should be considering while budgeting:

• Location: Airbnb/VRBO, transportation, flights, permits + fees
• Venue: rental fees, decor rentals or DIY’s, tablecloths, chairs, tables, etc.
• Wedding attire: dress, veil, tux, rings, jewelry, shoes, florals, hair, and make-up
• Vendors: photographer, videographer, planner, day-of coordinator, caterers

5. Book your vendors.

Once you have the date + budget figured out, start searching for the vendors that’ll fit perfectly in your elopement day–team. Here are some things to keep in mind when searching for vendors:

• Find someone you are comfortable with and can trust because this will take away any stress you’ll feel worrying about if they’ll perform well or get exactly what you are looking for on the day-of
• Find someone who cares about you!! Don’t just settle for the cheapest vendor (although, definitely stay in your budget), but find someone who cares about exactly what you want on your day-of. Find somebody who takes the time to learn the little things about you to make the whole experience 100x better.
• Don’t be afraid to look around at the different types of vendors and compare prices. You do not need to rush into a decision, but make a good one 🙂

PRO TIP: To find good vendors online, search on instagram “[location] [vendor type]”. 

So for example, if I was looking for an elopement photographer for my elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park, then I would search on instagram “rocky mountain elopement photographer.” 

In my experience the best vendors usually have a decent social media presence and website.

6. Let’s get legit!

Don’t forget all those important legal documents you gotta sign to get married!! Here are the top ones to make sure you DO NOT FORGET.

• Marriage License: See if you need to obtain a marriage license and figure out all the requirements for being legally married. Check out this website that shares all the marriage laws in each state. If you are traveling out of country you can check out this website.

• Permits: If you’re getting married at a National or State park make sure you check if you need to purchase a permit to get married and to have a photographer there. Some parks only require one permit, but others, like Joshua Tree National Park, require a marriage permit AND a photographers permit. You can check with the specific parks’ website or with your photographer (oftentimes the photographer will know exactly what you need and how to get it).

PRO TIP: Oftentimes you are required to look up, pay for, and obtain any permits needed for your own wedding, even if it’s for your vendors. So make sure you check with each vendors for any advice on the permits you may need and take a look over your contracts with them to see who pays for permits.

7. Choose the ceremony location.

Okay so your elopement day is practically planned and now we’re getting to the nitty-gritty! If you don’t have a very specific spot yet, here is where you begin to look. 

I recommend downloading Google Earth Pro on a desktop, so you can scout for the perfect location to get married. 

If you are eloping at a National or State park, most of the time your photographer may already have suggestions for you to consider at the general location you are thinking of, so make sure to check in with them!

8. Create your timeline!

This is typically a PDF you give to your vendors so they can help your day run as smoothly as possible. Once my couples book with me I send them a sample timeline to base their elopement day off of. But here are some things for you to keep in mind:

• Hair and Makeup
• Getting ready/dressed
• First look
• Ceremony
• Family or friends portraits
• Couples portraits
• AND CELEBRATION TIME!

If you want more ideas of how to create your own timeline – check out this awesome blog!

9. All the fun things!!!

The day has officially arrived and it’s more dreamy than you could have ever imagined!! Here is where all those special keepsake-moments happen and everything you want to be captured. Make sure you set aside your rings, florals, invites, perfume, etc. for the photographer to capture all those little details you planned and want to remember forever.

Remember to have fun, relax in the process, drink LOTS of water…and know that you totally got this!! You are never alone in the planning process; there are so many resources and people who have got your back!

And heyy…If you’re looking for an adventurous photographer who will always have your back, I’m here for you! I’m all about capturing and creating magical, intimate moments for you to remember for years and years down the road my friend.